"Someone has to do the things no one else dares to. Isn't that what S.H.I.E.L.D. always stood for?"
Solomon pushed another piece of cake toward the boy, then carefully checked the stitches at his neck. The boy still smelled faintly of disinfectant. Though the small incision from his implant had healed faster than any normal human's, it hadn't yet reached the miraculous. Solomon couldn't use positive energy spells to accelerate recovery either—it would risk disrupting the precisely tuned genetic alchemical array laid out during the transformation phase. Even the slightest error could cause the boy's body to collapse.
To support the growth of the implanted organs and suppress rejection reactions, the boy had to take a cocktail of lab-only special medications and magical potions. In a few years, when all the surgeries were complete, that wouldn't be necessary anymore—his custom-designed body would generate unique organs on its own.
"You can't expect the entire human race to rely only on the Avengers when facing the future," Solomon said, stretching his legs with a satisfied sigh. The boy smiled at him, picking up on the magical shorthand message Solomon cast his way. The two exchanged a playful wink and bumped fists beneath the table.
"That's arrogant. And unreasonable," he added, turning to the displeased Agent Romanoff. "Isn't that right?"
"You're just twisting the argument, Solomon." Natasha Romanoff didn't hesitate to cut through the arcane master's flawed logic. She'd noticed the silent exchange between him and the boy, and although she didn't fully understand it, it didn't stop her from pressing forward. "You won't tell me what the disaster is, but you want to face it alone," she said, her tone melting into a lazy, relaxed lilt. "You don't believe the Avengers or human governments can handle this crisis. Isn't that arrogance too?"
"Modern society is too weak. The Avengers are weak. They couldn't even stop the Chitauri invasion. No matter how optimistic Nick Fury was, it doesn't change the fact that you're just a handful of people. And the Chitauri? That was only a prelude. What comes next is a full alien fleet entering the solar system—and not just the Chitauri. There are others," Solomon said calmly. "That's the kind of force that requires all of humanity to unite. But we both know Earth is divided, fragmented, and the UN is entirely useless. In such a state, surrender is inevitable. To resist to the very end, to preserve mankind, I must build my own forces—prepare for war in space."
"Thanks for being honest, Solomon. See? It's not so hard to say it aloud, is it?" The spy smiled. She knew Solomon had deliberately leaked information, but it also meant he already had a plan.
"So, you have a solution now?"
"What you see in front of you is one part of the cost," Solomon said, pointing to the boy. They had just made a deal—once his wounds healed, Solomon would take him to see the seals.
Even though most of the boy's memories would become blurry after all the transformation procedures, his personality would remain intact. That's why Solomon was shaping it now, creating a foundation for who he would become. Taking the boy to see the seals was part of that. Solomon didn't want anyone else involved in this process.
"That's a steep price."
"Compared to half the planet, or all of it—it's negligible." Solomon turned to Natasha. "You can't expect to be the only one who sacrifices. That's not fair to you. And it might not even be effective."
"What does that mean?" Natasha asked, confused.
"Nothing." Solomon waved it off. "The training and transformation this child is undergoing are completely different from what I described before. His modifications aren't as cruel, and there's no need to erase his personality. The others—those destined to be assassins—their transformations are brutal beyond your imagination. It's determined by their future roles. They must complete their missions at any cost."
Natasha quickly calmed her rising fury.
"And this still isn't enough?" she growled softly.
"Nowhere near," Solomon replied. "Words alone can't make you understand the darkness ahead. Only when you see the fleet with your own eyes will you understand that all of this is necessary." He swirled his teacup, set it down, and pulled out the Sling Ring. "You need to see the future."
He watched in silence as Natasha Romanoff stepped through the portal and disappeared.
He remained seated, deducing how events would unfold next.
She might tell the Avengers about the coming invasion—or report that Solomon was conducting illegal human experimentation and genetic modification. Whatever her choice, Solomon wasn't worried about interference. Even if Thor charged in half-cocked, Solomon had contingencies in place.
What he wanted to see was whether Natasha Romanoff would be persuaded.
The boy made a curious hand gesture, asking what had just happened. It was a silent communication system taught through brain-computer interface, meant for stealth missions—personally developed by Solomon.
"Where we'll be fighting next," the arcane master transmitted directly into the boy's mind via spell. "We'll see the seals first. Then it's off to wilderness survival training."
The boy nodded with a smile.
His subconscious had already endured terrifying mental conditioning. What would be a nightmare for most adults—survival training in the wild—held no fear for him. He already knew where it would take place. He'd received the knowledge directly through psychic simulations and brain-computer uploads. To him, it wasn't grueling training—it was a fun challenge. Just like shooting with explosive rounds in target practice, it was merely a way to pass the time between surgeries.
The only class he trained hard for was the one Solomon taught himself—close-quarters combat. Even though psychic illusions and brain uploads could teach fighting techniques, a warrior without field experience was unqualified. Swordsmanship, spearplay, halberds, shields—every mainstream weapon and defensive style had been integrated into the curriculum. Thanks to specialized growth hormones secreted by his enhanced organs, he was energetic and hyperactive. He loved this course—it helped him burn off excess energy.
Not long after, Maya Hansen stormed in with a stormy face. Her dark circles had deepened, and her expression was equal parts furious and exhausted. The moment she appeared, the boy obediently got up and extended his hand to her.
She glared at the contemplative arcane master, then took the boy's hand and led him away. She was unwilling to let her precious experimental subject wander freely, and she strongly objected to Solomon's extreme training regimen. She believed it risked destabilizing the boy's body—even if the goal was to synchronize his implants with his biology. The boy had just finished the prep work for Phase II of the procedure. He still had several surgeries to go before he could take off his headphones, move freely, and stop taking multiple anti-rejection drugs.
The boy turned back and waved at Solomon in farewell.
But the arcane master was still deep in thought, leaning on his hand and lost in the future. He didn't respond.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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