Chapter 111 Taking root, a new landmark in New York!
Tony Stark had given up thinking.
He slumped in his chair, watching the giant battleship slowly descending on the holographic screen, along with five strangely shaped "ice sculptures." His mouth twitched as he said, "He can't possibly want to put that big thing directly on Manhattan Island, can he?"
"No way, right?" Steve said subconsciously, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he himself felt that this refutation was unconvincing.
After all, after witnessing Arthur's methods, what in the world was still "impossible"?
Sure enough, the next second, they saw Arthur make a move that shocked the entire world.
He stretched out his palm and gently held it, as if holding a delicate model, and steadily placed Sanctuary II… right in the center of Central Park!
Rumble!
The ground trembled slightly.
But only for a moment.
That behemoth, over five kilometers long and two kilometers wide, had its weight perfectly balanced by an invisible force field the moment it landed. It was like a strange mountain that had always grown there, causing no damage to the surrounding environment.
Not even a blade of grass in Central Park was crushed.
The citizens who were strolling in the park, under the influence of Arthur's will, merely looked up at this "suddenly appearing art installation," and then continued to leisurely walk their dogs and jog, showing no surprise whatsoever.
In their modified memories, this battleship had become a "new landmark building built by the city government at a cost of tens of billions."
"Oh my God…" Natasha covered her forehead, "Does the New York City Mayor know that an alien battleship has suddenly appeared in his city?"
"He knows now," Tony pulled up the City Hall's surveillance footage.
On the screen, the New York Mayor was looking bewilderedly at a report handed to him by his assistant, which read: "Central Park Landmark Construction Project completed, budget expenditure: one hundred billion U.S. dollars."
Mayor: "When was this project approved? How come I don't know about it?"
Assistant, as a matter of course: "Sir, this is the document you personally signed last month."
Mayor: "…"
Meanwhile, Arthur was carefully adjusting the positions of the five ice sculptures.
He placed Thanos's statue at the very top of the battleship, keeping the Universe overlord in that kneeling posture of repentance, facing east, as if welcoming the rising sun.
"Hmm, this angle is good; it symbolizes the villain's awakening and turning over a new leaf."
Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight were placed on the two wings of the battleship; their crossed weapons glittered in the sunlight, which was quite artistic.
Cull Obsidian's weightlifting pose was placed at the entrance of the battleship, like a loyal doorman.
As for Supergiant's ballet pose…
"Let's just make this a landscape sculpture to add some artistic flair," Arthur nodded contentedly, then erected a stone tablet at the bottom of the battleship.
The stone tablet was inscribed in both Chinese and English: "Commemorating humanity's first defeat of alien invaders, exhibits: Thanos's battleship and his subordinates. Donor: Arthur."
"Alright, this is now firmly established."
He clapped his hands, as if he had just finished a trivial chore.
In Avengers Tower, everyone fell into a deep silence.
After a long while, Tony finally spoke, trembling, "So… we in New York now have a… theme park… with an alien battleship as its main feature?"
"And it's the kind that's free to enter," Steve added, his voice somewhat ethereal.
"The main point is," Natasha pointed to the citizens on the screen who had already started to gather, "they think this is perfectly normal."
Indeed, under the influence of Arthur's will, New Yorkcitizens had already begun enthusiastically visiting this "new landmark."
Someone was taking a selfie in front of the battleship.
A child excitedly climbed onto Cull Obsidian's statue.
Even an artist began sketching in front of Supergiant's ballet statue.
Everything seemed so… harmonious.
Just then, Tony's phone suddenly rang.
It was Pepper calling.
"Tony, have you seen the news? An alien battleship suddenly appeared in Central Park! The city government says it's a new art project; do you know what's going on?"
Tony looked at Arthur, who was leisurely admiring his "work" on the screen, and said with a wry smile, "Uh… that's a bit complicated. I'll explain it to you later."
"Also," Pepper's voice revealed a hint of excitement, "news from the stock market is that because of this suddenly appearing 'art project,' New York's tourism stocks are all up! The number of visitors is expected to increase by three hundred percent this year!"
Tony: "…"
So, Arthur's move not only dealt with the alien invaders but also revitalized New York's tourism industry?
What kind of divine, multi-purpose operation was this?
S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion, top-floor conference room.
Nick Fury sat at the head of the conference table, his single eye fixed on the huge display screen in front of him, which was showing a live feed of Central Park.
The atmosphere in the conference room was suffocatingly oppressive.
Deputy Director Maria Hill stood to the side, her folder already crumpled in her hand. Agent Coulson's expression was even more serious than usual, and fine beads of sweat even seeped onto his forehead.
"So," Fury's voice was low and hoarse, "you're telling me that a five-kilometer-long alien battleship, along with the 'bodies' of five Universe-level powerhouses, just appeared in the center of New York City?"
"Yes, Director," Hill swallowed, "and according to our investigation, all records from the city government show that this was a long-planned art project."
"Art project?" Fury's tone rose an octave, "A one hundred billion U.S. dollar art project? Our S.H.I.E.L.D. annual budget isn't even that much!"
Coulson cautiously added, "Director, what's even stranger is that all relevant government officials, including the Mayor, firmly believe they personally approved this project. Their memories… have been modified."
"Modified memories?" Fury suddenly stood up, "You mean someone is capable of massively altering the memories of government officials, and our psychological experts can't detect any abnormalities?"
"Not just government officials," Hill opened her folder, "according to our investigation, the memories of over eight million people across New York City have been simultaneously modified. They all believe this battleship is a normal urban development project."
The conference room fell into a deathly silence.
Fury slowly sat back in his chair and covered his face with his hand.
Chapter 112 Emergency Meeting of S.H.I.E.L.D.
As the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he had seen too many incredible things.
Aliens, super-powered individuals, time travelers… these 'miracles' in the eyes of ordinary people were just daily work for him.
However, an existence capable of simultaneously altering the memories of eight million people…
This had already exceeded his comprehension.
"That Arthur," Fury looked up, "how much do we know about him?"
Coulson immediately pulled up another file: "According to information provided by the Avengers, Arthur's true identity remains a mystery.
All of Tony Stark's investigations show that this person appeared out of thin air."
"No birth records, no educational background, no social connections whatsoever," Hill continued, "but according to the analysis of today's combat records, his abilities have far exceeded our assessment."
Fury clicked on the combat footage playback.
When he saw the scene of Arthur blocking the worldDestroyer Cannon with one finger, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
When he saw Arthur absorb the energy beam, powerful enough to destroy a continent, like a drink, his eye twitched.
When he saw Arthur poke a hole in Sanctuary II with one finger, he felt his blood pressure soaring.
And when he saw Thanos and the Black Order instantly frozen into statues, he finally couldn't hold back.
"Turn it off!" Fury slammed his hand on the table, "I don't want to see any more of these physics-defying scenes!"
Coulson quickly turned off the player.
"Director," Hill asked cautiously, "should we try to make contact with him?"
"Contact?" Fury gave a wry smile, "How do you plan to contact an existence that can treat a Universe overlord as a work of art? Send Agents to knock on his door and say 'Hello, we are S.H.I.E.L.D., we'd like to talk to you'?"
"But Director," Coulson said, "from the current situation, he doesn't seem to have any ill will towards Earth.
In fact, he saved Earth."
"That's exactly what I'm worried about." Fury stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at New York City below.
"An existence with god-like power, yet choosing to live in seclusion on Earth. Do you think this is normal?"
Hill and Coulson exchanged glances, both remaining silent.
"Gods do not protect mortals without reason," Furycontinued, "He must have his own purpose.
And a purpose that even we cannot understand is often more terrifying than obvious hostility."
Just then, the conference room door was pushed open.
A S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent rushed in: "Director! Emergency!"
"What is it?" Fury turned around.
"Something new has happened in Central Park…" the Agent said, panting, "That person named Arthur, he… he opened a coffee shop on the warship!"
Fury: "…What?"
Central Park, top floor of the Sanctuary II warship.
Arthur was busy setting up his new shop.
The location of this coffee shop could be said to be the most unique in New York—built in the command hall of an alien warship.
The originally menacing military facilities were transformed by him into cozy coffee shop decorations.
Those complex control panels became display cases, filled with various exquisite coffee cups.
The huge holographic projection screen now played soothing music MVs.
Most interestingly, Thanos's original throne was preserved, but Arthur added a soft cushion to it, turning it into a seat for the VIP booth.
"Hmm, this angle perfectly overlooks the entire New Yorkskyline, the view is good," Arthur patted the armrest of the throne with satisfaction.
He erected a sign at the entrance of the warship: "Interstellar Cafe — The most unique dining experience in the entire Universe!"
Below it was a line of smaller text: "This shop offers Earthcoffee, alien drinks, and the Thanos Throne VIP experience."
In Avengers Tower, Tony watched this scene, completely stunned.
"He… he opened a coffee shop?"
"And on the enemy's warship?" Steve's voice carried an indescribable complex emotion.
"Wait," Natasha pointed at the screen, "look at that price list."
Everyone followed her finger and saw Arthur hanging an exquisite price list at the entrance:
"Americano: $5"
"Latte: $7"
"Cappuccino: $8"
"Thanos Throne Experience: Free (Queue required)"
"Alien Special Drink 'Pop Rocks Energy Drink': $88"
"Photo with Alien Statue: Free"
"The prices are quite affordable," Tony couldn't help but quip.
Just then, the first batch of customers arrived.
Three young people, looking like college students, curiously walked into the coffee shop.
"Wow, this decor is so cool!" one of the girls said excitedly, "It really feels like being in an alien spaceship!"
"Boss, are all these devices props? They look so real!" another boy asked.
Arthur smiled and said: "Of course they are real, these are all genuine alien technology."
"Haha, Boss, you're so humorous!" the girl laughed, "Give us three lattes, and we want to try that throne!"
"No problem," Arthur began to skillfully operate the coffee machine.
Surprisingly, these alien devices, originally used to fire death rays, actually turned into tools for making coffee under his operation.
Laser emitters became heaters, and particle cannons became milk frothers.
"This coffee…" The girl took a sip, and her eyes instantly lit up, "Oh my god, this is the best coffee I've ever had! What kind of divine technology is this?"
"Exclusive secret recipe," Arthur mysteriously winked, "It uses special Water from the Andromeda Nebula, purified by a black hole's gravitational field."
The students laughed, thinking it was just the shop's marketing spiel.
But the people in Avengers Tower knew that every word Arthur said… might be true.
"I'm starting to suspect," Tony swallowed, "he really is making coffee with alien technology."
Meanwhile, in the coffee shop, the boy had already sat on Thanos's throne.
"Wow, this chair feels so authoritative to sit on!" he said excitedly, "I feel like the ruler of the Universe!"
Arthur smiled without speaking.
If Thanos were still conscious, he would probably be so angry he'd resurrect on the spot.
The throne that the Universe overlord fought his whole life to sit on was now a prop for college students to take photos and check in.
Soon, news about this "Interstellar Cafe" began to spread like wildfire on social media.
"New York has the coolest theme coffee shop!"
"What's it like to drink coffee in an alien warship?"
"Sitting on that throne really feels like ruling the Universe!"
In less than an hour, a long queue had formed outside the coffee shop.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance showed that the queue stretched from Central Park to Fifth Avenue.
Fury watched this scene, feeling his Worldview undergoing a complete reconstruction.
"So," he said into the communicator, "the biggest security threat we need to worry about now is a… mysterious existence running a coffee shop on an alien warship?"
"Yes, Director," Coulson's voice came from the communicator, "And according to the latest intelligence, his coffee business is extremely popular.
The estimated turnover for today will exceed one hundred thousand U.S. dollars."
Fury was silent for a long time.
Finally, he only said one sentence: "Order me an Americano. I want to personally go… investigate."
Chapter 113 First Day of Business
Nick Fury changed into casual clothes, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, blending into the queue.
As the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he had seen all sorts of strange sights, but this was the first time he had to queue for a cup of coffee.
Even more absurd was that this coffee shop was on an alien battleship, and the owner was an existence who treated the Universe overlord as a statue.
"Sir, how long have you been in line?" Fury asked a middle-aged woman in front of him.
"Two hours!" the woman replied excitedly, "But it's absolutely worth it! My friend said the coffee here makes you feel the taste of the Universe!"
Fury's mouth twitched.
The taste of the Universe?
He was quite curious what the Universe tasted like.
The line moved slowly forward.
Fury noticed that everyone who came out of the coffee shop had an extremely satisfied expression on their face, and their eyes sparkled with a peculiar light.
"This isn't some kind of brainwashing drink, is it?" An alarm bell rang in Fury's heart.
Finally, it was his turn.
Fury walked into the coffee shop and was immediately awestruck by the interior decor.
Those clearly military-grade alien devices were cleverly repurposed into coffee-making tools, and on the walls hung several "artistic photos"—close-ups of Thanos and the Black Order's statues.
"Welcome!" Arthur greeted him with a beaming smile, "First time here?"
Fury nodded, trying to look like an ordinary customer: "I heard the coffee here is very special."
"Of course," Arthur pointed to the sparkling equipment behind him, "These are all authentic alien technology, perfect for making coffee."
"Alien technology?" Fury feigned curiosity.
"That's right, it's that... Thanos's battleship," Arthursaid casually, "He doesn't need it anymore anyway, so it's recycling."
Fury almost choked on his own saliva.
Recycling?
That was a war fortress capable of conquering the Universe!
"What would you like to order?"
"An Americano, please."
"Coming right up." Arthur walked to a device that looked like a particle accelerator and skillfully operated it.
Fury watched the complex alien characters flicker on the screen, his shock indescribable.
This person could not only read alien text but also operate these devices?
A few minutes later, a cup of fragrant coffee was placed in front of Fury.
"Please enjoy," Arthur smiled.
Fury cautiously took a sip.
Instantly, an unprecedented taste experience exploded in his mouth.
It wasn't just the rich aroma of coffee, but also an indescribable... sense of the Universe?
"This..." Fury's eyes widened.
"How is it?" Arthur asked expectantly.
"Is this really made with alien equipment?"
"Of course! That device was originally used to decompose planet atmospheres, and now it's used to purify coffee beans, with surprisingly good results."
Fury felt his Worldview being challenged again.
A weapon used to decompose planet atmospheres, now used to make coffee?
"Boss, may I ask, how did you learn to operate these devices?" Fury asked tentatively.
Arthur shrugged: "By reading the manual.
The aliens' technology manuals are quite detailed, it's just that the font is a bit small."
Manual?
Fury felt his blood pressure rising again.
Just then, a familiar figure walked into the coffee shop—Tony Stark.
Iron Man was clearly also here for an "inspection," and he immediately recognized the disguised Fury.
"Well, well, isn't this our one-eyed Director?" Tony walked over, saying without disguise.
Fury's disguise instantly broke, and the surrounding customers looked over curiously.
"Stark..." Fury gritted his teeth.
"Don't be nervous, I'm just here for coffee too," Tony said to Arthur, "Boss, give me one of those 'Pop Rocks Energy Drinks,' I'm curious what it tastes like."
"No problem!" Arthur enthusiastically began to prepare it.
He walked to a device that looked like an energy cannon, took out a bottle of sparkling liquid from it, and then added some ordinary soda water.
"This is the 'raw material' of that world-destroying light cannon from before.
After my special treatment, the destructive power has been removed, but the energy and taste have been retained," Arthur explained.
Tony and Fury exchanged glances.
So this guy really turned Thanos's main cannon energy into a drink?
"88 U.S. dollars." Arthur handed over a drink glowing with a strange light.
Tony took the cup, and the liquid inside was constantly jumping, making faint "crackling" sounds.
"This won't have any side effects, will it?" Tony hesitated slightly.
"Don't worry, I've already tested it.
At most, it will make you hyperactive for three days and three nights, and incidentally give you a little bit of superpower."
"A little bit of superpower?" Fury couldn't help but ask.
"Hmm, probably just being able to lift a car, or run a little faster than a cheetah.
The very ordinary kind," Arthur said calmly.
Tony swallowed, but still decided to give it a try.
He gulped down the entire "Pop Rocks Energy Drink."
Instantly, Tony's eyes began to glow, and his hair stood on end.
"Wow! This feeling... it's amazing!" Tony excitedly jumped up, directly hitting the ceiling.
"Stark!" Fury exclaimed.
"I feel like I can fly!" Tony actually flew up, circling the coffee shop.
The other customers were stunned, pulling out their phones to take pictures.
"Ahem, Mr. Stark, please mind the public order," Arthur gently reminded him.
Tony then realized his gaffe and slowly descended.
But his eyes were still glowing, and his whole body was subtly trembling.
"Boss, this drink... is it really only 88 U.S. dollars?" Tonyasked, trembling.
"Fair and square." Arthur nodded, "But I recommend only drinking one cup a day, drinking too much can cause internal heat."
Fury looked at the overly excited Tony and decided to stick to his Americano.
"Oh, by the way," Arthur suddenly remembered something, "Do you want to try the Throne experience?
It's crowded today, so I can open a VIP channel for you."
Fury looked at the throne that once belonged to the Universe overlord, his feelings complex.
"No, I'd rather..."
"Come on, Nick, try it out!" The still-excited Tony pulled Fury towards the throne.
"Stark, I'm warning you..."
But Tony's strength was now astonishing, and Furycouldn't break free at all.
Eventually, the dignified Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was forced to sit on Thanos's throne.
"How does it feel?" Arthur asked with a smile.
Fury sat on the enormous throne, feeling the strange energy fluctuations emanating from the seat, his whole body stiff.
"This chair... is a bit hard," he said with difficulty.
"That's because it was originally designed to bear the will of the Universe," Arthur explained, "When Thanossat on it, he had to bear the weight of the entire Universe.
Now it's just a normal chair, so of course it feels hard."
Chapter 114: Coffee Time with the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Fury suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and strange images flashed before his eyes—the birth and destruction of stars, the rise and fall of civilizations, the reincarnation of the Universe…
"I saw it…" Fury murmured to himself.
"Saw what?" Tony asked curiously.
"The truth… of the Universe…" Fury's voice was very, very soft.
Arthur nodded: "The Throne will grant a temporary glimpse of the Universe, but don't worry, it will return to normal after a while."
Ten minutes later, Fury finally stood up from the Throne, looking somewhat dazed.
"Boss," he looked at Arthur seriously, "who exactly are you?"
Wiping a coffee cup, Arthur said indifferently, "Just a coffee shop owner."
"A coffee shop owner wouldn't turn a Universe overlord into a statue."
"That's because they don't have the technology," Arthur replied matter-of-factly.
Fury gave Arthur a deep look, ultimately said nothing, paid, and left.
Tony was still in an excited state and ordered another regular latte before leaving.
After they left, Arthur looked at the queue of people outside the window and nodded with satisfaction.
"Business is good," he mumbled to himself, "It seems Earthlings are still very interested in alien culture."
Early the next morning, an even longer queue formed outside Arthur's coffee shop.
Yesterday's video of Tony Stark flying around the coffee shop had gone viral online, titled "Iron Man Gains Superpowers at Alien Coffee Shop!"
Although most people thought it was special effects, many still came, hoping to try the $88 "Pop Rocks Energy Drink."
Arthur was busy preparing to open the shop when he suddenly felt a familiar energy fluctuation.
"Hmm?" He looked up at the sky.
A Bifrost descended from the sky, landing in an open space in Central Park.
Thor, the Prince of Asgard, stepped out of the rainbow light pillar.
"Oh, it's Thor," Arthur continued wiping the coffee cup, "Here for coffee?"
Thor strode towards the coffee shop, a complex expression on his face.
"You are Arthur?" Thor's voice was deep.
"Yes, what's up?" Arthur looked up at the blond Thor, "You don't seem very happy."
"I heard about what happened yesterday," Thor gripped Mjolnir in his hand, "You defeated Thanos."
"Yes, and then?"
"I want to know, who exactly are you?" Lightning flashed in Thor's eyes, "An existence with such powerful strength should not be unknown."
Arthur put down the coffee cup and looked at the Prince of Asgard.
"Are you here to challenge me?"
"If necessary," Thor raised Mjolnir, "Asgard has a responsibility to maintain the balance of the Nine Realms, and any overly powerful existence could become a threat."
The customers queuing outside the coffee shop saw this scene and became excited.
"Wow! Thor is here!"
"Are they going to fight?"
"Quick, take pictures, take pictures!"
Arthur looked at the excited crowd, feeling a bit helpless.
"Thor, are you sure you want to do this here? This is my shop."
"Then let's go outside," Thor turned and walked towards the open space.
Arthur sighed and said to the queuing customers, "Excuse me, everyone, there might be a slight delay in business hours."
"No problem, Boss! We're waiting to watch the show!" Someone shouted loudly.
Arthur walked out of the coffee shop and stood before Thor.
"Honestly, I don't want to fight you," Arthur said, "I just want to quietly run a coffee shop."
"But your very existence is a threat," Thor raised Mjolnir, and thunderclouds began to gather in the sky, "The power you displayed yesterday is enough to destroy the entire Nine Realms!"
"That's because Thanos started it first," Arthur spread his hands, "I was just acting in self-defense."
"Self-defense?" Thor sneered, "You turned a Universeoverlord into a coffee shop decoration!"
"Isn't that great? Turning waste into treasure, green and environmentally friendly."
Thor was so angered by his reply that he was speechless.
"Enough!" Thor roared, "Accept Asgard's judgment!"
He raised Mjolnir high, and countless lightning bolts descended from the sky, striking directly at Arthur!
However, those lightning bolts, powerful enough to shatter mountains, vanished without a trace the moment they touched Arthur's body.
"Your lightning…" Arthur tasted it, "It tastes good, a bit like lemon soda."
Thor's eyes widened: "What?"
"I said, your lightning was absorbed by me and then transformed into the taste of lemon soda," Arthurexplained, "Want a cup? I can make it on the spot."
Thor felt his worldview being shattered once again.
"This is impossible! My lightning is the manifestation of Asgardian divine power!"
"Divine power is also a type of energy," Arthurshrugged, "The law of conservation of energy, ever heard of it?"
Thor angrily swung Mjolnir again, this time charging directly at Arthur, intending a physical attack.
Arthur gently extended a single finger, easily blocking the impact of Mjolnir.
"Clang!"
A crisp metallic clang sounded, and Mjolnir was actually stopped by a single finger.
Thor used all his strength, but Mjolnir simply could not advance an inch.
"This… how is this possible?" Thor was in disbelief.
"Nothing is impossible," Arthur said, "Is your hammer very heavy? Why does it feel as light as a plastic toy to me?"
As he spoke, his other hand easily grasped the head of Mjolnir.
Thor desperately tried to reclaim Mjolnir, but he couldn't budge Arthur in the slightest.
"Let go of my hammer!" Thor roared.
"Alright, alright," Arthur let go, "But your hammer has a quality issue, it's too light."
Thor snatched back Mjolnir, but the shock in his heart could not be calmed. This person could easily grasp Mjolnir? He knew that besides him, only a handful of people could lift Mjolnir!
"Who exactly are you?" Thor asked again, but this time with a hint of awe in his tone.
"I told you, just a coffee shop owner," Arthur replied, "By the way, what flavor of lightning coffee would you like? I absorbed a lot of your lightning just now, it's perfect for making some specialty drinks."
Thor was utterly speechless.
Just then, the light of the Bifrost appeared in the sky again.
A tall woman with a golden helmet stepped out of the light pillar.
"Heimdall said there were powerful energy fluctuations here," The newcomer was Sif, the Valkyrie of Asgard, "Thor, what are you doing?"
"Sif!" Thor turned to look at her, "This person is very dangerous, his power is beyond our comprehension."
Sif looked at Arthur warily: "He's the one who defeated Thanos?"
"Yes, and he even turned Thanos into a statue and put him in the coffee shop as decoration," Thor pointed to the battleship not far away.
Sif followed his finger and saw the various "artworks," her expression instantly becoming quite something.
"Is that… Thanos, kneeling on one knee?"
"That's right."
"And that one doing ballet is…?"
"Supergiant, one of the Black Order."
Chapter 115 An unexpected visitor
Sif was silent for a long time, then finally said, "The artists of Asgard would be jealous."
Arthur's eyes lit up when he heard this: "You have artists in Asgard too? That's great! I'm considering holding a sculpture exhibition, and it would be even more perfect if professional artists could evaluate it!"
Sif and Thor exchanged glances.
"You... you want to hold an exhibition?" Sif asked cautiously.
"Of course!" Arthur said excitedly, "I think these sculptures have great artistic value and should be appreciated by more people. I plan to call it the 'UniversePeace Theme Sculpture Exhibition,' what do you think?"
Thor felt his brain was a bit slow to process.
"Wait, do you mean you defeated Thanos to make art?"
"Of course not." Arthur shook his head, "I defeated him because he disturbed my sun-bathing. Turning him into art is just recycling."
"Because... sun-bathing?" Sif's voice trembled slightly.
"That's right, it was midday, and he parked such a huge ship right over my head, blocking the sun. It really ruined my mood," Arthur said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Thor and Sif exchanged glances, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes: this person's thought process was completely different from a normal person's.
"So," Sif asked tentatively, "if no one disturbs your sun-bathing, you won't make a move?"
"Of course." Arthur nodded, "I'm a very laid-back person; I don't actively look for trouble."
"Then why do you run a coffee shop?" Thor asked.
"To make money." Arthur answered very directly, "Living on Earth also costs money. Rent, utility bills, daily necessities – all these require money."
Thor and Sif were silent again.
An entity capable of easily defeating a Universe overlord was actually worried about rent?
"That..." Sif hesitated, "Asgard is willing to provide you with any resources you need, as long as you don't threaten the safety of the Nine Realms."
"Really?" Arthur's eyes lit up, "Do you have good coffee beans? The quality of coffee beans on Earth varies, and I want to find some higher-grade ones."
"Coffee beans?" Sif was stunned for a moment, "We can collect the best coffee beans from all over the Universe for you."
"That's great!" Arthur clapped his hands happily, "Then we're friends! Come on, I'll treat you to coffee!"
Just like that, a conflict that could have triggered a crisis in the Nine Realms turned into a friendly coffee tasting.
Avengers Tower, the atmosphere in the conference room was solemn.
Tony Stark sat at the conference table, holding a cup of coffee that was still emitting a strange glow. This was the third cup of "Pop Rocks Energy Drink" he had bought from Arthur's coffee shop this morning.
"Stark, are you sure you want to keep drinking that?" SteveRogers looked at him worriedly, "You haven't slept for three days straight."
"I feel great!" Tony said excitedly, his eyes still glowing, "This feeling is amazing! I feel like I can design a hundred new suits of armor in one go!"
"The problem is you've already designed two hundred," Natasha said helplessly, "and they're all strange models, like 'Coffee Armor,' 'Lightning Flavor Armor'..."
"Those are products of inspiration!" Tony stood up excitedly, "You don't understand, that drink not only provides energy but also stimulates creativity!"
"It can also be addictive." Dr. Banner pushed up his glasses, "From a physiological perspective, your current state is not normal."
"What do you mean not normal? My current state is super normal!" Tony paced back and forth in the room, moving so fast that he almost left a Shadow.
Just then, the conference room door was pushed open. Director Fury walked in, also holding a cup of coffee.
"Director, you too..." Steve looked at the cup in DirectorFury's hand in surprise.
"Americano." Director Fury clarified, "Regular Americano."
He sat down at the conference table, his expression serious: "We need to talk about that Arthur."
"What's there to talk about?" Tony said excitedly, "He's a good person! Not only did he save Earth, but he also opened an awesome coffee shop!"
"Stark, your judgment has been affected by that drink," Director Fury said coldly.
"My judgment has never been clearer!" Tony retorted.
"Then explain why you designed a suit of armor specifically for brewing coffee yesterday?"
Tony paused: "That was... artistic creation."
Natasha rolled her eyes: "Tony, you need to quit that drink."
"I don't need to quit anything!" Tony waved his hands excitedly, "You don't understand, Arthur is a genius! He uses alien technology to make coffee; this is a groundbreaking innovation!"
"He also used alien technology to turn people into statues," Dr. Banner reminded him.
"Those were bad people!" Tony said righteously, "And now they've become works of art, much more valuable than before!"
Steve rubbed his temples: "Tony, listen to what you're saying."
"I'm speaking the truth!" Tony insisted, "You should try that drink; I guarantee your minds will change!"
"Absolutely not." Director Fury flatly refused, "We already have one addict; we don't need another."
Just then, the conference room's communication system rang.
"Avengers, this is Thor." Thor's voice came through the loudspeaker.
"Thor?" Steve connected the call, "Where are you?"
"I'm at... uh... the Interstellar Cafe." Thor's voice sounded a bit awkward.
Everyone was stunned.
"What did you say?" Director Fury asked in disbelief.
"Sif and I came to investigate that Arthur, and it turns out..." Thor's voice became even more awkward, "It turns out we're now in his coffee shop, tasting Asgardian specialty coffee."
"Asgardian specialty coffee?" Dr. Banner asked, confused.
"Yes, Arthur used my lightning to make a new drink, and it tastes... not bad."
Director Fury felt his blood pressure rising again: "Thor, you went to challenge him, not to taste coffee!"
"About that... I did challenge him." Thor's voice grew even smaller.
"And then what?"
"Then my Mjolnir was blocked by one of his fingers."
A dead silence filled the conference room.
"One finger?" Steve repeated.
"Yes, just one finger." Thor confirmed, "Then he said my hammer felt as light as a plastic toy."
Tony suddenly burst out laughing: "Hahaha! I told you he was amazing! Even Mjolnir is nothing to him!"
"Stark, this is no laughing matter," Director Fury said seriously.
"I'm not joking!" Tony said earnestly, "You should accept reality; Arthur is even more powerful than we imagined!"
"So, the question is," Natasha analyzed calmly, "why would an entity with such immense power open a coffee shop on Earth?"
"Because he needs to make money for rent," Thor's voice came through the communicator.
Chapter 116 The Avengers' Confusion
"Pay rent?" Banner was stunned.
"Yes, he said living on Earth requires money. Rent, utility bills, and daily necessities all cost money."
Fury felt his worldview being challenged once again. An existence capable of defeating a Universe overlord was actually worried about rent?
"Wait," Steve thought of something, "Where does he live?"
"That's a good question." Fury immediately pulled up S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files. "According to our investigation, Arthur's address is an apartment in Lower Manhattan, with a monthly rent of 2,500 U.S. dollars."
"2,500 U.S. dollars?" Tony said in surprise, "That's so cheap? He could buy the whole building!"
"Maybe he likes a simple life." Banner speculated.
"Or he has other motives." Fury said suspiciously.
At this moment, Thor's voice came through the communicator again: "Everyone, Arthur wants to invite you over to taste coffee. He said Avengers members can enjoy a 20% discount."
"20% discount?" Tony's eyes lit up, "Great! I was just thinking of buying a few more energy drinks!"
"Stark, you've had enough." Fury stopped him.
"No one can stop me from pursuing higher realms!" Tonyexcitedly rushed out of the meeting room.
"Stark!" Steve chased after him.
Natasha watched this scene and said to Fury: "Director, I think we need to formulate a response plan."
"What kind of response plan?"
"How to prevent all Avengers members from becoming regulars at the coffee shop." Natasha said seriously.
Fury was silent for a moment, then said: "Maybe we should change our approach."
"What do you mean?"
"Since we can't stop them, then join them." Fury stood up, "Let's go to the coffee shop and personally find out what this Arthur really wants to do."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Banner asked worriedly.
"At least it's better than letting Stark get addicted alone." Fury replied.
And so, the remaining Avengers also went to the Interstellar Coffee Shop.
When they arrived at Central Park, the sight they saw shocked them.
There was a long line outside the coffee shop, and in the line were not only ordinary citizens, but also dignitaries from various countries, business elites, and even some celebrities.
"What…what's going on?" Banner asked in surprise.
"Arthur's coffee shop has become the hottest attraction in New York." A passing citizen enthusiastically explained, "I heard that if you drink their specialty drinks, you can gain superpowers!"
"Superpowers?" Natasha frowned.
"Yes! Yesterday, someone drank the 'Pop Rocks Energy Drink' and was actually able to fly! The video even went viral!"
Fury and Natasha exchanged glances, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes.
If ordinary people started pursuing these "superpower drinks," then social order would face a huge impact.
"We must stop this." Fury whispered.
"How do we stop it?" Natasha asked, "Tell everyone that the drink has side effects? But Tony looks very healthy."
Indeed, although Tony became unusually excited, his physical condition looked better than before.
"Maybe we should first understand the situation." Bannersuggested.
They entered the coffee shop through the VIP channel and were immediately stunned by the scene inside.
Tony was enthusiastically discussing some technical issues with Arthur, Thor and Sif were sitting next to Thanos's throne enjoying coffee, and Steve was taking photos with several customers.
"This scene is too surreal." Natasha murmured.
"Welcome!" Arthur noticed them and greeted them warmly, "Friends of the Avengers! What would you like to try today?"
Fury looked deeply at Arthur, trying to discern something from his expression.
But Arthur's expression was sincere and friendly, just like an ordinary coffee shop owner.
"We want to understand," Fury said cautiously, "will your specialty drinks have any effect on ordinary people?"
"Of course they will have an effect." Arthur nodded, "Good coffee always makes people feel happy and refreshed."
"I mean that kind of… supernatural effect." Furyemphasized.
Arthur thought for a moment: "Are you talking about the 'Pop Rocks Energy Drink'? That one does give people some temporary ability enhancements, but they are all very safe."
"Safe?" Banner questioned, "How can it be safe to give ordinary people superpowers?"
"Because the effect is temporary." Arthur explained, "It lasts for a maximum of three days, and then it naturally fades away. And I've added a restriction program inside to ensure that no one can use these abilities to do bad things."
"Restriction program?"
"Yes, if someone tries to use these abilities to harm others, the abilities will automatically fail." Arthur said proudly, "This is my exclusive technology."
Fury, Natasha, and Banner looked at each other.
This person can not only give ordinary people superpowers, but also control how these abilities are used?
This was no longer simply powerful; this was simply… a god-like existence.
"So," Fury finally asked, "What is your ultimate goal?"
Arthur thought seriously for a moment, then sincerely replied: "To open coffee shops all over the Universe."
"To open coffee shops all over the Universe?"
Fury's voice trembled slightly. He had seen all kinds of madmen, some who wanted to conquer the world, some who wanted to destroy civilization, but someone who wanted to open coffee shops all over the Universe… this was a first.
"Yes." Arthur said enthusiastically, "I think many places in the Universe lack a high-quality coffee culture. For example, Asgard, they only drink alcohol and completely don't understand the beauty of coffee."
Thor nodded from the side: "Indeed, our drink choices there are too limited."
"And other civilizations," Arthur continued, "the Kree, the Skrulls, the Nova Corps… their lives are so stressful, they really need a good cup of coffee to relax."
Banner pushed up his glasses: "Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious." Arthur took out a tablet, which displayed a dense commercial plan. "I've done detailed market research. There are over ten thousand intelligent civilizations in the Universe, and eighty percent of them have never encountered coffee. What a huge business opportunity!"
Tony leaned over and took a look, immediately stunned: "My goodness, your business plan is more detailed than any multinational company I've ever seen!"
"Naturally." Arthur said proudly, "I spent a full three hours formulating this plan."
"Three hours?" Steve asked in surprise, "You surveyed ten thousand civilizations in three hours?"
"Mainly because the internet speed is faster." Arthurwaved his hand casually, "I hacked into the databases of most civilizations in the Universe and learned about their dietary habits, economic conditions, and spending power."
"You said you hacked into…" Natasha's voice was a bit stiff.
Chapter 117: Cosmic Chain Plan
"Yes, it's quite simple. Their cybersecurity is terrible, they don't even have a decent firewall." Arthur shook his head. "Especially the Kree, their encryption technology is still in the Stone Age."
Fury felt he needed to sit down and calm himself. An entity capable of casually hacking into the databases of major civilizations across the Universe was considering opening a chain of coffee shops?
"So, how do you plan to implement this?" Banner asked curiously.
"Step by step." Arthur clicked to the next page of the plan. "First, open branches within the Solar System; the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter's moons are all good choices. Then expand into the Milky Way Galaxy, and finally cover the entire Universe."
"Wait," Steve interrupted, "there's no atmosphere on the Moon, how can you open a coffee shop?"
"That's simple." Arthur waved his hand. "I can create an atmosphere for the Moon. Anyway, the Moon isn't very useful right now, so it's good to transform it."
"Transform the Moon?" Thor's eyes widened. "You're going to transform the entire Moon?"
"Yes, just add an atmosphere, adjust the gravity, plant some vegetation, and so on." Arthur said it lightly. "While I'm at it, I'll fill in all those craters on the Moon's surface; they really detract from its beauty."
The conference room fell into a deathly silence.
Just then, the coffee shop door was pushed open, and a figure in a black trench coat walked in.
"The Ancient One?" Steve recognized the newcomer.
Sorcerer Supreme Gu Yi slowly walked towards Arthur, her expression more serious than usual.
"Arthur." Ancient One's voice was calm and authoritative. "We need to talk."
"Oh, it's the Sorcerer." Arthur looked up at Ancient One. "Would you like something to drink? I have a newly developed 'Time Stone Special', made with the essence of Time Magic."
Ancient One's eye twitched slightly: "You turned Time Magic into a drink?"
"Yes, the taste is very unique. After drinking it, you can temporarily experience the mysteries of Time Magic." Arthur introduced enthusiastically. "But the price is a bit high, 888 U.S. dollars a cup."
"I'm not here for coffee." Ancient One took a deep breath. "I'm here to warn you."
"Warn me about what?" Arthur asked, puzzled.
"Your actions have attracted the attention of the Multiverse." Ancient One said solemnly. "Just now, when I was observing the timeline, I discovered some… anomalies."
"What anomalies?"
A golden magic circle appeared in Ancient One's hand, displaying countless intertwined timelines.
"Originally, Thanos' invasion should have caused severe damage to Earth, and the Avengers would have paid a huge price to defeat him." Ancient One pointed to one of the dark red timelines. "But because of your intervention, this timeline was completely changed."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Tony interjected. "Earth wasn't harmed."
"That's not the problem." Ancient One shook her head. "Arthur, do you know what consequences changing the timeline can cause?"
"It'll cause a butterfly effect or something?" Arthursaid indifferently. "It's fine, I have experience."
"You have experience?" Ancient One's eyes widened.
"Yes, I've changed timelines a few times before, and there were no major problems." Arthur recalled. "At most, it just made a certain civilization enter the technological age a few thousand years early, or prevented dinosaurs on a certain planet from going extinct."
Ancient One felt her blood pressure rising: "You said you've changed timelines before?"
"Yes, many times." Arthur nodded. "Sometimes, when I saw a civilization about to be destroyed, I'd casually save it. Sometimes, when I saw a tyrant being too excessive, I'd turn him into a statue."
"Wait," Fury suddenly thought of something, "you said you turned tyrants into statues…"
"Yes, just like Thanos." Arthur said as a matter of course. "I still have quite a few in my collection room; dictators of the Milky Way Galaxy, warlords of Andromeda, they've all been turned into works of art by me."
Thor swallowed: "You have other collections?"
"Of course I do. Do you want to visit?" Arthur said excitedly. "I have a dedicated exhibition room at home, filled with thousands of villain statues from all over the Universe."
"Thousands?" Natasha's voice trembled slightly.
"Roughly, I haven't counted them carefully." Arthurscratched his head. "Mainly because some guys are just too annoying; I wouldn't feel comfortable if I didn't turn them into statues."
Ancient One looked deeply at Arthur, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
"Arthur, who exactly are you?" she asked slowly.
"Just a coffee shop owner." Arthur answered very naturally. "Why do you all like to ask that question?"
"A coffee shop owner wouldn't have a collection of thousands of villain statues," Banner reminded him.
"That's a side job." Arthur explained. "My main job is the coffee shop, my side job is maintaining Universe peace. But speaking of it, maintaining peace doesn't pay anything, while opening a coffee shop makes money."
Ancient One was silent for a long time, then finally said: "I need to witness your true strength."
"Why?" Arthur was puzzled.
"Because I need to confirm whether you have the ability to bear the consequences of changing the timeline." Ancient One said solemnly. "If your power is insufficient to maintain the stability of the Multiverse, then I must stop you."
Arthur thought for a moment: "Alright, but fighting in a coffee shop isn't good; it'll scare the customers."
"Then let's go to the Mirror Dimension." A simple mirror appeared in Ancient One's hand.
"Mirror Dimension?" Arthur looked at the mirror curiously. "This principle is quite interesting; is it using space-folding technology?"
"You understand space magic?" Ancient One was surprised.
"A little bit." Arthur reached out and touched the mirror. "Hmm, this spatial structure is well-designed, but the stability is a bit poor. I'll optimize it."
With that, Arthur's finger lightly swiped across the mirror's surface.
Instantly, the entire Mirror Dimension underwent drastic changes. The originally cramped space became infinitely vast, and the previously monotonous environment transformed into a beautiful cosmic garden.
"This…" Ancient One looked at the scene before her in shock. "You transformed the Mirror Dimension?"
"Just a slight upgrade." Arthur looked at his work with satisfaction. "Now, this place can accommodate millions of people fighting simultaneously without interfering with each other."
"Millions?" Tony's voice changed pitch.
"Yes, in case of a future Universe war or something, a spacious battlefield is always good." Arthur said. "And I also added spectator stands and a commentary booth, so it can be broadcast live."
Everyone followed his finger and indeed saw a giant stadium-like structure, fully equipped, even with popcorn stalls.
"You turned the Mirror Dimension into a stadium?" Stevecouldn't believe it.
"It's an arena." Arthur corrected him. "It has more of a sense of ceremony that way. By the way, The Ancient One, what do you want to compete in? magic combat? Or a pure test of strength?"
Chapter 118 Visitors from the Multiverse
The Ancient One looked at the young man who had casually transformed her meticulously constructed Mirror Dimension into an entertainment venue, and suddenly felt that her understanding of the word "powerful" was not deep enough.
"Let's... have a magic contest," the Ancient One finally said.
"Alright," Arthur nodded, "but I should state beforehand that my magic might be a little different from your Earth's magic system."
"What do you mean?"
"My magic is relatively... direct," Arthur thought for a suitable word, "There aren't many flashy rituals; usually, whatever effect I want, it just happens."
The Ancient One frowned: "That's not magic, that's reality manipulation."
"It's the same effect, isn't it?" Arthur waved his hand indifferently, "Are you ready?"
The Ancient One took a deep breath, and a complex magiccircle appeared in her hand: "Begin."
She waved her hand, sending out a golden energy beam. This beam contained the power of Time Magic, capable of sending its target into a time loop.
However, the moment the beam approached Arthur, it automatically deflected, drew a circle in the air, and finally returned to the Ancient One, circling around her.
"Your beam is quite spiritual," Arthur chuckled, "It seems to really like you."
The Ancient One watched in shock as the energy beam circled around her. The beam was now like a playful pet, flying around her.
"This is impossible!" The Ancient One exclaimed in disbelief, "How can Time Magic be... domesticated?"
"Nothing is impossible," Arthur explained, "I just discussed it with it and told it that it's better to follow its original Master. It thought that made a lot of sense, so it went back on its own."
The Ancient One felt her worldview being challenged again. magic energy could actually be "discussed"?
"Shall we continue?" Arthur asked.
The Ancient One gritted her teeth. This time, she directly used her strongest forbidden spell - Time Reversal.
The powerful Time Magic instantly enveloped the entire arena, attempting to send Arthur back a few minutes.
However, the moment the Time Magic touched Arthur, it was as if it hit an invisible wall. Not only could it not advance, but it began to bounce back.
"Oh, this spell is too violent," Arthur shook his head, "The timeline is very fragile; it can't be treated so roughly."
He reached out his hand and gently stroked it.
The wild Time Magic instantly became incredibly docile, transforming into a golden orb of light in his palm, gently shimmering.
"See, this is how it should be," Arthur handed the orb to the Ancient One, "Time Magic needs to be gentle; they're actually very sensitive."
The Ancient One took the orb, feeling the pure Time Magicenergy contained within it, and was completely stunned.
This energy not only had no malice but was full of friendliness and warmth, like a well-trained small animal.
"How... how did you do that?" the Ancient One asked, trembling.
"I told you, I just discussed it," Arthur replied as a matter of course, "magic also has feelings. If you treat it well, it will naturally be obedient."
The Ancient One looked at the orb in her hand, then at Arthur's sincere face, and suddenly realized a terrifying truth.
This person might not be using magic at all.
He was... creating rules.
"I surrender."
The Ancient One's voice echoed in the arena. The Sorcerer Supreme, who had protected Earth for centuries, for the first time admitted her defeat so thoroughly.
"Surrender?" Arthur looked at her in confusion, "We've only just begun, why are you surrendering?"
"Because I've understood something," the Ancient One put away the Time Magic orb in her hand, "Rather than competing with you in magic, it's better to play chess with the Universe itself."
"The Universe itself?" Tony asked, puzzled, "What does that mean?"
The Ancient One looked deeply at Arthur: "He is not using magic; he is the source of magic."
"The source?" Banner pushed up his glasses, "You mean..."
"His very existence is a rule," the Ancient One explained, "Just as the law of gravity doesn't need to explain why an apple falls, his will is the law of reality."
Arthur scratched his head: "Sorcerer, you're making it too complicated. I just wanted the coffee shop business to do a little better."
Just then, a huge crack appeared above the arena.
From the crack, three figures emerged.
Leading them was a tall figure completely enveloped in a golden robe. His face was hidden beneath his hood, but the oppressive aura he exuded made everyone present feel a sense of dread.
"The Watcher?" The Ancient One looked at the newcomer in shock.
"Sorcerer Supreme," the Watcher's voice was deep and authoritative, "We need to talk about that... anomalous existence."
His gaze fell on Arthur, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Behind the Watcher were two other equally impressive beings. One was a female radiating starlight, and the other was a translucent humanoid seemingly made of pure energy.
"Let me introduce them," the Watcher said, "This is the Eternal Emissary, and this is the Infinitys Representative. We represent the highest will of the multiverse and have come to..."
"Wait, wait, wait," Arthur interrupted him, "Are you here for the coffee shop? If so, please queue up; we have a lot of customers today."
The Watcher: "..."
The Eternal Emissary: "..."
The Infinitys Representative: "..."
Tony almost burst out laughing. This was probably the first time in the history of the multiverse that someone had told cosmic-level beings to queue for coffee.
"We are not here to buy coffee," the Watcher tried to maintain his dignity, "We are here to investigate you."
"Investigate me?" Arthur asked, puzzled, "I haven't broken any laws. Running a coffee shop is a legitimate business; I even have a business license."
"A business license?" The Eternal Emissary finally spoke, her voice sounding like the chanting of stars, "Do you think the multiverse needs a business license?"
"Of course, it does," Arthur said as a matter of course, "You have to follow the rules when doing business. I've already registered with the Milky Way Galaxy Industrial and Commercial Bureau, and I've applied for an intergalactic business license from the Kree Empire and the Nova Corps."
"Milky Way Galaxy Industrial and Commercial Bureau?" The Infinitys Representative's voice was filled with confusion, "What kind of organization is that?"
"It's the organization that manages all commercial activities within the Milky Way Galaxy, of course," Arthurpulled out a golden certificate, "Look, this is my intergalactic chain operation license, number GX-2023-001."
The Watcher looked closely at the certificate, his expression becoming even stranger: "This organization... you established it?"
"Yes, I noticed a lack of a unified commercial management agency in the Milky Way Galaxy, so I just went ahead and built one," Arthur said lightly, "Now over three thousand companies have registered, and it's running quite well."
Fury felt his worldview was about to be reshaped again: "You established a Milky Way Galaxy-level government agency?"
"Not a government agency, a commercial management agency," Arthur corrected, "Mainly responsible for setting intergalactic trade standards, handling commercial disputes, and issuing various business licenses."
"Then where did you get your authority?" Steve asked.
"Authority?" Arthur thought for a moment, "Probably because I defeated everyone who opposed me."
"Defeated?"
Chapter 119: Cosmic Food Appreciation Conference
"Right, some warlords and dictators didn't comply before, saying why should they listen to me. Then I turned them into statues, and the rest cooperated very well."
The Watcher and his companions exchanged glances, seeing shock in each other's eyes.
An existence, solely for the convenience of running a coffee shop, established a Milky Way Galaxy-level commercial management system?
"Arthur." The Watcher reorganized his words, "Your actions have severely affected the balance of the Multiverse."
"How have they affected it?" Arthur asked, puzzled, "I'm just making everyone's lives a bit more convenient."
"The Milky Way Galaxy Bureau of Industry and Commerce you established has now become the most authoritative institution within the Milky Way Galaxy," said the Eternal Emissary. "Countless civilizations are following the commercial laws you've set."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Tony interjected, "Unified standards can promote trade development."
"The problem is," the Infinitys Representative explained, "these laws were established by an individual, not as a result of natural development. This violates the natural laws of the Universe."
Arthur scratched his head: "But natural development is too slow. Do you know how troublesome trade disputes between those civilizations are? They fight at the drop of a hat, affecting my business."
"So you brought them all under unified management?" Ancient One asked.
"Exactly, it's so harmonious now," Arthur said proudly. "The Kree and the Nova Corps are now business partners, the Skrulls run the Milky Way Galaxy's largest logistics company, everyone is making money, so who would still fight?"
The Watcher was silent for a long time, then finally said, "Do you know the consequences of doing this?"
"What consequences?"
"You are changing the entire trajectory of the Universe's development," the Watcher said gravely. "Countless events that should have happened have changed due to your intervention. Countless heroes who should have been born will never awaken because there is no war and suffering."
Arthur thought for a moment: "So what? Isn't peace better?"
"Peace is good, but not this kind of peace," said the Eternal Emissary. "The Universe needs balance, it needs the opposition of light and darkness, it needs the cycle of creation and destruction. Your intervention has broken this balance."
"Balance?" Arthur's tone suddenly became somewhat cold, "You mean, to maintain some balance, innocent lives should suffer?"
The Watcher noticed the change in Arthur's tone, and alarm bells rang in his mind: "We don't mean that…"
"No, you do mean that." Arthur's eyes sharpened. "You sit in high positions and believe everything should develop in the way you deem 'correct.' Suffering is necessary, war is a manifestation of balance, and death is part of the cycle."
He stood up, and an aura that made even cosmic-level existences feel suppressed began to emanate from him.
"But have you asked those lives struggling in suffering? Have you asked those innocents who lost their families in war? Have you asked those civilizations crushed by your 'balance'?"
The air in the arena began to thicken. Even an existence like the Watcher felt an unprecedented sense of oppression.
"Arthur, calm down," Ancient One tried to mediate, "They also have their considerations…"
"I am very calm." Arthur's voice was terrifyingly placid. "I just want to ask these 'higher existences,' whose order are you truly upholding?"
"For the stability of the entire Multiverse," the Watchertried to remain composed. "Sometimes, local sacrifices are necessary."
"Necessary sacrifices?" Arthur laughed, but this smile sent chills down everyone's spines. "Then are you willing to become such 'necessary sacrifices'?"
The Watcher's body began to tremble. He suddenly realized that the existence before him was fully capable of turning him into a "necessary sacrifice."
"We… we can discuss it." The Eternal Emissary's voice was no longer so majestic.
"Discuss?" Arthur's aura receded slightly. "Alright, let's discuss."
He sat back down, his expression returning to calm: "My conditions are simple. You don't interfere with my business, and I won't actively provoke you. Everyone lives their own lives, without interfering with each other."
"But your influence is already…" the Infinitys Representative wanted to argue.
"What about my influence?" Arthur interrupted. "I've made the Milky Way Galaxy more peaceful, saving countless civilizations from the suffering of war. What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing wrong, but…"
"No buts." Arthur's tone became stern again. "If you think peace is wrong, then I'd be happy to let you experience what true 'imbalance' feels like."
The Watcher trio exchanged glances, all seeing the same conclusion in each other's eyes: this existence was beyond their control.
"Alright." The Watcher finally conceded. "We will not interfere with your… commercial activities. But we hope you can also exercise moderation and not excessively interfere with the natural development of the Universe."
"That can be discussed." Arthur nodded. "However, the prerequisite is that no one intentionally causes trouble. If any civilization is bored and wants to commit genocide or planet destruction or anything like that, I will still intervene."
"This…"
"This isn't a discussion, it's a notification." Arthur's tone was non-negotiable. "I can tolerate normal competition and conflict, but I will never tolerate meaningless slaughter and destruction."
The Watcher was silent for a long time, then finally nodded: "We will convey your message."
"Very good." Arthur smiled again. "So, since you're here, would you like to try my coffee? First-time visitors get a ten percent discount."
This sudden shift in tone, from a serious cosmic-level negotiation to pushing coffee, made the three cosmic-level existences a bit uncomfortable.
"We… do not need to eat." The Watcher said with difficulty.
"Not needing to eat doesn't mean you can't enjoy deliciousness," Arthur said enthusiastically. "I have a 'Void Special Blend' specifically formulated for energy-based existences. It's definitely a taste you've never experienced before."
"Void Special Blend?" the Infinitys Representative asked curiously.
"That's right, it's made with raw energy from the Void Dimension, with a touch of Chaos Power for flavor," Arthur introduced. "Guaranteed to give you an unprecedented sensory stimulation."
The Watcher wanted to refuse, but suddenly realized a problem: if he refused Arthur's kind offer, would he be seen as disrespectful?
Given the temperament this existence had just displayed, who knew what he might do?
"Then… we'll try it." The Watcher finally said.
"Excellent!" Arthur stood up excitedly. "I'll brew it for you right away, it's absolutely a unique experience in the Universe!"
Watching Arthur's busy figure, the Avengers and Ancient One exchanged glances.
That negotiation, which could have determined the fate of the Multiverse, ended up becoming a coffee tasting session?
"I think," Tony whispered to Steve, "our worldview needs to be updated again."
"I've given up on updating," Steve replied. "Now I just want to know what Void Dimension coffee tastes like."
Chapter 120 The Final Judgment! (End of the Book!)
"This…" Watcher wanted to say something, but found his meager vocabulary couldn't describe the feeling. He could only draw one conclusion: this coffee was poisonous. A potent poison that could bring peace to the Universe.
Just then, the entire Mirror Dimension—no, the entire arena—suddenly froze. Time, space, energy, laws, everything fell into absolute stillness. The only one who could move was Arthur, who was wiping the bar with a rag.
In the very center of the arena, space silently tore open, and a figure even more magnificent and oppressive than the previous crack descended.
It was a giant with three faces: one calm, representing justice; one angry, representing vengeance; and one hidden beneath a hood, representing necessity. Its appearance made cosmic entities like Watcher instinctively bow their heads.
"Living Tribunal," Ancient One uttered with difficulty. The supreme judge of the Multiverse, the final arbiter of all realities.
The Living Tribunal's three faces simultaneously turned to Arthur. Its voice, devoid of emotion, resonated deep within everyone's soul: "An anomalous existence. Your actions have transcended the scope of intervention. You are creating a new law, a 'Commercial Law' centered on your will. This disrupts the fundamental balance of the Multiverse. I shall render the final judgment."
The Avengers' hearts sank to rock bottom. Even Ancient One's face was pale. They had faced all kinds of enemies, but never imagined they would one day face the embodiment of cosmic law.
However, Arthur merely looked up, wiped his hands with the rag he had used on the bar, and offered a professional smile: "Hello, Mr. Three-Faces. What can I get for you? First drink for new customers is half price, even for cosmic entities. No tricks."
The Living Tribunal: "…"
A deathly silence fell over the entire place. Tony felt his brain circuits had completely fried. Making Watcher queue was already absurd enough, but now someone was trying to sell half-price drinks to the Living Tribunal?
On the Living Tribunal's face representing "Vengeance," the angry expression seemed to freeze. The face representing "Justice" also showed a hint of confusion. It had judged countless Universes, countless existences, but had never encountered such a situation.
"Before judgment, I need to understand your 'law,'" the Living Tribunal finally said, a subtle fluctuation in its voice.
"Understand my law?" Arthur thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Oh, you want to sample the product first, right? A connoisseur! No problem!"
He turned back to the bar, his movements fluid. He didn't use any known materials, but instead plucked directly from the void. He grabbed a handful of "concepts," crushed "possibilities," infused the liquid of "hope," roasted it with the flames of "destiny," and for the final latte art, he used a wisp of pure "Light of Life."
A perfect cup of coffee was placed before the Living Tribunal. It looked like an ordinary latte, but everyone could feel that the cup contained a brand new Universe.
"Please enjoy," Arthur smiled, "I've named it 'Harmony of All Phenomena Latte.'"
The Living Tribunal was silent. Its three faces simultaneously gazed at the cup of coffee. Finally, the face representing "Necessity" nodded slightly. A beam of light shot from It, enveloped the coffee, and sent it into Its will.
Time seemed to pass for billions of years, yet also felt like just an instant.
The Living Tribunal's three faces, originally with varied expressions, now slowly, incredibly, unified. Justice, Vengeance, Necessity—the three became one, transforming into an unprecedented expression: satisfaction.
Everyone held their breath.
"The old law of balance was too inefficient and full of unnecessary suffering," the Living Tribunal announced, "From this moment forth, the 'Law of Commerce and Service' represented by the 'Interstellar Cafe' shall become one of the new fundamental balance anchors of the Multiverse."
It paused, then continued: "Your business plan, I approve. Your Milky Way Galaxy Bureau of Industry and Commerce shall be elevated to the All-Universe Department of Commercial Order Maintenance, with you in full charge."
Watcher, the Eternity Messenger, the Infinity Spokesperson—the three cosmic entities simultaneously turned to stone. Their worldview, along with the old laws they represented, was completely overturned by a cup of coffee at this moment.
"Excellent!" Arthur clapped his hands happily, "Thank you for your leadership and support! So… about this first order?"
The Living Tribunal looked at him, and the face representing "Justice" actually showed a hint of a smile: "Every existence in the All-Universe, every intelligent life form, one 'Harmony of All Phenomena Latte.' The bill will be charged to 'Cosmic Origin.'"
Having said that, Its figure transformed into a dazzling light and disappeared, leaving behind a golden order form, made of cosmic law and with an amount of "infinity," floating on the bar.
Arthur picked up the order, whistling contentedly: "This is going to keep me busy."
He turned around, looking at the completely stunned Avengers and The Ancient One, and smiled amiably: "Everyone, you've witnessed a historic moment for our establishment. As a reward, today's entire bill is on the house! Also, the Avengers headquarters can apply to become our Earth region's first Diamond-level franchisee, and I'll personally train the staff."
…
One year later.
New York, Central Park, Interstellar Cafe Main Branch.
This was no longer just a simple cafe, but the center of the entire Multiverse. The cafe's doors connected to countless dimensions and planets, and all sorts of strangely shaped customers queued orderly at the entrance.
Tony Stark was intensely discussing the heat dissipation issues of a new smart coffee cup with a silicon-based life form from Andromeda. Steve Rogers, meanwhile, sat in a corner, quietly sketching. On his paper was a Skrull teaching its child how to stir coffee with telekinesis.
Natasha and Banner were helping at the bar. Dr. Banner, using his understanding of gamma rays, invented a "HulkMilk Frother" that could instantly heat milk without destroying its protein structure, which became very popular. Thor became the cafe's head of security. Anyone who tried to cut in line or cause trouble would be kindly "escorted" to the end of the line with his Mjolnir.
Nick Fury sat in the VIP room on the second floor, looking at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s latest report, his brow unfurrowed. Since the Interstellar Cafe became the center of the Universe, the crime rate on Earth and even throughout the Milky Way Galaxy had dropped by ninety-nine percent. After all, even the most insane villains had to obey the basic rules of queuing to order.
The Ancient One became a regular here. She gave up observing timelines because all timelines eventually led here. She found that tasting a special coffee from an unknown Universe was far more interesting than peering into destiny.
Arthur, wearing an apron, was busy behind the bar. His smile was as sincere and warm as ever, as if he truly was just an ordinary coffee shop owner who loved his job.
"Boss!" shouted an alien with furry tentacles, "Another 'Pop Rocks Energy Drink'! I feel like I'm about to break through our species' evolutionary bottleneck!"
"Coming right up!" Arthur responded loudly, skillfully operating the coffee machine.
Sunlight streamed through the giant floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the faces of various customers, each radiating a calm and contented happiness.
The Universe had never been so peaceful, and never so delicious.
The story ends.
No Earth-shattering final battle, no heroic sacrifices to sing about.
Just a man, in the way he loved most, brewed a perfect cup of coffee for the entire Multiverse.
(The End!)