บท 21: Chapter 21: Researching

South Korea

After a much-needed rest on the couch at Helen Cho's apartment, Pietro woke up feeling refreshed. He stood up, stretched, and headed out. The crisp morning air greeted him as he made his way to a nearby ATM, his phone pressed to his ear.

"You've set up my new bank account, right?" Pietro asked.

"Yes, my lord. It currently holds 94 billion won, approximately 7 million USD," Gaia's voice responded through the earpiece.

"Good," Pietro said with a nod. "What about my new identity card? Is it ready yet?"

"It's still in progress, my lord. Are you sure you want to go with the name Kim Dokja? Age 23?" Gaia inquired.

"Yeah, it'll work," Pietro confirmed. "Just remind me when it's done. I need it to buy property and equipment."

"Understood, my lord," Gaia replied.

Pietro pulled out his phone, quickly skimming through the information Gaia had gathered. After withdrawing some money, he set out on a shopping spree, making two trips to buy clothes, a laptop, and several new phones to ensure he stayed connected and undetected.

With his stomach growling, Pietro searched for a nearby restaurant. He found a cozy spot serving spicy Korean chicken. The rich aroma filled his senses as he devoured his meal, enjoying every bite until he was fully satisfied.

Next on the list: a fresh start. Pietro entered a salon, where he trimmed his hair short and opted for a subtle brown color, which he felt suited him well.

Admiring his reflection in the mirror, he smirked. "A new look for a new life," he muttered to himself.

Determined to keep his edge, Pietro made his way to a nearby mountain. There, he spent hours training alone, pushing his speed and honing his abilities. His body buzzed with power as he challenged his limits. When he had exerted enough for the day, he returned to the apartment, took a long shower, and changed into his new clothes.

Settling down in front of his laptop, Pietro connected Gaia to the system. The screen flickered to life as research papers and data flooded in. For the thirty-fourth time, he reviewed the information on *Quantum Speed Limit*. He had read it over during the flight, but each time he dug deeper, he found new angles.

"The Quantum Speed Limit... it's not truly a limit. It's more of a boundary," Pietro mused aloud. "But others from across the multiverse have surpassed it." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Gaia, rename the file to *Quantum Mechanics*, and within that, keep the sub-file *Quantum Speed Limit*. Also, gather more resources on *Quantum Mechanics* as a whole."

"Understood," Gaia replied, efficiently executing his command.

Leaning back in his chair, Pietro let out a quiet sigh. "Looks like I'll have to delve into Quantum Mechanics if I want to break through this barrier." He paused, glancing at another file. "And what about Tachyon?"

Pietro spent the next few hours engrossed in the research on Tachyon particles, sifting through documents, papers, and theories.

Suddenly, the door to the apartment creaked open, and in walked Dr. Helen Cho, her eyes widening in shock as she saw Pietro sitting casually in her living room, alive and well.

"You... you're alive?" Helen stammered, disbelief clear in her voice.

Pietro gave a small nod, noting her stunned expression. "Yeah, I am," he replied simply. In an instant, he moved at superspeed, scanning her body and her bag for any trackers or hidden devices. Before she could even register what was happening, Pietro was back in his seat, continuing to scroll through his research.

Helen blinked, still trying to process the fact that the man she thought had died was not only alive but apparently in great health. "You should tell your sister," she urged, her concern slipping through.

Pietro shook his head. "I can't. I'm worried about the ripple effects it might cause. Revealing myself could lead to the collapse of this entire branch of the timeline."

"Collapse the timeline?" Helen echoed, her voice trembling slightly, struggling to wrap her head around the concept.

"My death was supposed to be final," Pietro explained, his tone more serious now. "But fate had other plans."

Helen frowned, taking a cautious step forward. "Then how are you still alive? Am I... am I talking to a ghost?"

Pietro extended his hand toward her, offering a calm, almost amused look. "I'm very much alive. Go ahead, touch me if you don't believe it."

Hesitant but curious, Helen stepped closer and gingerly placed her hand on his. Her fingertips felt warmth, the unmistakable pulse of life beneath his skin.

"Solid hand... warmth... blood flow," she muttered to herself. "You're human."

Pietro chuckled lightly. "See? No ghosts here."

"But you said you were supposed to be dead. How is it possible you're still here?" Helen asked, still confused.

Pietro leaned back in his seat. "I faked it well enough for the world to believe it. Sometimes, that's all you need."

"So, you avoided death?" Helen asked, her eyebrows raised.

"Something like that," Pietro admitted.

"But why can't you just tell your sister you're alive? How could that lead to the destruction of the timeline?" Helen pressed, taking a seat across from him, clearly unsettled by the whole situation.

Pietro's expression darkened slightly. "If the wrong person finds out I'm alive... well, let's just say they could erase this timeline like it never existed."

"You mean, this timeline could be... doomed?" Helen asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Pietro sighed. "Yeah, unless I stay hidden. And that means no one can know."

"Who is this 'someone' you're so afraid of?" Helen asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why can't you even say their name?"

Pietro's gaze hardened. "If I say his name, he can track me. I'm trying to lay low until I'm strong enough to deal with him."

Helen stared at him for a long moment, processing his words. "Why me, Pietro? Why hide here, out of all places?"

"You're both important and unimportant in history," Pietro said cryptically. "You played a key role with Vision's creation, saved Clint's life... but after that, you fade back into being a doctor. That makes you the perfect cover."

"So you do know the future," Helen murmured, her suspicion confirmed.

"Only the major events," Pietro admitted quietly.

Helen's face grew pale, her eyes flashing with fear. "Why didn't you stop what happened to me... earlier?" Her voice wavered, and her body trembled as the trauma of being mind-controlled by Ultron resurfaced.

Pietro's face softened with regret. "I'm sorry. I couldn't change everything. But I did manage to prevent one thing."

Helen frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Ultron originally intended to fire a laser that would have left you with a deep scar," Pietro explained. "I intervened."

Helen felt a mixture of emotions—anger, gratitude, confusion. She wanted to be furious with him for not preventing her ordeal, but he had, in a way, saved her from something worse.

"I'm going to my room. I'm still exhausted from the flight back from America," she said, her voice tired as she turned away.

"I can make something for you to eat, if you'd like," Pietro offered, sensing her fatigue.

Helen gave him a small nod before retreating to her room. "Thank you. That would be nice," she said, her voice barely audible as she closed the door behind her and locked it. She slumped onto the bed, letting the exhaustion consume her, and soon drifted off to sleep.

Pietro stared at the closed door for a moment, his mind heavy with thoughts. He let out a weary sigh. "I really shouldn't stay here. It's too risky."

"You need human interaction, my lord," Gaia's voice chimed in, gentle but firm. "If you isolate yourself, your mental health will deteriorate. I don't want to see you become lonely."

Pietro smirked, shaking his head. "You're becoming quite the smartass, Gaia."

A small smiley face popped up on the laptop screen in response.

...

Pietro prepared just enough food for Helen, his hands moving with practiced ease as he set the table. A pang of guilt lingered in his mind as he glanced at the ingredients he had used.

*"I feel bad using her stuff like this. I should've just ordered something for myself."*

With that thought, he pulled out his phone and ordered a spicy Korean chicken dish for delivery. His attention quickly shifted back to the screen in front of him, diving deep into his study of Tachyon particles and Quantum Mechanics. His focus was razor-sharp, the words on the screen absorbing him completely.

Time passed, and soon Helen emerged from her room, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She paused when she saw the plate of food neatly arranged on the table.

"That's yours," Pietro said without looking up from his laptop.

Helen glanced between the food and him. "Why don't we eat together?"

"I already ordered mine," he replied, his fingers tapping away at the keys.

Helen tilted her head, not budging. "Then I can wait. But why didn't you cook enough for both of us?"

Pietro finally looked up, scratching the back of his head. "I felt bad using your ingredients."

Helen raised an eyebrow, arms crossing over her chest. "So, you don't feel bad about living in my house?"

Pietro chuckled, shaking his head. "Aye, don't twist my words."

She let out a soft laugh, the tension between them easing for a moment. Pietro caught her eye, and for the first time since their reunion, he saw a bit of lightness return to her expression.

Helen stepped behind him, glancing at the screen. "What are you reading?"

"Tachyon particles," he answered without missing a beat.

"And why are you studying that?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

"Research," Pietro said, eyes still glued to the screen. "I need to find a way to increase my speed."

Helen frowned, taking a seat next to him. "Isn't your speed enough already?"

"No," Pietro replied, his tone more serious. "Not even close."

Helen blinked, processing that. "What's your top speed now?"

"About Mach 7, but I think I've gotten faster recently," he said nonchalantly.

Her mind raced, trying to grasp the need for more speed. 'Mach 7?' She wondered who—or what—he was preparing to face that could require such a mind-bending velocity.