Chapter 16: The Side Quest Begins
"Who is Mephisto?"
He is an authentic demon lord!
Throughout the vast and diverse universe, he has always been infamous for his cunning and cruelty.
He is on the same level of powerful existence as great beings such as Satannish, Dormammu, and Odin.
Wes once again grew vigilant. "So, you're not here to give me a gift, but to assign me a task?"
"Mephisto. No, I think, Teacher, you still look down on me."
Wes knew in his heart that his current strength was not enough to confront Mephisto. Sending him to do so would undoubtedly be a suicide mission.
Seeing that Wes had obviously misunderstood, the Ancient One explained, "I am not asking you to fight directly with Mephisto. Back then, after I drove him from the Earth, his true form could no longer enter this dimension. Now, he can only rely on his avatars to deceive humans."
"Even if it's just one of his avatars, I can't deal with it," Wes said with a frown.
"I didn't say you had to deal with him," the Ancient One said, no longer beating around the bush. She stated seriously, "I want you to protect something—the Contract of San Venganza."
"As long as you complete the task, the gift will naturally be yours. I promise that this gift will most certainly satisfy you."
Wes didn't trust the words of the Ancient One, but he couldn't directly refuse the request of such a powerful being.
He fell silent for a moment. The Ancient One just drank her tea quietly, waiting for Wes to answer.
"Can you guarantee that I won't encounter Mephisto in the process of executing this task?" Wes asked carefully.
"I promise. I can swear to God..." the Ancient One said, raising her right hand as if preparing to make an oath.
A dark look crossed Wes's face, and he said helplessly, "Now that you've said that, I'm even more hesitant to go."
[Swearing to God? If she met God, wouldn't she beat him up? Even if they had a good relationship...]
After careful consideration, Wes finally decided to agree to the Ancient One's request.
Of course, he could also disappear directly through his system panel, but Wes didn't want to do that. He couldn't guarantee that the next time he came to the Marvel world, he would be able to sit opposite the Ancient One, drinking tea like this.
He was indeed a little curious about the gift the Ancient One had mentioned.
"This is for you."
The Ancient One handed a flawless white feather quill to Wes.
"It will lead you to find the Contract of San Venganza."
After saying these words, as if afraid Wes would change his mind, the Ancient One disappeared in an instant.
"I think I've been tricked," Wes muttered, his eye twitching. "I'll just have to trust you this time, Sorcerer Supreme. You shouldn't deceive me."
"Jendi!"
With Wes's shout, the house-elf Jendi appeared before him.
"Your orders, Master," Jendi said respectfully.
"Pack everything up. I'm going to rest."
"As you wish."
Wes then returned to his bedroom to get a good night's sleep.
The next afternoon, Wes's figure appeared on Arthur Avenue.
However, what he didn't know was that his photo, after being meticulously screened, had finally appeared on Nick Fury's computer screen.
"This is the mysterious magician."
Nick Fury maintained his usual cautious attitude.
"Since last year, the intelligence team has been screening the identity information of everyone on Arthur Avenue. Whether they are local residents or tourists, even the homeless have been subjected to at least three comprehensive background checks."
"In the process, we also helped the FBI find a few fugitives," Coulson added with a shrug, seemingly a little tired of such high-intensity work.
"So, what's so different about this Wes Elvin?" Nick Fury asked, his gaze sharp.
"For a whole year, aside from tourists, he's the only new face on the entire street," Coulson said, touching his thinning hair.
You know, in this past year, he had expended countless efforts to investigate the residents of the entire street, including all the tourists.
"Moreover, his background is too clean."
Nick Fury nodded slightly, motioning for Coulson to continue.
"According to our detailed investigation, Wes Elvin suddenly disappeared from an orphanage at the age of 11 and has never been back since."
"There are no relevant educational records, not even a clinic visit. He has never had a credit card, doesn't have a Twitter account, nor has he been closely associated with anyone."
"His car was purchased with cash. For the past ten years, his presence in this world has been minimal, as if he has been living in another, unknown world."
Coulson's eyes were firm as he said in a determined tone, "Director, I am 80% certain that Wes Elvin is the mysterious magician. Even if he isn't, he is definitely hiding a great secret."
"He doesn't even have a credit card. I can tell at a glance he's not an ordinary person," Nick Fury thought for a moment, then said, "Keep a close eye on him. Send three teams to track and monitor him day and night. If necessary, you can even use a satellite. I'm giving you temporary Level 7 authority."
"I will ensure the mission is completed, sir!" Coulson did not hesitate and immediately mobilized his personnel to arrange the relevant matters.
Wes drove away from New York quickly, following the direction indicated by the feather quill.
Before long, he had left New York State.
And he did not realize that he was being followed.
"Sir, he's heading north. The area is open, which is not conducive to our tracking."
After hearing the report from his men, Coulson made a prompt decision.
"Use the satellite immediately and keep a close eye on him. You must take turns following him and never let him discover you."
"The intelligence team will analyze his probable destination based on his route."
As soon as the order was issued, dozens of agents quickly sprang into action.
Wes handed the steering wheel to Jendi, sat in the back seat, and took out a notebook to read attentively.
Later, he simply cast a spell to make the car follow the direction of the feather quill and drive automatically.
Except for refueling, the car never stopped along the way.
Wes's magical suitcase was well-stocked with supplies and had enough space for him to rest.
This proved to be a major hassle for Coulson and his agents.
When they arrived in Texas, the car drove off the main road and onto a narrow path.
After a bumpy ride, they finally arrived at an extremely desolate cemetery.
The direction pointed to by the feather quill was a dilapidated-looking wooden house.
After getting out of the car, Wes stretched his body and couldn't help complaining, "This journey was terrible. It would have been better to ride a flying broom. I have to take some time to modify this car."
This journey had really made him uncomfortable. Wes planned to use alchemy to transform the car into a luxury version.
Wes turned his head to look at the dilapidated wooden house and muttered to himself, "Is this where the Contract of San Venganza is?"
He walked forward and knocked on the door.
Squeak~~
The door made a sound that set one's teeth on edge.
However, what greeted Wes was not the host's kind and friendly smile, but a cold, double-barreled shotgun.