"I'll head off now. Hope can stay here. I'm going to buy some groceries and come back for dinner, hehe."
Hank knew that Peggy and the others were here to talk business with Melin, and as an outsider, it wasn't appropriate for him to stay, so he left on his own.
"You really are addicted to freeloading meals, aren't you?" Melin said, annoyed.
"Of course! Who told you to be such a great cook? And now that I know your identity, eating a meal with you is enough to make countless people jealous, haha." Hank laughed as he stepped out of the house.
Melin could only smile bitterly and shake his head, but he didn't object. Rather than sitting on a lofty divine throne to be worshiped, he actually preferred this kind of life.
He had once dreamed that, after the Holy War was completely over—after defeating Hades, Zeus, and the rest—he would find a place to live in seclusion with Athena.
Now he was enjoying it, though it was a bit of a pity Athena wasn't by his side.
"Seems like you really value Hank, sir," Peggy said, a little envious.
"What? Are you jealous?" Melin teased, glancing at Steve.
"Not jealous, but definitely envious," Peggy replied, shooting Steve a glare.
…
…
Seeing Steve shrink his neck under Peggy's glare, Melin chuckled happily. If Steve's admirers knew their beloved "Captain" was so soft-hearted, their eyes might just pop out.
"I treat you guys the same way, you know? It's just that you're all too uptight," Melin said.
"Can we not be uptight?" Howard laughed helplessly.
Melin's identity was just too high. A stomp of his foot could shake the whole world. Howard and the others were afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing and angering Melin—which would be a global disaster.
Besides, they were either Saints or Priests, all technically subordinates of Melin. When facing him, they instinctively lowered themselves, unable to speak with him on equal footing.
"Melin, we came this time to ask—has the time and place of Athena's reincarnation been confirmed?" Steve asked.
"According to the prediction from Kamar-Taj, the location is indeed New York, but the exact spot is unknown. The time is also unclear, roughly within the next twenty years," Melin said.
"I see. Do you want us to…"
"No need. Just let things flow naturally. I've already made all the arrangements. If they dare to come again, they won't be leaving," Melin said, a fierce glint in his eyes.
Steve and the others shivered in unison.
This was exactly what they feared.
Back in Sanctuary, there were barriers, Melin, the Pope and Acting Pope, the Gold Saints, and remote areas with no people.
But this was New York, a megacity with over eight million people. If a godly battle broke out here, how many innocent people would die? How much property would be destroyed?
But there was nothing they could do. Melin couldn't control the timing or location of Athena's reincarnation. They wanted to help prevent a disaster, but their power wasn't enough to be involved.
"If that time really comes, I'll do my best to minimize the casualties," Melin promised.
If Hades, Zeus, and Shakyamuni really came, he'd have to go all out—or he'd be the one to die.
Once he fought with full force, he couldn't protect ordinary people.
"…Thank you very much." Steve and the others expressed their gratitude. They knew this was the best promise Melin could make.
"If there's nothing else, stay for dinner."
"No, we still have a lot to handle at the bureau. We won't disturb you," Peggy, Howard, and Steve stood and left. Maria and Tony stayed behind—they had nothing urgent and figured building a closer relationship with Melin was a good idea.
…
Outside, back in the car, the first thing the three did was take off their disguises.
"So annoying. When will this all be over?"
"You could always face them with your real face."
"I'd rather not. I'd be dissected."
"Not dissected, maybe, but trouble for sure. Might even end up living in Sanctuary."
"I could go, but Stark Industries can't. That's my life's work!"
"So stop whining already! You're such a nag—not manly at all. I really don't get what Maria sees in you."
"Hey! Peggy, that's discrimination!"
"Let's go. We still need to figure out how to report back to the higher-ups."
"Say… have you guys considered moving?"
"Moving?" ×2
"Yeah."
Peggy and Steve followed Howard's pointing finger, thoughtful.
"Hmm, not a bad idea!"
…
In Melin's backyard, Hope was staring at Garoun with stars in her eyes, while Tony squatted on the ground, clutching a big bump on his head, looking miserable.
"Garoun! Just say yes already!"
"You're still too young…"
"Tony said you started training when you were like four or five!"
"You still have school…"
"I can take a break! I already learned everything in those books."
"Your parents won't allow it…"
"I can—"
Garoun really couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to pick Tony up and slam him again.
Tony hadn't realized that Melin and Garoun hadn't told Hope their identities, so he blurted them out.
It wasn't a huge deal—they weren't exactly hiding it—but once Hope found out Garoun was a powerful Saint, she stuck to him like glue, begging him to teach her how to train her Cosmos.
Garoun wasn't unwilling to teach her. There were female Saints among the current generation, and plenty of female trainees too. Plus, Melin never objected to teaching Cosmos cultivation to kind-hearted civilians.
The problem was… Garoun had already used his Cosmos to examine her. Hope really wasn't suited to train her Cosmos. She lived a comfortable life, and Garoun wasn't sure she could endure the grueling training—with no guaranteed results.
"Give it up, kid. I couldn't even train, no way you can," Tony said, suddenly feeling better and standing up to mock again.
"Hmph! How do you know I can't?" Hope asked, hands on her hips.
"Obviously. If someone as charming and talented as the great Tony Stark couldn't do it, how could you?"
Garoun: (°ー°〃)
Hope: o(￣ヘ￣o＃)——"(￣ε(#￣)☆╰╮o(￣皿￣///)
"You?! A weak, pervy old man?"
"Pfft~" Tony nearly coughed up blood from holding back his fury. "Old man!? What part of me looks like an old man!? Have you ever seen a 20-year-old old man!? Kid, you clearly have eye problems. I know a good ophthalmologist!"
"Forget it, old man. My eyes are fine. But you—" Hope gave him a thorough once-over, "Sunken eyes, dark circles, pale face, weak legs, cold sweats… Hank knows a great kidney specialist. Want me to introduce you?"
"Pfft~" Garoun couldn't hold back his laughter.
"You little brat! What nonsense are you spouting!? You're just a nearsighted brat with astigmatism!"
"Just admit it already, kidney-deficient pervy old man!"
Garoun didn't intervene. He knew they wouldn't actually fight, so he just enjoyed the show. He had to admit, this kid had sharp eyes—she could tell Tony had kidney issues at a glance. Impressive. Promising future.
"What's going on here?" Melin asked with a smile as he walked over.
Tony had been trying to end the "kidney-deficiency" talk, but Hope wouldn't let up. Thank god Melin showed up—it was his chance to escape.
"Hey! Uncle Melin, you guys done talking?"
Tony was the only one from the Stark and Rogers families who could talk to Melin casually. Even though he'd been scared during visits to Sanctuary, he'd grown up knowing Melin and visited often. Combined with his personality, he treated Melin like a family elder.
"Yeah, your dad, Peggy, and Steve left. You and Maria are staying for dinner."
"That's an honor! Will there be cheeseburgers?"
"Nope. I'm making a medicinal meal—to help with your kidneys," Melin said.
"Pfft—hahaha…" Garoun couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Hahaha! See? Even Uncle Melin knows you've got kidney problems! Still denying it! Hahaha!" Hope laughed proudly, raising her eyebrows in triumph.
"You can't say that! Uncle Melin, I don't have kidney issues! I'm just overworked! I've been… researching! Yeah, researching!"
"Researching the differences between male and female anatomy? Or mammalian reproductive processes?" Melin teased.
"Whose side are you even on?" Tony asked, face red.
"I'm on the little lady's side, of course," Melin said, patting Hope's head.
"Yay!"
"Uncle, you don't love me anymore." ε(┬┬﹏┬┬)3
"Hahaha…"
"Alright, Hope, time for your homework. Garoun, you too. If you don't get that certificate this time…"
"I'm going right now!" Garoun vanished in a flash before Melin could finish.
"You too," Melin said to Hope.
"Uncle Melin, can you promise me one little thing?"
"You want to train your Cosmos?"
"Mhm! Look at Garoun—so cool! He just disappeared!"
"Well… we'll talk about it later."
"Nooo~ Say it now!"
"Finish your homework first, then we'll talk."
"I'm on it!"
Hope ran off, leaving Tony behind.
"Go keep Maria company. Spend more time with family. Stop fooling around so much. You were such a good kid—how'd you turn out like this… sigh." Melin gave Tony a look full of disappointed sighs, like he was a piece of unpolished jade.
Then Melin left, leaving Tony standing alone in the backyard, dazed in the wind.