In the following time, Ethan began to seriously consider how to turn the space-time teleportation magic circle into a standalone device.

This was not a simple task. It was equivalent to completely replicating the teleportation magic circle he had on hand. This required him to have a crystal-clear understanding of all the details, energy properties, and energy flow methods of this magic circle.

Even though he could now use the shuttle magic in fancy ways, it didn't mean he fully understood the magic circle. Therefore, this was a long-term project, not a problem that could be solved in a few days by just brainstorming and starting to figure things out.

While Ethan was engrossed in researching the magic circle and Tony was focused on tinkering with the Prometheus, things that were originally going to happen were still occurring in places not affected by Ethan.

For example, one of Tony Stark's warehouses was burglarized. Although the stolen items weren't anything major, it still angered the proud Tony Stark.

The Avengers were no longer purely a civilian organization but an official agency. As a vital member of the Avengers, Tony Stark was currently in a cooperation honeymoon period with the authorities, and the resources Tony could mobilize at this time were considerable.

So the Avengers quickly found the thief, which also led to more events. The mastermind behind the theft was former S.H.I.E.L.D. member, the first-generation Ant-Man, Hank Pym.

Because Hank Pym was already old and not suitable for intense physical activities, the person who carried out the operation this time was Scott Lang, whom Hank Pym had recruited.

Up to this point, it seemed like a very ordinary incident, but then it involved Pym particles, Darren Cross creating a new type of suit that could shrink people, and selling this suit to the remnants of Hydra.

This made things bigger. Upon learning that Scott Lang and Hank Pym stole the special parts from Tony Stark's warehouse to stop Cross, the Avengers immediately regarded both generations of Ant-Man as allies on their side.

Anyway, anyone who opposed Hydra was considered a righteous person.

It wasn't just the Avengers who thought this, it was the current consensus among all official personnel.

Thus, what was originally a small matter of catching a thief became the fuse for the Avengers' official mobilization under the overarching context that Hydra must be eliminated. Unfortunately, Darren Cross's strength as a villain was truly inadequate. Facing Captain America and Iron Man, who had already mastered Holy Light and Arcane magic, he had no chance of winning at all.

Darren Cross put on the suit he had meticulously crafted, striking a pose that screamed, "The whole world can't stop me, you're all pathetic!" He frantically mocked Tony Stark's Iron Man suit as nothing more than a pile of outdated metal junk and Captain America as an old antique who should be displayed in a museum.

This behavior infuriated the two giants of the Avengers. Tony no longer hid his magical abilities and switched into his latest magical Iron Man suit, beating Darren Cross to the point where he seriously doubted his life.

He really was doubting his life because Tony's suit displayed all sorts of unscientific abilities. If a heavy Iron Man suit could float in the air without using thrusters, it could be explained as anti-gravity or magnetic levitation technology. The kind of blue flash followed by incredibly lethal metallic particle weapons could be considered electromagnetic weapons. But when he saw Tony conjure a bunch of fireballs and ice arrows with a wave of his hand, he was utterly confused about what that was.

Especially when he tried to attack the innocent bystanders nearby to distract the superheroes, that old antique who only knew how to use a broken shield waved his hand and unleashed a dazzling golden light that directly blocked his laser weapon. What in the world was that?

If he hadn't been in so much pain from the beating, Cross might have even suspected he was having a nightmare full of malicious fun.

Because Tony could create an arcane energy field within a certain range, Cross had no way to escape Tony's magic detection within this range, no matter how small he became, so...

The final outcome was completely without suspense. Tony Stark severely punished Darren Cross, and with the help of Ant-Man Scott, disarmed Cross and successfully captured him.

The matter was considered successfully concluded. As for the subsequent pursuit and capture of the remnants of Hydra, that had nothing to do with Tony.

Moreover, this kind of work didn't require the Avengers to mobilize collectively. Official agencies like the FBI had to show their faces, right?

The next relatively special event was Captain America Steve Rogers personally inviting Scott Lang to join the Avengers.

Although the first-generation Ant-Man and father-in-law, Hank Pym, wasn't very willing, Scott eventually joined the Avengers.

Because a very clear problem was laid before Hank Pym. The government was strengthening its management of superheroes, especially those with special talents and abilities. If they continued to live like ordinary people, it would be fine, but once they started doing things relying on their special abilities, they would either have to join an official agency or become subjects of surveillance or even arrest.

Hank Pym had worked for S.H.I.E.L.D., so he naturally knew how to choose at this time.

Furthermore, while he was hesitating, someone he never expected suddenly appeared before him.

This person was Howard Stark, whom he had thought was long dead.

Hank Pym had a past conflict with Howard, but after so many years, although Hank Pym's temper was still bad, people tend to listen to some advice when they get older.

Howard analyzed the current situation with him, and Hank Pym tacitly agreed to Scott joining the Avengers.

This way, Hank Pym established a certain cooperative relationship with the authorities. His Pym Technologies could continue operating, and he could also continue his research work, trying to find a way to rescue his wife from the quantum realm.

"Actually, about this matter... I think there's someone who can help you."

Ethan listened as Howard and Tony explained the course of events, then looked at Hank Pym and Scott Lang in front of him, as well as Hank Pym's daughter, Hope van Dyne.

"So, you brought them here?"

Ethan spread his hands, feeling a bit speechless. Did this matter have anything to do with him from start to finish?

"After all, you're also a member of the Avengers, so consider this a benefit for the new teammates."

"Wait!" Ethan scratched his head. "When did I become an Avenger member?"

"Haven't you always been?"

Tony wore an expression that said, "How could you forget something so important?" If Ethan weren't certain about his memory and knew this guy's personality, he might really have been fooled.

"It's always been the opposite, right?!"

"Your name has always been on the Avengers roster."

Tony Stark conveniently projected a hologram via the device on his wrist, showing the Avengers roster. Ethan's name and some simple information were at the very bottom of the list of all members.

"... "

Ethan's mouth twitched slightly. He guessed his name wasn't added temporarily. Considering the close relationship between the Avengers and the Stark family now, his name had probably been on there for a long time.

But it didn't matter. Generally, unless it was extremely urgent, like the Earth being destroyed or Thanos gathering the Infinity Stones, the Avengers' regular operations had nothing to do with him.

After all, Thor, the new King of Asgard, also had his name on there. He even saw Loki's name on the alternate list.

"The Ancient One?"

Ethan glanced at Tony. This guy really had a big heart. But Tony shrugged, looking indifferent. After all, this was just an alternate list, and the people on it were potential recruits for the Avengers, but it didn't mean they would definitely join.

"This shouldn't be difficult for you either."

Hank Pym hadn't spoken the entire time. He had been quietly observing Ethan, unable to understand why both Tony and Howard recommended he ask this young man for help.

At least so far, he hadn't seen anything special about this young man. But Howard's resurrection and rejuvenation, as well as Tony Stark's miraculous methods, forced him to sit here patiently.

Hank Pym still had many doubts. Scott Lang, being outgoing, fully utilized his personal strengths after joining the Avengers and quickly chatted his way into becoming friends with his new teammates.

This was especially true with Captain America Steve Rogers, whom he greatly admired. Coupled with the fact that Rogers was generally easy to get along with, even if Scott talked a bit much, Steve didn't show any dissatisfaction but patiently answered Scott's strange questions one after another.

Among these was the source of the Holy Light power that Steve possessed, learned from a sorcerer named Ethan.

Later, he learned that Tony Stark had also learned magic from Ethan, and at that time, he became very curious about this sorcerer, Ethan.

However, in his imagination, Ethan was a wise old man with a long beard, living in seclusion in some hidden or remote place, like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.

What the heck was this young man living in a luxury mansion in Malibu, Los Angeles, wearing high-end designer casual clothes, and holding a cold cola in his hand?

He really couldn't reconcile this young man with the image in his mind, but Scott still asked the question he had been holding back for a long time.

"Are you a sorcerer?"

"Yes."

"Like the kind of sorcerer depicted in legends and stories?"

"Pretty much."

Ethan flicked his finger, and the cola in the cup floated into the air, then hovered in front of everyone, changing into various shapes.

Just this much, at most, proved he had some special abilities, which was far from the sorcerer they had in mind. So Ethan casually turned the cola into something else.

Of course, it needed to be accompanied by some special light and shadow effects, such as magical radiance and a few mysterious runes, along with a palm-sized magic circle pattern. Finally, under everyone's gaze, the liquid turned into stone.

"Wow!"

(To be continued.)

◇◇◇

◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.

◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)