Ch: 1-10
Chapter 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.? I Quit!
S.H.I.E.L.D. underground training Base.
The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant Water, and a restless 'ambition'.
The cold alloy walls reflected the pale light of the overhead lamps, illuminating faces of various skin tones, all equally young and excited.
At the front of the training ground, a man in a star-spangled uniform, with a strong and upright physique, stood there.
Just by standing, he was like a flag, a symbol — Captain America, Steve Rogers.
His steady and powerful voice echoed through the spacious training ground:
"...Remember, you are about to join S.H.I.E.L.D., the frontline defense of the World. But first, you must understand who you are fighting for. Here, the only thing you have to offer is loyalty!"
His azure eyes swept over the group of aspiring Agents from all over the World, and his tone suddenly grew heavier.
"Now, those who are willing to swear allegiance to the Lighthouse Country, vowing that in the future, even when facing your original nationality and bloodline, you will never hesitate, never show mercy—"
He paused, his voice like a war drum beating in everyone's heart.
"Step forward!"
"Whoosh!"
With almost no hesitation, the vast majority of the prospective Agents stepped forward in unison, their eyes burning with fervor.
What did it mean to join S.H.I.E.L.D., to receive personal training from Captain America?
Honor, status, wealth, everything would bring about earth-shattering changes in their lives!
Compared to that, what was a mere oath?
It wasn't even as substantial as a donut.
Steve Rogers looked at the neat rows of people with satisfaction, but soon, he frowned.
Because, in these perfectly aligned ranks, a gap stood out glaringly.
Rosen stood there, his brows tightly furrowed, his handsome face filled with struggle.
He needed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s high salary, he needed it desperately!
His sister was still lying in a hospital bed, waiting for an exorbitant surgery to save her life. Joining S.H.I.E.L.D. was currently the only way he could quickly earn that money.
He didn't know how much hardship he had endured, how much blood he had shed, to stand here... He should have agreed immediately, never mind anything else, he just wanted his sister to live... He certainly could do that, if he were originally from this World.
Yes, he was not a native of this World; he came from an ancient Major Eastern Country, his homeland had experienced a tragic song of blood and tears.
Now... even in another World, he was asked to swear allegiance to another country, to pledge under the star-spangled banner that he might one day point his gun at his own bloodline?
His feet felt as if they were filled with lead, too heavy to lift.
This simple step, if taken, would not cross a distance, but a bottom line.
This moment of hesitation was immediately keenly observed.
Captain America's gaze instantly locked onto him, and a subtle chill flashed in those eyes, hailed as the "embodiment of Justice".
"You." Captain America raised his hand, pointing at Rosen, his voice suddenly dropping in temperature, "Step out."
Rosen subconsciously looked up, not yet fully recovered from his inner struggle.
His colleagues around him immediately cast various looks.
Scorn, mockery, and schadenfreude.
"Hmph, idiot, you've come all this way, why pretend to be noble now?" a tall, sturdy White reserve Agent sneered in a low voice.
"Without even this much awareness, why come to S.H.I.E.L.D.? Go home and farm!" someone next to him echoed.
An Asian-faced prospective Agent seemed a bit uncomfortable, softly advising, "Hey, brother, don't be foolish! Quickly admit your mistake, Captain is just testing us!"
The atmosphere in the training ground instantly shifted from collective fervor to the execution of a single outlier.
Rosen felt very uncomfortable under Captain America's gaze; the other man's eyes didn't seem to be looking at someone who might become a comrade, but rather scrutinizing a defective product, a heretic that needed to be eliminated.
"Your hesitation has already shown that your heart is not here, nor in this cause."
Captain America's voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation,
"You are unqualified."
Directly pronouncing Rosen's "Death sentence".
However, just as Captain America's voice fell—
Rosen's whole body trembled violently!
Instantly, he lived through an entire life; countless fragments of memories from his previous life rushed into his mind like a broken dam!
In his previous life, he was ultimately forced to humbly bow his head... but what awaited him was an even deeper nightmare.
Captain America outwardly gave him "opportunities," but in reality, he used him as cannon fodder, pushing him into the most dangerous missions again and again.
During one mission, his spine was broken, leaving him permanently disabled, all to complete the task.
But what awaited him was not a commendation notice, nor a medal of condolences, but S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ruthless termination notice.
Because Steve Rogers, when reporting upwards, unfairly blamed him for the mission's failure, S.H.I.E.L.D. directly cut off his medical subsidies, and the already meager pension was not issued at all.
By his sister's hospital bed, watching her small face gradually grow pale due to the interruption of treatment, even her last words were of concern for him, as she felt she was a burden to him.
He himself, in a rented room in the slum, dragged his crippled body, taking his last breath in endless regret and pain... It wasn't until the moment before Death that he suddenly realized how foolish he had been!
Hate! Overwhelming hatred!
Not for fate, but for that sanctimonious, prejudiced, and cold Captain America, who cloaked himself in "Justice," and for that corrupt and dirty S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. government!
Fortunately, heaven gave him a chance to start over! Bringing him back to this critical moment at the crossroads of destiny!
Just as his heart was filled with the flames of revenge, a cold, emotionless voice directly sounded in his mind:
"Ding! Detecting strong host will fluctuations, selection system activated!"
"Current scene: Oath of Loyalty"
"Option One: Swear allegiance to the Lighthouse Country, join S.H.I.E.L.D. (Then become cannon fodder)"
"Reward: Electromagnetic Cannon Improvement Technology. (A technology not as good as a certain flat-chested girl's one) 10,000 U.S. dollars in cash (a huge sum enough to cover his sister's hospital expenses for one month!), Captain America's distrust (a smelly foreigner coming to my great U.S. to beg for food?)"
"Option Two: Maintain principles, turn and leave. (I am who I am)"
"Reward: Super Soldier Serum (Improved Enhanced Version, Steve Rogers? A roadside ant!) Matter Transfer (In some situations, its strength is even more exaggerated than you imagine), Source of Magic∞ (What Vishanti, what Dormammu, do you understand the value of infinity?)"
The sudden surprise left him dizzy.
System! Golden finger!
And the rewards for Option Two... each one was heaven-defying!
The improved enhanced Super Serum meant power far surpassing Captain America's!
Matter Transfer? If anything could be transferred... the Tesseract seemed to be next door... Source of Magic? Although he didn't know its exact use, anyone who had successfully completed nine years of compulsory education should understand the value of ∞!
Everything from his past and present flashed through his mind like lightning... He also instantly struggled free from the painful memories, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp and cold.
Did he still need to hesitate?
Steve Rogers? S.H.I.E.L.D.? America?
Don't rush, don't rush, take it slow, not a single one will escape!
"I quit!"
Chapter 2: The Cosmic Cube is stolen, and S.H.I.E.L.D. is in a panic
"I quit."
"?"
Everyone couldn't help but doubt their ears. What did this 'yellow skin' just say?
Rosen, however, didn't care. He raised his head, meeting Captain America's cold and oppressive gaze without flinching.
"Hm? What did you say?"
Captain America frowned slightly. He felt as if the guy in front of him had suddenly become a different person.
The mocking and admonishing probationary Agents also sensed something was wrong. The young man, who had just seemed a bit disheveled, was now exuding a chilling aura.
Rosen's calm voice, however, clearly echoed throughout the training ground:
"My bloodline, my roots, do not permit betrayal."
"I cannot make such an oath."
His gaze swept over Captain America, then over the stunned probationary Agents, and he said, word by word:
"Whoever wants to stay in this S.H.I.E.L.D., let them stay."
With that, under the incredulous gazes of everyone, he spun around abruptly and, without a trace of hesitation, strode towards the exit of the training ground.
"Ding! Selection complete! Reward has been issued to the system space, please check later, Host!"
A smile he couldn't suppress spread across his lips.
Behind him, there was a deathly silence.
All the probationary Agents' eyes were wide, and their mouths agape, as if they had witnessed the most unbelievable thing in the World.
He... how dare he?!
Not only did he refuse to pledge allegiance, but he also said such "treasonous" words in front of Captain America?
Had he gone mad?!
"Is this the descendant of some important figure?"
"How could that be? If he were, why would he be here? Compared to those lords, what is our life worth?"
"He's just an ordinary person, no parents, just a pitiful sister who might even be dying."
"Then it seems he's truly mad."
Captain America Steve Rogers's face had completely darkened.
His fingers, gripping his shield, tightened slightly, and veins bulged on the back of his hand.
"Silence!"
He had never expected that someone would dare to openly challenge his authority and trample on his "principles."
A surge of anger rose in his chest.
'An ordinary person, with a seriously ill sister, right? Two Chinese people... Good... Very good,'
But at this moment, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the "U.S. Justice" he represented prevented him from doing anything to a probationary Agent just because he was "unqualified," even if the other party's words had offended him.
But... he stared at Rosen's resolute retreating back, his eyes as cold as blades.
Rosen, right... You'll have times when you're not in the public eye... Then, he would make those disloyal to the Lighthouse pay the price they deserved.
Rosen strode out of the training ground, his firm footsteps echoing down the cold alloy corridor, completely isolating him from the clamor, disdain, and Captain America's icy gaze behind him.
It wasn't until he turned a corner and confirmed no one was around that his tense nerves finally relaxed slightly, but his heart was pounding violently due to another matter.
He immediately immersed his consciousness into a peculiar space within his mind. There, three clusters of light quietly floated.
The first cluster was a vial containing a starlight-like liquid—the Super Soldier Serum (Improved Enhanced Version).
The system description clearly appeared in his mind: Strength, speed, endurance, reaction time, and all other abilities increased to more than five times the human limit, perfectly optimized, with no side effects.
Note: Effective time is five hours.
With a thought, the potion appeared directly in his hand, and he discreetly drank it, then looked at the second cluster of light.
Matter Transfer: A unique mental power application technique.
It allows one to instantly transfer matter within a certain range to a designated location by sheer will, consuming mental power.
The volume, mass of the transferred matter, and the transfer distance directly determine the rate of mental power consumption.
"Volume... mass... distance... no energy!"
Rosen's heart pounded. He repeatedly confirmed that those two words were not in the skill description.
Didn't this mean he could directly strip Hawkeye of his bow and arrows, Iron Man of his energy core, and even the... Infinity Gauntlet's... Finally, there was the most vast cluster, an energy source that seemed to contain a Universe of stars—the Source of Magic ∞.
More than a skill, it was a combination of infinite energy and ultimate talent.
It meant that Rosen now possessed theoretically infinite magic energy and top-tier aptitude for learning any magic.
"The Super Serum gives me a top-tier physical body, Matter Transfer is a divine skill, and the Source of Magic... gives me the key to the peak of the mystical side!"
Rosen was ecstatic. The suppression and hatred from the tragic memories of his previous life were somewhat diluted by this immense surprise.
With these, he would be able to hold his destiny in his own hands... And this was just the first choice!
Amidst his excitement, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
The Tesseract!
That Space Stone with infinite power was still quietly lying in S.H.I.E.L.D.
As a low-level Agent in his previous life, he vaguely knew that S.H.I.E.L.D. was secretly researching an object with astonishing energy.
Just a while ago, when he was heading to the training ground for assembly, he had passed a heavily guarded area and happened to overhear two hurried researchers mention "Tesseract" and "unstable energy" in a low voice.
He hadn't paid attention then, but now, it must have been the Tesseract!
If it were before, even if he knew, he would be helpless, but now... he had [Matter Transfer] and [Source of Magic]!
He would take a gamble!
Relying on his memory, he quickly snuck towards that area.
Thanks to his probationary Agent ID and the fact that the agency had not yet become alerted to his departure, he smoothly arrived on the other side near that area.
The closer he got, the more he could feel the vast and boundless spatial energy fluctuations.
"This is it!"
Rosen's gaze locked onto a smooth wall ahead.
He closed his eyes, fully activating the [Source of Magic], and his mental power, like invisible tentacles, slowly permeated.
Instantly, he "saw" it!
On a precision instrument in the center of the other side of the wall, a cube emitting a faint blue light was quietly suspended.
That was it!
"Matter Transfer!"
Rosen inwardly roared, focusing all his mental power on the Tesseract.
Buzz!
Inside the secret room, right under the noses of several top scientists and guards, the Tesseract, emitting a brilliant blue light, vanished into thin air as if erased by an eraser!
The next second, it silently appeared in Rosen's system space.
It was done!
Almost at the same time the Tesseract disappeared, a piercing red alarm blared throughout the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. Base!
"Whoosh—!! Whoosh—!! Maximum Security Alert! Maximum Security Alert!"
Red lights flashed wildly, and all passageways instantly dropped heavy emergency gates!
Rosen, however, curved his lips into a relaxed smile. The consumption of mental power was far less than he had imagined; after strengthening his body, it was practically negligible.
He quickly composed his expression, feigning a look of shock and panic, and blended in with several other field Agents who had also been startled by the alarm and ran out to check the situation.
Chapter 3: The Space Gem is in hand, and he can replace it
Director's Office.
Nick Fury was reviewing the assessment report for the trainee Agents, his single eye lingering on the name "Rosen" for a moment. He was already aware of the small incident that had occurred at the training ground.
"Interesting, but… too foolish," he murmured in evaluation.
Suddenly, the shrill sound of the highest alert blared!
"What's going on?!" Fury shot up, a sharp light flaring in his single eye.
This level of alert meant S.H.I.E.L.D. was at risk of annihilation, and everyone had to gather immediately!
The office door was pushed open, and the red-haired Agent Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), dressed in a tight combat suit, quickly entered, her expression grave:
"Officer, the alert is coming from the core research area, cause unknown!"
Just then, the red encrypted phone on Fury's desk rang frantically.
Fury grabbed the phone: "I'm Nick Fury."
A panicked, almost incoherent voice came from the other end of the line:
"Director, Director! The Tesseract! The Tesseract! It… it's gone! It vanished into thin air right before our eyes!!"
"What?!"
Even Nick Fury, who had weathered many storms, now had a drastic change in his expression.
"Explain clearly! How did it disappear? Where are the guards? Where's the surveillance?!"
Natasha, standing nearby, heard the words "Tesseract" and "vanished into thin air," and her beautiful face instantly filled with shock.
She knew the Tesseract's security level; it was simply impossible!
"…I don't know, Director! No one approached it, there was no energy burst, not even a signal… It just… it just suddenly disappeared!"
The researcher's voice was tearful, as if his mother had died. No matter how high his research level, he would likely find it very difficult to keep this job, and perhaps… it was uncertain if he could even survive the investigation unscathed.
"Useless!" Fury roared, slamming down the phone.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and issued an order:
"Immediately! Seal all S.H.I.E.L.D. exits! Allow entry but no exit! Initiate Level One combat readiness! Locate and vet all personnel! Especially those who approached Sector Seven just now!"
"Yes, Officer!" Natasha immediately responded, her expression extremely serious.
"Let's go!" Fury grabbed his black trench coat, his face terrifyingly grim, and strode out, "To the scene! I want to see what exactly could steal the Tesseract right under my nose!"
Natasha immediately followed, and the two quickly disappeared down the alarm-blaring corridor.
Meanwhile, the true "thief," Rosen, was mixed in with the crowd, following the others with a "bewildered" expression, but his heart was calm as Water.
He knew that the Water of S.H.I.E.L.D. had been thoroughly stirred up by his pebble.
The real show was just beginning.
Inside the training ground, the atmosphere had not yet fully recovered from the interlude of Rosen's departure.
Captain America, Steve Rogers, stood at the front of the formation, his face still stern, his sharp gaze sweeping over every remaining trainee Agent.
"Is there anyone else," his voice was full of pressure,
"like that coward just now, who harbors doubts and is unwilling to dedicate loyalty to protecting freedom and the World? Now, you can step forward and leave!"
"No, Officer!" The remaining trainee Agents straightened their chests, their shouts echoing loudly.
Anyone with eyes could see that although Captain America pretended not to care, he was actually very angry.
Everyone was eager to distance themselves and prove that they were completely different from that "unappreciative" Rosen.
Captain America then nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction on his face.
These were the warriors he needed, pure and loyal.
He was about to continue his speech, emphasizing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s discipline and mission—
"Whoosh—!! Whoosh—!!"
The piercing sound of the highest alert suddenly blared, and red alarm lights flashed wildly, reflecting on Captain America's face, making it look somewhat grim.
"What's going on?"
"What happened?"
"Enemy attack?"
The trainee Agents immediately stirred, their faces filled with uncertainty, their newly gathered morale dispersed.
Steve Rogers's expression changed instantly.
He knew better than these rookies what this alert level meant!
"Everyone, stand by!"
He roared, quelling the noise on the scene, and then dashed towards the core area from which the alarm originated.
Captain America's sense of responsibility made him want to rush to the most dangerous place first.
However, he had barely rushed out of the training ground when his personal encrypted communicator rang urgently.
Captain America immediately answered.
"Fury?"
Nick Fury's strong, calm voice came from the other end of the line:
"Rogers! Change of mission! Go to the Headquarters gate immediately! Seal it off, allow entry but no exit! Without my direct order, not even a fly is allowed out!"
Captain America's heart tightened. What could have made Fury so agitated? He moved quickly while asking:
"Understood! But what exactly happened?"
"…The Tesseract," Fury's voice was almost squeezed through his teeth,
"vanished into thin air in the research lab, just now!"
"What?!"
Even the battle-hardened Captain America was so shocked by this news that he almost stopped in his tracks.
He knew what the Tesseract meant; it was the supreme treasure he had risked his life to reclaim from HYDRA.
"I wish it wasn't possible! But now it has happened! Execute the order, Captain!"
Fury growled and hung up the communication.
Steve Rogers suppressed the tumultuous waves in his heart and rushed to the S.H.I.E.L.D.Headquarters gate at top speed, taking over command of the guards on site.
He immediately asked the head of the guards:
"Who left within an hour before my arrival?"
The head of the guards pulled up the records and immediately replied:
"Reporting, Captain, only one trainee Agent left approximately three minutes before the alarm sounded. The registered name is… Rosen."
"Rosen?" That China man? Captain America's brows furrowed instantly.
How could it be him?
And this happened just after he was expelled?
Could it be… A preposterous thought had just arisen when he immediately squashed it.
"No, impossible."
Captain America murmured to himself, shaking his head,
"He's just a barely qualified ordinary reservist, with no background, no special abilities.
There's no way he could have infiltrated the heavily guarded core area, let alone made the Tesseractvanish into thin air.
This must be a coincidence, or… the work of some powerful enemy we haven't discovered."
He crossed Rosen's name off the suspect list and instead devoted all his energy to the lockdown and investigation… Meanwhile, in a street outside S.H.I.E.L.D.
Rosen calmly walked out of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance range. He found an unmanned corner and submerged his consciousness into the system space.
The cube, emitting a faint blue light, was quietly suspended there, breathtakingly beautiful.
The Tesseract!
One of the Infinity Stones!
It had fallen into his hands so easily!
Rosen's eyes burned with fervor, "Even if Thanos wants to forge the Infinity Gauntlet in the future, he will never be able to bypass me!"
Even… a grander ambition began to sprout in his heart.
Chapter 4: Rosen's Greatest Treasure
With the System's blessing, gathering the Infinity Stones, replacing Thanos, and becoming the supreme existence in this Universe, truly controlling his own destiny, is by no means a pipe dream!
However, he quickly calmed down.
"Meals should be eaten one bite at a time, and roads should be walked one step at a time." He suppressed his surging thoughts. "The most urgent matter now is my sister's condition."
He had long ago chosen a top surgeon for his sister—Dr. Stephen Strange of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Although he would become Doctor Strange, the guardian of time, in the future, he was still the brilliant but arrogant and expensive genius surgeon.
Dr. Stephen Strange's surgical fees were an astronomical figure.
But...money?
Rosen's gaze shifted, landing on the grand building at the street corner, adorned with the "Chase Bank" logo.
In the past, this exorbitant surgical fee of nearly two million U.S. dollars would have been a mountain that could break his back.
But now...Rosen smiled faintly, his spiritual power spreading like an invisible tide towards the bank vault. Matter Transfer activated!
He didn't even need to know the internal structure of the vault; by moving straight forward, he could "see" the stacks of rectangular paper.
Instantly, in a corner of the System space, bundles of brand new, unopened hundred U.S. dollar bills and gold bars rapidly piled up as if appearing out of thin air, quickly forming a small mountain.
The amount was enough to cover any of Dr. Stephen Strange's high fees and ensure the siblings would be well-fed and clothed for a long time to come.
Almost simultaneously, the gravity-sensing system inside the bank immediately blared an ear-piercing alarm, so loud that even pedestrians outside heard it!
"Woo-wah—woo-wah—!"
Pedestrians turned their heads, and the bank security guards rushed towards the vault in a panic.
Meanwhile, the "culprit" had already blended into the street's crowd like any ordinary passerby, hands in his pockets, and walked away nonchalantly.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, inpatient ward.
Rosen, carrying the immense sum he had just "acquired," hurried to the door of the ward where his sister was, according to his memory.
However, the door was wide open, the room was empty, and the bed was stark White, almost cold.
An ominous premonition instantly gripped his heart.
"Nurse!" He stopped a Nurse who was rushing by, his voice trembling in a way he didn't even notice.
"Where is the patient from this ward? A little girl with silver hair?"
The Nurse looked at her records and suddenly understood: "Oh, you mean that very pretty little girl? This morning, she insisted on using all the remaining money in her account to buy various high-grade trauma medicines and sprays, and then she left on her own. No matter how much we tried to persuade her to continue treatment, it was no use; we couldn't stop her..."
All the money in the account...exchanged for...trauma medicine?!
Rosen felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head, his ears ringing.
An inexplicable violent emotion instantly entwined his heart like a poisonous vine, almost suffocating him.
He no longer cared to listen to the rest of what the Nurse was saying. He spun around abruptly and rushed out of the hospital at top speed, running like a madman towards the cheap rental house in the dilapidated Brooklyn neighborhood.
Although the super-serum had not yet fully integrated, it had initially strengthened his physique; his speed far exceeded that of ordinary people, causing a series of exclamations on the street.
Bang!
He practically crashed through the old wooden door.
The small, dim, yet exceptionally tidy rental house was fully visible.
And right there, at the old wooden table that served as both dining and writing desk, that frail figure was sitting with her back to the door, seemingly writing something quietly.
Hearing the violent crash of the door, her slender shoulders trembled abruptly, like a startled small animal. She hastily pushed what she was writing under a pile of waste paper, and then with effort, turned around.
It was her. His sister, Luo Xi.
After just a few days apart, she seemed even frailer. Her oversized old clothes hung loosely on her, and her prominent shoulder blades looked as if they might pierce through her thin garment at any moment.
She was only eleven or twelve years old and should have had beautiful, lustrous black hair, but now it was a dry, straw-like silver-White, a mark of being cruelly ravaged by illness.
Her face was so pale it was almost transparent, but her large eyes, upon seeing that the person was Rosen, instantly lit up with a surprised glow.
"Brother? How are you back? Isn't the training camp still a few more days?"
She stood up with difficulty, extending her pitifully small, almost fleshless hands, and gently took Rosen's slightly trembling large hand, pulling him to the narrow single bed.
"Brother, come and see!"
Luo Xi's tone suddenly became cheerful. She pointed to an open, overflowing plastic bag on the bed, filled with various brand new medicines.
"Look at this spray, the Nurse said it's the latest non-invasive trauma medicine, and it works super fast! And this ointment, they said it can penetrate deeply, reduce bruising, and promote blood circulation... And this oral one is for relieving muscle soreness..."
She rattled off the purpose of each medicine as if they were precious treasures, an unnatural blush appearing on her pale face from excitement.
"With these, if you get injured during training or missions in the future, you won't have to just endure it anymore! I know you're always afraid I'll worry, so you never say anything..."
She looked up, her bright eyes fixed on her brother, as if she had completed a great mission.
Rosen looked at the pile of expensive medicines on the bed, completely irrelevant to his sister's terminal illness, and his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a cold hand, the pain almost making him unable to breathe.
His throat constricted, and he spoke with difficulty:
"Xi Xi...what about you? Your illness...what will we do?"
His sister's hand, which was fiddling with the medicines, paused.
She lowered her head, silent for a few seconds, then gently, yet with immense determination, shook her head.
"Brother, my illness isn't important."
Her voice was very soft, but it struck Rosen's heart like a heavy hammer.
"What do you mean 'not important'?!" Rosen's voice uncontrollably rose, his emotions almost out of control. "Don't you know I..."
He couldn't finish his sentence.
Because his sister slightly stood on her tiptoes, extended her cold, slender index finger, and gently pressed it against his lips, stopping his next words.
She looked at him, her clear large eyes showing no fear of Death, only calm and a hint of plea.
"Brother, I really don't want to treat it anymore." She said softly,
"Treating the illness costs so, so much money. I don't want to be a burden to you anymore. You should go and live your own life."
'A life not burdened by me.'
Luo Xi silently thought to herself..."Nonsense!" Rosen's heart was breaking. He tightly grasped his sister's frail shoulders. "You're not a burden! Never! Listen, Xi Xi, Brother has money now! We have so, so much money, enough to hire the best Doctor and use the best medicine!"
His sister looked at him, her eyes full of doubt and heartache:
"Brother...don't lie to me. Did you take on those very dangerous missions again? I don't want you to do that! I'd rather..."
"I'm not lying to you!"
Rosen interrupted her. He had to release one hand, reach into his pocket, and in reality, directly took out several bundles of brand new, crisp hundred U.S. dollar bills, still bound with bank seals, from the System space.
Bang!
Several thick stacks of banknotes were thrown onto the small bed, which was piled with medicines, creating an incredibly strong visual impact.
His sister, Luo Xi, instantly widened her eyes, her small mouth slightly agape, staring at the pile of money on the bed that looked like it could crush someone. She was completely stunned, her face filled with unbelievable shock.
Chapter 5: One Million Fee? Cash Payment!
She looked at the money, then at her brother, then back at the money; her brain seemed completely unable to process the information before her.
"This… so much money… Brother, you… where did you get it from…?"
Her voice stammered.
"Brother is super amazing, and our lives will only get better and better from now on."
Rosen took a deep breath, his tone softening but incredibly firm,
"Now, do you believe Brother? We have enough money to cure your illness. Promise me, don't do anything foolish again, and accept treatment properly, okay?"
His sister looked at the undeniable seriousness and hidden pain in her brother's eyes, then at the substantial pile of banknotes, and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, her eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded heavily, her voice choked with tears yet tinged with a sense of relief:
"Mmm… Brother, I believe you. I… I'll get treated."
Only then did Rosen let out a long sigh of relief, gently pulling his sister into his embrace.
Feeling the almost weightless, slightly trembling small body in his arms, his gaze grew even colder and firmer.
Once, he had lost everything, but fortunately, he had a second chance… In this life, he would never let any tragedy repeat itself.
At NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, in a clean but cold Doctor's office.
Rosen took Luo Xi to re-register for admission, which went unexpectedly smoothly.
The Nurse answered his confusion: "Dr. Stephen Strange had instructed us to keep Miss Luo Xi's medical records."
This statement made Rosen's heart stir slightly.
He settled his sister, letting her rest in the ward, then went to Stephen Strange's office.
Knocking and entering, Stephen was sitting behind a large desk, writing something quickly without looking up.
Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting striped shadows on his neatly trimmed beard and focused profile.
"Dr. Stephen Strange," Rosen began, "thank you for keeping my sister's medical information."
Stephen finally looked up, his sharp eyes sweeping over Rosen.
He put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and pressed his fingertips together.
"Mr. Rosen, you've come at a good time." His tone was a condescendingly professional one,
"Regarding Miss Luo Xi's surgical plan, I suggest you seriously consider conservative treatment."
He picked up a medical record and explained rapidly: "Her tumor's location is very tricky, making complete resection extremely difficult and the risk extremely high.
Using the latest targeted drugs and radiation therapy, while not a complete cure, can effectively control it. If the effect is ideal, survival for over ten years is not impossible. Most importantly, the cost is relatively low, offering the best value for money."
Dr. Stephen Strange's professionalism was beyond doubt, and it could even be said to be the optimal medical advice currently available.
Rosen listened expressionlessly until he finished, then calmly spoke: "No conservative treatment is needed."
Stephen Strange's brows immediately furrowed, and displeasure appeared on his face.
He hated it most when a patient's family challenged his professional judgment with emotion. He leaned forward, preparing to persuade this "unreasonable" young man with a stricter tone.
However, he hadn't even had a chance to speak.
Rosen picked up an inconspicuous canvas bag he had been carrying, unzipped it, and then abruptly dumped it onto Stephen's clean and tidy desk!
"Whoosh—"
Bundles and stacks of brand-new hundred-dollar U.S. bills, like a golden torrent, instantly poured out, filling the expensive solid wood desktop, with even a few bundles rolling onto the floor.
The heavy sound, laden with the weight of money, replaced all words.
All the reprimands and medical theories on the tip of Stephen Strange's tongue were instantly blocked by this crude display of money.
For the first time, a hint of surprise appeared on that face, which always carried an arrogant and critical expression.
He looked at the small mountain of cash that almost blocked his view, feigning composure:
"You… you people from China… don't you dislike using cash the most?"
Rosen said in a joking tone:
"Oh, you know, Dr. Stephen Strange, I'm relatively poor and don't have much asset proof or credit limit. So… I just happened to rob a bank."
Stephen Strange seemed to not even hear the "madness" of his latter half-sentence. His gaze was firmly attracted by the pile of cash.
As a top surgeon, he had a good income, but the visual and psychological impact brought by such a massive amount of cash was still different.
"Nurse Jones!" He pressed the intercom button, his voice returning to its usual calm and authoritative tone, "Come in immediately!"
A Nurse quickly pushed the door open, then was also stunned by the sight on the desk.
"Count these, then process Miss Luo Xi's highest priority surgical prepayment, according to the highest-level plan we previously evaluated."
Stephen instructed at an extremely fast pace, simultaneously picking up a pen and rapidly signing his name on a pile of surgical documents, his handwriting flowing like dragons and phoenixes.
"Notify the surgery department, postpone the scheduled afternoon Parkinson's surgery, prepare Operating Room One. I will personally perform Miss Luo Xi's tumor resection surgery."
His orders were clear and decisive.
The Nurse paused for a second, then immediately reacted, not daring to ask more, and quickly called people in to help move the money and process the paperwork.
Stephen stood up, straightened his suit jacket and tie, preparing to head to the operating room. For him, money was just a tool to achieve medical miracles; now that the tool was in place, everything else was unimportant.
Just as he was about to walk out of the office door, Rosen suddenly spoke, asking a seemingly inexplicable question:
"Dr. Stephen Strange, do you believe in magic?"
Stephen's footsteps halted.
He turned around, a clear look of impatience and absurdity on his face, as if he had heard an extremely foolish question.
"magic?" He scoffed, his tone filled with absolute confidence in modern medicine and merciless mockery of ignorance,
"Are you talking about those tricks that hide behind smoke and deceive people with clumsy acts? Mr. Rosen, I only believe in science and these two hands."
Rosen was not angered by his sarcasm; instead, he showed a meaningful smile.
"Perhaps," he said softly, his gaze seeming to penetrate time, "you will soon change that view."
Stephen Strange frowned, thinking that this patient's family member might be talking nonsense due to too much stress.
He didn't respond further, just glanced at Rosen with the look one reserves for an odd person, then turned and strode away, heading into his most sacred battlefield: the operating room.
Rosen watched his retreating back and smiled slightly.
He calmly adjusted his collar, walked out of the office, and gently closed the door.
Chapter 6 Rosen Exposed
S.H.I.E.L.D., Triskelion Headquarters, Command Center.
The atmosphere was as oppressive as the sea before a storm.
Nick Fury's single eye swept over the constantly scrolling data and countless "not found" reports on the large screen, his face so grim it could drip water.
Agents Natasha Romanoff (codenamed: Black Widow) and Clint Barton (codenamed: Hawkeye) stood before him, having just completed their report.
"Officer, every corner of Sector Seven has been thoroughly searched, including ventilation ducts and any other crevices. No signs of forced entry or technical intrusion were found."
Natasha's voice carried a hint of fatigue.
Hawkeye interjected:
"All personnel on duty have undergone preliminary interrogation and lie detection; no anomalies were found. Surveillance footage shows that the Tesseract disappeared simultaneously from all frames within 0.3 seconds, without any prior warning."
Another Agent walked over:
"Officer, external sensors did not record any signal from the Tesseract. It's like... like it's no longer on Earth..."
Fury slammed his fist on the control panel, producing a muffled thud.
This feeling of complete loss of control filled him with unprecedented anger.
"Where are the people?!" he growled, his voice hoarse, "Did anyone leave before or after the alarm sounded?!"
Natasha immediately pulled up the records:
"According to Captain Rogers' lockdown order and entry/exit logs, only one person left headquarters within one hour before the alarm sounded."
A file for a probationary Agent appeared on the screen, showing a photo of a handsome Asian youth.
"Rosen," Natasha read the name, "Probationary Agent P-17, who left normally approximately three minutes before the alarm sounded."
"Rosen?" Fury's single eye sharply scrutinized the familiar face.
"Captain, is this the person you dealt with earlier?"
Steve nodded, his expression also grim: "Yes. He hesitated during the loyalty oath and ultimately refused, so I disqualified him. But I don't think he's a major suspect."
He subconsciously defended his earlier judgment and elaborated:
"According to his file, he is Chinese American, grew up in the Brooklyn slums, his parents died young, and he only has a seriously ill younger sister. His background is clean.
His physical and tactical exams as a probationary Agent were barely passing. He has no record of any special skills, nor has he had any exposure to high-end technology or occult backgrounds."
Hawkeye crossed his arms, frowning:
"Sounds like a desperate, poor kid who wanted to save his sister with a S.H.I.E.L.D. salary. How could he possibly breach our seven layers of defense and silently steal the Tesseract? That's simply preposterous."
Black Widow also agreed: "From both motive and capability, he doesn't fit at all. I'm more inclined to believe it was an unknown enemy with spatial technology or powerful superpowers."
Almost everyone subconsciously excluded Rosen from the list of suspects, because it sounded too far-fetched.
However, Nick Fury's single eye stared intently at Rosen's calm photo on the screen.
Years of being an Agent told him that the most unlikely people are sometimes the most suspicious.
"I don't believe in coincidences," Fury said coldly,
"The Tesseract disappeared a few minutes after he left? Gather all his movements after he left! I want to know where he went and who he met!"
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efficiency was extremely high, and soon, a report on Rosen's activities after leaving was compiled.
"Reporting, Officer, the target's behavior after leaving headquarters was... normal," a technician reported, "He first went to Presbyterian Hospital, then took the subway back to Brooklyn, without contacting any suspicious individuals along the way. After that, he and his sister returned to the hospital."
"Hospital? His sister?" Fury pressed.
"Yes. But according to previous hospital records, his sister, Luo Xi, was discharged this morning due to inability to pay for ongoing treatment. The strange thing is, about an hour later, Rosen brought his sister back to the hospital, and..."
The technician's voice carried a hint of confusion,
"...and paid the full amount for the highest difficulty surgery, performed by Dr. Stephen Strange, which was an extremely large sum."
"Where did he get the money?!" Steve Rogers blurted out.
An expedited surgery by a renowned physician at Presbyterian Hospital; there was no way a recently dismissed probationary Agent could afford that much money.
Just then, another piece of intelligence came through the channel.
"Officer! We just received a joint investigation notice from the NYPD (New York Police Department) and the FBI! About an hour and a half ago, shortly after Rosen left headquarters, a major theft occurred at a Chase Bank branch on the block next to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters!
A large amount of cash and gold disappeared from the vault without any signs of forced entry, and surveillance also failed to capture any suspects. The cash simply vanished into thin air!"
He paused, then added, "Just like the Tesseract."
When the news arrived, the entire command center instantly fell into a dead silence.
Timing: Both occurred after Rosen left.
Location: Both were around S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
Method: Both vanished into thin air.
Result: Rosen suddenly acquired a huge sum of money.
All the clues were instantly connected by an invisible thread!
The relaxed expressions on Natasha and Barton's faces disappeared, replaced by immense shock and disbelief. They exchanged glances, seeing the same surprise and doubt in each other's eyes.
Captain America's face instantly became incredibly grim; he could even feel his face burning.
Just now, he had confidently stated that Rosen couldn't be involved, but now the facts had given him a resounding slap in the face!
A feeling of being fooled surged through him. Had that young man been faking it all along? Were his hesitation and refusal all for this moment?
"Rosen... this..." Hawkeye spoke in a deep voice, "How did he do it? Neither the Tesseract nor the cash... is something a probationary Agent could accomplish."
"Unless he's not as simple as our files indicate!" Black Widow's eyes were sharp. "We were all fooled by his disguise."
Nick Fury's single eye gleamed with a cold light. When all clues pointed to the most impossible answer,
Impossible then became possible. Although he still couldn't understand the means, the target was now incredibly clear.
"Rosen..." Fury murmured the name.
He suddenly looked up and issued an order:
"Immediately revoke the standard monitoring of Rosen as a departing Agent! This person is suspected of possessing unknown abilities!"
He looked at Black Widow:
"Natasha, you are in charge. Use all non-contact methods to gather information and find an opportunity to approach him. Mission priority is highest: confirm the whereabouts of the Tesseract at all costs, and recover it safely!"
"Understood, Officer." Natasha nodded solemnly.
Meanwhile, their quarry, Rosen, was calmly waiting outside the operating room. While awaiting the results of his sister's surgery, he had also calmed down from the euphoria of gaining his abilities and began to ponder.
Chapter 7: It's not the bald head you think, but the alien bald head is also bald
The operating room lights were still on, and Rosen leaned against the cold wall, waiting quietly.
Stephen Strange's skill was beyond doubt, and the money was already in place, but until the last moment, he couldn't truly relax.
At the same time, his brain, having calmed down from the initial ecstasy of gaining his abilities, began to race, analyzing the current situation.
"Too careless…" Rosen thought to himself, "I got a bit carried away after gaining power."
S.H.I.E.L.D. might perform poorly against alien invaders, but when it came to internal threats and cleaning house, they were professional and ruthless.
Well, HYDRA doesn't count, after all, before Nick Fury, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a HYDRA Agent.
Nick Fury, that old fox, would never believe in coincidences.
The highly consistent time and location of the bank theft and the disappearance of the Tesseract with his own whereabouts, plus the sudden, huge surgical fee he paid... these clues, strung together, were enough for Fury to pinpoint him as the number one suspect.
Except there was no evidence, but did they need evidence?
Perhaps a procedure was needed, but for a discharged, background-less reserve Agent? A single phrase, "suspected superhuman threat," was enough for them to take any "necessary measures."
Surveillance, arrest, even "accidental disposal"... he was well aware of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s methods.
In a direct conflict now, he wasn't afraid.
He even had a faint sense of anticipation... after all, he had many old scores to settle with certain people.
But... what about his sister?
His sister, post-surgery, was extremely fragile and required the most meticulous care and the safest environment.
He absolutely could not bring the flames of war near his sister. Once S.H.I.E.L.D. realized his sister was his soft spot... he needed a sanctuary, a powerful force strong enough to make S.H.I.E.L.D. dare not investigate or be unable to find him.
A force... willing to go against S.H.I.E.L.D. for his value.
So where would he find such a force?
...A few days ago, the Black Order's main warship, Sanctuary I.
Ebony Maw, Thanos's most cunning strategist, and the self-proclaimed "person" of the Black Order's think tank, was elegantly suspended in the control hall, his emaciated fingers gently tapping the armrest.
His wrinkled face bore a clear trace of vexation.
The great destiny—eliminating half of the Universe's life to maintain balance—had encountered unexpected obstacles on the seemingly backward Planet of Midgard (Earth).
Kamar-Taj, and the powerful Sorcerer Supreme Gu Yi, stood like an unbreakable barrier, firmly guarding Earth, rejecting all invasions.
A frontal assault would be too costly and might not even succeed.
So he came up with an idea he considered brilliant, for even the strongest fortress could not withstand an attack from within.
His plan was: to find individuals on Earth who possessed magic talent but also harbored deep hatred for the current World or specific groups.
He would guide them, have them join, and dismantle Kamar-Taj from within.
Thus, these past few days, he had been like a diligent bee, using his already powerful spiritual senses, amplified by Sanctuary I, to slowly sweep across Earth like an invisible spiderweb, perceiving those potential sources of energy.
That day, an unusually bright, almost stellar, dazzling Source of Magic appeared in his perception!
"This is...?!
Ebony Maw's eyes suddenly burst forth with a light of shock, even a hint of jealousy.
"Such a vast, pure Source of Magic?! It actually exists within a Midgardian?! This... this is simply a gift from the Universe!"
He immediately pinpointed the source—a young man waiting outside a hospital in New York.
Even better, through a quick mental probe, he sensed intense hatred in the young man's heart.
Perfect talent! Perfect seed of hatred!
Ebony Maw almost burst out laughing. Truly, fate was on his side! This person was the perfect "nail" he had been desperately searching for!
Outside NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Rosen was deep in thought when suddenly, the space around him twisted without warning!
The scene before him—the hospital building, streets, pedestrians—shattered and spun like a broken mirror.
A powerful spatial pulling force instantly enveloped him... then he found it wasn't pulling him very well... "Hmm?"
Rosen quickly retracted his subconscious resistance to allow the other party to take him.
Ebony Maw didn't think much of it, assuming it was simply due to the close proximity to the Sanctum, affecting his magic.
Rosen felt his vision go dark, as if only a moment had passed, yet it also felt like a very long time.
When his sight and senses returned, he found himself no longer in the hospital corridor, but instead on a massive bridge filled with cold metallic textures, covered in unknown high-tech instruments, and with a brilliant starfield outside the viewport!
A tall, thin, grey-skinned, bald alien, dressed in elegant robes, was suspended before him, observing him with interest.
"Welcome to Sanctuary I, fortunate Midgardian."
Ebony Maw spoke in his characteristic, hoarse yet strangely rhythmic voice,
"Do not be alarmed, I have brought you an... opportunity that may change your destiny."
The dizziness from the spatial transfer had not completely faded, but Rosen quickly steadied himself and surveyed his surroundings.
His initial reaction was to wonder—could his inner Source of Magic be too dazzling, attracting the attention of Kamar-Taj?
Was this an early recruitment offer?
But this method of reception was too crude, too direct, wasn't it? Did they not consider the human body's resilience at all?
If his physical qualities weren't breaking human limits every single second, he would have been torn apart just now.
Was Sorcerer Ancient One so unconcerned with details?
And... why did Sorcerer Ancient One seem so low-tier? His initial subconscious resistance had directly made it impossible for the other party to pull him... Was this... However, when he clearly saw the bald man in front of him, and his iconic, superiorly arrogant expression—all fantasies about Kamar-Tajinstantly shattered.
Ebony Maw!
It was Ebony Maw, the head of Thanos's Black Order (at this time, it should be four generals), the strategist of the Black Order!
No, this was the brains of the Black Order? Snatching people in broad daylight on Earth, right under the Sorcerer Supreme's nose?
Had he always been this bold?
Rosen looked Ebony Maw up and down, feeling a bit speechless, but not at all flustered. With the Space Stone in hand, if he could still be trapped by a non-Stone wielder, that would be too embarrassing.
The reason he didn't just leave was because he belatedly realized that the Black Order seemed to be a more reliable existence than Kamar-Taj.
Kamar-Taj might offer sanctuary, but Sorcerer Ancient One's principle of orderly neutrality was bound to restrict many of his actions, especially revenge.
Trying to bring down S.H.I.E.L.D. or even deal with Captain America under Ancient One's watchful eye? The difficulty would be immense, and crossing the line slightly could lead to him being stopped.
After all, what Ancient One valued was a certain future, and if he tried to change the future, becoming that variable, who knew if Ancient One would act against him.
Not to mention whether he could even defeat her for now, just the eye of agamotto lighting up and trying to negotiate would annoy him to death.
False negotiations involve both parties negotiating, back and forth with verbal sparring.
True negotiations, with the magnanimity of a great power, mean you accept my terms, there is no second choice.
But the Black Order? Thanos?
This was like someone bringing a pillow when he was sleepy! And it had to be a magical cosmic memory foam one!
Chapter 8 I Serve 'Rosen'
They are enemies of order, they possess the power to dominate the stars, and they wouldn't even bat an eye at S.H.I.E.L.D. on Earth!
With thoughts racing, Rosen quickly suppressed all outward emotions, his face only showing a perfectly measured blankness and wariness, like a bewildered, ordinary Earthling suddenly taken captive.
Ebony Maw completely interpreted Rosen's brief 'dullness' as a normal reaction to the unknown and powerful, and he was even more pleased.
The more 'simple', the easier to control.
"Come with me, Midgardian."
Ebony Maw said in his hoarse voice, turning elegantly and floating towards the depths of the bridge,
"I will take you to audience with a great being. This will be your supreme honor."
Rosen silently followed, his gaze quickly sweeping over the Sanctuary I's magnificent and oppressive internal structure, committing every detail to memory.
Soon, they arrived in an even more expansive hall. At the far end, on a massive, throne-like chair, sat a purple giant of immense stature, clad in golden armor.
He leaned on one hand, his gaze lowered, as if in contemplation, or perhaps surveying everything.
Just sitting there, he exuded a suffocating dominance and majesty.
Thanos!
Below the throne, three other figures, each distinct but radiating powerful auras, stood by—Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, and Black Dwarf.
The Black Order (excluding Ebony Maw) were all gathered here.
Corvus Glaive was indifferent, Proxima Midnight was scornful, and Black Dwarf merely cast a curious glance.
Ebony Maw stepped forward, bowing slightly: "Great Father, I have brought you a 'key' from Midgard."
Thanos slowly raised his eyelids, his profound gaze sweeping over Rosen without the slightest ripple, instead looking at Ebony Maw, awaiting his explanation.
Ebony Maw immediately laid out his plan:
"This person possesses a vast magical talent I have never seen before, a true treasure of the Universe. More importantly, he harbors intense hatred for certain groups on Earth. We can grant him power, guide him to assault Kamar-Taj's defense system, create chaos from within, and clear obstacles for us..."
However, he hadn't finished speaking.
"Enough, Ebony Maw." Thanos's voice was deep and powerful, directly interrupting him.
Thanos slowly shook his head, a hint of disappointment at his subordinate's naive idea in his eyes:
"You still underestimate the Sorcerer Supreme too much. She has guarded Earth for centuries, witnessed countless dimensional conspiracies and invasions. To think that a mere Earthling, gifted but untaught, could shake her defenses? That idea is too naive."
"Father, I..." Ebony Maw still wanted to argue.
Proxima Midnight, standing nearby, let out a merciless sneer:
"Heh heh, Ebony Maw, is this the 'hope' you wasted Sanctuary I's energy bringing back? A weak, frail human who looks like he could be squashed with a single slap? Your brain is truly getting more ridiculous, just like your head."
Her scornful gaze swept over Rosen, as if looking at an ant.
Though Corvus Glaive said nothing, his folded arms and indifferent eyes conveyed the same attitude.
Ebony Maw's plan was publicly rejected, and to be mocked by Proxima Midnight made a crack instantly appear in his elegant mask, a sinister anger flashing in his eyes.
This anger, unable to be directed at Thanos or Proxima Midnight, naturally turned to the source of his 'humiliation'—Rosen.
He suddenly turned to Rosen, raising a gaunt finger, and powerful telekinetic force instantly gripped Rosen's throat like an invisible giant hand!
He wanted to crush this useless Midgardian bug to salvage some face!
"Since Father doesn't need you, then you are useless trash!" Ebony Maw's voice became shrill.
Facing this sudden, fatal attack, Rosen did not, as Ebony Maw expected, struggle in terror or suffocate to death.
He still stood there, not even changing his expression.
His body, enhanced by the Super Serum, allowed him to resist this sudden strangling force, though it made his breathing slightly difficult.
Just as Ebony Maw was slightly surprised and preparing to increase the force, Rosen spoke.
His voice was surprisingly calm, even carrying a faint hint of mockery, echoing clearly through the hall:
"Weakness and ignorance have never been obstacles to survival..."
He paused, his gaze fearlessly passing over the astonished Ebony Maw, directly meeting the eyes on the throne that had suddenly sharpened.
"...Arrogance is."
These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, making everyone present momentarily stunned.
Then, Rosen clearly spoke the name:
"Wouldn't you agree, Thanos, the last survivor of Titan?"
Silence!
A deathly silence!
The scorn on Corvus Glaive's and Proxima Midnight's faces instantly froze, turning to shock and a hint of killing intent.
Black Dwarf let out a confused growl.
Ebony Maw's telekinetic grip unconsciously loosened.
A primitive human, in their eyes, from the remote Planet 'Midgard', not only called Father by name but also revealed the secret of his home Planet, and even used a philosophical statement to precisely counter Thanos's earlier assessment!
Thanos's previously lowered eyelids fully lifted, and those eyes, containing endless wisdom and oppressive power, for the first time truly and seriously focused on the diminutive human Rosen.
After a brief silence, Rosen's words were like ice water poured into boiling oil, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire hall!
"Arrogance!" Corvus Glaive's scythe instantly appeared in his hand, radiating murderous intent.
"You seek death!" Proxima Midnight's spear also gleamed with a deadly cold light; she was almost ready to rush forward and impale this audacious human.
Black Dwarf let out an angry roar, his massive battle-axe thudding heavily on the ground, making the metal floor tremble.
Ebony Maw was even more shocked and furious, his telekinetic power re-condensing, and this time it would be far more than just a simple choke!
However, at this tense, explosive moment.
"Stop."
Thanos's voice was not loud, but carried an undeniable authority, instantly freezing the movements of all his subordinates like a stasis spell.
He slowly rose from the throne, his colossal body bringing a mountain-like oppressive force. He walked down the steps, one by one, to stand before Rosen, scrutinizing this small yet audacious human from above. His gaze was no longer indifferent as before, but filled with inquiry and a hint of... curiosity.
"You are very interesting." Thanos's deep voice rumbled, "Whom do you serve? What is your purpose in coming to my ship?"
He had already realized that the person before him was by no means the 'pawn' Ebony Maw believed could be easily controlled.
This calm, composed demeanor, and knowledge of his information, all indicated that he was no ordinary Earthling.
Perhaps... a thought arose in Thanos's mind: This person might have deliberately allowed Ebony Mawto 'capture' him.
Facing the direct interrogation of the Universe's overlord, Rosen felt the air around him grow thick and heavy; the pressure Thanos exerted on him was even greater than he had imagined.
Damn it, so how much was exaggerated in the movies, where an ordinary human at their limit, with a Planet-level 'treasure', could fight this guy to a draw?
But there was no time to think more; he slightly raised his head, meeting Thanos's gaze, and replied in an almost aria tone:
"I serve no one. If there must be an answer..."
He paused, then said, word for word:
"I serve 'Rosen'."
Chapter 9 I am a prophet, knowing all things!
Thanos's brow twitched imperceptibly:
"Rosen? Who is he? Some ancient being hidden on Earth? Or a lord of some dimension?"
Rosen's lips curved into a strange smile. He shook his head, his voice clear and firm:
"No. 'Rosen' is not a being you are familiar with; you would never have heard his name before this. He is the Prophet, the eye that perceives past and future, the whisperer of the Universe's truth. He knows everything, understands everything."
He began his impromptu "boasting," his tone filled with confidence, even fanaticism:
"He knows the glory and fall of Titan, the distribution and destiny of the Infinity Stones, the ultimate answer to the Universe's balance, and even... the deepest desires and fears of everyone present."
These words were incredibly arrogant, like the ramblings of a madman.
Thanos's gaze deepened, and he pressed on:
"Then, where is this Prophet 'Rosen' now?"
The smile on Rosen's face widened. He raised his hand, lightly tapping his temple, then slowly spread his arms as if embracing the entire hall.
"He is everywhere, yet nowhere," his voice carried a mesmerizing, bewitching power.
"But at this moment, his will, his gaze, is watching you, Thanos, through me—this mortal shell."
"He is right before your eyes."
Silence fell once more.
But this time, the silence was broken by Proxima Midnight's harsh laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Ebony Maw, you didn't just bring back a good-for-nothing, you brought back a madman!" She laughed, shaking all over, pointing her spear at Rosen.
"You? A Prophet? All-knowing? This is the funniest joke I've heard in thousands of years!"
Even the simple-minded Black Dwarf understood that this was boasting, letting out a mocking, guttural chuckle, as if watching a comical performance.
Facing their taunts, Rosen was not angered; he didn't even lessen the smile on his face by a fraction.
He just slowly turned his head, his gaze first falling on Proxima Midnight, his eyes becoming as sharp as knives:
"Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive's loyal hound. Your creed is 'conquest is existence,' and your weakness... is your almost blind, pathetic devotion to Corvus Glaive. Your purpose seems to be solely to prove his worth; once you lose him, your edge will vanish. Truly... pitiful."
The smile on Proxima Midnight's face instantly froze, replaced by incredulous shock and the fury of having a raw nerve touched!
Her relationship with Corvus Glaive was complex and profound, yet it was so contemptuously dissected by a stranger!
Rosen's gaze then shifted to Black Dwarf, his tone carrying a pure contempt for fools:
"And you, Black Dwarf. The epitome of brute strength and no brains. Your creed probably only consists of 'smash,' doesn't it? Your weakness is your empty head. Apart from brute force, you are useless. In the face of true wisdom, you barely even qualify as a pawn."
"Roar!!!" Although Black Dwarf couldn't fully understand all the words, he clearly felt the naked contempt!
His huge eyes instantly turned blood red, his reason swallowed by rage! He let out a deafening roar, and his massive battle-axe was raised with a crash, carrying the power to destroy everything, slamming down towards Rosen's head!
He wanted to smash this hateful insect into a pulp!
This strike, born of fury, was astonishingly fast!
However, just as the battle-axe was about to touch Rosen's scalp—
"Buzz!"
A powerful hand instantly appeared, restraining Black Dwarf's arm and his battle-axe, preventing it from falling even an inch!
It was Thanos who had acted; he had descended from his throne at some point and appeared beside Rosen.
He instantly stopped the enraged Black Dwarf.
Thanos's gaze was fixed on Rosen, his eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity and scrutiny.
If earlier revealing his identity could have been a coincidence or learned from ancient records, then the incisive, painful dissection of the two Black Order Generals just now could absolutely not be explained by coincidence!
This human... or rather, the "Rosen" he spoke of... might truly know something.
Thanos's massive body leaned slightly forward, his eyes, which had seen the rise and fall of the Universe, intently fixed on Rosen.
"You say you perceive all things, knowing past and future," Thanos's voice was deep and oppressive.
"Then, tell me about myself. Tell me, in your—or the 'Prophet' you represent—eyes, what am I?"
This was an extremely dangerous test. Praise might be seen as flattery and superficiality, while an attack could immediately lead to destruction.
Everyone in the hall focused their gaze on Rosen; the Black Order Generals even held a hint of cruel anticipation, eager for a show.
However, no tension or deliberation, as they had expected, appeared on Rosen's face.
Instead, he slowly, slowly adopted an expression—it wasn't fear, nor awe, nor anger, nor even judgment.
It was... pity.
A pity as if seeing the core of a tragedy through endless time.
He spoke in a calm, even slightly compassionate tone, yet his words were like the most precise surgical blade, dissecting Thanos's heavily armored heart:
"Thanos... in the eyes of the world, you are the Destroyer, the butcher, the Mad Titan who brings Death."
"But in the eyes of 'Rosen,' what I see... is a Prophet cursed by fate, a martyr... burdened by the souls of his entire homeworld."
At this word, Ebony Maw's pupils sharply contracted. The mockery on Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight's faces instantly froze.
Even Black Dwarf seemed to sense the unusual shift in atmosphere, letting out an uneasy growl.
They were the earliest followers of Thanos; they had, more or less, perceived the twisted "savior" complex deep within him, so different from his cruel exterior, but no one had ever dared to use such... sympathetic words to describe him.
Rosen's voice, as if imbued with a certain magic, continued to flow slowly:
"I saw the prosperity and wisdom of Planet Titan, and I also saw its inevitable fate of resource depletion and self-destruction.
I saw a solitary figure who had foreseen all of this. He issued warnings, proposed that cold yet perhaps only solution—to randomly, fairly, and without any discrimination, eliminate half of all life."
"But his compatriots... they refused. They denounced it as madness, called him a monster. They chose... to arrogantly walk towards collective extinction."
"You survived, Thanos. You are not just the last survivor of Planet Titan... you are the living proof of its ultimate end.
You witnessed firsthand that your theory was correct, but this proof came at the cost of losing everything, of being cursed with eternal solitude."
"So, you are no longer content with saving one Planet. You have come to regard this bloody, verified 'truth' as a 'destiny' that must be implemented throughout the entire Universe.
You slaughter, you destroy, but deep down, you tragically believe that you are 'saving.'"
"You do not enjoy killing; you are merely carrying out a sacred mission that you believe no one understands, but which you must complete.
You have transformed yourself into the most terrifying demon in the Universe, yet what you seek is a home... that you have long lost and can never return to."
"Is this not the most sorrowful, most pitiable thing in the Universe?"
Chapter 10: S.H.I.E.L.D., please stop calling. I'm afraid Thanos will misunderstand me.
As Rosen's words fell, the entire Sanctuary I hall plunged into a deathly silence.
Seeing everyone's reactions, Rosen knew that his plan was already halfway successful.
In his previous life, due to constant poverty, his body had always been very thin. Even after becoming an Agent later, his physical fitness was always a hindrance.
But conversely, apart from skills that required physical exertion… he scored full marks in everything else, which, of course, included art, public speaking, and politics.
The Black Order were all deeply shocked! The human's words struck their understanding like a heavy hammer, piercing through the layers of armor surrounding Thanos's true heart!
The Black Order were different from Thanos's other subordinates; they truly gathered around him based on their shared belief in his ideals.
In other words, the Black Order was essentially a terrorist group with one major psychopath at its core and four minor psychopaths as its high-ranking members. In other TV shows, such a psychopathic group usually wouldn't last three episodes.
The reason they became the ultimate villains was… they were simply too strong in combat.
Thanos stood silently in place.
The muscles on his face seemed to twitch slightly, and deep within those eyes, which always held endless majesty and indifference, something… incredibly subtle rippled for an instant.
It was as if a stone had been thrown into a lake that had been calm for eons, causing ripples.
But it was only for an instant.
Thanos quickly returned to his unperturbed demeanor. He slowly spoke, his voice still deep, but seemingly lacking some of the absolute coldness from before:
"An interesting interpretation. Full of… poetry. But this is still just an interpretation, a speculation based on known information. I have never hidden my birth, nor my experiences…"
He took a step forward, his colossal shadow almost completely engulfing Rosen.
"That's not enough. Tell me, prophet of Midgard, or… Rosen. You went to such lengths to come before me in this manner, what is your purpose? Do not fob me off with vague talk of peering into destiny."
The fish finally bit the hook… Faced with Thanos's interrogation, he knew his groundwork was sufficient. It was time to reveal the most crucial information to validate his identity as a "prophet."
He slowly put away the pitying expression on his face, replacing it with calmness and composure.
He looked up, meeting Thanos's soul-devouring gaze without fear, and said in the most certain tone:
"My purpose does not conflict with yours. In fact, perhaps it can even assist you."
"And I know your ultimate goal—it is precisely the tragic fate of Titan that made you believe the Universe's existential crisis must be prevented in advance."
"Since the birth of the Universe, six Infinity Stones of supreme power have appeared. Legend has it that they possess omnipotent power, especially when all six are together."
"Therefore, you desire to gather all six Infinity Stones."
"Because only their combined power can allow you to achieve that grand, 'fair,' and 'benevolent' wish—"
He did not utter the phrase, 'and also psychopathic.'
Rosen's voice echoed clearly in the hall, every word like thunder:
"—A single snap, to randomly, equally, and painlessly… eliminate half of all life in the entire Universe."
"!!!"
Dead silence!
A silence more complete than any before!
Corvus Glaive tightened his scythe, Proxima Midnight held her breath, Black Dwarf's mouth hung open in bewilderment, and Ebony Maw's eyes burst with an incredible gleam!
This plan was 'Father's' deepest, most core objective!
Aside from the four core members who followed 'Father' out of ideals and shared understanding, no outsider in the Universe could possibly know!
This human… he… In this moment, no one doubted the authenticity of Rosen's "prophet" identity!
All skepticism, mockery, and disdain vanished at this instant, leaving only unparalleled shock and an indescribable trace of fear.
Thanos stared intently at Rosen, for a long, long time.
On his purple, rock-like face, a faint… smile finally appeared.
That smile was complex and hard to decipher, containing surprise, admiration, a subtle feeling of finding a "kindred spirit," and even a sense of… confirmation, as if destiny had finally shown its signs.
"Very well…"
Thanos's voice resonated again, breaking the frozen air.
"Rosen… is it? You have earned the right to speak with me."
Thanos's rare, slightly approving smile slowly receded, but the scrutiny in his gaze did not disappear; instead, it became a more serious consideration.
"Rosen," his deep voice echoed in the hall,
"Your 'knowledge' proves your worth. The realization of the Universe's destiny requires various forces. Now, I formally invite you to join my Black Order."
He paused slightly, then stated his conditions:
"Your status will be below the Black Order, reporting directly to me. You will have the authority to command a portion of the Outrider legions and can utilize some of our resources for… realizing your value, and assisting me in collecting the Infinity Stones."
Almost the instant Thanos's words fell, the cold system prompt, audible only to Rosen, rang out again:
"Ding! Destiny Choice triggered!"
"Option One: To hell with S.H.I.E.L.D.! Join Thanos and embrace the dark destiny."
"Reward: Investigation Skill (can investigate all items and concepts, converting their detailed information into visible data templates), Weapon Master (your combat prowess is admired throughout the Universe; all things in the world can be weapons, even a common lamppost can unleash terrifying power beyond mythical weapons in your hands), Power of the Eternal Progenitor (it's time to let that disgraceful little brat, Thanos, see what the true power of the Eternal is! Note: Power will gradually unlock to adapt to the host)."
"Option Two: Loyalty! The never-falling Stars and Stripes."
"Reward: 1. Agent's Glasses (with night vision, but requires charging). 2. Restore S.H.I.E.L.D.Probationary Agent status (I believe you can now resolve Captain America's difficulties and gain his approval). 3. Advanced Agent Combat Skills (Congratulations, you can now go three-seven with Black Widow, the kind where she makes you attend your funeral seven days later)."
This system must have been annoyed by S.H.I.E.L.D. in its previous life; the answer to this multiple-choice question was practically plastered on his face.
The rewards for the first option were each incredibly powerful! The Investigation Skill was comparable to a top-tier appraisal technique, Weapon Master instantly made him a combat legend, and the Power of the Eternal Progenitor… this was practically a direct ticket to becoming a top-tier combatant in the Universe! And it clearly rivaled, and possibly even surpassed, Thanos!
The second option? What a joke! He didn't even bother to finish reading it.
There was no need to hesitate.
"I accept your invitation, Thanos," Rosen said calmly, as if agreeing to a trivial matter.
"However," he changed his tone, his gaze sweeping over the Black Order, whose expressions varied, "I have two demands."