The Savior of American Comics? I'm the Subspace Evil God!

Chapters 552, 1020, and 1021: "Safe House"

"Very good, so far everything is progressing according to plan..."

Carl glanced at the news summaries scrolling across the large screen about 'Ultron' and his [Iron Legion] causing chaos and destruction in laboratories and material warehouses around the world, his eyes remaining calm and unwavering.

The 'script' he and [Tzeentch] conspired on is unfolding and progressing steadily in the real world.

Karl naturally wouldn't fuss over the gains or losses of reputation points at such an insignificant time... that would be like losing the watermelon to pick up a sesame seed.

Moreover, he believed that a large amount of reputation points would soon be coming in.

As a successful businessman, Karl knew better than anyone that 'patience' is always the investment with the highest return.

If he wants to rise from a rapidly growing 'nouveau riche' to a 'chess player' who can directly compete with those ancient beings on the chessboard of the 'multiverse', the first basic quality he must possess is an extraordinary level of patience that transcends common sense.

Only by enduring loneliness and resisting temptation can one truly see the truth hidden behind the 'fog'.

And he happens to be born with such calmness and patience.

This is also the most crucial quality that enabled him to rise successfully from the Hydra dungeon in Sokovia and get to where he is today.

Karl then glanced at the long string of numbers in the "Current Reputation Value" column, a smile gradually spreading across his lips, and a hint of satisfaction, typical of a winner, finally appeared in his deep eyes.

"Less than 100 million reputation points remain..."

Karl's long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the throne, producing a rhythmic sound, and the smile on his lips became more pronounced.

"Soon we'll be able to raise the dimensional strength of the subspace to level 7. At that point, the subspace should be able to leapfrog to the level of a true monoverse, right?"

"I wonder what changes will occur in the subspace after the dimensional strength is raised to level 7? Will the strength of the 'five little ones' also increase accordingly, and break through to the level of a 'single universe' along with the advancement of the subspace?"

The thought of those five 'Chaos Gods', each with their own distinct style yet equally powerful, and the new atmosphere they might bring after gaining power at the [single universe] level, stirred a surge of excitement even in the usually composed Karl.

They will become the five sharpest blades in Karl's hands, the absolute main force for him to carry out the "God Devouring Plan" and even conquer more dimensions in the future!

"but……"

The burning intensity in Karl's eyes quickly subsided, replaced by his usual calm and composure. He murmured softly:

"Even if the promotion of the 'Five Little Ones' is slightly delayed, or if they still fail to meet expectations this time, it doesn't matter at all."

Because he had already prepared a backup plan and devised multiple schemes to weaken or even imprison Mephisto's power.

What's more, he currently possesses a total of four Infinity Stones!
With the four Infinity Stones in hand, even without using the power of the warp itself, Karl was confident enough to slowly grind down Mephisto, a seasoned, single-universe-level lord, using the power of these four stones!

It just takes more time and effort.

“Very good. If everything goes smoothly, after this [Age of Ultron] event, not only will Mephisto's soul belong to me, but even the [Hell] in his hands will be mine.”

He raised his hand and drank the last bit of whiskey in the glass, savoring the rich aroma filling his mouth and the slight burning sensation as it slid straight down his esophagus. A look of intense anticipation appeared in Karl's eyes.

Unbeknownst to him, he seemed to have taken another step closer to those top-tier [Dimensional Demon Gods].

Outside the window, the night sky over Sokovia remained serene.

But beneath this tranquility, a deadly hunt, rife with deceit and treachery, has quietly begun.

However, everything is progressing steadily along the path Karl had set out for.

The future is really promising!!

…………

……

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight, like cautious observers, silently pierced through the thick clouds and shone on the secluded and tranquil farmland in Forest Hill, Queens, New York.

Glistening dewdrops clung to the tender green grass blades, while the dense forest in the distance rustled softly in the cool morning breeze.

The air was filled with the fresh scents of earth, grass, and a faint fragrance of trees.

buzz-

The deep sound of an engine came from the horizon, growing louder as it approached, quickly breaking the idyllic tranquility of the pastoral scene.

A Quinjet with sleek lines and the white S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem painted on its fuselage, like a weary steel giant returning to its nest, silently descended, its engine roar reduced to a minimum, and finally landed steadily at the end of a secluded dirt road, on a hidden lawn surrounded by dense trees.

The landing gear creaked softly as it rolled over gravel and dry grass, breaking the deathly silence of dawn.

A moment later, the cabin door at the rear of the cabin opened with a 'whoosh,' and a cool morning breeze immediately rushed into the warm cabin interior.

"hiss……"

Tony Stark was the first to emerge from the cabin, and he couldn't help but shiver. His face was slightly pale, his eyes were sunken, and his expensive custom-made suit was covered in dust and dried stains. His usual cynical and arrogant demeanor was replaced by deep fatigue and frustration.

He instinctively tried to push up his sunglasses, but found nothing on his nose, so he could only rub his temples in frustration.

It's fucking cold!
Following closely behind was Captain America, whose posture remained upright, but the pure determination in his azure eyes was no longer replaced by a heavy worry and a hint of barely perceptible confusion.

He took a deep breath of the crisp, cool air, as if trying to dispel the unease that was weighing on his chest.

Next to emerge was Bruce Banner, who was almost curled up, wrapped tightly in a blanket, as if only in this way could he obtain a tiny bit of security.

His eyes darted around behind his glasses, avoiding eye contact with anyone. His body trembled slightly, whether from the cold or lingering fear. "Don't be nervous, Bruce, it's safe here..."

Black Widow stayed close to Bruce Banner, her face showing undisguised weariness, but her gaze was mostly fixed on the trembling man beside her.

Her hand rested gently on Bruce Banner's arm, which was clutching the blanket.

Her fingertips unconsciously tightened their grip, as if afraid that if she let go, this fragile scientist who broke her heart would collapse and run away again.

Finally, Hawkeye and Thunderbolt appeared.

They appeared to be the two most "normal" among the group, but their tightly pursed lips and the lingering gloom in their eyes revealed that they too were under immense pressure.

"follow me."

【Hawkeye】 skillfully closed the hatch, then gestured with his chin toward the old-looking three-story wooden building in the center of the farm.

The group followed silently behind Hawkeye, their boots rustling as they stepped on the soft earth and green grass.

The farm was large and somewhat empty, with a few old barns and tool sheds scattered around, and fences and livestock could be vaguely seen in the distance.

This secluded property is quite different from the high-tech safe houses that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are known to outsiders; it's more like a truly isolated 'home'.

[Hawkeye] skillfully pushed open the slightly peeling white door of the three-story building and went inside first. At the same time, he raised his voice and called out into the room in a warm and apologetic tone, a stark contrast to his previous tired and hoarse voice:

“Honey? I’m home…”

A warm aroma of baking bread and butter immediately wafted out of the room, dispelling the chill of the early morning from everyone.

"Clint?"

Suddenly, a series of slightly hurried footsteps came from the direction of the kitchen on the first floor, along with a gentle yet surprised female voice.

Immediately afterwards, a middle-aged pregnant woman with long, smooth, brownish-yellow hair, a checkered apron tied around her neck, and a belly at least six or seven months along, walked briskly out of the kitchen with a gentle smile of surprise and joy on her face.

Her gaze immediately locked onto Hawkeye. Upon seeing her husband, who had returned home covered in dust but unharmed, her bright eyes instantly filled with a sense of relief and joy.

“Laura, I’m back.” Hawkeye smiled just as warmly and opened his arms.

Without hesitation, the woman named Laura threw herself into Hawkeye's arms, cupped his slightly tired face in her hands, and gave him a deep and lingering kiss, completely ignoring the group of weary "guests" with various expressions standing behind them.

This kiss contained so much of her worry, longing, and the slight sense of relief she had finally found.

After their tender moment, Hawkeye hugged his wife tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. He took a deep breath of the familiar and comforting scent of home, and his face showed the first truly relaxed and contented expression since arriving here.

Home is still the best place!
"Wow……"

Tony Stark, watching this scene, raised an exaggerated eyebrow, nudged Captain America beside him with his elbow, and lowered his voice, half-jokingly saying in his usual teasing tone:
"I bet $10 that she is definitely a high-ranking agent under Nick Fury... Her acting skills are comparable to an Oscar-winning actress, and her mental fortitude is absolutely undeniable."

Captain America turned his head away speechlessly, too lazy to pay attention to this guy who never forgot his "sharp tongue" talent no matter the situation.

He simply watched the heartwarming scene of the Hawkeye couple's reunion with a complicated expression, a hint of envy and loneliness showing deep in his eyes.

After a brief moment of tenderness, Hawkeye released his wife, but his arm remained protectively around her waist as he said apologetically:
"Honey, I'm sorry, this situation is special. I didn't have time to call you in advance and brought some guests back directly."

Laura Barton smiled gently, smoothing out the wrinkles on her Hawkeye combat suit. Her gaze swept over the faces behind her, faces she usually only saw in the news and magazines, and she spoke with a clear and calm expression:

“It’s okay, Clint, I know who they are…”

Her tone was calm and natural, as if she were simply saying that a few neighbors had come to visit her today.

Seeing this, Tony Stark couldn't help but purse his lips again. He was about to say something more when Captain America glared at him, which stopped him in his tracks. He could only shrug and make a zipping motion with his mouth.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to give you a grand introduction..."

Hawkeye's arm was still around his wife's waist, his face showing a rare, genuine pride and tenderness as he introduced her to the crowd:

"This is Laura, my wife, and this is my home."

He paused, his gaze drifting towards the stairs, his voice softening unconsciously, filled with affection, "Our two children, Cooper and Lyra, are upstairs, but they're probably still asleep."

Laura Barton smiled as she looked at the group of wounded heroes before her. Her gaze swept over each of their faces, finally settling on Bruce Banner wrapped in a blanket and Black Widow nestled beside him, where she felt a touch of kind concern.

She said with a warm and sincere smile, "I've known all your names and stories from Clint for a long time. Clint often... well, he would tell me about you in his own way."

"I really never imagined that one day I would actually be able to see all of you at the same time in my home."

"Uh, sorry, I have to remind you... actually, not all of them."

Tony Stark almost reflexively retorted, glancing around at everyone present before saying sarcastically:
"Thor went back to Asgard a long time ago to take care of family matters, and Rhodes is still cleaning up the mess in Washington... Oh, and there are two other people who recently joined along with Reed..."

But as soon as he opened his mouth, he immediately felt 'shut up' looks coming from Captain America, Black Widow, and even Bruce Banner.

So he had no choice but to raise his hands again, shrug his shoulders, and surrender, saying, "Okay, okay, I'll keep quiet. Just pretend I'm not there."

This warm, family-like atmosphere made him feel somewhat out of place and uncomfortable.

Captain America thought for a moment, stepped forward, removed his helmet, revealing a sincere and slightly apologetic expression on his face, and said with a smile:

"I am very sorry, Mrs. Barton, for disturbing you and your family at this time and in this manner, causing some inconvenience to your peaceful life..."

(End of this chapter)