In an instant, Wanda seemed to see that year again, when Pietro was shot full of holes by Ultron...
Ryan shrugged: "That's right. In this Universe, your brother is gone. But in my Universe, the timeline is still in 2012, and he's alive and well, living with... another you."
"And although my Universe doesn't have Vision, it has the main component that made up Vision—Tony's AI butler, Jarvis. I can have Tony give you a subsystem."
"How about trying virtual dating?"
Ryan's words undoubtedly stirred Wanda's heart, yet a hesitant expression still appeared on her face.
After all, even if her brother from another Universe and the predecessor of Vision still existed, they ultimately weren't the same two people from her Universe.
Especially her brother Pietro. In another Universe, Pietro already had a sister. Could he really accept her joining them?
Ryan extended his hand to Wanda, smiling: "In this Universe, you have nothing left. Staying will only plunge you deeper into sorrow. Come, let's go to another Universe and start your new life together."
Wanda was still hesitating when a hand patted her shoulder from behind.
Wanda turned to find Natasha.
Natasha smiled: "He's right. I understand the feeling of losing family. If there's a chance to be with family again, holding onto it is never wrong."
"My sister, Yelena, also vanished in the last blink event. This time, Ryan brought her back. I'm also preparing to retire from the Avengers to reunite with her. And you shouldn't be alone either; you should have a home of your own."
Wanda looked up and saw that not only Natasha, but the other Avengers were also looking at her with encouraging eyes.
Though no one spoke, Wanda understood they were all encouraging her to pursue her own home in another Universe.
A... Maximoff home that no longer existed in this Universe.
Finally, Wanda turned her head again, her eyes now resolute, and she reached out her hand to Ryan, who was radiating a six-colored glow.
She had decided. She was going to live in another Universe!
And so, Ryan successfully abducted a top-tier combatant...
One week later...
Today was the day Ryan would leave this Universe.
After wiping out Thanos's army and resurrecting everyone, Ryan didn't return immediately. Instead, he stayed in this Universe for a week.
First, to see how different this Universe was from his own, treating it as a vacation.
Second, because Tony was still improving the Quantum Tunnel, changing it from a temporary setup to a permanent one, which took time.
That's right. After discussions between Ryan and this Universe's Avengers, they unanimously decided to connect the two Universes with a Quantum Tunnel that would allow travel between them at any time.
If either Universe encountered a major crisis too difficult to handle alone, they would essentially have the combined combat power of two Universes to face it, undoubtedly greatly increasing their strength.
Furthermore, even if the combined forces of both Universes couldn't solve the problem, people from the crisis-stricken Universe could evacuate to the other Universe via the Quantum Tunnel.
This essentially provided both Universes with a fallback option.
For both Universes, this was a deal with only benefits and no downsides.
Speaking of deals, Ryan also planned to open a branch of Parker Industries in this Universe.
Although this Universe's timeline was over a decade ahead of his own, with more advanced technological development, in terms of medicine, apart from Dr. Helen Cho's Nano-Med Pod, there hadn't been significant progress compared to his Universe.
Therefore, Parker Industries' Regeneration Serum also had a huge market in this Universe!
And Tony in this Universe, just like the Tony in Ryan's Universe, trusted Ryan's business acumen. So, with a wave of his hand, he covered all the expenses for establishing the Parker Industries branch in this Universe.
He bought a building in downtown New York City and gave it to Ryan for the branch office.
And Ryan, just like in the previous Universe, gave Tony 1% of the shares, making him the second-largest shareholder of the branch.
Finally, Ryan's Parker Industries branch was rapidly established within this week.
Back in Ryan's own Universe, he was already a hands-off boss for the main Parker Industries company, so he certainly wasn't going to personally manage the branch in this Universe either.
Therefore, he decided to find someone in this Universe to handle things for him.
And who might that be?
Gee, it's really hard to guess~
Isn't that right, Ms. Natasha Romanoff—the Earth's Avenger, former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent from America, who came out of the Russian Red Room~
That's right. In this Universe, the chosen 'fated laborer' for the branch company is still the Black Widow.
Can't be helped, she's just too useful.
Management experience, excellent ability, knows the ropes, trustworthy insider—who could be more suitable to manage the branch than her?
At least, Ryan couldn't think of anyone~
And Natasha in this Universe, being an ordinary person, originally planned to retire from the front lines of combat after this incident and after finding her sister, to rest.
Now, with the rising position of branch company president placed before her, she had no reason to refuse.
Therefore, without almost any hesitation, Natasha seamlessly retired from the Avengers and took up the position of President of Parker Industries' branch, beginning to enjoy the same ordinary wealthy life as the Natasha in Ryan's Universe.
Thus ending this Universe's Natasha's arduous life...
Returning to the present moment.
On the Quantum teleportation platform, three people were currently standing.
Naturally, in the center position was Ryan, who was about to return to his own Universe.
To Ryan's right was Wanda, who was going to follow Ryan to his Universe to start a new life.
To the left was Captain America, holding a case containing the Reality, Power, and Soul Infinity Stones, ready to return them.
Ryan had no intention of keeping these three Infinity Stones from another Universe.
Not because he was so rule-abiding that he wouldn't take things not from his own Universe.
But because his Spider-Sense told him that holding these three Infinity Stones from another Universe, while indeed offering some benefits to his power, would definitely bring more harm than good.
A great man once said: if you take another Universe's key artifact for fighting darkness, the calamity of that other Universe will surely befall you...
Ryan trusted his Spider-Sense completely, so without hesitation, he expelled the three Infinity Stones not from his Universe from his body and returned them to this Universe's Avengers for them to return.
His own Universe wasn't lacking these three Infinity Stones. If he really wanted them, obtaining them would just be a matter of time.
He had no need to take on the calamity of another, or even multiple, Universes for such minor benefits.
Ryan nodded to Tony at the control console: "Once I give the Quantum Tunnel blueprints you provided to the Tony in my Universe, and we build the Quantum Tunnel there, we'll meet again."
Tony nodded, holding little Morgan with one arm, and laughed: "No problem. I'll definitely come visit often for drinks then, so the other me can see his future adorable daughter in person~"
"Little Morgan, come on, say goodbye to your Uncle Parker now."
Little Morgan waved her tiny hand at Ryan, saying in a childish voice: "Goodbye, Uncle Parker~"
"Okay, next time Uncle Parker will bring your other dad to see you." Ryan couldn't help but show a smile for Tony's adorable little daughter.
Wasn't this cute and sensible little Morgan more suitable to inherit the mantle of Iron Man 2.0 than anyone else?