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The TV was broadcasting Tony Stark's press conference announcing the closure of his weapons division, followed by a return to a live studio where the host dramatically smashed a water glass with a baseball bat, telling the audience what happens to a weapons dealer who stops making weapons.
Makima asked curiously, "You seem very concerned about Stark Industries?"
Lionel sat on the sofa, holding Little Bone in his arms.
"This is a good opportunity to double my assets. Currently, Stark Industries' stock has dropped by 20 points. I'll buy in when the stock drops a bit more, and then slowly wait for it to rise. At that point, it should at least multiply several times."
Lionel's expenses were not large. He had taken on several highly lucrative commissions and would occasionally 'collect' money from nearby Gangs. In less than half a year, he had accumulated hundreds of thousands in assets. Once Stark's stock doubled, it would definitely multiply more than ten times, making Lionel a rich man with millions of U.S. dollars.
"You have so much confidence in this company? This Tony Stark has even closed his weapons division. How will a military industrial enterprise double its stock if it doesn't sell weapons?"
Makima was very puzzled by Lionel's confidence regarding Stark's stock rising. Although she didn't dabble in such matters, she knew that a weapons dealer who stopped selling weapons was on a dead end.
Lionel said, "I don't have confidence in Stark Industries; I have confidence in Tony Stark. Makima, do you know about the Multiverse and parallel Worlds?"
Makima replied, "I've heard of them. Two unproven theories in physics."
"Well, let me tell you, in this Universe, this Multiverse, these theories are valid, and the Multiverse and countless parallel Worlds do exist."
"Tony Stark plays a pivotal role in most Universes. He is an out-and-out genius. If you were to grade the intelligence of all intelligent life forms in the Universe, he would be in the first tier, among the very top."
"That's why I believe Stark Industries' stock will rise, even double. A genius of that caliber won't be stumped by such a problem."
Makima nodded ambiguously, then asked a question that concerned her:
"You know a lot about these Multiverses. In the Multiverses you know of, has any Universe achieved true equality?"
Makima had never forgotten her ideal: to create a World of equality.
"A World of equality?" Lionel reviewed the Marvel settings he knew in his mind. It seemed there was no such World. Understandably so, the parallel Universes he knew were all comics by cartoonists and editors, story Worlds created to attract people. An equal and beautiful World wouldn't have much appeal.
"I haven't heard of a World of equality, but this Universe is vast, and there are many things that go beyond common sense and cognition. There's only what you can't imagine, not what doesn't exist. Like the six stones that represent the Universe's laws, gather them and snap your fingers to grant wishes. Or the Universe Controller, which may or may not exist in this Universe, also seems capable of granting wishes. Perhaps in some parallel Universe, humanity has achieved equality and created an ideal World."
"There's power that can achieve these things, how truly aspirational. Lionel, if I were to create an equal World, would you help me?"
Suddenly, Makima formally called out his name and asked a question that sounded unrealistic. Lionel was stunned for a moment, then thought about Makima's character setting. Although it had broken down a lot, her desire to create a peaceful World had remained unchanged.
"Of course, I'll help you. Aren't we family? And a peaceful World sounds great!" Lionel gave Makima a thumbs up.
Makima smiled, also giving a thumbs up and touching Lionel's.
"Then it's a deal!"
---
"Old man, what do you think about Tony Stark closing Stark Industries' weapons division?"
In the park, Lionel chatted with the old man who resembled Biden.
The old man paused, his expression seeming to recall something, and in a voice that ordinary people couldn't hear, but Lionel could barely make out, he said, "He still did it!"
Lionel deliberately asked, "Old man, what are you saying?"
Old Steve brushed him off, "Hey, impolite kid, respect your elders!"
"I just said this Tony Stark is quite a character!"
"Really? Old man, your tone just now sounded like you're very familiar with Tony Stark? Do you two know each other?"
Old Steve said, "Do I? Maybe I'm just old enough. I've been watching Tony Stark since he was a little kid. I watched him grow up!"
"An unfamiliar friendship across generations?"
The more Lionel looked at this old man, the more he felt something was off. At least, an ordinary old man wouldn't have an Entry like [Firm Will] above his head.
Lionel suddenly asked, "Old man, is Red Skull still on Vormir?"
"Still there, when I returned the Stones—"
Old Steve's voice cut off abruptly. He panicked for a moment, not knowing how this young man knew, so he decided to use a foolproof method: playing dumb.
"Kid, what did you just say? I'm old, I didn't hear your question clearly!"
"Nothing, just rambling."
Lionel had already gotten his answer and didn't press Old Captain America further.
"Old man, you've lived this long, have you ever seen news like this?"
Lionel handed his phone to Old Steve. On the phone screen was the Daily Bugle's headline.
"Shocking! Perverted Spider-Man Weaves Web on Manhattan Bridge, Suspected of Being in Heat!"
The Daily Bugle was enthusiastic about publishing news about Spider-Man, mostly negative. Some speculated that the Daily Bugle's owner was Spider-Man's biggest hater.
Lionel had also learned the details through other channels. Spider-Man had woven a large web with his webs on the Manhattan Bridge, spelling out: "I LOVE YOU," suspected of being a declaration of love. Citizens were curious about who the lucky girl was that Spider-Man was confessing to.
Old Steve showed a 'subway old man' expression, clearly not understanding the Daily Bugle's news.
"What is Spider-Man doing?"
Lionel sighed, "Ah, it looks like you don't know, old man."
Although this World seemed to be the Marvel Cinematic Universe, many details were different. At least, this Spider-Man couldn't be Tom Holland's version; his experience was more like the Amazing Spider-Man. Asking Old Captain America was also to confirm if this old guy who had experienced everything knew about these things. It seemed he didn't.
"Old man, how old do you think this Spider-Man is? He looks very young."
Old Steve's long-dormant brain whirred, calculating a math problem.
"Eight or nine years old?"
Lionel pointed at the Spider-Man in the photo, who was clearly an adult, and said speechlessly:
"Old man, are you senile? This is eight years old?"