Seeing that Captain America and Black Widow had no plans to leave, Fury had no choice but to speak first.
"A few days ago, the casino started spreading rumors that King Lock went there to play. They even said he won twenty billion."
"It seems to imply that King Lock likes the place very much and is very familiar with the casino owner."
"Lock, what do you think we should do? Do we need to shut them up?"
This matter wasn't particularly serious, but because it involved Lock, Fury still wanted his opinion—he didn't dare make a call on his own.
Lock chuckled. "That must be the idea of that old man in the Tang suit."
"I don't know what school he studied under, but he's clearly mastered the Eastern ways of flattery."
If the casino dared to promote it this way, it was obviously calculated.
First of all, they weren't lying.
Lock and S.H.I.E.L.D. really had gone there, and yes, they did win twenty billion. But since no one had signed any confidentiality agreement, technically, it wasn't illegal for the casino to talk about it.
Even if S.H.I.E.L.D. and Lock were unhappy about the publicity, they weren't dark organizations or tyrants. At most, they'd issue a warning or a clarification notice.
Fighting or killing over it would be absurd.
So from the casino's perspective, it was a risk-free, high-reward move.
If S.H.I.E.L.D. and Lock ignored it, the rumor would turn into the best possible advertisement.
Reflected on the tables, that meant hundreds of millions in profit.
Lock thought for a moment, then said calmly, "I did make some profits from their casino, and what they're saying is true. Let them go."
The "profit" Lock referred to wasn't money—it was his insight into how the power of luck flowed and converged.
If he'd gained from them, letting them gain some publicity in return was fair enough.
"It's just… they'll have to bear the consequences themselves."
After all, Hydra hadn't been wiped out yet, and the world was full of unstable powers.
Their high-profile boasting was bound to draw attention—from people who wanted to get information about Lock through them.
If those enemies couldn't touch Lock or S.H.I.E.L.D., the casino might end up being the easier target.
Such are the risks that come with fortune.
Fury nodded. "Fine. Since you've decided, I'll stay out of it."
Then he turned around. "General Ross, haven't you been short on funds for that super-prison project? You can visit the casino tomorrow."
"The reputation of King Lock isn't borrowed for free."
Ross instantly understood. His old, rigid face cracked into a grin like an ancient tree blooming in spring.
His gambling skills might have been clumsy, but with Lock's name attached, he was guaranteed to "win."
This time, he wasn't just a gambler—he was a messenger and a symbol. His presence alone would convey a message worth billions.
And no casino on Earth would dare let him lose.
Even the cleverest dealers would have to make him win.
Once the trivial matters were done, Lock and Natasha spent the night together.
The next morning, he took Wanda and Pietro to visit Tony Stark.
As soon as he stepped inside, Pepper Potts greeted him with a pair of resentful eyes.
Without hesitation, she took Lock's arm, clearly wanting to air her grievances.
Lock had saved Tony more than once and even helped mend their relationship when it was falling apart.
To both Tony and Pepper, Lock was more than a friend—he was family.
But in Wanda's eyes, the sight only made her heart twist.
The image of Lock in her mind dropped again—from godlike to shameless.
"What's wrong?" Lock asked casually.
Pepper sighed. "Tony and that woman named Helen have been in the lab all day. I went in twice, and they didn't even notice me."
Lock burst out laughing. "Ah, that's what this is about."
Tony's romantic record really wasn't clean—he'd dated nearly every "Playboy" cover model in his youth.
Now he was spending entire days with a beautiful scientist? Of course, Pepper would worry.
Especially since the two shared the same level of genius—she couldn't even join their conversations, and that made her feel left out.
Lock comforted her with a grin. "Don't worry. Don't say anything yet. Even if Tony had ideas, I'd mess them up before they happened."
Pepper brightened instantly. "Then I'll leave it to you."
She stopped speaking when she noticed Wanda and Pietro.
Tony's lab was private—no one but him ever entered it. That was exactly why she was jealous of Helen.
"These two are…"
Lock explained, "They're my friends. Tony's experiment may have something to do with them."
"Oh…"
Since Lock said so, she didn't ask further.
The four of them descended into Tony's underground lab.
Although it was technically "underground," it faced the ocean through massive windows—his cliffside mansion gave even his lab a sea view.
"Hey, Tony."
Tony, immersed in a holographic display, raised his head in surprise. He immediately put his tools down and strode forward to hug Lock tightly.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you."
Tony smirked. "Fair enough. Come on, let me introduce you—Dr. Helen Cho. Helen, this is my good friend, Lock."
Standing beside Tony was a beautiful East Asian woman.
Her blue-and-white lab coat was perfectly tailored, accentuating her slender figure. Her dark hair was tied up neatly, with two strands hanging by her cheeks, giving her an air of both sharpness and allure.
Her oval face, graceful brows, and calm demeanor made her beauty stand out even more among Western faces.
"Hello, Dr. Cho."
"Hello, Mr. Lock."
They shook hands lightly.
Helen didn't know that the man before her was the King Lock—she only noted his familiar features and the easy way Tony spoke to him.
When Pepper had walked in holding Lock's arm, Tony hadn't reacted at all—as if it was normal. That only made Helen more curious.
Lock, meanwhile, was intrigued by her intelligence. Helen Cho's mind rivaled Tony's, and she specialized in biotechnology.
In the original timeline, she had healed Hawkeye's wounds and even created the Regeneration Cradle—a medical pod that could heal, regenerate tissue, and even build synthetic bodies.
It was that very cradle that later created Vision.
But with Lock's interference, Ultron would never come to be.
Still, this project between Tony and Helen continued as a joint effort.
Lock turned to Tony. "This is Pietro Maximoff—codename Quicksilver."
"And this is his sister, Wanda Maximoff—Scarlet Witch. She's incredibly powerful. Stronger than the Hulk, even—she can tear through vibranium alloys."
Tony blinked. "Stronger than Hulk? That's rare. Can you transform too?"
Wanda didn't answer.
She and her brother still carried resentment toward the Stark family. Even if Lock had promised to help them find the real culprit, old hatred didn't fade overnight.
Tony frowned slightly and turned to Lock. "Why did you bring them here?"
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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