Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
For every 5 Patreon memberships I receive, I'll release 15 chapters all at once. Your support means a lot to me.
*****
A sumptuous lunch.
Meat, meat, and more meat!
Gazing at the dazzling array of delicacies on the dining table, Little Lamb and Gwen were instantly captivated. The food seemed to pose seductively, and it was as if the delicious aroma had hooked them by the nose, dragging them over as they floated on tiptoes toward the table.
They hadn't eaten a meal cooked by Mike in a long time.
"Hmph!"
Mike snorted softly, focusing on his own food and refusing to give the two little rascals a friendly look.
It wasn't that he couldn't let go or allow them to do what they wanted.
But before going on an adventure, they should have at least left a backup plan—like a scheduled message to be sent if they didn't return by a certain time. If they ran into trouble, that message could have saved them.
Instead, they just dove headfirst into a strange and eerie place without a word.
This time, the entities there weren't strong enough to beat them, but what about next time?
He hoped these two little ones would consider things more thoroughly before acting in the future, to be a bit more steady and prudent.
Although Gwen was very strong now... one still had to be careful!
Mike snorted softly again.
Raven watched Mike's awkward sulking and chuckled softly.
He had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
Although he was acting angry, the dishes he had prepared were all the favorites of these two little ones.
Now that their attention was entirely captivated by the delicious food, it would be a miracle if they even noticed his grumpy demeanor.
Raven, sharp-eyed and quick-handed, reached out just as Gwen went to grab some food, her chopsticks clamping down on the same piece of meat Gwen was aiming for.
Gwen froze for a moment, hurriedly let go, and subconsciously glanced at Raven.
Raven pursed her lips toward Mike, giving Gwen a signal with her eyes.
Gwen instantly understood.
She gently kicked Little Lamb under the table.
Little Lamb: (Chewing)
Don't bother me, I'm going on a killing spree with this food!
Gwen: (Angry)
Hand it over!
Little Lamb: (Shocked)
My bowl!
Little Lamb looked at Gwen in confusion.
Gwen whispered, "Quick! Let's apologize to Dad together."
Little Lamb glanced at Mike and nodded.
The next second, Gwen winked at Little Lamb and made a hand gesture under the table.
Three, two, one!
"Dad! I was wrong!"
Little Lamb shouted at the top of his lungs, then immediately looked indignantly at Gwen.
Didn't you say we'd apologize together?
Why didn't you make a sound!
Gwen feigned anger and said, "What are you looking at? I told you not to go, but you insisted on going on an adventure! I'm never taking you anywhere again!"
Little Lamb: (Furious)
Hey, hey!
Why is it all being pinned on me!
Little Lamb glared at Gwen, only to discover she had taken the opportunity to eat his favorite vegetable while he was distracted. He instantly felt even more stifled and aggrieved.
Tears began to swirl in his eyes.
Gwen: "..."
Seems I took the joke too far.
She hurriedly moved to comfort Little Lamb.
But unexpectedly, Little Lamb's body began to flash with a bizarre red light.
The next second, before they could react...
BOOM!
Little Lamb exploded right where he stood, and a violent shockwave and flames swept out in all directions.
Mike immediately shielded Raven, while streaks of blue flame surged out from Gwen's body.
In the next instant, the flames and impact swept through wildly, blasting them out of the house.
The three of them flew out of the building and landed on the street.
"Are you okay?"
Mike looked down and asked Raven.
Raven shook her head quickly and ran back toward the house.
Gwen pressed her hand to the ground and shot back into the room like a streak of blue fire.
But the fastest was Mike.
Whoosh!
With a sharp whistling of wind, tearing through the flames along the path, Mike hugged Little Lamb, who was standing foolishly in the center, wrapped in flames.
At this moment, the little guy was stark naked, with wisps of fire swimming across his body.
Just as Mike was worrying, Little Lamb wailed, "It's all gone! The food is all gone! Boohoo!"
Hearing this, Raven and Gwen, who had rushed in, felt relieved and then couldn't help but laugh.
Raven walked quickly to Mike's side, took Little Lamb into her arms, and after confirming he was unharmed, couldn't help saying, "You little glutton."
Mike glanced at Gwen, who had canceled her transformation. Seeing the self-blame and guilt on her face, he smiled, walked over to her, pulled her into a hug, and rubbed her head.
"It's okay, it's not your fault."
Who could have guessed that Little Lamb would awaken an ability in that kind of situation?
Gwen burrowed deeper into Mike's arms and said worriedly, "But, our home..."
"Don't worry, it's fine."
Mike comforted her, greeted Raven, and the family of four walked out onto the street.
At the same time, the neighbors living nearby ran out with serious expressions.
They looked at Mike's home, which had been leveled to the ground, with shock in their hearts. Upon seeing the family of four walking out slowly, they rushed over.
"What happened? Under attack? Where are the enemies?"
Steve Rogers' triple-question combo came first.
"No enemy traces observed!"
Pietro ran a lap around the area and reported back to Steve.
Meanwhile, Wanda descended from above the crowd.
"Who was it? Why attack here?"
Bruce Banner pushed up his glasses, expressing deep admiration for anyone daring enough to launch an attack here.
"Uh..."
Mike scratched his hair, pointing at Little Lamb, who was shyly covering his crotch area. He said helplessly, "The little guy seems to have awakened a new ability and blew up the house."
"..."
Silence reigned for several seconds.
"Hahahaha!"
"Haha!"
"That's too funny!"
"Beautifully done! Little Lamb!"
"That's impressive, you're the first person who dared to do such a thing!"
Little Lamb shyly rubbed his head. "It, it wasn't that amazing."
Smack!
Mike gently tapped Little Lamb's head. "What are you looking so proud for!"
Gwen pointed at Little Lamb.
Little Lamb shrieked, covering his butt with one hand and his front with the other, hiding behind Mike.
"Hahahaha!"
Everyone laughed happily again.
"What about you guys? What will you do?"
Steve pointed to the ruins in front of him and said, "Do you want to stay at my place for a while?"
"No need."
Mike shook his head, and a card appeared at his fingertips. "Small stuff."
As he spoke, the card dissolved into particles of light, and a magic circle composed of green runes appeared in Mike's palm.
He aimed his palm at the destroyed home. Instantly, time in that area began to flow backward.
Like pressing rewind on a video player, everything flew back to its original place. In just a few seconds, the blown-up house was restored to its original appearance.
Immediately after, the green magic circle in Mike's palm rotated, and the house returned to normal time flow.
Mike waved his hand to dismiss the magic circle and said to the stunned crowd, "Alright, it's fixed! Don't just stand there."
After speaking to everyone, Mike asked in confusion, "Where's Tony? Why haven't I seen him? And Natasha and the others?"
"Tony had some work matters and went to deal with them with Pepper. Natasha and the others are on a mission."
"Oh!" Mike responded, waving to Maria and Peggy Carter.
"Don't worry, they'll be back soon. It won't delay our Mahjong Tournament in three days!"
Peggy Carter shouted to Mike.
Mike slapped his forehead. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten!"
"Forgetting isn't an option! Maria and I are actively preparing for war!"
Peggy Carter and Maria exchanged a look, and both nodded solemnly.
Preparing for war...
Mike looked speechless, while Steve smiled bitterly and said, "Peggy is even humming and hawing about playing cards in her sleep."
Peggy Carter clenched her fist. "Therefore, I am bound to win!"
Bruce interjected, "I heard the trophy was provided by Tony."
He paused, then added, "Pure gold."
Pietro and Wanda's eyes lit up.
Gold!
They had to participate actively too!
Although they had the Avengers' stipend, that money wasn't enough for their needs.
If they won the trophy and sold it...
Golden light suddenly flashed in both their eyes.
"I'm going to practice!"
Peggy Carter announced, then hurriedly ran back home.
Mike waved his hand and said to everyone, "When the time comes, you'll have to do your best."
If it was a gold trophy...
It was worth making a move!
The family of four returned home and closed the door.
Little Lamb let out a howl and vanished from where he stood, teleporting back inside the house.
The three of them chuckled low.
Gwen said helplessly, "To think he could awaken a new ability from that. I'll have to be more careful in the future."
"Let Little Lamb get control of this ability as soon as possible," Mike muttered, rubbing his chin.
If Little Lamb got teased by someone and his emotions fluctuated too much, causing an explosion somewhere, the scene would be disastrous.
"Gwen, supervise him for the next two days. Before he goes to school, make sure he controls this ability!"
"Yes, sir!"
Gwen saluted.
This little interlude didn't cause any serious consequences.
With Mike's ability, even their half-eaten lunch was restored.
After quickly finishing lunch, Mike opened the Mirror Dimension and had Gwen supervise Little Lamb's practice of his new ability inside. Meanwhile, he and Raven went to their family's cake shop.
Just as they opened the door, Odin scurried in and rushed into the back kitchen.
"Mike, Mike!"
Odin leaned his hands on the counter.
"What do you want?"
Mike glanced at Odin.
Odin chuckled and said, "I heard from Raven that you're holding some Mahjong Tournament?"
"You want to participate?" Mike asked suspiciously. "Do you know how to play Mahjong?"
"No, but I can learn!" Odin patted his chest. "With my intelligence and wisdom, I'll learn it in no time."
Mike looked at Odin skeptically.
Odin blew into his beard and stared. "What's with that look?"
Mike narrowed his eyes. "Are you also doing this for the trophy?"
"W-what trophy! I'm just doing this to participate in the competition!"
Odin declared righteously, but then immediately couldn't help asking, "That trophy should be worth a lot, right?"
"It's alright, I guess."
Mike calculated while rubbing his chin. "Given Tony's personality, that trophy is definitely solid. If it's solid, it must weigh at least two or three kilograms."
Odin's eye lit up.
Although he didn't calculate the exact price, he knew that when ordinary people bought gold, they bought it by the gram.
It was very valuable!
Odin was even more tempted.
"I want to participate! Definitely not for the trophy!"
Odin grinned at Mike and declared loudly, "I just love competition!"
As he spoke, he walked toward the door, adding, "Don't forget, Frigga and I will both participate!"
With that, he walked out humming an Asgardian tune.
Once he got that trophy, he would sell it immediately and then take Frigga on a trip.
Thinking of the happy times ahead, Odin's single eye shone with light. He didn't even get angry when a few passing children called him "One-Eyed Captain."
Mike sighed.
Odin, a generation of God Kings, reduced to this. How pitiful.
Mike sighed again.
Somehow, a mental image suddenly surged into his mind:
God King Odin, waving his arm, leading thousands of Asgardian warriors flooding into the Mahjong match, swearing to take the small golden cup...
"Uh!"
Mike shuddered.
"What's wrong?"
Raven looked at Mike in confusion.
Mike shook his head. "Nothing."
He looked up at Raven and guessed, "Odin isn't going to ask you to teach him how to play cards, is he?"
"Yes!"
Raven said happily, "I finally get to teach someone too!"
Hearing this, Mike's expression turned a bit strange.
Good heavens, Raven...
She, along with Carter and Maria, was jokingly referred to as the "Three Generals" of bad playing.
Odin... Tragedy awaits!
"A Mahjong tournament? Count me in!"
The Ancient One walked in holding a pot of clear tea, nodded to Mike, and confirmed again, "I'll participate!"
"What? You're in it for the trophy too?"
The Ancient One shouldn't be short of money, right?
The Ancient One shook her head and smiled. "I just think it will be interesting."
Mike: "?"
He felt like the Ancient One had other ideas.
"This pot of tea is for you. Top-quality green tea."
The Ancient One placed the teapot in front of Mike, casually picked up a piece of cake, took a bite, and said, "I'll take this."
"You..."
"As expected, yours is delicious. The ones made by other cake shops... tsk, it's like they put a ton of sugar in them. Sickeningly sweet."
Saying this, the Ancient One waved her hand and left quickly.
Mike gave a thumbs-up to the Ancient One's back.
The Ancient One still knew quality goods!
Mike smiled happily and said to Raven, who was already distracted, "Go on, go teach Odin and the others."
"Mhm-hmm!" Raven nodded happily and bounded out like a fawn.
Mike watched Raven's back with a face full of affection.
Although they were an old married couple, he still found Raven cute no matter how he looked at her.
But thinking of the apprentice Raven was about to teach, Mike couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Planet Kent.
Charles's office.
"What? A Mahjong Tournament?"
Charles rubbed his chin. "When?"
"Three days from now! I just found out too! I came to tell you immediately! My dear brother!"
Gwen's voice sounded like it had been dipped in honey, making Charles feel a sweetness in his heart.
"I'm not interested in that, I..."
"It's in three days, which is Sunday. Just treat it as relaxing! I'll cheer for you! Dad and everyone else will be participating!"
Gwen coaxed Charles, but in her heart, she was scheming.
She couldn't participate in the competition, but she could make her three brothers participate. If they won, that trophy... Heheh!
"If that's the case, I understand!"
Charles nodded and said, "Clark and Eric?"
"I'll notify them!"
Gwen said actively and hung up the phone.
"That little girl."
Charles chuckled, then lowered his head and continued to busy himself.
(End of Chapter)