Unlike the first time Mar-Vell came to Earth—when Josh wouldn't have noticed if it weren't for the falling UFO wreckage—this time was different.
Thanks to the advanced technology from the Star Wars world, which had been adapted by Yuri, many detection devices had been set up throughout the solar system over the past few years.
As soon as Mar-Vell's spaceship exited the jump point, hidden sensors nearby immediately picked it up.
Since the spaceship's signal and model had already been recorded, it wasn't treated as an unidentified flying object.
Of course, Mar-Vell didn't know any of this.
Even though the two sides were somewhat familiar with each other, the fact that Moon had changed hands and the new arrangements within the solar system couldn't be revealed. If Mar-Vell found out, Peggy Carter would too, and many of Josh's secrets would be exposed.
Josh already knew in advance, but he had to act like he didn't. He waited until Mar-Vell's spaceship quietly landed at the foot of the Alps and headed for Neuschwanstein Castle. It was only then that the guards at the castle "informed" Josh.
After being notified, Josh flew back to Austria immediately. He brought Margaret along and had the family's wizard open a portal straight to the castle.
Compared to all the advanced technology and powerful forces under Josh's control, the wizards were actually the least secretive part.
Josh's connection with both Kamar-Taj and the Kirin Tor was just a partnership.
Even if Mar-Vell and Carter found out about them, they wouldn't learn anything important about Josh.
Especially since a few wizards who didn't get along with Josh had gone missing in the past few years.
Kamar-Taj had also quietly started its own clean-up effort years ago—there weren't many dark wizards left from this generation, and now they had basically disappeared.
"Welcome back to Earth. Since you arrived unexpectedly, Carter hasn't had time to return. If you want to see her, you'll have to wait a bit," Josh said right away when he saw Mar-Vell in the guest hall of Neuschwanstein Castle.
However, Mar-Vell, who was sipping tea, suddenly put her cup down and charged at Josh as soon as she saw him. From her fierce look, it was clear that she wanted to slap him hard.
With Josh's current level, Mar-Vell's skills weren't a threat to him anymore.
Before Josh could react, however, Margaret, who had entered with him, made the first move.
Sure, they were all familiar, but what was with trying to hit her husband the moment they met?
Margaret happened to be in the mood to test her strength, so she stepped forward, blocked Josh, and threw a punch at Mar-Vell.
Mar-Vell didn't expect Margaret to react so quickly or to try to hit her.
Still, she didn't take Margaret's seemingly light punch seriously. She casually tried to push Margaret aside, not wanting to hurt her.
Then Josh saw what it meant to be launched like a human missile.
Mar-Vell flew backward, crashing through several expensive tables and chairs before slamming hard into the castle's thick stone wall.
Hiss... That looked painful.
Those tables and chairs were rare antiques looted by the Germans from French palaces. Now they're just wreckage.
"Josh, did I use too much force?" Margaret asked nervously, seeing Mar-Vell still slumped against the wall, not moving.
Josh was speechless. Too much force? Of course it was! She's completely dazed!
But even though he thought that, he couldn't say it out loud.
"She brought this on herself. She clearly didn't take you seriously; she didn't even defend herself. It's not your fault. Besides, you were protecting me, right?" Josh comforted Margaret by putting his arm around her shoulder.
"You two… I'm the one who got hurt, okay!?"
Lying against the wall, Mar-Vell heard their conversation and silently screamed to the heavens amid the pain shooting through her body.
What the hell just happened?
She remembered that Josh's wife was just a regular human woman—besides being pretty, she didn't have anything special. So why did she have such terrifying strength now?
"Are you all right? After you left six years ago, Margaret and I had an adventure. We gained some special powers—we're no longer ordinary people," Josh said, after comforting Margaret, walking over to Mar-Vell and showing a bit of "concern."
"Heh, I'm fine. An adventure? Don't tell me you got vampire powers or something?" Mar-Vell said through gritted teeth as she forced herself up.
"Oh? You already know?" Josh blinked in surprise.
"Hah, of course I do. But do you know what kind of trouble the passenger you had me transport has caused across the universe?" Mar-Vell glared at him, her voice full of anger.
So that's it. No wonder she tried to slap him the moment they met—it was all because of Dracula.
From what Mar-Vell said, it sounded like the vampire ancestor had caused a lot of chaos in the universe.
But honestly, no matter what Dracula did out there, Josh couldn't care less as long as it didn't threaten Earth.
"How would I know? Why don't you sit down and explain?" Josh shrugged.
"Hmph!" Seeing that Josh wasn't taking it seriously, Mar-Vell snorted coldly and went to find an undamaged chair.
Josh wasn't in a rush either. First, he had people clean up the mess in the guest hall, replace the furniture, and serve fresh tea, snacks, and fruit. Then, Josh and Margaret sat down calmly, ready to hear Mar-Vell's story.
After hearing everything Dracula had done in space, however, both Josh and Margaret were left speechless.
Wow, the Impaler really lived up to his name.
At least five small civilizations were completely destroyed.
Several well-known galactic organizations were wiped out.
He founded the "Blood Pact," a group that terrorized the entire galaxy.
He clashed several times with Thanos's army.
Even the Kree Empire was dragged into the conflict.
After leaving Earth, Dracula had gone completely wild.
Only now did Josh fully realize that what he had sent out into the universe… was a true, man-eating monster.
And despite the shock, he couldn't help but feel relieved.
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