CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106: WANDA BLOWS CAP AWAY! KNOWHERE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK!

For what?

That wasn’t certain.

Everyone turned their eyes to Sersi.

After all, she was the one who had called them together.

But deep down, they already knew the answer.

Sersi looked at them and slowly said, "The reappearance of the Deviants means our mission is nearing its end. We need to come together and find out the real cause behind all this, to ensure everyone’s safety."

"For example, we still haven’t been able to reach Ajak."

As soon as she finished, Gilgamesh clapped his hands and waved dismissively.

"I’m not doing it. Do whatever you want. I’m protecting Thena."

And he wasn’t the only one.

Others also expressed their refusal.

Their only mission was to help humanity develop.

They still didn’t know the true reason the Celestials had tasked them with protecting humanity.

So they saw no need to regroup over this.

They didn’t want to go.

It was a waste of time.

In the end, very few were willing to gather everyone together.

The Eternals had been divided for a long time.

"...Sigh."

Sersi let out a breath.

"But we need to find Ajak. We have to make sure our teammate hasn’t been attacked by the Deviants. Ajak has no combat ability. If she gets captured, it’s over."

"Roar~~~!!!"

Just as she finished speaking, a beastly roar shook the ground. A violent impact smashed straight through the house they were in.

Several people were sent rolling.

Gilgamesh stepped forward, fists glowing, and charged in with heavy blows.

The others quickly recovered and rushed to help.

A fierce battle erupted without warning.

...

No one knew how long it lasted.

When the fight was finally over, everyone sat panting amidst the ruins.

"Is everyone here?"

Sersi struggled to her feet, scanning the wreckage.

But after searching, she froze.

"Where’s Sprite? Where is she?"

"Ahem." Kingo, the Bollywood Eternal, cleared his throat before saying, "I think I saw her being carried off..."

"No!"

Sersi cried out in despair and tried to chase after the fleeing Deviants.

But someone stopped her.

"We should gather the others. We need to stick together and check on our leader, Ajak."

...

Later, after calming down, Sersi sat with the others in silence.

She looked around at their weary faces and suddenly remembered what Spider-Gwen had said:

"If it’s something ordinary, go to the New York police. If it’s something supernatural, go to the Avengers."

Gwen had said that before walking away.

But Sersi had remembered.

At the time, Sprite agreed with her that they should seek out the others.

But now...

Looking at them again, she thought maybe she should turn to the Avengers.

Just not yet.

Not until she met Ajak, the leader of the Eternals.

What she didn’t know was...

Ajak was already dead.

...

Meanwhile.

After a leisurely half-day of fishing, Lorien finally received a visitor he never thought he’d see again.

Who could it be?

"Bang bang~~"

"Come in."

The door opened, and a man in a jacket, sharp features, posture upright, stepped inside.

Yes.

It was Captain America—Cap.

"Hey, hello."

Cap, wearing his cap, greeted Lorien as he entered.

Lorien gestured for him to sit and handed him a bottle of milk tea.

"I thought you’d never show up here."

Yeah. Back at the airport in Germany, Lorien had certainly given him a hard time, making him look bad in front of everyone.

But that was only because Cap refused to follow the rules, insisting on doing his own "free" thing.

Cap pulled out a chair and sat down, accepting the milk tea Lorien slid over.

"You weren’t helping anyone, were you?" he said. "And after all that, you still went back to being an ordinary psychologist. You didn’t fight for power. You didn’t chase profit. You only stepped in for Wanda. So you didn’t do anything wrong. That much, I know."

Lorien looked at him, a little surprised.

So this was Cap’s sense of justice?

Even if he was the one who had suffered, as long as the other person wasn’t wrong from their perspective, Cap would forgive them.

Even if they’d done something questionable.

Oh... Lorien realized it now.

Wasn’t Bucky the same?

And Cap had forgiven him too.

Thinking of this, Lorien shook his head with a faint smile.

But he didn’t want to dwell on it.

The past was the past.

If the conversation was about what kind of women were pretty, what to do after work, whether to grab a coffee or go for a drive, sure—he could chat and pass the time.

But if it turned to the Avengers, the future of the city, or the safety of the people, then Lorien would be looking for a way to make him leave sooner.

And Cap was exactly that type.

So Lorien cut straight to the point.

"So, what’s the reason? What made you come to me even while you’re wanted by the United Nations?"

That was the real question.

Cap wouldn’t have come here just to chat.

Lorien’s directness hit right at what Cap wanted.

Cap’s faint smile faded.

He looked serious now, and said to Lorien...

"Lorien, I can access all outside information from Wakanda."

"The Goddess Alliance can become a new pillar in the hearts of the people."

"As long as Wanda announces that she will take over as the new leader of the Avengers, the team will regain most of its credibility and authority."

"Then superheroes will once again be free to fight crime and protect Earth."

Cap’s words were sincere.

Lorien could tell he truly meant it.

He genuinely wanted Wanda to lead the Avengers, to restore their standing and influence.

Even if it couldn’t be fully restored, it would still give them far more say than they had now.

But how would Wanda react if she heard this?

Lorien thought about it, then couldn’t help but laugh.

Cap saw this, clearly puzzled. He spread his hands.

"Why are you laughing? Did I say something funny?"

Lorien waved his hand.

"No. What you said was very sincere, and I know you mean it. I just thought of something amusing."

Cap looked at him.

"What’s so funny?"

"It doesn’t matter." Lorien let the smile fade and said calmly, "But Wanda is Wanda, and I am me. Even if I agreed with you, I wouldn’t tell Wanda, ’Go lead the Avengers.’ You should be talking to her, not me."

The unspoken message was clear: stop wasting your time.

If Lorien had thought this way, he would’ve suggested it to Wanda long ago. She listened to him, after all.

But Cap pressed on.

"That day at Leipzig-Halle Airport, I already knew. Wanda trusts you. She listens to you. As long as you take the first step, she’ll most likely follow."

"Oh? You can see that too?"

Lorien gave a helpless wave.

"Alright then. I’ll call Wanda down. You can tell her yourself. If she agrees, then I’ll agree too. But right now, she hasn’t heard a word of what we’re saying. How about that?"

He wanted Cap to see for himself—not everyone shared his so-called "freedom" ideals.

Cap thought about it, then nodded.

"Alright."

"Good."

Lorien turned toward the next room, where Hela was gaming.

"Hela, go get Wanda."

Hela dashed off without hesitation.

Moments later, Wanda came downstairs with her, still wiping her hands with a towel, a red apron tied around her waist.

She must have been cooking.

As soon as she came down, Wanda looked straight at Lorien and asked softly,

"What’s wrong, dear? I was making you some cupcakes."

Lorien smiled warmly, then tilted his head at Cap, signaling him to go ahead.

Cap, for a moment, was stunned—the strongest member of the Avengers, acting like a homemaker?

He took a deep breath and started.

"Freedom is important. Countless people are fighting for it..."

...

Lorien’s mind tuned out most of the speech.

When Cap finally finished, he looked at Wanda and said,

"So what do you think? Come back and lead the Avengers. Freedom needs you."

By then, Lorien already felt something was off.

Not with Cap—but with Wanda.

She stood silent, fists clenching tightly at her sides.

Cap mistook her silence for hesitation.

"Um—"

But before he could finish the word—

"Bang!"

The heavy door of Lorien’s office slammed open on its own.

A cold voice cut through the air.

"Get out."

Oof...

Lorien crossed his arms, exchanging a look with Hela, who peeked out from beside him.

Both of them had the same "tsk, tsk" expression.

"But—"

Cap barely managed to say the first word.

"Boom!"

A surge of scarlet energy erupted from Wanda’s body.

Crack—

Red frost spread from beneath her feet.

Lorien nudged Hela with his lips, as if to say, She’s about to lose it.

Sure enough, Wanda’s next words carried the chill of ice sealed for millennia.

"Get out."

Wanda’s voice was soft, but her face was completely expressionless.

But Cap was nothing if not stubborn. He raised a hand, trying to speak again—

"Ding~!"

The elevator outside opened on its own.

Cap glanced over—

Bang!

In an instant, an unseen force slammed him into the elevator. His face was pressed flat against the wall, unable to move.

Ding~

The elevator button lit up for the first floor.

Bang!

The doors closed, and Cap was sent "willingly" down.

Yes, very willingly. So willingly that he didn’t even want to step out when it reached the bottom.

After the show, Lorien crossed his arms. Hela did the same.

Both spoke at the same time.

"How tragic."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Cap really had messed with the wrong person.

Wanda had just begun living the peaceful life she longed for. Then someone came along telling her to give it up and return to a life even more exhausting than before.

How could she not explode?

After tossing Cap away, Wanda lifted her head. Lorien saw her eyes glistening with tears.

He opened his arms, and Wanda threw herself into his embrace like a frightened dove.

Lorien patted her back.

"Don’t overthink it. Just follow your heart. I’ve told you before—you’re yourself. You’re not anyone else."

Then he nudged Hela with his foot.

"Right, Hela?"

Hela rubbed the spot where he’d kicked her.

"Right."

Wanda stayed quiet in his arms for a while. Then she suddenly looked up and said,

"One day, I want to announce things the way Tony Stark did. I’ll tell everyone I have someone I love, that I enjoy being a housewife. Being a superhero is just something I do on the side!"

Lorien pinched her cheek.

"Sure. Whatever you want. Don’t let yourself be chained by moral expectations. Just live your own life. Having the ability doesn’t mean you’re obligated to do everything—or to save the world every time. That’s nothing but moral blackmail."

"Mm!" Wanda nodded firmly.

It was clear—she had no desire to step back into the spotlight.

Go out occasionally to fight crime? Fine.

But living on a schedule as a full-time superhero? No.

After settling down for a bit, Wanda suddenly gasped.

"Oh no! The whipped cream I just made!"

She quickly opened a portal and rushed through.

A moment later, her relieved voice came from inside.

"Thank goodness, it’s fine."

She told Lorien to wait a little while, closed the portal, and went back to carefully finishing her French cupcakes.

Lorien returned to his seat.

And just like that, half a day of idling was gone.

"Mmm~"

He stretched lazily, then opened his mouth to catch the cupcake Wanda handed him. One bite, gone.

"How is it?" Wanda looked at him with hopeful eyes.

"Mmm~" Lorien hummed through his nose, nodding as he chewed.

"Delicious. Not greasy, not heavy—just rich and fragrant."

Clap, clap, clap—

He applauded her.

Wanda immediately broke into a bright smile.

This was the life she wanted.

Whenever she wasn’t at home, everything outside felt unstable, rootless. It never felt like home.

"Hela, come have some cake."

"Coming~!"

So they all ate cake together, nibbling away until the end of the workday.

By 5:00 p.m.—

Click.

Lorien and the others stepped out as the elevator doors opened.

"Ding~"

Gwen hopped out with her teal backpack, waving her hand.

"Yaho~! Right on time, huh?"

Lorien arched a brow. "Right on time!"

Heh. She really was picking up his style.

"Have you eaten?" Wanda lifted the cake box in her hand. "I baked these myself."

"I want some!"

Gwen rushed forward, grabbing two at once and stuffing one straight into her mouth.

She chewed, then beamed.

"Delicious!"

"That’s good." Wanda’s face lit up with joy.

Snap, snap—

After finishing, Lorien clapped his hands.

"Alright, just like we said yesterday. Let’s go check out Cybertron. Honestly, if Gwen hadn’t mentioned it yesterday, I’d have forgotten how long it’s been."

Wanda nodded.

"Let’s go, let’s go!" Gwen said excitedly.

Lorien turned to Hela.

"You coming?"

"Yeah." Hela nodded.

"Good."

Lorien snapped his fingers.

Snap~

The four of them appeared near the former Mars, now Cybertron.

But the moment they arrived, they saw something unexpected.

Another planet was orbiting around Cybertron.

Lorien froze for a second.

It really was Knowhere!