Shin didn't think he could accomplish much under the watchful eyes of a fully developed Doctor Doom, and an incomplete Doctor Doom held no real significance to him.
However, Doctor Doom was an exceptional individual, making him a potential collaborator in the future.
In addition, Shin came across news that Tony Stark was preparing to head to Afghanistan.
"Well, that's good. The next target for stock acquisition has been found," he thought.
When Tony Stark disappeared, the stock market plummeted. When he was found alive, the stock market soared. Then, when he announced the closure of Stark Industries' weapons division, the stock market plunged again. Finally, when he revealed himself as Iron Man, it skyrocketed once more.
With this predictable cycle, the stock investment under Kingpin's control could multiply several times.
Shin didn't intend to interfere with Iron Man's growth, but remembering the events of the original timeline, he decided to check things out himself.
Three days later.
With a loud boom, Shin sighed as he watched Tony Stark get blown away.
"There really are no coincidences in this world," he muttered.
"I knew it—the big hole in his chest, the whole 'shrapnel in the bloodstream' thing, almost reaching his heart. This all sounds so absurd!"
"Where did those shrapnel pieces even come from? If they entered his bloodstream through the wound, then with the amount of bleeding near his heart, he would've been dead in under two minutes."
"If the shrapnel had entered from somewhere else, there would have been a clear entry wound elsewhere on his body."
"So... everything is arranged, isn't it?" Shin turned, his gaze landing on the elderly man standing beside him.
"Haha, of course. If one has the ability to foresee the future but doesn't use it, then it's no different from not having it at all," the white-bearded old man said with a chuckle.
"It took quite a bit of effort to ensure this young man followed the right path."
Shin raised an eyebrow. "And you are?"
"My name is Yao," the old man replied, stroking his beard. "In the magical world, I am known by many titles, but at present, I hold the mantle of the Sorcerer Supreme."
Shin sighed. "You're really just admitting to orchestrating someone else's fate? Aren't you supposed to be the Sorcerer Supreme?"
"It is precisely because I am the Sorcerer Supreme that I must guide others. Otherwise, what's the point of my position? Don't forget—the Eye of Agamotto exists precisely to manipulate fate," Ancient One replied with a knowing smile.
"...The way you put it makes it sound like the Sorcerer Supreme is just a glorified con artist," Shin muttered.
"Of course not," Ancient One shook his head. "We are both con artists and thieves."
Shin twitched as veins popped on his forehead. A shameless superpower was even worse than a strong one.
"Young people these days get so easily flustered," Ancient One said with a sigh. "But tell me—do you honestly think Tony Stark would have developed into the man he is supposed to be without this experience?"
"What would have happened to Tony Stark if he never took this trip to Afghanistan?" Shin asked, genuinely curious.
"Hmm… There's about a 15% chance he would've remained an arrogant playboy for life, a 45% chance he'd have become a full-blown alcoholic, and about a 35% chance he'd have developed a drug addiction," Ancient One said, shaking his head. "There are other possibilities, but those are the most likely."
"This kid's lover would have ended up marrying his driver, too," he added with a sigh of pity.
Shin frowned. "Wait... you're saying Pepper Potts would've married Happy Hogan?"
"Hehe. What can I say? Superheroes, particularly the ones with potential, tend to have... adventurous personalities." Ancient One coughed.
Shin's eyes narrowed. "You've been spying using the Time Stone, haven't you?" He smirked. "For someone claiming to protect the timeline, that sure sounds like a perverted old man's hobby."
"What do you mean spying? It's called observing the timeline for the safety of Earth!" Ancient One retorted, his tone indignant.
"Haha," Shin replied flatly.
Shin had seen his fair share of perverted old men—from the Hokage who used a crystal ball for questionable purposes, to a certain white-haired sage constantly "gathering research material," to an undead musician who couldn't stop peeking at women's undergarments.
Compared to them, Ancient One was simply better at hiding it.
But a man knows a man.
Cough, cough—let's move on from this topic.
"Alright then, Master Ancient One, protector of the timeline," Shin said.
"Why have you come to see an insignificant bystander like me?"
"Don't tell me you see potential in me and want me to inherit the title of Sorcerer Supreme?"
Ancient One rolled his eyes. "You think too highly of yourself. Even though I've wanted to retire for quite some time, I'm not about to entrust this mantle to someone whose background and future I cannot see."
"Even that kid who just got blown up has more potential to become the Sorcerer Supreme than you do."
Shin snorted. He had already expected that answer.
"So... you see me as an outlier and want to drive me off the planet?"
As he spoke, Shin's stance shifted slightly—ready to bolt at a moment's notice.
If Ancient One gave the slightest indication of hostility, he wouldn't hesitate to escape.
After all, this was not the bald female Ancient One from the movies. This was the male Ancient One from the comics.
And that made all the difference.
Ancient One in the comics wasn't just strong—he had backing.
He was the eternal servant of Marvel's six great cosmic entities.
In American comics, magic was basically just borrowing power—your strength depended on who was willing to lend it to you.
And Ancient One? He had Eternity himself backing him.
According to Marvel's lore, Earth itself was the heart of Eternity.
Fighting Ancient One was like fighting the embodiment of the universe itself.
Shin had no desire to face something like that head-on.
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