Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5755 - 4778: X Royal Family: Rebirth (18)

"Did you see it?" Matt entered from the doorway, set down his coat, and addressed Shiller, who was dining. "Construction has commenced in the volcanic region. Erik is making moves, and it's quite a sight."

"My primary concern is the quality of the spa," Shiller remarked, cutting into his steak. "I've heard the underground hot springs there are intensely hot. It sounds promising, though it can't quite match the World Tree."

"That might not be entirely accurate," Matt countered, shaking his head. "Rumor has it there are sulfur caves near the volcano. Natural sulfur hot springs possess significant healing properties. If the water temperature can be precisely regulated, it would undoubtedly be an ideal location for a care center."

Shiller's eyebrow arched. He observed Matt as he sat down across from him, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and inquired, "I believe you've also sensed the uniqueness of this island. Don't you have any particular inclinations regarding it?"

"You know, due to Tony's condition, I haven't given it much thought. But even initially, I had no intention of developing this island."

"What are your intentions then?" Matt asked. "I'm suggesting why not establish a care center on this very island?"

"Are you serious?" Shiller expressed mild surprise. "This island repels ordinary individuals. Even Tony fell ill; who would dare seek healing here?"

"But is it not said that the Clarkia Flower can cure it? If someone has ingested the Clarkia Flower, they can disregard the adverse effects. Regular visits could transform it into an exceptional destination for both tourism and recuperation."

"You merely wish to visit and indulge more frequently, don't you?" Shiller chuckled.

"I won't conceal it from you; Erica and I haven't had any private time for ages. If someone could help look after the children, we'd gladly find a tranquil spot for a few days. Clarkia is perfect for this, far superior to those crowded Earth locales."

"Furthermore," Matt tapped the table lightly, "many across the Multiverse likely share this sentiment. When desperately seeking escape, even Mars feels insufficient; only by retreating to another universe can one truly find peace. Clarkia provides an excellent sanctuary."

"Establishing a care center here would position you as the gatekeeper, subtly dictating access to this sanctuary. This represents a valuable network resource, benefiting both the cosmos and the center's operations."

"Your reasoning holds merit," Shiller conceded. "The New York care center has essentially morphed into a veritable psychiatric ward due to community mandates, making it impossible for those seeking healing and those requiring treatment to coexist. It's certainly time to find a suitable location and launch a genuine care center."

"You hadn't considered this possibility before?"

"Originally, I intended to search within our own universe," Shiller explained. "I'm convinced our universe harbors its own Clarkia; it simply remains undiscovered. If I could find it first, this entire island would be mine, free from any obligations to others."

"I see now," Matt observed. "The way you frame it, I agree our universe holds more appeal. In that case, just disregard my suggestion entirely."

"No," Shiller inverted his head. "Your proposition also has merit. If we were to utilize an island from our universe, numerous individuals from other dimensions would flock here, potentially even from neighboring worlds. Nick would face considerable stress, and other Earth-based personnel would experience overwhelming workloads, creating an unnecessary burden."

"It strikes me as odd that you'd find something troublesome. You usually relish having everyone flock to you for assistance," Matt remarked with a hint of wonder.

"You've been exceedingly occupied lately; it feels like ages since we shared a drink." Shiller smiled. "I've long since reformed, you know."

"Oh, please," Matt pouted. "I suspect Tony's ailment has thoroughly sobered you. Give it a few days, and you'll revert to your boisterous former self."

"One could argue that's accurate," Shiller replied. "In truth, I was aware beforehand that this island could adversely affect ordinary individuals. However, Tony isn't entirely ordinary; he possesses that substantial Reactor within his chest. My estimation was that he would remain unaffected. That's precisely why I accompanied him here."

"Then why did he fall ill?" Matt inquired, a touch of curiosity in his voice.

"The primary factor is his recent exhaustion," Shiller analyzed, taking a sip of juice. "His time with Little Morgan has placed him under considerable strain. Following the release of such pressure, it's easy for symptoms of diminished immunity to manifest due to a sudden mental relaxation. Combined with the temperature drop during a stormy night, he developed a cold."

"Pressure while being around Morgan?" Matt's attention snagged on that specific point. "How could there be pressure?"

"Didn't you feel pressure when you were looking for schools for Little Jack?"

"That was all real-world pressure," Matt replied. "Honestly, if I were some sort of major tycoon, I wouldn’t need to be so meticulous."

"Tony naturally faces his own pressures," Shiller said. "He truly desires to be a good father, constantly worried about what he might miss or say incorrectly. The pressure is indeed substantial."

"That sounds..." Matt paused for a moment of thought before responding, "a little unnatural."

"Love itself is natural, but the skills for communication must be learned," Shiller sighed softly. "All I can say is, Helen has already transformed him considerably, providing him with some experience. Otherwise, dealing with Little Morgan would have been even more of a challenge."

"How so?"

"Helen possesses a naturally carefree spirit, and she doesn’t just have Stark as her father; she gets along swimmingly with Loki and Thor, and with me as well. Furthermore, she is somewhat different from ordinary humans, capable of managing herself quite well. Apart from the initial period, Tony didn’t have to dedicate himself entirely to her care. On the contrary, being involved in Helen’s upbringing allowed him to gain a great deal of knowledge."

"Little Morgan is quite different. Human children are so delicate, and Little Morgan presents a particularly demanding challenge in terms of raising her. Tony is already burdened with immense real-world pressures, and this child is incredibly intelligent—not only does she possess a high IQ, but she also inherited her father’s emotional sensitivity. If one isn't careful with their approach, she might ruminate excessively on things. To have raised her to this point is nothing short of a miracle, and it's hard to fathom the immense endurance that Pepper and Tony have shown."

Matt nodded in understanding, remarking, "Little Jack is a rather easy child to raise, very obedient. However, during his early years, he truly exhausted Erica and me. There was even a point when I contemplated seeking a consultation with you."

"And why didn't you proceed with that?"

"Because your consultation fees are exorbitantly high. I couldn't possibly afford to add another layer of financial stress to my current reality," Matt grumbled. "Fortunately, I didn't come to you back then; otherwise, Little Jack might not even be able to afford school right now."

"You're currently earning interstellar universal coins," Shiller retorted. "Everyone knows that Murdoch, the lawyer, performs astonishingly well in the Interstellar Court, leaving lawyers from the Three Great Empires utterly speechless. Cease this pretense of poverty."

"Ah, you still don't quite grasp the intricacies of a lawyer's profession," Matt said, shaking his head. "You have no idea how troublesome those lawyers from the Three Great Empires can be. If it weren't for the backing of Earth's humans, I would have been assassinated long ago. Whatever earnings I bring in are rightfully deserved."

Their conversation flowed for some time. Presently, Blink approached, announcing that the Mutant competition was about to commence and inquired if they intended to attend.

"Are you planning to go?" Matt asked. "I won't be attending. I can't perceive much visually; while I can sense certain phenomena, it's not particularly captivating. I requested some documents from Erik to explore the possibility of legally circumventing the sanctions."

"I'm not going either," Shiller stated. "A multitude of Omega-level mutants roam the Earth daily; haven't I witnessed sufficient mutant confrontations? My priority is to attend to Tony. Should he experience another nightmare, I must delve into the episodes of his childhood."

"Then let's simply relax here for a while," Matt suggested. "Once matters conclude over there, and it's time for the meal, we'll make our way over. We absolutely cannot miss out on the hot springs."

The two individuals concurred on not participating in the competition. In truth, there wasn't much spectacle involved; it primarily consisted of mutants engaging in battles utilizing their Mutant Abilities. Given the evident power-balancing dynamics among their respective powers, the contests bore a resemblance to Pokémon battles, where the outcome of each match seemed somewhat predetermined based on the combatants chosen.

The sole segment of genuine interest was when Apocalypse appeared as the ultimate adversary, challenging the other mutants. However, the majority of mutants stood no chance against Apocalypse, although a select few did earn recognition from the Mutant Progenitor.

Ultimately, the top four competitors, along with those acknowledged by Apocalypse, would be exempted from the hot spring construction duties and could proceed to rest after the meal. All others were obligated to assist in building the hot spring bath before they would be permitted to indulge in its relaxation.

Following the event, Matt and Shiller escorted Stark to a meal. Stark, still somewhat feeble, was reluctant to remain confined indoors and did not wish to miss out on the group activities, thus compelling himself to attend.

The positive aspect was that the cuisine was exceptionally delicious, featuring fresh ingredients supplied by SWORD—French delicacies, Italian favorites, and Mexican dishes were served in rotation, truly offering a sensory delight.

The negative development was that Stark could barely consume most of the food, managing only some soup and a piece of bread. He soon fell asleep upon their return home and developed a fever during the night. Although the fever subsided quickly, he awoke feeling listless the following day.

A piece of even better news motivated him to venture out the following day: the Main Universe's Iron Man was no longer around. To ensure this rival was completely out of the picture, Stark even made the effort to consume a decent amount of food and take a stroll.

"Hahahaha... He's definitely ill too... cough cough cough... His body can't possibly be in any better condition than mine," Stark declared, lying on the sofa with a gravelly voice. "But he isn't as resilient as I am; he must have already retreated home. Hahahaha..."

Steven let out a helpless sigh. Stark possessed an incorrigible habit of mocking his alternate selves, yet since other Starks engaged in the same behavior, he felt no compulsion to intervene.

"Alright, patient," Steven announced, "It's time for your medicine."

"Medicine?" Stark questioned, bewildered. "I'm not running a fever anymore; I don't require any fever reducers."

"It's herbal medicine," Steven replied, presenting the cup. "It's part of the provisions SWORD sent over, supposedly for treating colds. I made inquiries, and they assured me it's entirely herbal, devoid of antibiotics, so you can drink it without any apprehension."

Stark eyed the cup dubiously, its contents a pale brown liquid. While the taste wasn't the primary concern, an air of suspicion hung about it for Stark.

"You wouldn't be so cruel as to prank a sick person, would you?" Although he posed the question, Stark clearly harbored doubts.

Steven chuckled softly. "Drink it or don't; I was informed it helps ward off colds. If you refuse, I'll gladly take it myself."

The moment a challenge was presented, Stark swiftly downed the contents. He hastily grasped the cup, unmindful of its temperature, and brought it to his lips. Fortunately, it wasn't scalding, and he consumed the entire portion in gulps, wiping his mouth. "It tastes like those heavily sugared American coffees; I truly hope it proves effective."

At this precise moment, Shiller entered, carrying a cup, which he placed before Stark. "When Steven escorted the SWORD personnel back to China, he brought you some herbal medicine; it's best consumed while it's still warm."

"But I just... Fine, a small sip like this won't hurt, even if I drink more."

Stark lifted the cup and began to drink. The very next second, a distinct "puh" sound erupted as a mouthful of dark brown herbal concoction was forcefully expelled.

"Why in the blazes is it so incredibly bitter?!!"