บท 63: 63. Leaving Kamar Taj
'.....'= Thoughts
"....."= Conversations
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As Harry stepped into the portal, he found himself standing in the middle of a massive apartment.
"Woah, Mark, you are rich," Harry mumbled, his voice tinged with awe as he took in the grandeur of his new surroundings.
The apartment was unlike anything Harry had ever seen. It was a sprawling, open-concept space with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The natural light streamed in, casting a warm glow on the sleek, modern furnishings. Every detail of the apartment screamed luxury, from the polished marble floors to the designer furniture that looked like it had been handpicked by a professional decorator.
Mark, who had just stepped through the portal ahead of him, sighed and shook his head. "I'm not rich, Harry. My parents are rich," he replied with a wry smile. "This apartment is one of their many investments. They let me use it whenever I'm in the city."
Harry nodded, still taking in the surroundings. "Well, it's certainly impressive. I don't think I've ever been in a place this nice."
Sarah, Emma, and Wei who too had emerged from the portal ahead of Harry had already made themselves comfortable, stating that this was not the first time they had came here.
"I must admit," Wei said, "this is quite the place. We should be able to plan our next steps here without any interruptions."
"Exactly," Mark agreed. "This apartment is off the grid, so to speak. My parents value their privacy, and they've taken steps to ensure that their properties are secure and untraceable. We can stay here for as long as we need without worrying about anyone finding us."
"Good to know," Harry said, finally tearing his eyes away from the view outside. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, and the last thing we need is unwanted attention."
"Speaking of work," Sarah interjected, "what's the plan? Retrieving the Tesseract from SHIELD is going to be dangerous, especially if we're dealing with high-level operatives and potential interference from other factions."
Harry's expression grew serious as he nodded. "You're right, Sarah. This isn't going to be easy. But we have to be smart about this. The Tesseract is one of the most powerful artifacts in the universe, and we can't let it fall into the wrong hands."
"We need to gather information," Emma suggested. "Find out where SHIELD is keeping the Tesseract, what kind of security measures they have in place, and who we might be up against. We'll need to be prepared for anything."
Mark walked over to the kitchen and opened a sleek, stainless steel refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of water. "I don't understand though....why do you want to take away the Tesseract from them?"
Wei interrupted Mark, his tone slightly exasperated. "Come on, man. Didn't we agree to help Harry regardless of the reason? We all knew what we were signing up for when we decided to team up." His eyes were sharp, cutting off any further objections Mark might have had.
Mark held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm not questioning our decision, Wei. I'm just curious, that's all. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, Harry," he added, turning to face him, his expression softening.
Harry gave a small, appreciative nod, his gaze drifting toward the cityscape beyond the windows. He sighed slightly, the weight of the situation pressing on his shoulders. "It's okay, Mark," he began, his voice measured and calm, though the seriousness of his words was unmistakable. "You all know that I was a high-level agent of SHIELD, right? I had access to some pretty confidential data regarding the Tesseract. SHIELD has been experimenting with it, trying to harness its power. Let's just say that if we take the Tesseract away from them, we can save ourselves—and probably the whole world—from a lot of hassle in the future."
Harry's words hung in the air, thick with unspoken implications. He didn't elaborate, and the others didn't press him for more details, understanding that there were likely things he couldn't—or wouldn't—disclose.
After a moment of tense silence, Harry continued, his tone shifting slightly. "And the Time Stone," he added, glancing at Mark with a knowing look, "can help me increase my powers."
Though the statement was delivered with conviction, there was a subtle undercurrent of ambiguity in Harry's words. It wasn't entirely true that the Time Stone itself would increase his strength. But completing this mission, retrieving the Tesseract, and fulfilling the associated quest would undoubtedly make him stronger. In that sense, he wasn't lying either.
Mark nodded, accepting Harry's reasoning without further question. "Alright," he said, his voice firm with resolve.
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke, his voice laced with genuine concern. "Sorry, Harry, for doubting you earlier. It's not that I don't trust your judgment—it's just that I can't help but worry about the safety of all of us. This mission is dangerous, and I don't want anything to happen to our team. I just want to make sure we come out of this together, in one piece. But I trust you, and I'll follow your lead. Just know that my concern comes from a place of care."
Harry looked at Mark silently, taking in the sincerity in his words. Although Wei was the most powerful sorcerer among them, it was Mark who had naturally assumed the role of the leader. Through all the missions they had been on, Mark had shown an uncanny ability to make the right decisions, guiding them through perilous situations and always ensuring they returned safely to Kamar Taj. There was a quiet strength in Mark, a steadiness that the others relied on, and Harry could see that his concern for the team was genuine.
As Harry met Mark's gaze, he understood that every word that had just come out of Mark's mouth was the truth. Mark wasn't just worried about the mission's success—he was worried about them, about their safety, and that included Harry. Despite the dangerous path they were about to embark on, Mark's primary concern was that they would all come out of it together, in one piece.
He gave Mark a small nod, a silent acknowledgment of his leadership and his concern. "I know, Mark," Harry finally said, his voice soft but firm. "And I trust you too. We'll get through this together."
Sarah rolled her eyes with a mischievous grin. "Seriously, you two? Why are you both giving me gay vibes? Just kiss already."
Harry and Mark responded in unison, their voices tinged with irritation. "Shut up."
Sarah laughed, leaning toward Emma with a playful smirk. "See, Emma? They're already acting like a couple."
Before Emma could respond, Mark, with a swift gesture, conjured a jug of water above Sarah's head and let it pour down, soaking her completely. Sarah, sputtering and dripping, jumped off the couch and retaliated with a burst of mystic energy, creating a flurry of magical attacks aimed at Mark.
Wei, already used to the chaos, quickly opened the mirror dimension, his expression indicating that this was a familiar scene. "Here we go again," he muttered, stepping into the newly created space to avoid the mayhem.
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