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Arthur was momentarily stunned by the sudden disappearance.
The Eye of Horus materialized at his fingertips a moment later, but it detected nothing.
"How peculiar!"
Arthur stroked his chin. "Given this, it seems unlikely to be related to magic. Could it be caused by cellular fission? Hmm, I suspect you haven't actually left my side."
The air remained silent, Arthur's words clearly treated as nothing more than empty sound.
He sighed. "I had intended to resolve this peacefully. In truth, I could have subdued you through force if I'd wished. But now it's clear you're incapable of accepting goodwill with grace. In that case... I'll take Foster's life. I suspect this will likely mark the end of yours as well!"
"You...!"
Without warning, Ava's figure materialized before Arthur, her teeth clenched in fury. "You're utterly despicable!"
"Despicable is the passport of the despicable."
Arthur shrugged. "So, it seems you'd rather live after all."
"Who would choose death if they could survive?" Ava glared at Arthur with a chillingly twisted expression. "I don't know why you're looking for me, and I know my abilities might not be enough to kill you. But if you want my life, I'll make sure you don't have an easy time. If you can't find me, prepare to be stalked, tracked down, and have your secrets exposed... And more importantly, be ready for me to strike at your family at any moment!"
"I see..." Arthur chuckled. "How terrifying. Allow me to say... I'm so scared!"
"..."
This feigned fear was so insincere that Ava fell silent, at a loss for words.
Arthur sighed. "See? Even after you said that, I didn't immediately attack you, did I? I think you should calm down a bit. As for combat capability, you're clearly not what I need. While your Phase Shift ability is intriguing, it's not truly powerful enough to frighten me. So, calm down, think about it. Would I need to deceive you or use you to achieve some goal? It would be better for both of us, making future interactions simpler and more effective, don't you think?"
Ava's expression softened slightly, but she remained silent.
Arthur never imagined he'd have to rely on his "verbal judo" skills one day.
Come to think of it, he had secured the Soul Stone through sheer force of persuasion... If he could claim an Infinity Gem, surely he could handle a carbon-based primate like Ava?
After a moment's contemplation, Arthur took two steps back. "To be honest, your situation holds no significance for me beyond its research value. The reason I'm so determined to take you with me is because your current circumstances and past experiences make me feel a certain responsibility towards you. Of course, I can't tell you what that responsibility entails right now. When you don't trust me, you naturally can't expect to receive all the information."
"How absurd," Ava frowned. "You refuse to tell me more, yet you expect me to trust you?"
"The world often operates on such asymmetrical foundations, constantly accumulating upward," Arthur shrugged. "You're just one life, while I bear responsibility for countless others."
"Are you some kind of influential figure?" Ava frowned. "Someone who can access my records from SHIELD... It seems you're part of some organization that transcends this world's power structures. Are you afraid that revealing too much would expose your organization?"
"Close enough," Arthur nodded.
"So it seems we both have vulnerabilities," Ava said, sounding relieved. "Perhaps this will allow our conversation to continue."
Arthur blinked, sensing she had likely misunderstood something.
She probably thought he was worried that exposing the organization would lead to its destruction... but that wasn't the case at all.
It was far from certain who would ultimately bring about whose downfall.
But since Ava held this belief, Arthur saw no reason to correct her. In fact, it made communication easier. "Alright, it doesn't matter if you know. At least this puts us on a more equal footing for dialogue."
"Then, may I ask a question?" Ava asked.
"Go ahead. I'm enjoying this dynamic," Arthur said with a smile.
"Who are you?"
Ava had asked this question multiple times today.
Arthur paused, scratching his head. "That's a tough one to answer. If I told you, you'd probably know about half or six-tenths of what's going on with me. So, I can't tell you. But let's just say I'm someone with a bit of notoriety in this world."
"Are you famous?" Ava mused, then asked, "How do you plan to help me? Will you have me work for you while you analyze my condition and implement a treatment plan?"
"No, no, no..." Arthur shook his head. "I rarely force others to do anything for me, let alone threaten their lives to get them to cooperate..."
As he said this, he couldn't help but imagine Wanda and her sister collapsing in tears in the restroom if they heard him.
He continued, "Regarding your condition, I have two motivations. First, I genuinely hope to cure you. Second, I hope to make some significant contributions to the Quantum Realm."
"Just as I suspected. No one in this world is genuinely altruistic," Ava said, her expression relaxing slightly. "But if you didn't have your own motives, I'd trust you even less."
Arthur clapped his hands. "Excellent! Any further questions?"
"I want to know, how exactly are you going to convince me to go with you?" Ava asked, her gaze fixed on Arthur.
Arthur paused, considering his words. "Firstly, I possess the most cutting-edge research team in the world. Whether it's technology or equipment, we have the best of everything. Even if Hydra were to resurface, their technology would be nothing more than outdated relics to me. Secondly, I plan to invite Mr. Bill Foster to join my team. He will take on the primary role in your case, ensuring you can focus entirely on your treatment. Finally, all the data generated during the process will belong to me. Once you're cured, you're welcome to join my team if you wish. If not, you're free to leave, provided you maintain strict confidentiality about our operations. You can then enjoy your life without any restrictions. The same applies to Mr. Foster. However, all the data must remain with us for research purposes. This is the sincerity I offer. What do you say?"
(End Of This Chapter)