Marvel: The Imposter Inventor

Chapter 12: The Battle of New York Ends
What Luca actually wanted to say was...

Since the Ancient One has a need for the [Hextech Core], could she simply give me four different magical runes, and if convenient, also 'borrow' a small Arc Reactor from Tony Stark's vault?

In that case, I might be able to synthesize a [Hex Core] on the spot and trade it with the other party.

This also saves even a great being like the Ancient One from having to wait.

To everyone's surprise, the other party simply disappeared without even saying goodbye.

'These big shots, they're all fucking riddle solvers!'

While thinking this to himself, Luca did have some guesses about why the Ancient One wanted the [Hextech Core].

According to the established lore, most sorcerers in the Marvel universe do not actually possess magical powers.

To cast a spell, one needs to borrow power from the corresponding dimensional demon.

Since it's a loan, it naturally needs to be repaid.

For those who are the source of white magic, like the Vishanti, it's alright. No matter how much they use it, in the end, it's just working to pay off their debts.

If it were the power of a dark daemon like Dormammu, even borrowing a little of that power might cause the caster to fall into corruption and become a mindless puppet.

The [Hex Core] is essentially an endless source of magical energy.

Luca had no idea where the power was drawn from.

But if they had this, perhaps the mages of Kamar-Taj would be able to draw power from it to cast spells, without having to borrow power from dimensional daemons.

This kind of thing might not be very useful to a big shot like the Ancient One, who is a long-time deadbeat who borrows money and then beats up his creditors.

However, for the ordinary mages in Kamar-Taj, it probably means they won't have to be so careful when using spells, making them all melee musclemen.

With these random thoughts swirling in his mind, Luca took one last look in the direction of Stark Tower.

Unexpectedly, Loki picked up the Tesseract from the ground.

It can be noticed without close inspection.

The Tesseract that Loki held in his hand was radiating a bright white light that none of the previous core components had ever seen.

The white radiance even faintly overshadowed the glow of the Cosmic Cube itself.

Although the distance was far, Luca instinctively took two steps closer.

However, before he could make a move, Loki had already taken advantage of everyone's inattention and quickly opened a portal, disappearing from the spot.

'The core component: the Space Stone or the Tesseract?'

'That level of white light could probably be used to synthesize something extraordinary, what a pity.'

Recalling the feeling from just now, Luca shook his head helplessly and picked up his backpack from the ground again.

'It's something I can't get my hands on right now. This kind of hot potato is best left untouched until I have a chance to get my hands on it later and see what I can synthesize.'

With his current strength, even if he obtained such a treasure, he would be powerless to keep it.

With this in mind, Luca followed the crowd that had scattered in fright at Hulk and hurried back towards his home.

Along the way, Luca was also making plans in his mind.

'Although I've decided not to interfere, Loki's departure means the future has changed from what I remember. And it's confirmed this isn't a cinematic timeline, so it seems I shouldn't rely too much on the plot going forward.'

At least, as far as Luca is concerned, the Rainbow Bridge in Asgard is still in a state of damage.

Thor was originally supposed to take the Tesseract to repair the Bifrost.

Without this, it will be much more difficult for Thor to travel to and from Earth.

In the original movie Avengers: Endgame, Captain America did return several Infinity Stones in the end.

However, he initially took Loki's scepter with the Mind Stone, but returned only the Mind Stone, which will inevitably affect the plot.

However, Luca's current strength and influence are too insignificant, and even if he considers some things, he is powerless to participate.

Thinking about how these things might affect subsequent events, Luca soon returned to his apartment building. Apart from being nearly taken to a medical center by disaster relief workers a few times, he didn't encounter any major trouble.

He glanced into the alley and, not seeing the returning Avengers: Endgame crew, prepared to go upstairs.

However, at that moment, Luca noticed several medical rescue workers carrying a stretcher quickly out of the building.

And the robust middle-aged woman following beside the stretcher turned out to be an acquaintance of Luca.

"Aunt Samira?"

Luca took two quick steps forward, and the woman he called 'Aunt Samira' turned around at the sound of his voice, then rushed over and pulled Luca into her arms.

"Young Master Luca, I thought you were also..."

The woman in front of me is named Samira Beretskaya, and she is the Orange family's driver and bodyguard.

She was very close to Luca's mother, Gina Orange, who was said to have been a real, tough female soldier who had actually been on the battlefield, but for some reason chose to retire and become a driver.

In short, in Luca's memory, when the original owner was very young, Aunt Samira had been by her mother's side. She had no relatives or social connections and should be considered the most trustworthy person in her parents' lives.

Luca looked over Samira's shoulder.

Sure enough, lying on the stretcher was his mother, Gina.

'Has she still not woken up? But since she was rescued, she's still lucky.'

A pang of guilt flashed through his mind for leaving Gina, who was seriously injured and unconscious, alone at home, but he quickly dismissed it.

Instead, Samira, who was holding Luca, looked at the boy's gaze as he stared at the stretcher with heartache.

"Sir, he's alright. Young Master Luca, are you alright?"

She gently supported Luca's right arm, which was missing its prosthesis. She had originally wanted to ask Luca where he had run off to, but she just pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.

Luca shook his head slightly upon seeing this.

"I just lost her on the street. How is my mother now?"

Luca knew that Samira had probably just arrived from the company, but at least she had seen the paramedics lift Gina onto the stretcher, so she should have some understanding of her condition.

Having been a veteran of the battlefield, Samira quickly suppressed her emotions upon hearing this and explained to Luca.

"There are only a few external injuries, which have been bandaged. The cause of the coma is still undetermined and will require further examination at the hospital."

"Fortunately, the homeowners' association is quite capable, and the rescue team here was among the most timely. As for whether a private medical team will be needed later, we will need to wait for the initial examination results to make a judgment."

Luca nodded upon hearing this.

Although the attack on Manhattan was in the city center and the area affected was quite large, the number of damaged buildings and the dead and injured was not small.

But the luxury apartment building where the Orange family lived was already quite expensive, and most of the residents were people of a certain social standing.

Therefore, both immediate rescue and treatment, as well as post-disaster reconstruction, will be given top priority.

Moreover, although the Orange family is currently facing numerous internal problems, their assets and social standing remain intact. Even if all hospitals in New York are overcrowded, Gina, the mother, will still have the private ward she deserves.

Of course, most ordinary casualties will likely not be sent to hospitals, but will receive treatment at temporary safe medical points.

After all, the actual number of casualties this time was simply too high.

"Father."

"The gentleman's body has been removed, and the disaster control department will contact a private medical team to receive it."

"The company."

"The Xiacheng District was basically unaffected this time."

As they exchanged questions and answers, the two got into the ambulance and headed to the hospital.

(End of this chapter)