The Ultron event finally came to a close.
Although Ultron was not completely eradicated, fugitive Tony Stark along with three members of the sewer laboratory team, initiated a new round of pursuit against Ultron.
With Tony intellect, resolving the Ultron issue was not a significant problem.
After being designated a fugitive, Stark Industries fell into temporary chaos.
However, Pepper Potts, wielding the share transfer agreement signed by Tony previously, faced the shareholders again and once more became the chairman of Stark Industries, thereby quelling the storm.
Wayne Enterprises.
Under the direction of the newly inaugurated President Rodriguez, it had become an indestructible part of the military.
And the former Secretary of Defense, John Keller, also saw who the ultimate beneficiaries were in this event.
The Justice League.
John Keller put aside his previous scheming, thought for several days, and dared not call Anton.
Instead, he spoke briefly with an old friend, J. Jonah Jameson.
He was aware that Jameson would definitely relay the content of this conversation to Anton.
In other words, Anton would definitely receive his gesture of goodwill.
After all, to some extent, Wayne Enterprises had become one of the largest domestic powerhouses in America.
Although smaller in scale compared to Stark Industries and OsCorp, its control over clandestine armed forces and political allies far exceeded the former two.
The old friend, J. Jonah Jameson previous wish to build a massive conglomerate had become a reality.
Anton was well aware of this, but he did not pay much attention.
With the power he wielded, just Superman alone could dominate the entire planet.
His sights had long been set beyond Earth, not just on this planet.
Of course, Earth was ultimately the base.
In the Marvel storyline, the American territory, especially the heart of the base, was naturally better controlled by himself.
At that moment.
In the sewer laboratory.
Anton was communicating with Tony.
"We've obtained quite a bit of interesting information from the several bioengineered bodies left by Ultron," said Anton.
"For instance, the skeletons of these bodies are all made of vibranium.
Moreover, the flesh part of these bodies was created using a technology called the Regeneration Cradle, or you could call it the Cradle of Life,
which is the research achievement of Dr. Helen Cho from a high-tech institute in South Korea."
"Helen Cho…"
Tony frowned, the name sounded somewhat familiar.
"The Regeneration Cradle…"
However, he was quite familiar with this technology.
"It can quickly heal wounds, instantly build molecular bridges, allowing synthetic biological tissues to integrate with the human body…"
Tony muttered to himself, understanding the origin of Ultron bioengineered bodies.
Although the Regeneration Cradle he knew before couldn't directly create human bodies, for Ultron, he only needed a shell, the inner skeleton and nerves were driven by his own programs, so there was a natural overlap with the needs of artificial intelligence.
"So, Dr. Helen Cho is also a recipient of the Ultron chip?" asked Tony.
"Correct."
Anton nodded. "But we found out after the fact that when Ultron started the rebellion, Dr. Helen Cho had already left South Korea by plane, and her current whereabouts are still unknown."
"Can't she be located through the chip?"
Tony asked further.
"Dr. Helen Cho is a special existence for Ultron. With her help, he can regenerate indefinitely. Although we've cut off his networking mechanism, this does not mean he can't replicate his program. It just makes the process more complex."
Anton said, "So, to find Ultron, you must first find Dr. Helen Cho. Also, the vibranium is key if Ultron wants to build a body that satisfies him, he must have enough vibranium."
"Understood."
Tony nodded, relieved. "Indeed, collaborating with you all was the right decision."
If you can't beat them, join them.
He gradually accepted the reality of working with the Justice League.
Although he had become a publicly known fugitive, it seemed that the White House and the military guessed he was hiding with the Justice League and didn't make any further comments.
After all, he had become a fugitive because the public opinion was against him.
As long as he waited for the right moment to come forward, revoking his fugitive status would naturally follow.
Tony understood his situation well and wasn't panicked.
"Dr. Helen Cho, and vibranium..."
Tony pondered for a moment and then said, "I'll start investigating immediately."
Pausing, he looked at Anton and finally asked, "Does the Justice League know the whereabouts of Rogers?"
"Captain America?"
Anton was taken aback and looked Tony over.
"After Rogers disappeared, I searched for him for a while but came up with nothing."
Tony explained, "There are few people in this world who could help him, and I initially suspected it was you guys, but later I felt that was not the case."
"I don't know."
Anton was straightforward. "It indeed an unresolved mystery. In fact, we still haven't found out who took Rogers away."
"Okay."
Tony didn't think Anton was lying. He nodded, bid farewell to Anton, and went into the lab to tinker with his devices.
Anton curiously watched him, unable to understand what he was seeing.
"He programming."
Donatello from the sewer lab team, who had left work early to discuss the Ultron event, suddenly appeared, noticing Anton confusion and volunteered an explanation.
"Programming?"
Anton was startled.
"It looks like he about to create another artificial intelligence..."
Donatello shrugged, "Hopefully this time, he won't get carried away."
"I suppose he won't."
Anton smiled.
177A Bleecker Street, Manhattan.
As Anton and Tony were talking, Shazam appeared in this house, meeting Daniel Drumm.
"Do you need me for something?"
Shazam was quite curious, turning his head to look at the items in the room and noticed the equipment related to Doctor Strange, prominently displayed in a glass case.
The most conspicuous was the red Cloak of Levitation.
The cloak darted up and down in the glass case and banged against the glass as if it was trying to communicate with Shazam.
"You seem eager to come out..."
Shazam tapped the glass, responding to the cloak.
"It doesn't really want to come out it just been a long time since anyone talked to it. It just bored."
Daniel came down from the ladder from the second floor to meet Shazam.
Then, with a swift wave of his hand.
The scene before Shazam abruptly changed, and along with Daniel, they arrived in a tearoom, with two steaming cups of tea in front of them.
"Please."
Daniel gestured with his hand, and seeing Shazam surprised expression, he couldn't help but smile slightly, "This is my tearoom, very few guests get to drink tea I've brewed myself."
"My honor."
Shazam nodded, and then repeated, "Daniel, you didn't ask me here just for tea, did you?"
"Just like I helped you guys a few days ago, I hope you can help me out as well," Daniel said.
"Say it."
Shazam nodded, "As long as it something I can do, I won't refuse."
He had a good relationship with Daniel, and with the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One still around, maintaining a good relationship with Kamar-Taj was also beneficial for him.
"You should know that Kamar-Taj has established three great sanctums in this world: New York, London, and Hong Kong."
Daniel continued, "Each of these sanctums has its own guardian, and I am the guardian of the New York Sanctum."
"Wait."
Shazam was curious, "You're talking about something related to the New York Sanctum?"
"Yes."
Daniel nodded, straightforwardly making a request that left Shazam dumbfounded.
"I hope you can replace me and take over as the guardian of the New York Sanctum."
After saying this, Shazam was stunned and did not respond for a while.
Daniel smiled and sipped his tea, watching Shazam, his eyes still smiling, as if patiently waiting for an answer.
"Why?"
Shazam frowned, "Why do you want to step down?"
"Because this job has started to exceed my capabilities, and according to prophecy, this is currently the best outcome you can do better than I did," Daniel explained.
"I can do better?"
Shazam looked at Daniel in surprise, not doubting his own abilities but rather feeling like the other party was predicting the future like the Ancient One in the original storyline.
According to the original storyline, Daniel Drumm was not far from death.
He would die at the hands of a traitor of Kamar-Taj, a follower of the Dark Dimension lord, Dormammu, named Kaecilius.
After establishing a friendship with Daniel, Shazam had planned to intervene when the storyline unfolded to help Daniel escape death, but he did not expect Daniel to actively seek to change his own fate, and it seemed as if he had received some kind of revelation, which was quite unexpected for Shazam.
"Is it the Ancient One prophecy?"
Shazam couldn't help asking.
"No."
Daniel shook his head, "This is a future I saw myself I will die at the hands of a traitor of Kamar-Taj, right here in this sanctum."
"Did you use the Eye of Agamotto?"
Shazam understood, his eyes widening in surprise.
Daniel did not answer, but his silence let Shazam know the answer.
Daniel had used the Eye of Agamotto to foresee the future, saw his own demise as in the original storyline, and thus approached Shazam, trying to escape his tragic fate by transferring the guardianship of the New York Sanctum.
"I didn't intend to deceive you, Shazam. Seeing my own death in the future scared me.
I cannot accept dying in this room, and the intense fear made me feel that I should proactively do something," Daniel said calmly,
"I don't want to run from death. But for now, I truly don't want to die I still have many regrets left unfulfilled."
"Okay."
Shazam nodded, "Since you've said so much, I'll take the position."
"Don't worry."
Upon hearing this, Daniel smiled, "Although I'm asking you to step in for me, I won't just watch danger approach.
My intention for you to take over is so you can hold down New York while I go and track down the enemy, trying to nip the danger in the bud."
"If I succeed, I will take back the position from you… If I fail, you will be my chosen successor as the guardian of the New York Sanctum."
Daniel intention was clear.
He didn't plan to make Shazam a scapegoat but intended to confront the enemy himself, aiming to quell the crisis at its inception.
"Good luck."
Shazam expression was odd.
The current progression of the story was somewhat out of his control, yet this was also within his expectations to some extent.
Ever since his arrival in this universe, the storyline had been constantly altered by the flapping of the butterfly wings.
Some changes were normal.
It would be truly strange if there were no changes from beginning to end.
After speaking, Daniel tossed the keys of the house to Shazam and then drew a portal.
Stepping through, he disappeared to the other side of the Earth, vanishing from Shazam view.
Shazam watched the space opposite him, guessing that it was the location of Kamar-Taj.
Then, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, as if a pair of eyes were gazing back at him.
The Ancient One!
Shortly after, the portal disappeared, and the sensation of being watched faded.
Shazam breathed a sigh of relief.
"Daniel actually used the Eye of Agamotto to see into the future... Now things get interesting.
If Daniel deals with Kaecilius early, will Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange, still inherit the mantle of the Sorcerer Supreme as in the original plot?"
This was a question.
Just like the Ancient One said in the original storyline, Strange was the most exceptional among all the Sorcerer Supremes.
But if this most exceptional Sorcerer Supreme deviates from his original destiny, will he still become the truly most exceptional Sorcerer Supreme, as described by the Ancient One?
Or rather, will he just become an exceptional sorcerer?
Shazam stroked his chin.
Actually, whether Strange becomes Doctor Strange has quite an impact on Shazam, and on Anton as well.
The Time Stone, the Eye of Agamotto, after all, is kept in Kamar-Taj, a treasure in the hands of the Sorcerer Supreme.
If Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange does not appear, the current peak of Earth strength, the Sorcerer Supreme the Ancient One, would not choose to die easily.
If the Ancient One does not die, with Anton current wariness of the Ancient One, obtaining the Time Stone from her is a significant problem.
Only in the brief period after the Ancient One death and before Strange takes over the mantle can Anton easily get the Eye of Agamotto, that is, the Time Stone.
As for the threat posed by Kaecilius and the lord of the Dark Dimension, Dormammu, it unreasonable to think the dark Justice League can't handle it.
Although the lord of the Dark Dimension is powerful, Anton can replicate Doctor Strange tactics against Dormammu.
Even more, Anton has enough Infinity Stones in his possession that he has many methods and means to concoct a countermeasure.
Anton current adversaries are no longer just represented by a Dormammu.
"What a headache!"
Shazam sighed, deciding to leave these troublesome matters to his main body why should a mere avatar like him waste brainpower?
"Guardian of the New York Sanctum…"
Before leaving, he glanced at the many magical items in the glass display case and on the wall mounts in the room, cracking a smile.
"Without considering the troubles that come later, just having this title is quite interesting."
The next moment, he disappeared.