Despite his arrogant and conceited personality, Tony Stark still showed great respect to the Ancient One.
The one before me single-handedly resisted numerous invaders from other dimensions and defended Earth for hundreds of years... This achievement alone is enough to make Tony Stark bow down to the Ancient One.
Because Tony Stark, and indeed all of humanity, have been protected by the Ancient One.
“Mr. Stark,” the Ancient One’s smile was as gentle as ever. She led Tony Stark to the tea table in the center of the temple and poured him a cup of tea. “I know of your existence… a person blessed and cursed by knowledge. However, I did not expect you to come to me.”
"No... I should say, I can't understand why you contacted me. It's like you somehow found out about me and then inexplicably came looking for me. You should understand what I mean, right?"
Tony Stark opened his mouth, his expression turning strange.
At this moment, his Observation Haki had reached the intermediate level, so he could clearly sense the strange energy unique to the council chairman all around him. This energy densely filled every corner of the temple... It was extremely eerie.
However, the Ancient One before him seemed completely oblivious to these energies, simply gazing at him calmly and gently… But the person before him was the Ancient One…
The Ancient One, whose mere existence was enough to intimidate the multiverse, deterring Dormammu from invading Earth and preventing Thanos from personally descending upon the planet…
(End of this chapter)
------------
Chapter 244 It all depends on whether the Ancient One can gain the favor of the Council Speaker (Fifth Update)
After a brief silence, Tony Stark tentatively asked, "Ancient One... if I told you that there's a special and strange energy around us that you can't sense, would you believe me?"
The Ancient One paused for a moment, clearly not expecting Tony Stark to ask this question. After a brief silence, she nodded.
"I believe... I even suspect that this strange energy is related to your knowledge of my existence? But, due to some taboo, you cannot directly state it?"
Although the Ancient One's time with Tony Stark was short, she clearly thought of many things.
“Indeed.” Tony Stark rubbed his temples in slight distress. The future they knew through the Stars of the Plot could be shared with people from their own world, though whether others believed them was another matter entirely.
However, the existence of the Speaker of the Council and even the Council of the Mist could not be revealed.
Although Su Han did not mention this aspect, it was a consensus among all council members.
“This is troublesome.” The Ancient One frowned, but after a moment’s thought, she relaxed and comforted her, “If you really can’t say it, then don’t say it.”
“Well then, if you really want to become my apprentice… I can make an exception. But after I teach you magic, I hope you will leave Kamar-Taj.”
The Ancient One spoke earnestly, “You do not belong to Kamar-Taj… You have your own life.”
“Master, your magnanimity makes me even more embarrassed,” Tony Stark said, increasingly distressed.
If the Ancient One were to openly display her wariness, Tony Stark would say he's not going to serve her anymore.
Although he was interested in magic, his personality meant he didn't have any desire to be wronged.
If it really doesn't work, then he can just stop learning it. There are so many people from other worlds in the council; can't he choose to study the power systems of other worlds?
However, the Ancient One's understanding nature made him feel somewhat ashamed. "Well then... Master, I'll take my leave for now."
After hesitating for a long time, Tony Stark closed his eyes and entered the misty space.
The Ancient One stared intently at Tony Stark, her brows slowly furrowing.
"His physical condition is normal, and his soul hasn't gone to any strange place; it's still residing in his body... There's nothing unusual about him, so it doesn't seem like he's communicating with anything within his body? Then... what exactly is going on with him?"
Before meeting Tony Stark, the Ancient One used the Time Stone to observe his condition... but even with the Time Stone, she couldn't discern what Tony Stark had gone through.
Even though his body wasn't possessed by visitors from another dimension, Tony Stark was still Tony Stark of this world. Everything was normal... but it was precisely this normalcy that made it seem so abnormal.
Even the Time Stone couldn't see anything amiss. What kind of terrifying secret lies behind this?
Even the Ancient One fell silent when she thought of this.
This is also why she completely believed what Tony Stark said earlier. In such unusual circumstances, anything is possible.
...
Reappearing in his seat, Tony Stark opened his eyes, stared at Su Han, took a deep breath, and explained his previous thoughts.
"Speaker of the Council, I would like to ask... is it possible for you to manually select a member from a different world to join the Mist Council?"
Su Han instantly understood Tony Stark's thoughts, but he simply stared at Tony Stark silently without replying.
Could one choose someone from a different world to join the Misty Space based on their own will? This was a question Su Han was also pondering. He actually had some ideas, and with the power he currently possessed, he was highly likely capable of doing so.
Of course, as mentioned before, Su Han couldn't possibly reveal his strong desire in this area. Because he was currently the Speaker of the Council.
"However, the Ancient One's power is indeed very tempting. If she joins the Council, her abilities will be of help to me." Su Han's thoughts flickered. "Alright, let's give her a chance. It'll also be a good opportunity to test one of my previous deductions... Hmm, let Number Ten speak."
Just as Tony Stark was sweating profusely under Su Han's gaze and inwardly groaning, Number Ten spoke up, "The Speaker of the Council will not answer this question for you."
“What?” Tony Stark was taken aback for a moment, then gave a wry smile. “It’s only natural, I was just being delusional… Sorry.”
"Of course, the Speaker won't answer you, but that doesn't mean it's impossible," Number Ten said calmly.
Many people in the council had a change in expression. They stared intently at Number Ten, some with joy, some with astonishment, and some with doubt and contemplation.
"What method?" Tony Stark's expression hardened, though he remained uneasy.
After all, they had just deduced the terrifying nature of the members of the Mist Council... No matter how you look at it, such identities could not be issued casually.
“Recite the incantation for the council chairman,” Number Ten’s voice was as usual, “so that we can make contact with the council chairman… and if the council chairman can see the other’s true nature, he can naturally join the Mist Council.”
"The premise is... that she can gain the favor of the Speaker himself. The Ancient One can give it a try. Although it's not guaranteed that she will be truly favored by the Speaker... her strength proves that her essence should not be too low. Even if she is not chosen... at least her life is not in danger."