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*****
"Hank!"
"Mike!"
Amidst the sounds of warm greetings, the two men embraced.
"Long time no see."
Mike looked Hank Pym up and down, assessing his old friend. "You look good. You've still got that same energy."
"That is a given," Hank Pym laughed, patting Mike on the shoulder before turning to share a hug with Raven. "Welcome, the forever beautiful Raven."
Raven smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
"Uncle Hank, this is a gift for you."
Gwen handed several gift boxes to Hank Pym, while Little Liam, standing beside her, hurriedly held out the bottle of red wine in his hands.
Hank Pym accepted them with a smile.
"Gwen is getting more and more beautiful. You're a real young lady now."
Gwen beamed happily. "And you are getting more and more charming, Uncle Hank."
"You really know what to say!" Hank Pym laughed so hard the wrinkles on his face bunched together in delight.
"And this must be Liam... he's grown so much!"
Hank looked at the well-behaved Little Liam, his tone filled with genuine amazement. Although he had heard about Liam's situation, actually seeing the boy in person made it hard to hide the surprise in his eyes.
"Uncle Mike! Come on in!"
Hope cheerfully greeted the Kent family, ushering them inside. Meanwhile, Hank Pym, carrying the gift boxes and the bottle of wine, followed behind like an old butler who had gone out shopping for the masters of the house.
Hank Pym's face darkened slightly at the realization.
"Let me take those."
Clark walked over to Hank with a smile and took the items from his hands.
Hank Pym nodded with satisfaction.
This kid has good judgment. Truly worthy of being my future son-in-law.
Back inside the house, Hope served drinks to everyone and sat down next to Clark.
Mike and Raven sat opposite Hank. Gwen's eyes darted back and forth between Clark and Hope, shimmering with amusement, while Little Liam looked around curiously, fixated on the ants marching in and out of a corner.
"The reason you came this time..."
"Is for their wedding."
" The wedding..."
"How it's held is entirely up to you."
"The two of them..."
"Are a perfect match!"
"Mike, you..."
"Handsome and charming man!"
The corner of Hank Pym's mouth twitched violently. "Have you no shame? Can you let me finish a single complete sentence?"
"Do you have anything else to say?" Mike looked at Hank with a grin.
Hank opened his mouth, but for a long time, no words came out.
Good grief. It seemed that the matter of Clark and Hope's marriage had been settled in just those few simple sentences.
Of course, the main reason was that the two families were so familiar with each other. The two children had known each other since childhood; there was nothing left to investigate or learn. Both sides were extremely satisfied with the match.
Hank glared at Mike. "You are still as annoying as ever."
"Annoying?" Mike rubbed his chin and spoke in a deep, dramatic voice. "You find me annoying, yet our relationship remains so good, maintaining contact for so many years. This is simply true love."
"Get out, get out, get out!" Hank waved his hand dismissively, feigning irritation.
Mike spread his hands, looking the picture of innocence.
Watching the two bicker, Clark and the others couldn't help but laugh. These two were old friends; only people who had known each other for over twenty years could joke like this.
With the wedding of Hope and Clark settled in just a few words, they chatted idly for a moment before Mike looked toward the staircase.
"Hey, my friend over there, aren't you going to come out and meet us?"
"Haha! I knew I'd be discovered!"
Scott Lang laughed awkwardly and walked out slowly. Seeing everyone looking at him, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
After all, just a few days ago, he was merely a thief. Now, he was standing in front of Mike Kent.
"Hello, my name is Scott Lang. I'm Hank's employee. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Scott introduced himself to Mike with palpable excitement.
Mike nodded at him. "Mike Kent!"
Scott asked excitedly, "Are you really that Mike Kent?"
"If you mean the one from Kent Star... then yes!"
Mike generously admitted his identity. Before arriving, his family had already removed their disguises.
Scott's excitement peaked. "Can I get an autograph?"
An autograph?
Mike was stunned for a moment. This was the first time someone had asked him for an autograph.
"Sure."
He agreed. Under Hank Pym's speechless gaze, Scott pulled a photo and a pen from his pocket and handed them to Mike.
Mike stared at the photo, slightly taken aback.
It was a picture of him sitting on the throne.
"This photo?"
"Your previous video went viral. These photos are sold in many places now."
"Really?" Mike muttered.
Hope smiled. "Of course, Uncle Mike. You have no idea how famous you are right now."
The video of the battle in front of the White House remained the most-viewed video in the world to date. Furthermore, during the recent battle on Kent Star, because there were tourists present, videos had been leaked, making Mike go viral once again and cementing a new legend.
"Haha, I really didn't notice!"
Mike laughed happily and signed his name on the photo.
Scott put it away joyfully, grinning from ear to ear.
"What's there to be so happy about? It's just a photo," Hank Pym grumbled. Seeing Mike's smug face made him feel extremely irked. He reached out a hand to Scott. "Come here, I'll give you an autograph too!"
"What would I want yours for? It doesn't have any value!"
Staring at his signed photo and still riding the high of excitement, Scott blurted out his thoughts subconsciously. Immediately after, he felt two cold gazes land on him.
He shivered involuntarily. Scott looked up stiffly, squeezed out a dry smile at Hank Pym, and turned to run upstairs.
"Ah! I'm going to go practice controlling the ants again!"
"Wait a moment, then come to the kitchen to help me make lunch," Hank said coldly.
Scott shouted an affirmative response as he fled.
Hope and Clark exchanged a glance and shuddered.
Scott Lang had absolutely no idea what was about to happen. He was definitely going to regret this.
I hope it doesn't affect tonight's operation...
No!
It absolutely has to affect tonight's operation!
Hope's eyes lit up.
This was an opportunity!
If Scott Lang passed out from the fumes of her father's cooking, then she would be the one executing the mission tonight!
At the thought of this, Hope actually began to look forward to it.
"Mike! Today you must taste my cooking skills," Hank Pym stated flatly, and without waiting for Mike to refuse, he walked toward the kitchen.
"This old guy, his competitive spirit is still so strong. Honestly..."
Muttering to himself, Mike opened a portal, disappeared from in front of everyone, and returned to his own home.
There were no ingredients here that met his requirements.
Minutes later, under the pitying gazes of Hope and Clark, Scott Lang rushed into the kitchen.
"Sister Hope, that smell won't leak out, will it?" Gwen asked worriedly, swallowing hard. "Maybe we should go outside."
In a short while, this place would be reduced to a 'biochemical' battlefield.
"It's fine," Hope shook her head. "Hank upgraded the kitchen. No smells will escape. It's just that the cooking process is... hard to describe."
"When they come out, we should hide a bit further away," Clark said, rubbing his forehead with a headache.
Everyone nodded frantically.
They had experienced the war between Mike and Hank many times. It was 'tragic' every single time. They didn't want to get caught in the crossfire. Only Scott Lang, who had never experienced this, would agree so readily to help in the kitchen.
Several minutes later, after stashing his photo, Scott walked downstairs happily.
Everyone looked at him with complex expressions.
There was pity, there was admiration...
Scott paused, scratched his hair, and asked in confusion, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Good luck!" Gwen made a cheering gesture at him. "You must protect yourself!"
"?"
Scott was stunned for a moment before realizing Gwen was talking about going to the kitchen.
"Isn't it just helping to cook?" Scott asked, puzzled. "I helped out two days ago, it didn't matter. Hank isn't going to eat me."
He cracked a humorous joke and walked into the kitchen with a smile.
"Sister? Is it very dangerous?" Little Liam asked curiously.
"You'll know in a moment," Gwen said ominously, pulling Little Liam two steps back.
Minutes later, the sound of Scott Lang coughing and screaming rang out.
Everyone shivered involuntarily.
Bam!
Scott threw open the kitchen door.
At this moment, his face was covered in tears. His nose and mouth acted like a sponge, greedily sucking in the fresh air from outside. He reached his hand out toward the group, screaming miserably, "Help me!"
At the same time, a hair-raising stench wafted out of the kitchen.
"Get back in here!"
Hank Pym grabbed Scott by the shoulder and dragged him back inside.
"Save me! Save me!"
Scott screamed shrilly.
He finally understood why Gwen had told him to be careful.
Bang!
Looking at the closed kitchen door, everyone swallowed in terror.
Just how terrifying was the smell inside to drive a man to such a state?
Half an hour later, the kitchen door opened. Everyone's hearts jumped. They held their breath tightly, unconsciously backing away and moving their feet toward the exit.
They were ready to run out at any moment.
"There's no smell?"
Little Liam sniffed gently and asked in confusion.
The group paused and sniffed the air cautiously.
Indeed, there was no smell.
Just as they were wondering, Hank Pym walked out carrying a plate.
He looked at their expressions and gave a soft snort.
"A bunch of cowards, not even as brave as Scott."
Before coming out, Hank had already vented all the smells from the kitchen.
Everyone looked at each other.
"By the way, where is Scott?" Hope asked, looking curiously into the kitchen, her eyes flashing with hope.
If Scott was messed up enough that he couldn't participate in tonight's plan, she would have to do it.
So... Go, Scott!
"He... Help..."
A weak voice drifted out from the kitchen.
Scott was crawling on the floor, dragging himself out of the kitchen with great difficulty.
Mucus and tears covered his face, his eyes were unfocused; he looked as if he had undergone severe torture.
Seeing this scene, everyone shivered and moved even further away from Hank Pym.
Hank glanced at Scott. "Truly useless..."
"Indeed, he's too wasted!" Hope nodded in agreement. But before she could finish her thought, Hank glanced at her.
"Even if he's wasted, he can still complete tonight's mission." He looked at Clark. "Take him to get some air. Ideally, give him some oxygen. I have oxygen tanks upstairs."
Clark nodded, walked over to Scott, lifted him up, and carried him upstairs.
"Uncle Hank, where is the food you made? How come we can't smell anything?"
Gwen's curious gaze fell on the plate in Hank's hand.
"I used a new technology to seal all the flavors inside the food. Only when you put it in your mouth and bite into it will all the delicious flavors explode out."
Gwen was startled and murmured, "A... a bomb?"
"That description is actually quite apt." Hank nodded.
Just then, a spinning portal scattering golden energy particles appeared in front of everyone.
Mike appeared, also holding a plate.
The food on the plate was rolling and bubbling like molten lava. The group watched, sucking in breaths of cold air. Even the corners of Hank Pym's mouth twitched wildly.
This bastard, that is too ruthless.
With a flash of light from Mike's hand, the plate of lava-like food was stored in his pocket dimension. He waved to everyone. "I made some food for you guys."
Saying this, he walked to the dining room and placed plates of delicious cuisine on the table. Then, he took the lava dish out again, walked to the side, and said to Hank, "Come on!"
Hank's eye twitched. Looking at the pulsating 'lava', he had the illusion that if he took just one bite, it would burn a hole right through him.
Hank held his own plate, looking at the spherical snacks that appeared somewhat cute, and felt that he had perhaps gone too easy on Mike.
With a flick of Mike's finger, a card disappeared, and a simple barrier appeared, enclosing the space around the two men.
This was a barrier to prevent the smells from drifting out.
Everyone ate the delicious food Mike had prepared for them while watching the two men with nervous curiosity, their eyes darting back and forth between the plates in the men's hands.
No matter how they looked at it, Mike's food seemed more dangerous.
Hank Pym thought so too. He pondered for a moment, then a cold sneer appeared on his face. "Let's change the method of competition this time!"
"Change the method?"
"Right!" Hank said calmly. "We eat the food we made ourselves. Whoever finishes first wins."
"No!"
Mike objected firmly, but inside, he was cheering.
Just as I expected.
Hank sneered. "If you're scared, just admit defeat."
Mike hesitated, laughing maniacally in his heart, but gritted his teeth and said, "Me? Scared? You must be joking! Bring it on!"
(End of Chapter)