Ethan looked back at Johan, who regarded him with an
unsettling calmness.
"What do you want from me?" he finally managed to ask, his
voice barely above a whisper.
"I require your instructions," Johan replied. "You need to
become a puppet master if you will. I am here to serve your needs and desires,
as long as you need me."
Ethan's heart raced at the implications. He was being thrust
into a game he never wanted to play, with rules he didn't understand.
"System, what are your parameters?" he asked.
"Here's a breakdown of system parameters:
Summoning Conditions
Villain Type: Only anime villains can be summoned.
Acknowledge Rule: A new villain can only be summoned after
the first villain is acknowledged by key Marvel heroes, through battle or
recognition.
One Villain at a Time: You are limited to summoning one
villain at a time.
Loyalty
Full Loyalty: Summoned villains are 100% loyal to you unless
you break one of the system's rules. This loyalty means they cannot betray you,
but their evil nature may lead them to challenge or manipulate you within the
bounds of your control.
Costs and Sacrifices
Physical or Psychological Toll: Each summon demands a price.
This could be a cherished memory, a fragment of your sanity, or a physical
injury. The deeper you delve into the system, the more significant the cost.
Unpredictable Consequences: Repeated summoning erodes your
humanity over time, leading to psychological breakdowns, nightmares, or even
paranoia. The system ensures no summon is without consequence.
Villain Death
Permanent Death: Once a villain dies, they cannot be
summoned again. Their death is permanent in your world, and their power is lost
forever.
Villain Communication
Cross-Summon Knowledge: Villains summoned at different times
can communicate and conspire. They share knowledge of your actions and
strategies, potentially plotting to shape your journey in unexpected ways.
System Tasks
Quests: Occasionally, the system assigns you tasks—quests
that must be completed. These tasks are linked to your summoning, and failure
brings severe consequences.
Random Rewards: Completing quests yields random
rewards. These could be new abilities, items, or unexpected advantages, but the
system decides what you receive, leaving it beyond your control.
Awareness
User's Awareness: You are aware of The system and your
summoning powers, but no one else can know. Revealing your power to others will
result in severe consequences, such as losing control of the summon or worse.
System Control
Manipulation of Events: The system itself manipulates
circumstances around you. It places you in scenarios where summoning is
necessary, driving you toward using its power. It thrives in chaos and is
invested in your development, pushing you to make morally ambiguous decisions."
the voice replied.
Ethan took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as
Johan's gaze remained fixed on him, calm and unreadable. His mind raced,
overwhelmed by the parameters the system had just laid out. He wasn't just in
any world—he was in the Marvel universe.
"I'm in Marvel, huh," he muttered under his breath, shaking
his head in disbelief. "It's a good thing I know some of the events that are
going to happen."
He had to assess his situation quickly. The system had
told him it was five months before the kidnapping of Tony Stark. That gave him
some time to plan. But right now, his first concern was the identity of the
body he inhabited.
Antonio Sebastian,
The name flashed in his mind. Wealthy, able to live comfortably, but more
importantly, Antonio had access to some unsavory connections—black market
dealers and corrupt politicians. It wasn't much, but it was enough to start
building a foundation for his plan.
"I have to make Johan fit into this world," Ethan
thought aloud, pacing the room. "He needs a cover, something that puts him
close to people with influence—someone the heroes might trust, but who can also
manipulate them from within."
The answer came to him quickly. Johan Liebert—a
psychiatrist. That would allow him to gather intelligence while subtly
manipulating the heroes, using their vulnerabilities against them.
Ethan turned toward Johan, who watched him with that
same unnerving calm. "You're going to be Dr. Lucas Müller, a well-known
psychiatrist. Someone who specializes in high-profile cases, giving you access
to the heroes and their mental struggles."
Johan gave a small, approving nod. "Very fitting," he
said softly. "It seems you've already started thinking like a puppet master,
Ethan."
Ethan ignored the comment, turning his focus back to
Antonio's assets. Antonio's properties could be sold off discreetly, giving him
a significant amount of liquid funds. Ethan planned to use that money to buy
stock in Stark Industries once Tony was kidnapped. It would be a gamble, but a
profitable one once the company's value surged after Tony's eventual return as
Iron Man.
With that money, he'd ensure he had the resources to
navigate this dangerous new world.
"Alright," Ethan whispered to himself. "I've got
Johan's cover. I'll sell Antonio's properties, and buy Stark's stock at the right
time... and survive."
But there was one thing he couldn't forget—the system's
demand. Johan had to gain the attention of Nick Fury, or the consequences would
be dire.
No more mistakes, Ethan. This is your life now.
Ethan set his plan in motion, leveraging the black
market connections he'd inherited from Antonio Sebastian. His contacts were
powerful—people who dealt in falsified records, underground networks, and
backroom deals that could make almost anything possible. He needed these
connections now more than ever.
Johan's fabricated identity had to be flawless.
Ethan sat in a dimly lit room, surrounded by documents,
a laptop glowing with encrypted files. The name "Dr. Lucas Müller"
was taking shape. With each click and keystroke, Johan's new background was
meticulously constructed—a psychiatrist with degrees from the most prestigious
universities in Europe, including Oxford and the University of Vienna. Ethan
ensured that Johan's academic history was spotless, with internships at
renowned clinics and publications in respected journals.
Every piece of the puzzle had to be perfect.
Using Antonio's influence, Ethan secured glowing
recommendations from prominent figures in the psychological world—doctors and
professors who, in reality, had never met "Dr. Lucas Müller," but
whose names now adorned Johan's fake credentials. These recommendations were so
well-crafted that they could withstand even the harshest scrutiny, providing
Johan with an unshakable professional reputation.
Days passed in a blur of back-channel meetings and
whispered negotiations. Every deal, every favor called in, brought Johan one
step closer to becoming untouchable. Ethan's contacts worked fast, providing
him with forged documents so authentic that even the most skilled investigator
wouldn't be able to detect any cracks.
When it was done, Ethan felt a strange sense of
satisfaction. The credentials were perfect. "Dr. Lucas Müller" was
now an elite psychiatrist, with impeccable qualifications and a history of
treating high-profile individuals. This new identity would grant Johan access
to those in power, putting him in the perfect position to manipulate the heroes
from within.
Johan examined the documents with a faint smile.
"Impressive work," he said, his voice smooth as ever. "I didn't expect you to
be this efficient."
Ethan shrugged, trying to ignore the knot of unease
forming in his chest. "You'll need to get close to the heroes and start building
their trust. That's how we make sure Fury notices."
Johan's smile widened ever so slightly. "I'll handle
that. You've done your part."
Ethan's stomach twisted at Johan's words. He knew the
psychiatrist's calm demeanor masked something far more dangerous—something that
even now, as Johan became a pawn in Ethan's plan, might still be manipulating
him.
With the background in place, it was time to set the
real plan in motion.
Ethan knew that Johan wouldn't take the straightforward
route. A private practice was too obvious, too slow for someone with his
ambitions. Instead, Johan would aim higher—toward an institution with the kind
of influence that would put him directly in the path of those who mattered. A
highly regarded hospital or, even better, a government facility with ties to
S.H.I.E.L.D. would be perfect. It would give Johan access to high-profile
cases, classified information, and the kinds of people who would eventually
attract the attention of Nick Fury.
With his flawless credentials in hand, Johan's entry
into such a facility wouldn't be difficult. Ethan knew that S.H.I.E.L.D. often
contracted top medical professionals for mental evaluations, especially with
heroes and agents involved. If Johan could position himself there, his
expertise in manipulation and deep understanding of human behavior would make
him a rising star. No one would suspect him—after all, "Dr. Lucas Müller" was
the picture of professionalism, a respected psychiatrist with glowing credentials.
Johan sat across from Ethan in a dimly lit office, the
flickering glow of a computer screen highlighting the shadows on his face. He
was calm, and collected, as if the weight of creating this false identity hadn't
affected him at all. His fingers lightly traced the edge of a forged university
degree, and his expression remained unreadable.
"You'll apply to the New York City Psychiatric
Institute, one of the top hospitals in the country," Ethan said, laying out the
plan. "It has government contracts. They work closely with S.H.I.E.L.D. You get
in there, and it's only a matter of time before they bring you into the fold."
Johan nodded slightly. "It won't take long for my work
to catch the right eyes."
"Exactly. You'll target agents, those on the edge,
struggling with trauma, their own identities." Ethan paused. "Get them to talk,
to confide in you. Slowly, you'll become indispensable. Fury keeps an eye on
people who become important in his circles."
Johan's eyes gleamed with something unsettling. "And
once I'm there, I'll have more than just their trust. I'll have access to
secrets—personal and otherwise."
Ethan felt a chill. He was walking a dangerous line,
working with someone who could easily turn everything upside down. But he
needed this. He needed Johan to be noticed by Nick Fury, to fulfill the
mission.
"Just remember," Ethan said, his voice quiet, "we can't
afford to make mistakes. I can't afford to make mistakes."
Johan stood, brushing imaginary dust from his jacket,
his calm demeanor unchanged. "Don't worry, Ethan. You won't have to worry about
mistakes. The real game hasn't even begun yet."
With that, Johan left, the door clicking softly behind
him. Ethan sat there in silence, his mind racing. The wheels were in motion.
Johan would infiltrate the hospital, rise through the ranks, and eventually
reach the people Ethan needed him to manipulate.
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