Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
You can also read on my website:
tlmasters.xyz
I'd really appreciate your support. Every membership helps keep me motivated to continue translating and releasing chapters consistently.
*****
"Do you see this glass?"
Feny held the cup up in front of Tony, catching the light against its polished surface.
"Yeah? What about it?" Tony nodded, looking entirely perplexed.
Smash!
Without a word of explanation, Feny let go. The exquisite glass hit the floor, shattering into a thousand jagged glinting pieces.
"What the hell are you doing?" Tony blinked, staring down at the wreckage. He was genuinely lost as to what Feny was trying to prove.
"Come forth, Zafkiel!"
Tony jumped back as Feny's eyes suddenly shifted, their pattern transforming. Behind him, a massive, golden clock face manifested out of thin air, and two antique, ornate flintlock pistols appeared in his hands.
Curiosity quickly replaced Tony's shock. He stepped closer, tilting his head to see what Feny was planning.
Feny didn't waste time on small talk. Every second the clock was active, it drained his life force. Since he hadn't used "City of Devouring Time" to harvest time from others yet, he was burning through his own longevity.
"Dalet!"
A wisp of crimson energy flowed from the Roman numeral 'IV' on the golden clock face, snaking its way into the barrel of the pistol in Feny's left hand.
Under Tony's investigative and slightly tense gaze, Feny aimed the ancient weapon at the broken shards on the floor and pulled the trigger.
The "bullet" wasn't particularly fast. Upon impact, a shroud of profound, obscure energy enveloped the fragments. Like a video tape being rewound, the pieces lifted off the floor and fused back together. Within a few heartbeats, the glass stood perfectly whole and pristine on the floor once again.
"Jarvis!"
Tony stood frozen for a moment before his scientific skepticism kicked in.
"I apologize, Sir. I am unable to analyze the phenomenon that just occurred," Jarvis replied instantly. The AI was sophisticated enough to know exactly what Tony was asking without him having to finish the sentence.
"Was that... actual time reversal?"
Tony turned to Feny. He knew the kid was a walking bag of miracles—he still hadn't figured out how Feny had bypassed Jarvis's security during their first meeting—but this was on another level.
"I wouldn't gamble with your life on a whim, Tony."
Feny sighed, dismissing Zafkiel and the guns. He looked pointedly at Tony's chest. "That shrapnel is a ticking time bomb. You have to face it eventually. Do you really plan on keeping it in there forever?"
Tony went silent. He knew Feny wouldn't try to harm him, but the fear of the surgery was a hurdle he hadn't yet cleared in his own mind.
"Let me think about it."
He didn't say yes, but he didn't say no either. Feny didn't push. He wasn't getting anything out of this; in fact, he was sacrificing his own lifespan to do it. He mainly wanted to settle the debt for the miniature arc reactors Tony had provided him lately.
Tony picked up the glass, inspecting it for several minutes. "Could you show me that again? If time reversal is actually possible, then most of our current theories on physics need to be burned and rewritten."
"Focus on our spaceship, Tony. If you're not ready for the surgery, I might be heading to Asgard soon." Feny rolled his eyes. Until he found a way to replenish his "time," he wasn't going to use Dalet casually. He was young, but he didn't want to accidentally drop dead from old age because he was showing off.
"You're going to Asgard? How?" Tony asked, his eyes lighting up with interest.
"Not sure yet." Feny shook his head. He was still debating that. With his current power and a little help from the Space Stone, he could probably manage an inter-planetary jump.
The problem was he had never been there. He didn't have the coordinates or a visual lock on the location. His current plan was to consult the Ancient One. Besides, a trip to Asgard required the Sorcerer Supreme's blessing; as a Master of the Mystic Arts, he had to respect the rules of Kamar-Taj.
"Anyway, I'm heading out. If you make a decision, let me know in the next few days."
Feny waved goodbye. Now that he had graduated, he had more free time, but his "to-do" list was only getting longer.
"Yeah," Tony nodded. After Feny vanished through a sparking portal, Tony looked at the glass in his hand with a complicated expression, then touched the cold metal of the reactor in his chest.
Feny didn't go home after leaving Tony's. Instead, he headed to his lab in Seoul.
After a quick change of clothes and a mask to obscure his face, he swiped his ID card and entered. He found Helen Cho, who was currently heading the research on the Scepter, to discuss Shuri coming over to assist.
In the office, Helen looked visibly nervous as Feny entered. He held up his hands with a helpless smile. "Do I look that scary?"
"No! No, not at all! You're... you're very handsome," Helen blurted out, her face instantly flushing a deep crimson. She ducked her head, unable to meet his eyes.
"You're very beautiful yourself. Please, sit," Feny replied with a gentle smile. Once she was settled on the sofa, he continued, "How is the research going? Is it taking a toll on you?"
"It's alright." Helen seemed to relax slightly, and her eyes sparkled with excitement as she shifted to her work. "That gem is more complex than anything I've ever encountered. The energy it contains is staggering. It's truly unbelievable."
"It is one of the six most powerful stones in the universe. Please, be extremely careful while studying it," Feny reminded her sternly.
"I will," she nodded.
"I actually came here to tell you something," Feny transitioned to the main point. "I recently met a very gifted young woman. She has experience working with a similar stone. I've asked her to come and assist you. I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind at all." Helen shook her head immediately. She knew how dense the Mind Stone's secrets were; any expert help was a blessing. Besides, she wanted to finish this project so she could apply what she learned to her "Cradle of Life" project. The stone had already given her a wealth of inspiration.
"Don't worry, the lab is still under your leadership," Feny added. "She has a bit of a unique background and might bring a few female bodyguards, but if there's any trouble or if anyone gives you a hard time, tell me immediately."
Even though he was bringing in Shuri, the lab was his, and Helen was his person. Feny had no intention of letting anyone—royalty or otherwise—bully his staff.
Looking at Feny's protective, authoritative demeanor, Helen's face warmed again. She nodded softly, her curiosity piqued about who this mysterious girl could be.
(End of Chapter)