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"That's not your fault, Wanda."
Kevin's voice softened considerably as he tried to speak to Wanda in a gentle tone.
But Wanda just shook her head:
"Steve… he told me that too, Falcon told me that too. They're like you, always saying it's not my fault, but I know very well that it is my fault…
"Including in Sokovia, if I hadn't controlled Doctor Banner, he wouldn't have caused such a ruckus in the city, and he wouldn't have caused so much damage. I…"
Wanda looked at her hands, which were fair and clean, unstained, but in Wanda's eyes, they seemed to be covered in blood.
Seeing that Wanda was getting a bit stuck in a rut, Kevin interjected to break her current train of thought:
"So you want to agree to sign the Accords?"
"…I don't know, and my opinion… doesn't seem to matter."
Wanda wasn't sure of her position in the Avengers. She just felt like a newcomer who had only been on missions for a short time, and she didn't have much say in matters that would decide the future of the Avengers.
But in reality, she and her brother Pietro were a force that the Avengers could not ignore today.
According to their strength, Wanda and Pietro were both among the top few in the Avengers.
Their opinions were very important, even more important than some of the older Avengers.
Kevin looked at Wanda, his eyes shifting slightly, about to say something.
But at that moment, with a whoosh, Quicksilver Pietro's figure appeared beside the two of them.
"Oh, you're here. Captain America wants to talk to Mr. Kevin, Mr. Kevin, do you want to…"
Pietro pointed in the direction of the Avengers base.
Kevin shifted his gaze from Wanda.
"Alright, it just so happens I also have something I want to discuss with them."
Kevin actually wanted to participate in the plot of Captain America 3, but after thinking about it briefly, he felt that there weren't many points to start from.
So after much thought, Kevin decided to talk to the Avengers first and get his most urgent matter settled.
As for the others… he would talk about them if there was a chance later.
…
Inside the Avengers' conference room.
Captain America Steve, who had just finished arguing with Tony, sat there waiting for Kevin to arrive.
Beside him was Falcon, who was with him, but Black Widow Natasha, who used to be his good friend, was nowhere to be seen.
"Sorry, something happened today, and we didn't have much time to greet you."
Meeting Kevin again, Steve apologized to Kevin.
"It's alright, every family has its own difficulties, I understand."
Kevin smiled in response, then asked:
"By the way, I heard that Doctor Banner is missing?"
"Yes, after the Ultron incident, he disappeared. Are you looking for him for something?"
"I have some minor biological problems that I need Doctor Banner's help with. Originally, since Doctor Banner wasn't here, I thought of asking Tony…"
Kevin said this, looked around, and shrugged:
"But looking at it now, you probably don't have much time."
Tony was probably busy trying to win over some of the Avengers to sign the Sokovia Accords, so he probably wouldn't have time to help Kevin research Compound V.
If Kevin wanted to create Compound V, he would probably still have to find Banner.
Listening to Kevin's teasing words, Steve didn't know what to say for a moment.
The Secretary of State's proposal had caused a rift among the current Avengers, and Steve's mind was full of these matters, so he really didn't have much time to entertain Kevin.
Falcon, seeing this, took over the conversation:
"Actually, we also have something to ask you. You want to find Doctor Banner, right?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"We'll give you the clues Doctor Banner left before he disappeared, but we have a request: we hope you can bring Wanda and Pietro with you."
Falcon proposed a condition that Kevin found very Strange.
"…Bring them along? Why?"
Kevin asked, looking at Steve.
Steve replied:
"In this incident, Wanda… suffered psychological trauma, and she and Pietro are still just kids. I don't want them involved in our conflicts."
In short, it was like parents being busy arguing and needing someone to take care of their children for a while… that's roughly how it could be understood.
To be honest, Steve's decision surprised Kevin somewhat.
He looked at Steve and asked:
"You should know that Wanda is probably very obedient to you now, and she is also an indispensable force among you. If you were to ask her for help…"
"Kevin, I cannot be so despicable as to use two children to achieve my goals."
Steve said seriously.
Captain America seemed to be the same Captain America in every universe, possessing a moral compass higher than ordinary people.
Even knowing that having Wanda and Pietro could help him gain an advantage in this disagreement and overpower Tony, Steve never thought of using them.
Unless they actively agreed to help.
But looking at Wanda now, at least Wanda wouldn't have the mindset to actively help, which is why Steve thought of asking Kevin to take Wanda and her brother Pietro away for a while.
Leave Earth.
At the very least, he couldn't let them get involved in the Avengers' internal conflict.
"I understand. Then I wish you success, Captain America."
Kevin finally left Steve with a blessing, and left the Avengers base with the intelligence given by Falcon, as well as Wanda and Pietro, these two tag-alongs.
Anyway, Kevin's purpose in coming to the Marvel Universe this time was to find help while also traveling, so it didn't matter if he brought one more person or two.
Moreover, leaving Pietro aside for now, Wanda possesses Chaos Magic; isn't she a natural candidate for Sorcerer Supreme?
Kevin thought, if he brought Wanda to Ancient One, and Ancient One saw such a talented child in Wanda, perhaps she wouldn't be so fixated on Kevin anymore?
Thinking this, Kevin took the twin siblings through the portal back to Ancient One.
During this time, Kevin originally thought there would be some resistance.
For example, Wanda and Pietro might express that they didn't want to leave.
But unexpectedly, Wanda had no resistance whatsoever to leaving with Kevin. Pietro, seeing that his sister had no objections, also said nothing.
Wanda seemed to have a special trust in Kevin, though she didn't know why.
"I'm back."
Returning to Kamar Taj with the twin siblings, Kevin said to Ancient One and Annie, who were sitting in the reception room drinking tea.
"Kevin! You're finally back!!"
Seeing Kevin return, Annie immediately ran over.
Her eyes wide, she looked at the circle Kevin had drawn, asking with both curiosity and excitement:
"Is this a portal? Is this the magic Master Ancient One talked about?! Why didn't you tell me you were a mage in this world! Do you know, just now you whooshed—and opened a portal, then whooshed—and disappeared, it scared me!"
"…You're scaring me now, Annie. Calm down. My magic can only be used in this world."
Seeing Annie about to turn into a fangirl again, practically wanting to study Kevin from head to toe, Kevin could only helplessly comfort her.
After a great deal of effort to pry Annie, who was practically plastered to him, off, Kevin turned to introduce the two behind him:
"Sorry, did I scare you two? This is my girlfriend, Annie January, and these two are my… friends in this world, people temporarily entrusted to my care, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff."
"Wait, you have a girlfriend?"
Seeing Kevin and Annie's intimate manner, Pietro's eyes widened, asking a question that Kevin found very Strange.
Kevin tilted his head and looked at him:
"Of course I have a girlfriend, didn't I say so?"
"…You don't seem to have ever mentioned it."
Pietro mumbled, subconsciously glancing at Wanda.
Wanda's expression, for some reason, was also very surprised. She looked at Annie with a very complex gaze, then lowered her head and said nothing more.
Kevin scratched his head, puzzled, and said again:
"Alright, now you've met."
Kevin said it casually, but Annie, noticing Wanda's gaze, seemed to understand something.
She smiled, moved away from Kevin, and pushed him, saying:
"Alright, we've met now. You go talk to Master Ancient One. I'll take care of them."
"…How did you know I was going to talk to Ancient One… Hey, don't push me!"
Kevin was still very surprised as to why Annie knew what he was going to do, but before he could finish speaking, he was pushed by Annie in front of Ancient One.
As for Annie herself, she took Wanda and Pietro and left the reception room.
The slightly noisy Annie, taking the two 'newcomers' who had just arrived, made the reception room instantly quiet.
Ancient One watched everything with a smile, and only when Kevin was left alone did she say with a hint of deeper meaning:
"Sometimes being too outstanding isn't a good thing."
"?" What do you mean?"
Kevin was bewildered; he didn't know what the previous conversation had to do with the word 'outstanding'.
Seeing his confusion, Ancient One chuckled and shook her head, saying nothing more, instead turning to Kevin:
"Since you returned so quickly, it means you didn't find the person you were looking for."
Ancient One's topic changed very quickly. Although Kevin was somewhat concerned about Ancient One's earlier words about being 'outstanding,' he understood that the main business was more important now.
He immediately sat down opposite Ancient One.
"I'm looking for Doctor Banner, but he… he shouldn't be on Earth anymore. Is he on Sakaar now?"
Kevin remembered that in the main movie universe, after the Ultron incident, Banner took the Avengers' Quinjet and disappeared to an unknown location.
It wasn't until Thor 3 that Thor finally saw Hulk on Sakaar.
And was thoroughly beaten by Hulk in the arena.
So Kevin guessed that the Hulk in this world should have also gone to Sakaar.
He was just here to confirm with Ancient One; as soon as Ancient One said yes, he would immediately go to Sakaar and bring Hulk Banner back.
But in the end, Ancient One said nothing, instead taking off the Eye of Agamotto from her neck and placing it in front of Kevin.
"…?"
Kevin was silent for a moment, then cautiously said to Ancient One:
"I just asked a question, you wouldn't go so far as to threaten me with the Sorcerer Supreme's position, would you…?"
"No, I can tell you, he is indeed on Sakaar now. If you wish, you can go find him anytime."
"Then what is this…?"
Ancient One's straightforward answer confused Kevin even more.
He looked at the Eye of Agamotto that Ancient One had handed to him, pondering Ancient One's intention.
Ancient One didn't keep him in suspense. She smiled and said:
"I don't have much time left."
"…."
"Kaecilius has already started to act. It won't be long before Strange comes to me. At that time, I won't be able to continue fixing your time in this world, so you'll need to do it yourself."
What Ancient One meant by having Kevin do it himself was for Kevin to pause time in the Marvel World himself.
She seemed to have arranged everything already.
Kevin didn't understand. He didn't touch Ancient One's Eye of Agamotto, but instead sat opposite Ancient One and asked:
"Does it have to be this way? You… you can continue to be the Sorcerer Supreme."
"I've been doing it long enough, Kevin. I'm very tired, and I just want to rest, and for me, death is the best rest."
Facing Kevin, this 'outsider' who knew everything, Ancient One spoke openly.
She spoke of her weariness, and she spoke her true feelings.
She just wanted to retire.
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