The days of being a spiritual mentor in Meiman.

Chapter 4717 X Royal Clash (23)

Chapter 4717 X Royal Family: Fierce Battle (Twenty-Three)

"How did you get so drunk?" Black Widow moved a stool and sat down next to the sofa, resisting the urge to splash a glass of ice water on Iron Man from the main universe to wake him up. Instead, she used almost all her gentleness to change the towel on his head.

Captain America stood to the side and sighed, unsure of what to say. After thinking for a while, he finally spoke, "I only dare to say this because he's drunk. Tony is very smart, but sometimes he can be quite foolish."

Black Widow looked up at him. Captain America said, "If Stephen was willing to go to the operating room and risk everything for him, why would he be so angry because of his interference?"

"You've confused me too. Isn't it obvious that Stephen is angry? He's furious."

"When you've angered someone, you'd better figure out the root cause of their anger. If you've got it wrong, the more you try to appease them, the angrier they'll become."

Black Widow agreed, looking at the face of the main universe's Iron Man, and said, "I feel like he's never really understood it. Who can possibly understand Stephen Strange?"

“I thought geniuses would understand geniuses better,” Captain America said, sitting down. “They’re different from us ordinary folks, so they should be able to understand that the other person never has no other choice. But I never expected them to make the same mistake.”

Black Widow chuckled softly. She gently patted the towel on her forehead.

The main universe's Iron Man suddenly opened his eyes, gasped for breath, and struggled to sit up, only to be pushed back down. Captain America withdrew his hand, sighed, and said, "Just calm down, you're still injured."

The main universe's Iron Man lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling. After a long while, he said in a hoarse voice, "How can whiskey be so strong..."

"How much did you drink?" Black Widow asked curiously.

“One bottle, please,” the Iron Man of the main universe murmured in reply.

Captain America closed his eyes with a hint of helplessness: "That's too much for someone who doesn't drink often. No wonder he's so drunk."

The main universe's Iron Man seemed to have finally regained his senses. He scrambled to his feet, sat on the sofa, took a deep breath, wiped his face with the towel on his head, and said, "I think I know why Stephen was so angry."

“Tell me about it,” Black Widow said, sitting on a small stool with her hands wrapped around her knees.

"The key to the issue of 'he's angry because I don't trust him' isn't about 'not trusting him,' but about 'me,'" the main universe Iron Man said listlessly. "I'm the reason he stays in the Avengers, but I completely misunderstand it. I just thought he was desperate and found a refuge. If one day Stark Industries went bankrupt, and I came to and stayed with the Avengers, and he thought I was just afraid of starving and wanted to find myself a secure job, I'd probably go crazy."

Black Widow couldn't help but laugh, seemingly imagining the scene. This change in protagonist sounded particularly absurd, as if Tony Stark was merely a foil to Stark Industries, and nothing without them.

But the truth is quite the opposite. Without Tony Stark, Stark Industries would be nothing more than an arms company. Only with Iron Man, a super genius inventor, can Stark Industries be called a technological giant and a beacon of science.

Stark Industries went bankrupt, but Iron Man hasn't become demented. He can easily recover using a few technologies. As long as he's alive, plenty of people will be willing to help him make a comeback.

So, instead of rebuilding Stark Industries, he chose to join a certain faction. No matter who he joined, it was definitely not to restore his former glory or gain status and power, because those things were within his reach.

Stephen Strange's status in the industry is similar. He's not some up-and-coming newcomer, but a respected figure with influence. Even if he can't wield a scalpel, simply standing in the operating room and guiding others through surgery is a rare opportunity that ordinary doctors would kill for. Not to mention he hasn't completely lost his abilities.

It's fair to say that none of the Avengers members joined out of desperation. They all had other options, and perhaps even better ones. Their decision to stay wasn't driven by official positions or high salaries, but by shared aspirations and ideals. They wanted to do something for the world and recognized the desire of others to do the same, which is why they formed a team.

This also allowed Iron Man in the main universe to better understand the state of the central universe. The superheroes there were simply following other paths that the Avengers could choose.

Spider-Man chose to pursue a career as a scholar, Doctor Strange remained a surgeon, Iron Man was a scientist and a father, Captain America became a space navigator, and Thor inherited the throne of Asgard. Even so, they all continued to improve the world in their respective roles, striving to make it a better place.

Whether they gather into a blazing fire or scatter into countless stars, there's no inherent superiority or inferiority. The important thing is that they are not without choice. This state of "not having no choice" is the foundation for maintaining the purity of upholding justice. While it's said that good deeds should be rewarded, in reality, it's often those who don't profit from their good deeds who are able to maintain their original intentions. Because they seek nothing in return, they have no weaknesses.

If there's a difference, the Avengers in this universe draw more love and care from each other, while the Avengers in the central universe draw it from their own family and friends, and perhaps also from Schiller. Although they have no material desires, they cannot sever their emotional ties, which is also their only weakness.

“This is a trap,” the main universe Iron Man suddenly said. “Schiller wants to cause us trouble, and he’ll definitely start with our emotions. That’s why he had Stephen undergo surgery.”

Black Widow raised an eyebrow and said, "Although he's not exactly a saint, you did fall for it."

The main universe's Iron Man sighed, offering no room for explanation. Captain America asked, "You wouldn't have drunk so much if no one was confiding in you. Who said anything to you?"

Black Widow gave her a look that said, "You're really going to great lengths for this," while Captain America gave her a look that said, "What can you do if your child is so disappointing?"

“It’s Professor X,” said the main universe Iron Man. He briefly recounted his conversation with Professor X, then sighed, “Perhaps we’re wrong about mutants. They’re not powerful time bombs, just a special race.”

“I’m glad you think that way,” Captain America encouraged him first. Black Widow was about to say something, but Captain America stopped her with a look, then said very tactfully, “But do you think that’s his main point?”

“Isn’t that right?” the main universe Iron Man retorted. “I think he just wanted to change my stereotypes about mutants by comforting me, and he did succeed.”

"I want to ask you a question." Black Widow placed her hand on the edge of the sofa where the main universe's Iron Man was sitting, leaned forward, and asked, "What did Stephen say to you when you went to see him?"

"He said he was simply defeated by his pursuit of perfection..."

Iron Man from the main universe finally realized what was happening: "But Stephen didn't fail. Is Professor X trying to tell me that? Then why is he saying this? Is he still angry with me?"

“Essentially, arrogant people maintain their arrogance because they can’t imagine what it would be like to fail. If they had even for a moment imagined what it would be like to lose power, they would have some sense of awe,” Captain America said.

"Can't imagine what it would be like to fail?"

“Just like the Soviet Union never imagined it would disintegrate,” Black Widow added. She particularly liked talking about this in front of Captain America. “If they knew the consequences of recklessness would be being torn to pieces, they would definitely be more cautious.”

"What kind of person can't imagine what failure would look like?" the main universe's Iron Man asked. "A child?"

"To be precise, he's someone who has never failed," Captain America said. "How can you know what setbacks are like if you've never experienced them? You can only guess based on your imagination."

The main universe's Iron Man froze for two seconds, then jumped to his feet and roared, "Central Universe!!"

"Move over here a bit!" A figure in a red cloak was directing mages to modify the magical defense network. "Yes, that's the node, see it? Connect the energy path here to the New York Temple, that way it will be easier to transmit power..."

"And you, can you stop wandering around the North Pole all the time? Can't you see that huge energy tumor? Are your eyes inside your nostrils?"

"What are you still dawdling about for? Do you have to wait until the enemy is at your doorstep before you can tell the difference between closed and open circuits? I've really used up all my patience..."

"My God, you're even more terrifying than the interns in the operating room who can't tell the difference between forceps. How did you even graduate?"

The local Doctor Strange finally couldn't take it anymore. He flew over, looked at his alternate self, and said, "If you want to mess with Tony Stark, at least do it somewhat convincingly, okay?"

“I don’t know how you have the audacity to say these things to me,” Strange said. “You’ve made your home’s magical defenses look like a sieve. If it weren’t for how meager your magical energy is, I would have thought you were embezzling…”

The local Doctor Strange was so angry he nearly fell over, and refused to say another word to him, instead going off to work on the other side of the Earth.

Suddenly, a figure leaped into near-Earth orbit—it was the furious Iron Man from the main universe. He instantly appeared in front of Strange, yelling, "You damn imposter!!!"

"Are you sure you want to fight me at this critical juncture?" Strange narrowed his eyes. "Humanity's satellites are still there."

This sentence successfully stopped the main universe Iron Man from firing his hand cannon. He just glared fiercely at Strange: "Why are you impersonating Stephen?"

"Are you out of your mind? If we have to choose a Stephen Strange as the original in the multiverse, it will definitely be me. What do you mean I'm impersonating Stephen?"

Iron Man in the main universe was furious. Strange sneered and said, "You must have felt sorry for your friend who was in that car accident on countless nights, but unfortunately, when the version who wasn't in the accident stands in front of you, you want to kill him."

Iron Man's expression froze, his anger seemingly choked by something. A flood of memories rushed through his mind, because, as Strange had said, he had imagined many times how much better it would have been if Stephen hadn't been in the car accident.

Although they might not meet then, he didn't consider himself such a narrow-minded person when it came to emotions. As long as Stephen could continue to maintain his glory as the Hand of God, it didn't matter whether he had a friend named Tony Stark to add to his prestige.

But the truth is, he seems to have too much of a bias towards his friends. Or perhaps, Stephen always displays a detached and tolerant attitude towards him, to the point that he overlooks some less important details and feels that Stephen Strange would be more perfect if he hadn't experienced those hardships.

But the reality is cruel. Suffering isn't a necessity of life, but it can certainly transform some people. Stephen Strange is clearly one of them. This version, without experiencing a rebuilding of his life, is truly terrifying.