Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5733 - 4756: X Royal Family: Fierce Battle (23)

"Why are you so drunk?" Black Widow pulled up a chair and sat beside the sofa, resisting the urge to wake up Main Universe Iron Man with a glass of ice water. Instead, she tenderly placed a fresh towel on his head.

Captain America stood nearby, sighed, and after pondering for a moment, said, "It’s only because he’s passed out drunk that I dare say this. Tony is very smart, but sometimes he’s also very stupid."

Black Widow looked up at him. Captain America said, "If Steven is willing to go to the operating room for him, why would he be so angry about his interference?"

"You’ve confused me too. Isn’t it obvious why Steven’s angry? He’s practically furious."

"When you piss someone off, it’s best to figure out the real reason they’re angry. If you get it wrong, the more you try to appease them, the angrier they’ll get."

Black Widow agreed with this, looked at Main Universe Iron Man’s face, and said, "I feel like he never really understood. Who could force Stephen Strange?"

"I thought geniuses would understand each other better," Captain America sat down and said, "They are different from us ordinary people and should be better at understanding that there were always other choices. But it turns out they can make the same mistakes."

Black Widow chuckled lightly and gently pressed the towel on his forehead.

Main Universe Iron Man suddenly opened his eyes, took a deep breath, struggled to sit up, and was pushed back down. Captain America withdrew his hand, sighed, and said, "Take it easy; you’re still injured."

Main Universe Iron Man lay there, staring straight at the ceiling, and after a while, said hoarsely, "How can whiskey be so strong..."

"How much did you drink?" Black Widow asked somewhat curiously.

"A bottle, I think." Main Universe Iron Man mumbled in reply.

Captain America closed his eyes in some frustration. "That’s way too much for someone who doesn’t usually drink heavily, no wonder you’re so drunk."

Main Universe Iron Man seemed to regain his senses, scrambled to sit up, took a deep breath on the sofa, and wiped his face with the towel on his head, then said, "I think I know why Steven was so angry."

"Let’s hear it," Black Widow, sitting on the small stool, hugged her knees and said.

"The key to ’he’s angry I don’t trust him’ isn’t ’don’t trust him,’ but ’I.’" Main Universe Iron Man said listlessly, "I’m the reason he stays in The Avengers, but I didn’t understand that. I just thought he had nowhere else to go and found shelter. But if one day the Stark Group went bankrupt, and I came to stay with The Avengers, yet he thought I just wanted a safety net and wouldn’t starve, I’d be furious."

Black Widow couldn’t help but laugh, seemingly imagining this scenario. When the roles are reversed, it sounds particularly absurd, as if Tony Stark is just an accessory to the Stark Group and is nothing without it.

But in reality, it’s entirely the opposite. Without Tony Stark, the Stark Group would be just an arms company. Only with Iron Man, the super genius inventor, can the Stark Group be called a tech giant, a beacon of science.

If the Stark Group went bankrupt, and Iron Man hadn’t become an imbecile, he could easily bring out a few technologies and instantly make a comeback. As long as he’s alive, plenty of people are willing to help him rise again.

So if he doesn’t choose to rebuild the Stark Group but instead decides to join a force, whoever he joins, it can’t be for restoring past glory or gaining status and power because those are at his fingertips.

The status of Stephen Strange in the industry is the same. He’s not some rookie making his debut but an influential figure with a say in the industry. Even if he couldn’t wield a scalpel, just standing in the operating room and guiding others would be an invaluable opportunity that ordinary doctors would dream of. Not to mention, he hasn’t completely lost his abilities.

It can be said that none of the members of The Avengers joined because they were truly out of options. They all have other choices and possibly even better paths. They choose to stay not because they crave any official status or salary conditions, but because they share the same aspirations and ideals. They want to do something for the world and recognize what others in the group want to do, which is why they form a team together.

This also allows Main Universe Iron Man to better understand the state of the Central Universe. Over there, the superheroes have chosen the other paths available to The Avengers.

Spider Man chose being a scholar as his main career, Doctor Strange continued his work as a surgeon, Iron Man is a scientist and a father, Captain America became an interstellar navigator, and Thor became the king of Asgard. But even so, they are still transforming the world in their own positions to make it a better place.

Whether gathered like a blazing fire or dispersed like scattered stars, the ultimate merit is indistinguishable. What truly matters is that they possess choices. This very state of ‘having a choice’ forms the bedrock for sustaining a pure and righteous spirit. While society proclaims that good deeds should bring rewards, in reality, it's often those who gain nothing from their benevolent actions that manage to preserve their original intentions. Lacking any demands, they possess no vulnerabilities.

If there exists a difference, it might be that the Avengers in this particular universe draw strength from mutual love and concern. In contrast, the Avengers of the Central Universe find their support from relatives and friends, perhaps even from Shiller himself. Though they seek no material gain, their emotional bonds are unbreakable, and therein lies their sole vulnerability.

"This is a trap," the Main Universe Iron Man declared abruptly. "Shiller intends to sow discord among us, and he will undoubtedly target our emotions. That’s precisely why he had Steven perform the surgery."

Black Widow arched an eyebrow. "Despite his lack of complete honesty, you did fall for his ploy."

The Main Universe Iron Man let out a profound sigh, offering no rebuttal. Captain America inquired, "If no one had poured their heart out to you, you likely wouldn't have indulged in so much drink. Who exactly said what to you?"

Black Widow wore an expression that suggested, "You truly have your hands full." Meanwhile, Captain America met her gaze with one that communicated, "What can be done when the younger ones aren't faring well?"

"It was Professor X," the Main Universe Iron Man revealed. He proceeded to briefly recount his discussion with Professor X, concluding with a sigh, "Perhaps we have misjudged mutants. They aren't ticking time bombs brimming with immense power, but rather a unique segment of the population."

"I'm pleased you feel that way," Captain America offered first as encouragement. Black Widow appeared eager to interject, but Captain America halted her with a mere glance before tactfully asking, "However, do you believe that was his primary objective?"

"Wasn't it?" the Main Universe Iron Man countered. "I believe his sole aim was to pacify me and alter my preconceived notions about mutants, and he certainly succeeded."

"Permit me to pose a question," Black Widow said, resting her hand on the armrest of the couch where the Main Universe Iron Man sat. Leaning forward, she asked, "What did Stephen tell you when you visited him earlier?"

"He mentioned being defeated by his pursuit of perfection..."

The Main Universe Iron Man finally had a realization. "But Stephen didn't truly fail. Is Professor X attempting to convey this to me? If so, why phrase it in such a manner? Does he still harbor resentment towards me?"

"Arrogant individuals maintain their arrogance because they cannot fathom their own downfall. Should they ever envision their failure, they would undoubtedly exhibit a degree of reverence," Captain America stated.

"Cannot fathom their own failure?"

"It's akin to how the Soviet Union never conceived of its own dissolution," Black Widow added. She seemed to particularly relish mentioning this in Captain America's presence. "Had they foreseen the chaos that would lead to their fragmentation, they would have acted with far greater caution."

"What kind of person is incapable of imagining their own failure?" the Main Universe Iron Man inquired. "Children?"

"To be precise, it is someone who has never experienced failure before," Captain America replied. "Without encountering setbacks, how can one truly understand their own limitations? They can only speculate through imagination."

The Main Universe Iron Man froze for a couple of seconds before suddenly rising to his feet and exclaiming, "Central Universe!!"

"Shift yourselves further this way!" a figure clad in a red cloak commanded mages who were engaged in modifying the Magical Defense Network. "Yes, that specific node. Reroute the energy conduit here, directly to the New York Sanctum. It will streamline power transmission..."

"And you," the figure continued, addressing another, "Can you cease loitering near the North Pole? Don't you perceive that colossal energy anomaly there? Are your eyes perhaps located in your nostrils?"

"Why are you dawdling? Must you wait until the enemy is practically at your doorstep before you can differentiate between a closed loop and an open circuit? I am truly exercising the utmost patience I possess..."

"For goodness sake, you're more bewildering than surgical interns who can't distinguish between surgical clamps. How on earth did you manage to graduate?"

The local Doctor Strange, evidently reaching his limit, finally intervened. Gliding over, he regarded another version of himself and stated, "If your intention is to mock Tony Stark, at least put on a more convincing performance, alright?"

"I fail to comprehend how you can shamelessly lecture me on such matters," Strange retorted. "Your own Magical Defense Network is riddled with more holes than a sieve. If your magical reserves weren't so pitifully meager, I might suspect you of embezzlement..."

The local Doctor Strange, utterly incensed, leaned back without another word and retreated to work on the opposite side of the planet.

Abruptly, a figure ascended into the fringes of Earth's atmosphere, revealing the incensed Iron Man from the Main Universe. He positioned himself directly before Strange once more, exclaiming, "You damnable imposter!!!"

"Are you certain you wish to confront me at this critical juncture?" Strange narrowed his eyes, posing a question, "Human satellites are still operational up there, you are aware."

This observation effectively deterred Iron Man from impulsively unleashing his arm cannon. He could only cast a furious glare at Strange and demand, "Why are you masquerading as Stephen?"

"Are you out of your mind? If a choice must be made for the prime Stephen Strange across the Multiverse, it would undoubtedly be me. What do you imply by 'impersonating Stephen'?"

Iron Man from the Main Universe clenched his teeth, seething with rage. Strange, with a mocking smirk, remarked, "You have likely spent countless nights grieving your friend's tragic car accident. Yet, regrettably, the very iteration who avoided that mishap stands before you, and you still harbor the intent to slay him."

The expression on Iron Man's face faltered, his immense fury seemingly stifled by an unseen force. A torrent of memories flooded his mind; it was precisely as Strange articulated—he had frequently envisioned how wonderful it would have been if Stephen had never been involved in that accident.

Even if their paths might never have crossed in such a manner, he had always considered himself broad-minded. Whether Stephen could retain his "Hand of God" brilliance was inconsequential; the presence of a comrade like Tony Stark was not a prerequisite.

However, the stark reality suggested he might have overly romanticized his companion. Perhaps Stephen had consistently projected an air of profound acceptance in his presence, causing him to overlook certain minor details and foster an idealized image of a Stephen Strange unburdened by suffering.

Yet, the truth proved to be starkly unforgiving. While life's hardships may not be a necessity, they undeniably serve as catalysts for profound personal transformation in certain individuals. Stephen Strange unequivocally belonged to this category. This particular version, untouched by life's crucible, was genuinely unnerving.