Marvel: Little Genius - Chapter: 386 (Patreon)

"Wow, is it really a ghost? Even the place they live in is so remote."

Mark is now standing in front of the mansion where the ghost Ava Starr and her foster father Bill Foster live. The location of this estate is extremely remote and secretive, with no other residents around. Bill Foster, the foster father, has done a great job in protecting his foster daughter Ava.

As for why Mark is here alone, it's because he promised Dr. Pym that he would safely recover his mobile laboratory and refused the desire of Dr. Pym and his two companions to participate.

Recovering the mobile laboratory is just a part of Mark's plan. The main reason he doesn't want anyone else to be involved is that he wants to obtain data on Ava's Phasing abilities.

Bill Foster's research direction on Ava's superpowers is correct. The over 30 years of quantum energy accumulated in Janet Van Dyne's body in the quantum realm is indeed one way to save Ava.

But with the quantum tunnel still incomplete, this method obviously cannot help Mark peacefully recover the mobile laboratory from Ava.

Of course, Mark can resort to force to achieve his goal. While Ava can evade all attacks by changing her phase, there are still means to restrain her.

On one hand, if Mark launches an attack faster than Ava's reaction speed and incapacitates her before she can phase, he can subdue her. On the other hand, let's not forget that Mark is a powerful sorcerer, and even if Ava were truly a reincarnation of Uchiha, she wouldn't be able to escape the power of the Mirror Dimension.

However, Mark doesn't like to use such unreasonable methods to get what he wants. As a scientist and a superhero, he adheres to his principles and limits, unlike some mad scientists who would do anything to achieve their goals.

Before coming to the mansion where Ava lives, Mark had already figured out how to complete this mission while staying true to his principles and limits.

Outside the mansion gate, Mark rang the doorbell, just as he did when visiting Dr. Pym, and then quietly waited for the owner to appear.

Mark knew that when Ava is not on a mission as a ghost, she usually stays in the sealed chamber that Bill Foster built for her to alleviate the pain and torment caused by her Phasing abilities. So this time, his patience is more abundant, ringing the doorbell every minute, without any signs of impatience.

"Who are you!?" Finally, a figure dressed in white battle attire appeared behind Mark and asked in a sinister tone.

However, this did not manage to frighten Mark, because his powerful soul, obtained through the practice of magic, allowed him to sense the spatial fluctuations caused by Ava's appearance even before she showed up.

He turned around, wearing a polite smile, and somewhat ruefully said, "I thought I was quite famous... You're not really pretending not to know me, are you?

I mean, as a superhero from the Avengers, I've been in the public eye for quite some time. Moreover, I'm one of the smartest and wealthiest individuals globally. I thought that apart from those who don't follow the news, there shouldn't be anyone in this country who doesn't recognize me.

Speaking of which, you can't really be someone who doesn't follow the news, Miss Ava Starr, right? Even if you don't follow the news, if you genuinely want to cure the stubborn ailment on your body, you should at least be aware of news about a genius scientist like me."

"You're Mark Stark!" Indeed, as Mark turned to face Ava directly, she immediately recognized Mark's identity.

As Mark mentioned, anyone who primarily follows the news or frequently surfs the internet shouldn't be unaware of this super-genius who has had a massive impact on human society, especially considering he is also a superhero.

Ava's knowledge of Mark primarily stemmed from Mark being a former guest of S.H.I.E.L.D. In S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research team, almost all researchers spoke highly of his abilities, calling him the most intelligent human brain in history.

Based on this, she obsessively searched for Mark's information and saw hope for her own healing in him.

Unfortunately, the disparity in their identities was too vast, and she had no chance to approach Mark and request treatment from him. After the fall and reconstruction of S.H.I.E.L.D., their interactions became even scarcer, and such thoughts gradually faded, deeply buried in her heart.

Ava had also considered using her abilities to get closer to Mark, but her foster father, Bill Foster, had stopped her. If Ava forcefully kidnapped Mark for her own treatment using her abilities, even if she succeeded in getting healed, how would she endure the retaliation from a colossal entity like the Stark family after losing her powers?

Knowing the impossibility of her actions, Ava shelved her thoughts and relied on her foster father, Bill Foster, to fulfill his promise and cure her.

But the seed of an idea buried long ago, now that Mark appeared before her, sprouted rapidly like a seed nourished by catalysts, breaking through the soil and growing into a towering tree of madness.

And after recognizing Mark's identity, the next words he said to her felt like a gigantic nuclear explosion in her mind, causing her to lose all rationality, feeling her brain clouding over, sinking into a frenzy of joy.

"Yes, I am Mark Stark. I came here today hoping to make a deal with you, and my bargaining chip is to help you heal the pain caused by your Phasing ability. I wonder if we can go inside and have a proper conversation?"

The moment Mark saw Ava, he activated his informational vision ability to analyze her Phasing ability. The results matched Mark's speculation, and in addition to using the large amount of quantum energy to induce healing, the method in his plan can also achieve the effect.

"Miss Ava?" Mark noticed that after Ava heard his words, she fell into a dazed state and didn't respond. He realized that she must be overwhelmed by this unexpected surprise, so he called out again.

"Uh! Sorry, this news is just too shocking for me. I never dared to imagine that Mark Stark would one day stand in front of me to fulfill my lifelong wish.

Whatever the trade is, as long as it can help me return to normal and free me from this tormenting pain, I'll agree to it!"

"..." Seeing how readily Ava agreed, Mark felt unsure how to respond. He had prepared words to win her trust, but he didn't get a chance to use them.

"Well, let's go inside and have a proper talk. At least after you understand the terms of the deal I'm proposing, you can make your decision."

"Okay, come with me," Ava said eagerly, leading Mark into the living room.

After pouring a glass of water for Mark, Ava stared at him intently, her eyes filled with urgency.

"Ahem, okay, let me tell you my conditions. As part of the exchange for healing your ailment, you need to hand over the mobile laboratory you obtained from Dr. Pym yesterday.

Additionally, you must keep everything I use during the treatment confidential, not to be disclosed to anyone, not even your foster father, Bill Foster.

If I catch wind of any leaks from you, believe me, the suffering I can make you endure will be a thousand times worse than what you're currently experiencing."

When Mark reached this point, to emphasize his stern words, he intentionally made a fierce expression.

However, it's unclear whether it was because Mark's face naturally didn't suit this expression or if his acting skills were just too poor, but it ended up making Ava, who had been listening attentively, burst into laughter.

"Be serious, I'm not joking with you. When I passed by the sealed chamber you usually use for recovery, I saw a VR device inside. It's used to relax your mind and isolate the pain caused by your physical condition, right?

But as the inventor, I've come up with many extensions for that device. One of them I call the virtual execution chamber. In the virtual execution chamber, I can subject the person inside to various punishments that have been banned in the real world for humanitarian reasons.

Even without resorting to any punitive measures, because one second in the outside world would extend to half an hour within the virtual execution chamber, it would make the subject experience a sentence that could never be achieved in the real world.

Hundreds, even thousands of years in solitary confinement, without eating or drinking, without death or immortality, with no possibility of communication, such a torment was already the cruelest punishment.

So, let me be clear from the start. If you don't want to be the first to experience the virtual execution chamber, it's best to keep the details of our trade between us, including all the processes of my treatment for you, forever sealed in your memory. Do you understand what I mean, Ava?"

"Yes, I understand, I understand! So when do we start the treatment? Are you sure you can guarantee my cure? I don't have much time left; I can feel it. If I can't expel the quantum energy from my body within a few weeks, I'll completely disappear from this world under the tear of this energy."

Ava nodded urgently. For her, who was now facing life and death, no threats had any effect because if she couldn't overcome this hurdle, then even if the world turned upside down, it would have nothing to do with her.

Seeing Ava in this state, Mark knew that all his lengthy explanations from earlier had been in vain. "I am sure I can cure you, and it won't even take a few weeks. If you're willing, I can help you recover your health right now."

"Really!?" Ava excitedly pushed herself up from the couch and looked at Mark with enthusiasm. "I'm willing; I can accept the treatment right now! I no longer want to endure the pain brought by this ability, the constant sensation of being torn apart by a force every moment."

"Since that's the case, control yourself and don't resist..." Mark also stood up from the couch and instructed Ava. Then, in Ava's terrified gaze, he firmly slapped her forehead.

Bang!

Ava felt the world spinning around her, and then she saw her own body slowly falling towards the couch. Mark's right hand, the one that had struck her forehead, emitted a faint glow as it began to draw the quantum energy from her body.

"What... what's going on? Where's my body? Where am I? Who am I?" Ava incredulously looked down at her body and realized that her body was now in a semi-transparent state, as if it were ethereal, floating in the air.

Before she could think further about what had happened, a powerful irresistible force suddenly appeared in front of her. Under the influence of this force, she rapidly approached her own falling self.

Bang!

Another dizzying sensation, and when Ava shook her heavy head again and opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the couch, and the bizarre scene from earlier had completely disappeared.

But soon she felt something different. She no longer experienced the torment caused by the quantum energy within her. Her whole body seemed to release from a heavy burden, providing her with an unprecedented sense of ease and comfort.

"I've been cured!?" Ava widened her eyes and looked at Mark.

"Yes, according to our agreement, I've resolved the issue that troubled you," Mark nodded in response.

Upon hearing Mark's confirmation, Ava couldn't contain her excitement and joy. However, as if to ensure that happiness wasn't coming too easily and abruptly, Ava, as seen in common TV drama scenes, pinched her thigh forcefully. Feeling the clear pain, she finally broke into a smile.

To further confirm, she imitated the way the male protagonist in "Inception" did, found a spinning top, and placed it on the table. It stopped spinning! It wasn't a dream!

Focusing her thoughts, she attempted to use her abilities as she had in the past but failed. She didn't undergo any transformation!

"I really have been cured; this isn't a dream!" After confirming through various means, Ava finally believed that she had been healed and broke into a sweet smile that was typical for someone of her age.

Standing on the side, Mark found this both amusing and somewhat pitiable. As a reincarnator, he was well aware of Ava's life experiences.

She had lost her parents at a young age and suffered from the torment of quantum energy. Because of the abilities and talents that this torment had brought her, she had become a spy agent with blood on her hands by S.H.I.E.L.D.

After finally escaping the whirlwind of slaughter, fate had declared that her life was nearing its end. Now, being able to cure Ava in a way that brought happiness to both parties, and without her ending up on a wanted list as originally scripted, was undoubtedly the best outcome.

Just as Mark thought this way and felt happy for Ava, the young girl, who had been joyfully bouncing around moments ago, suddenly seemed to remember something. She rushed to Mark and curiously asked, "Mr. Stark, is this why you asked me to keep it a secret? What was that just now? Was it magic? It felt like my soul was expelled from my body, and I saw..."

"Stop!" Without giving Ava the chance to continue her questions, Mark directly interrupted her.

He, who had just escaped Peter Parker's clutches yesterday, really hadn't expected that this quiet young girl would become so talkative after being cured. Mark couldn't understand it at all.

"What you should be doing now isn't asking me things you shouldn't know, but rather fulfilling our trade. Hand over the mobile lab you stole, keep our secret safe, and make sure you don't reveal anything.

If you truly want to know how I cured you, then go to a place called Kathmandu and seek out a location called Kamar-Taj. If you have the fate for it, you'll naturally find the answers you seek," Mark explained.

Mark probably didn't anticipate that the words he spoke to Ava that day would create yet another powerful sorcerer in Kamar-Taj in the future...