The lifespan increase provided by the dragon bones was not guaranteed.
Karl had no intention of relying on them to extend May's or the others' lives. Instead, he planned to find a far more reliable method in the future.
Because of that, giving some of the dragon bones away didn't matter to him anymore.
At that moment, several leaders of the Hand had gathered in a conference room.
Madam Gao and a few other senior members were discussing recent developments when suddenly—
A shadow appeared in the corner.
A Shadow Ninja silently emerged from the darkness.
In its hands was a large dragon bone weighing at least fifty pounds.
Without saying a word, it placed the dragon bone on the table.
Then it sank back into the shadows and vanished.
The room fell silent.
Madam Gao and the others stared at the dragon bone in disbelief.
They immediately understood what had happened.
The gifts they had sent to Karl earlier had been nothing more than Eastern specialty products — simple tokens meant to show goodwill after Madam Gao warned him about the Holy Hand's possible attack.
After learning that Karl's manor was purchasing decorations for the Eastern Spring Festival, Madam Gao had used her connections to gather some traditional goods and send them over.
She had not expected such a response.
Karl had returned the favor with something far more valuable.
A massive piece of dragon bone.
Back at the manor.
Karl had just finished handling that matter when another car engine sounded outside the gate.
Karl turned to look, slightly puzzled.
The car door opened.
Yelena stepped out.
Karl had given her a break earlier and transferred a large amount of money to her account, telling her to relax and do whatever she wanted.
With a vibranium suit, she was practically impossible to injure anyway.
But when the passenger door opened, Karl was genuinely surprised.
Natasha Romanoff stepped out of the car.
"Boss… this is my sister."
Yelena spoke first.
"I wanted to bring her here for the Spring Festival."
She hesitated slightly before continuing.
"If you're not comfortable with that, we can leave."
In truth, Yelena already considered the manor her home.
During Christmas, May and the others had never treated her like a bodyguard, tool, or weapon.
They treated her like family.
Karl had even given her something as valuable as a vibranium combat suit.
After receiving time off, Yelena had used Speed's help to track down Natasha.
Seeing how difficult Natasha's life had been over the past few years, and knowing the Spring Festival was approaching, Yelena wanted to bring her here.
Karl glanced briefly at Natasha.
Natasha looked slightly embarrassed.
Yelena had already told her the truth.
Karl had known about her long ago.
From the moment she first appeared as the coffee shop employee and later as Tony Stark's assistant, Karl had already been aware of who she really was.
"You know the rules," Karl said calmly.
Natasha nodded.
"I understand."
Immediately, several small spherical drones appeared.
They scanned Natasha thoroughly.
No weapons.
No surveillance devices.
Once the scan finished, the drones floated away.
Karl said nothing more and walked into the house.
Yelena and Natasha followed behind him.
Karl didn't really have any personal grudge against Natasha.
She was simply a woman who had lived a harsh life.
And since Yelena considered this place her home, Karl naturally wouldn't refuse such a simple request.
It was only a Spring Festival dinner.
If Natasha had ulterior motives, the person most hurt would be Yelena.
But if that ever happened, Karl would not hesitate to deal with her.
After entering the house, Karl suddenly remembered something.
He had meant to call Juggernaut earlier.
Instead of going himself, he looked toward Pietro.
"Pietro, go get him."
Pietro grinned.
Then—
Whoosh!
He disappeared instantly.
Five seconds later he was back.
The trip itself had only taken a moment.
Most of the time had been spent knocking on Juggernaut's door.
Meanwhile, Tony Stark had noticed Natasha the moment she walked in.
Tony was currently playing with Peter when he froze.
He knew exactly who Natasha was.
The former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who had once infiltrated Stark Industries.
Tony looked toward Karl, silently asking why she was here.
Karl simply gave him a calm look that said:
Relax.
Not long after, Juggernaut arrived.
He was wearing a large red overcoat and a thick red scarf.
Both had been custom made by May.
Finding clothes for someone of his size had not been easy.
When May first gave them to him, Juggernaut had been so happy he barely slept that night.
He had tried them on once, then carefully folded them back into the box and stored them safely in his home like treasure.
Not because they were expensive.
But because May, Karl, and the others treated him like family.
Tonight, he proudly wore them.
Juggernaut walked into the room smiling broadly.
Once Karl saw everyone had arrived, he led them toward the large dining table in the living room.
Everyone took their seats.
Karl stood at the head of the table.
With a small gesture, the red wine bottle floated slightly as he poured a little into each glass.
The three children received juice instead.
Karl raised his glass.
"In the East, today is very important."
"Tonight is the last night of the year."
"After midnight, a new year begins."
He looked around the table.
"I'm very happy that so many people I consider family are here with me tonight."
"I hope we can gather like this again next year."
He lifted his glass slightly higher.
"Cheers. May everything go well for all of us."
It wasn't a long speech.
Nor was it particularly eloquent.
But it struck everyone present.
Tony had once spent holidays either alone or only with Pepper.
Yinsen had lost his family long ago.
Samuel rarely celebrated anything.
Many of them had never experienced a gathering like this before.
A gathering where they were treated like family.
Several people's eyes had already turned red.
"Cheers!"
Glasses were raised.
Everyone stood.
Fifteen glasses met together in the air.
Then they all drank.
Natasha quietly watched everything.
Listening to Karl's earlier words, she finally understood why Yelena had insisted on bringing her here tonight.
Tony suddenly stood up.
"Alright, let me say something too."
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"You probably all know me."
"Yes… I used to be an arms dealer."
"Maybe I was rich."
"But I haven't felt something like this in a long time."
His voice slowed.
"Since my parents died… I spent most of my life in my workshop."
"I've hosted plenty of parties."
"But they never felt like this."
Tony looked toward Karl.
"What I mean is…"
"Thank you, Karl."
"Thank you for inviting me to celebrate the Spring Festival."
"And thank you for treating me like family."
Tony lifted his glass.
Then he finished the wine in one gulp.
His eyes had already turned red.
After his parents died in a car accident, Obadiah Stane had become the only person Tony could call family.
But Obadiah had eventually betrayed him and tried to kill him.
Since then, Tony had believed he no longer had a family.
Pepper had always been the closest person to him.
But now—
Karl had treated him like family as well.
And that moved him deeply.
...
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