[Draw?]
"Lottery, huh? I think my luck isn't too bad… then, let's do it once."
Saitama nodded.
[50E contribution points consumed. Congratulations, you have obtained—SS-Class Item: Space Contract]
Item Name: Space Contract
Grade: SS
Description: The only replicated item drawn from the Space Stone, one of the Six Cosmic Origin Stones.
Effect: Contains spatial power beyond ordinary levels. By making a space contract with a designated target, the other party will be placed into this item's independent space, which has a certain restorative effect.
Saitama didn't understand.
He had no idea what use it was.
But… talking to him about whether something is useful is pointless.
Sorry, if it's cheap, just grab it first and figure it out later.
After all, it's already paid for.
Saitama casually tossed the item into the system's storage space.
"Stark, got dinner? I'm kind of hungry."
Having dealt with the item, the bald slacker rubbed his loudly growling stomach with a pitiful look.
"Uh?"
Catching such a big break, Stark snapped back to reality, and his calm face instantly showed a grin.
"I know the best burger joint, it should still be open now. If we hurry over, we'll even get free Coke!"
"Let's go!"
Saitama's eyes lit up.
Compared to fighting, what he wanted more was food.
So—Stark, carrying the Tesseract, and Saitama, turned into two streaks of light shooting into the sky.
The heroes left behind could only stare at their fading figures.
"Already over? Didn't even get to fight enough? And… the Tesseract seems like it belongs to S.H.I.E.L.D., doesn't it? Guess the mess will have to be cleaned up by them…"
Saitama and Stark ended up in a burger joint over in Washington, which hadn't been touched by the battle.
There, everything was peaceful and comfortable.
…
A few days later.
The system hadn't given Saitama a reminder to return, so his time here just continued.
What surprised him a little was that all the superheroes—Fury, Natasha, Hill, Coulson, and the others—had gathered at the villa.
It already looked like the headquarters of the Avengers.
As for Stark?
The genius scientist had been busy making all sorts of outrageous demands.
Fury's face, already dark, now looked like coal.
Like a 35-watt bulb refusing to light in a 50-watt darkness.
"Stark! This isn't your personal property!!"
Fury was furious. Stark was pushing things way too far.
"They say he's a genius, entrepreneur, scientist… but to me, Fury, this guy is nothing but a swindler!"
"Well, it doesn't exactly belong to the country either. But for the sake of world peace, I can hand it over to you in a week. My requests aren't excessive. And besides, you know Saitama is a shareholder of Stark Industries~~~"
"Uh—"
Fury wanted to argue but choked.
He glanced at the bald slacker lying on the couch watching dramas.
The look he gave Natasha said only one thing: endure it.
If Stark had more backbone and a better relationship with Saitama, it wouldn't be like this.
But Stark kept demanding money, tax exemptions, and whatever else he wanted.
And every excuse came down to the same thing:
Saitama is a shareholder.
Saitama is a shareholder.
Saitama is a shareholder.
Saitama is a shareholder!
The phrase was already like a magic chant circling endlessly around Fury's dark bald head.
Pepper almost spat out her coffee several times watching Fury's face.
She had to admit, Stark's earlier decision was absolutely brilliant.
Letting Saitama become a shareholder of Stark Industries was the most valuable investment in the company's history!
As for Fury—he could curse all he wanted inside, but even if you gave him the courage of a hundred lions, he still wouldn't dare provoke that bald monster.
But making the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. yield like this, in front of everyone?
Didn't that mean the whole agency lost face?
Still, Fury finally forced out a smile.
"Deal! Happy cooperation! Cheers!"
He clinked glasses with Stark.
Natasha, Coulson, and the others twitched.
This was… upright and tough Fury?
…
The matter of the Tesseract was temporarily settled.
Stark, thanks to Saitama's presence, had the upper hand.
After a few more lazy days, something unexpected happened.
Somehow, Thor persuaded Fury to let him take Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard.
Yes. Including the Tesseract.
Because the U.S. government wanted to use it to build weapons beyond the times.
But under pressure from Bruce Banner and other superheroes, Fury agreed to let Thor remove it from Earth.
However, the scepter was kept by S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Saitama, for you."
Holding the restrained Loki and the Tesseract, Thor spoke seriously.
He was grateful that Loki was being handed back alive, thanks to Saitama.
"No matter when, Asgard and I, Thor, will always count you as a friend."
Thor declared loudly.
As the rainbow bridge's light enveloped him, he vanished with Loki and the Tesseract.
[Ding! Respected King of Slackers, your pleasant vacation is over. Please prepare for return.]
The system's prompt rang.
Saitama sighed.
Vacation time sure passed fast—it seemed he was about to leave.
"Saitama… my earlier offer, about becoming S.H.I.E.L.D.'s chief scientist, you still haven't—"
Fury looked at him with pleading eyes.
These past days, he'd tried everything.
Even Natasha and Hill had taken turns trying to persuade him.
But the bald slacker wasn't swayed.
Even Bruce Banner outright refused, saying he'd rather stick with Saitama.
"No interest."
Saitama and Fury spoke in unison.
"Fine… the doors of S.H.I.E.L.D. will always be open to you."
Fury nearly cried.
Because of Saitama's existence, the only ones willing to join S.H.I.E.L.D. were Banner and Steve—two weaker heroes.
For Fury as director, that felt like nothing to show for it.
[Ding! Respected King of Slackers, you have successfully brought back Bruce Banner (the King's Companion). Returning to the One Punch world…]
The system prompt rang again.
Saitama and Banner's bodies vanished.
The heroes: "..."
"…Who can tell me, Saitama… is gone?"
Pepper rolled her eyes.
Stark muttered while raising his glass:
"Jarvis, lock the coordinates! Damn it, Saitama just left without me… I swear, next time we meet, I'll make sure he looks at me differently!"
The superheroes exchanged looks but said nothing.
After all, with that monster… nothing was surprising anymore.
…
One Punch World.
Orderly as always.
But an unprecedented crisis loomed.
Even masters like Bang and Atomic Samurai felt a crushing pressure bearing down.
(End of Chapter)
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