My family runs an adventurer's guild.

However, after being banished for thousands of years, the Hive is now on the verge of madness, its temper twisted even more severely than that of the returned snake-faced Voldemort. Instead of giving Malik any reward, it directly sacrificed his entire family... Only then did it confidently begin to conquer the world.

Then he was immediately defeated and reduced to ashes by the combined forces of the Sorcerer Supreme Stark, the former Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One, and the Avengers.

—A mere county magistrate of a poor county, who has spent thousands of years in prison, is already doing well enough to be able to take care of himself, yet he dares to dream of ruling the world.

Stop dreaming, okay?!

Only the Malik family, who have been fooled by their ancestors for generations, would invite him back as a great god.

(The ancient Egyptian civilization had a population of about 7 million at its peak, but before the First Dynasty, the entire country had less than 1 million people. The so-called "King of the World" of the Hive was no more than a county magistrate in a poor county in modern times—so a rebellion broke out under a few obelisks.)

As for the Inhumans that the Hive can directly control... the Inhumans have long since moved to the moon, and the Hive's mind control ability cannot cross the vast distance of 38 kilometers—even Professor X with his brainwave amplifier couldn't do it!

Therefore, the Hive, in its arrogance and self-confidence, was directly crushed into dust, once again cementing the Avengers' formidable reputation.

Finally, since the intelligent life form "Ultron," which wreaked havoc on the world in the original storyline, was never created in this parallel universe, there was naturally no Sokovia incident that sent the entire city flying into the sky, nor the subsequent Superhero Registration Act and the Civil War among the heroes... So Iron Man and Captain America can still sit down and have a chat instead of confronting each other and fighting each other.

Of course, there are still differences of opinion, but the Avengers were originally a loose club, and it was normal for them to argue with each other.

In comparison, the more noteworthy changes in the world situation, besides the exciting prospect of space colonization, include the rise of two major political forces, the far left and the far right, and the major debate about "unifying the Earth's civilization sphere."

—After making contact with extraterrestrial civilizations, the Earthlings in the Marvel universe were dismayed to discover that while other interstellar civilizations had territories spanning several or even dozens of star systems, Earthlings were fragmented into nearly two hundred countries on a single planet…

This has become one of the common jokes that aliens often use to mock Earthlings.

On the one hand, they have been ridiculed too much, and on the other hand, the exploration of the universe does require the unity of all mankind. There are also second- and third-rate countries that do not have space travel capabilities and want to hitch a ride in the coming era of the great universe in order to avoid being left on Earth to fend for themselves.

As a result, various statements such as "In the vast universe, we are all Earthlings" and "One Earth, one nation, one language, one voice" quickly spread around the world, sparking heated discussions in various countries from the grassroots to the government.

Of course, regarding how to achieve global human unity, people from all walks of life have their own views, ranging from the far left to the far right, from feudal superstition to scientific rationality, and so on. For a time, various political forces were locked in fierce infighting.

Fortunately, these debates have so far been mainly verbal exchanges and have not yet escalated to the point of physical confrontation.

Meanwhile, the various Hydra branches lurking around the world have transformed into right-wing political groups that emphasize order, demand restrictions on individual, religious, and other freedoms, and oppose multiculturalism. These groups have participated in this heated debate and their influence is growing.

Many Hydra members even wanted to take a shortcut and were preparing to directly enthrone Tony Stark as the governor of Earth!

Wait a minute, weren't Tony Stark's parents killed by Hydra's Winter Soldier? How can he still acknowledge him as his boss?

Those Hydra members who wanted to support Tony probably didn't even know this had ever happened...

As an extremely large and loosely organized group, Hydra's members are a complex mix of individuals. There are fundamentalists who are solely focused on rescuing the ancient Inhuman king, Hive; there are warmongers who want to conquer the world; there are also right-wing politicians who oppose the chaos caused by excessive freedom and strongly emphasize order; and there are also opportunists who want to use Hydra's power for personal gain—such as the people from Roxon Oil Company.

In addition, there are many criminal organizations that operate under the Hydra banner and have divided up the Red Skull legacy—they probably don't even understand Hydra's ideology and origins, they just think it's powerful and cool... somewhat similar to those red guerrilla groups in South America that have turned into drug lords.

By the 21st century, Hydra's internal factions and cliques had become so numerous that even its own members couldn't keep track. Their organization was at best similar to school clubs—and even then, clubs belonging to different schools. Internal strife and betrayal were commonplace—back when the Red Skull sided with the Nazis and wreaked havoc across Europe, many other Hydra factions sided with the Allies, diligently working to sabotage the Red Skull!

To a significant number of Hydra newcomers unaware of the inside story, Iron Man, as the Sorcerer Supreme, could already dominate the world even without the Infinity Stones. With the Reality Stone, the entire world would practically kneel down and call him "Daddy"! Who in the world is more suitable to be the representative of the Earth?

Besides, they certainly wouldn't openly approach Tony under the Hydra banner; they would definitely change their name and whitewash their image beforehand!

Although the arguments on various communication platforms and media are quite heated, in terms of actual public security, as humanity has made great strides out of Earth and into space, and resource pressures have been greatly alleviated, the intensity of various conflicts on Earth has actually calmed down.

Of course, the New York gangsters and civilian heroes continue their fierce battles in the streets under the cover of night, and other parts of the Marvel universe are constantly plagued by supervillains or supernatural incidents. Coulson's team is also constantly engaged in life-or-death struggles and intrigue, leaving them exhausted. However, compared to the grand scale and dramatic twists of the original storyline, the current Marvel universe seems too peaceful.

—It could even be described as so calm as to be boring.

Sigh, even Thanos has missed his chance to come back. I wonder if Star-Lord and his Guardians of the Galaxy will ever come to Earth for a visit?

Although I'm not really interested in Gamora's strange skin color, I still really want to pet that Rocket Raccoon!

Lost in thought, Phil couldn't help but tilt her head back and gaze at the overcast sky above, letting her mind wander freely.

Recommendation: Miao Wu's new book, "Savage Space: Get Out of Earth"

I originally planned to finish this book on Singles' Day, but in order to conceive the Warring States Chronicles, I went to Kuaiji Mountain, one of the main stages I planned to set, to survey the terrain. As a result, I can only postpone it until next week.

Speaking of which, although the Yue Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods was very remote, with a total population of only 500,000 to 1 million, if we narrow it down to the capital city of Shaoxing (Kuaiji), the population seems to be quite dense, with remnants of ancient cities everywhere.

From the Hemudu civilization to the rivalry between Wu and Yue, the land has been developed for at least five thousand years, making it an extremely familiar territory.

The main problem with the Yue Kingdom was that it had too little cultivated land. It only had a narrow plain on the south bank of Hangzhou Bay, and the rest of the land was barren mountains that could not be used to grow rice.

The Hangjiahu Plain to the north was largely occupied by the Wu Kingdom (part of southern Jiangsu), while the south was the site of a protracted war between Wu and Yue, and thus remained largely undeveloped. This is evident in the current division between the Wu-speaking and Yue-speaking regions, where the northernmost point of the Yue-speaking region only extends to Hangzhou.

As for the hilly and mountainous areas of Zhejiang and Fujian further south, how to get the Yue people from there to come to Shaoxing was a problem.

Okay, lastly, I'd like to recommend Miao Wu's new book, *Savage Space: Get Out of Earth*. He's a very diligent and tenacious author, with a million words of free previous work, and he's very skilled at using cuteness and internet slang. But it doesn't seem to be selling very well. So, out of his connection with Phil, who is also from the cat world, I'm giving it a try. Please check it out when you have time.

Chapter 308, Ferry the Abandoned Cat?

In short, while Phili was lost in his own thoughts, he watched as the old black panther, King T'Chaka, finally finished his long and tedious speech.

Next, several more guys went up on stage and gave long, empty speeches, making the audience even more drowsy.

Seeing that some people were already leaning against the wall, snoring and drooling, in order to liven up the atmosphere and refresh the mind, the Sorcerer Supreme Tony Stark also went on stage to perform several magnificent and dazzling large-scale illusions, which finally made the drowsy crowd more energetic, and they burst into applause and cheers.

Next, the adorable Black princess, Shuri, finally arrived at the gate of Boningzana Magic School, holding a pair of extravagantly designed vibranium scissors inlaid with rubies, and cut the long red ribbon tied with a gorgeous ball between a pair of gateposts of Boningzana Magic School...

Ah, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Boninzana Magic School is finally over. Now we can start the banquet, right?

I've already finished the whole bottle of catnip I used to secretly carry with me!

I wonder what kind of African dishes and snacks will be served at the upcoming banquet? Hopefully, nothing too unusual!

I've heard that in several nearby African countries, there are even those who enjoy eating mosquitoes, termites, and caterpillars, and consider them delicacies served at state banquets...

Hopefully, the Wakandas don't have this creepy pica.

He's a high-tech black guy armed with vibranium technology, after all!

Phil pouted and was about to head to the banquet hall when she suddenly felt someone gently pat her shoulder.

But when he looked back, he couldn't find anyone, so he continued to walk towards the banquet hall.

Huh? Why was I patted on the shoulder again?

Phil looked back again, puzzled, but still no one was there.

What the hell! Is someone playing a joke on me with [Mage's Hand]?

But I didn't sense any obvious magical fluctuations...

Just as Phil was scratching his head, feeling completely confused, he heard a familiar, childish voice ring out in his ear.

"...Hey, you stupid kitty, what are you looking at? Haven't you seen me yet? No wonder your owner doesn't want you anymore!"

Upon hearing this, Phil quickly looked up and saw a tiny fairy, no bigger than a palm, wearing a light, colorful dress made of flower petals. It was flapping its translucent dragonfly wings, pouting as it flew diagonally above Phil, its little face puffed out in displeasure, looking quite arrogant.

Well, it does look very delicate and cute, but...

"...Flore? What are you doing here? Aren't you on holiday today and not selling pastries? And who gave you permission to come to this world?"

Unlike the OVERLORD world, which is mainly used to provide entertainment for the citizens of the Golden Dragon Kingdom and has been turned into a "dreamlike" online game platform, the Marvel world, which is positioned as a technology exchange center, does not offer travel slots to ordinary citizens of the Golden Dragon Kingdom.

Only diplomats, students, and delegations who have received dual approval from the Church of Hypnos and the Kingdom government are qualified to come to the Marvel universe.

If that's the case, how did Flor, the little fairy who's just the mascot of the "Forest Fairy Pastry Shop," manage to sneak over here?

"...Hmph! I didn't just sneak away here! I'm no longer working at the pastry shop, but serving under the noble Princess Catherine as a lady-in-waiting!" The little fairy Flor crossed her arms and boasted proudly.

"...Eh? You've taken up a post under Princess Catherine? Ah... Congratulations!" Phil pouted.

—Tsk tsk, the eternally youthful loli dragon princess and the even smaller fairy maiden... they really seem like a perfect match!

No wonder these two little ones can take a liking to each other!

"...But even if you're a lady-in-waiting by the princess's side, you should be serving her in the castle in town! What are you doing here?" Phil thought for a moment, then continued to ask, puzzled.

"...Of course, it's on the princess's orders to take over your post and serve as the permanent envoy in this Marvel world!"

The little fairy Flor replied with an air of self-righteousness, "...You'd better go back and see! Your master doesn't want you anymore!"

“…What?! Miss Lulutia doesn’t want me anymore?!” Phili exclaimed in shock.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

"...Here, here! Quickly bring my jade pillow up! Handle it gently!"

"...Why is that rope so loose? Quickly tighten it and tie it properly! This rainbow incense burner of mine is a super high-end magical item, made with adamantite and mithril parts! The incense is even more expensive than gold! If it falls and breaks, you won't be able to afford to pay for it even if you sell your car!"

"...Are you just leaving your luggage like this? What if it rains halfway through the journey? Hurry up and find some tarpaulins to cover your luggage."

Ferry, who had just returned to Totoro Town from the Marvel universe, had just run all the way back to the entrance of the Adventurers' Guild when he saw five four-wheeled carriages parked outside the guild. The humanoid silver dragon, Lulutia, stood with one hand on her hip, bossing around a group of coachmen and laborers.

While ordinary items can be compressed using the Shrink spell for easier carrying by magicians, enchanted magical items cannot be compressed using this spell unless they undergo special treatment.

If you forcibly use the shrinking spell on a magical item, it may be damaged due to the violent overlap of magical effects.

Therefore, when it is necessary to transport a large number of magical items, one can only rely on porters, pack animals, wagons, and boats.

As a devout follower of the God of Sleep, Miss Lulutia, the Silver Dragon, has always loved sleeping the most and is very particular about the quality of her sleep and her sleeping environment. In her boudoir, everything from pillows to curtains to incense burners is an enchanted high-end item!

Considering the enormous size of the Silver Dragon itself, even just removing the enchanted bedding parts would require enough space to fill several large trucks.

Of course, the above-mentioned common knowledge about the magical world is not the point; the real key lies in...

"...Dear mistress, are we moving? What about the Adventurers' Guild? Hmm? Mistress, you've changed..."

It wasn't until he got close to the mistress that Phil realized that Miss Lulutia's physical features seemed to have changed—her hair had changed from slightly gray platinum blonde to pure gold, and she was beginning to exude a faint scent of incense.

This situation seems to mean... damn it, could it be that her "that" time has come?

"...Ah, you're back! Little Phil! Yes, I'm moving now—but it's just me moving, you don't have to."

The silver dragon, Lulutia, turned to him and smiled, "...You still have to stay here and look after this place for me! This Adventurers' Guild is now in your hands, so remember to keep good records! As for why I'm moving... as my pet, you should be able to sense it, right?"

“…Yes, congratulations on reaching adulthood, Mistress.” Phil sighed. “…How many years will it take you to return from the Dragon God Temple this time?”

—As a superhuman creature with a long lifespan, the growth process of a dragon can usually be divided into several stages: first, the newly hatched dragon, then the young dragon, then the teenage dragon, the youth dragon, the adult dragon, the mature dragon, the old dragon, the ancient dragon and the primordial dragon, and finally the demigod ancient dragon. If it still lives after that, then it is on the verge of becoming a god —of course, the vast majority of dragons do not live that long.

Although dragons generally love to sleep, each time they advance and grow, they must undergo an exceptionally long period of slumber, much like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. During their sleep, they undergo a metamorphosis, their bodies growing larger, their magical power increasing, making them even stronger and more extraordinary.

However, during this transformation, the dragon, which has been asleep for a long time, becomes very dangerous, unable to effectively deal with attacks, and is easily killed by enemy ambushes.

Faced with this situation, for their own safety, dragons will find a safe place to hide before entering slumber: evil dragons will mostly dig a secret burrow, or even hide in places like tombs, snow-capped mountains, and sewers. Benevolent dragons, however, will sometimes choose to hibernate in the temple of the dragon god—the temple of the sleeping god is too small to accommodate the dragon's true form sprawled out and snoring inside.

Therefore, Miss Lulutia, who is about to bid farewell to her youth, also chose to hibernate and transform in the Dragon God Temple in the royal capital in order to welcome her adulthood. To ensure a high-quality sleep, she even brought her own bedding—she didn't want to sleep on the cold stone slabs like other dragons!

"...Oh dear. That's hard to say! There's never any certainty about these things! Even with divination magic, it's difficult to predict!"

Hearing Phili's question, Miss Lulutia adorably bit her finger and frowned as she replied, "...Generally speaking... as long as I sleep for at least twenty or thirty years, at most seventy or eighty years, and at most one or two hundred years, I can probably advance to become an adult dragon and return from the Dragon God's temple, right?"

“…One or two hundred years?! No way?” Phil’s face turned green. “…By then, my bones will be turned to ash, meow!”

"...Ah, that is a problem! The lifespan of cat people doesn't seem to be that long. Even if you have the blood of an Eastern cat demon, it's not enough—you can probably live for seventy or eighty years, but a hundred or two hundred years is really too much for you...However, there is a solution. As long as you study necromancy diligently before you die, or find a less particular vampire to turn you into an undead creature, you can continue to exist!"

Miss Silver Dragon Lulutia smiled and suggested, "...Whether you become a vampire cat or a cat lich, I won't mind! Or Princess Catherine could help turn you into a spirit, a lucky cat gargoyle, that would be nice! That way you can guard my house forever!"

"Hmm, I'll make you a spirit of the tomb! After I die, I can use you as a burial offering and a guardian spirit, placing you in front of my tombstone to watch over my grave!"

Firi: “…”

—Miss Lulutia, I have a few words of 'MMP' that I'm not sure if I should say.

Over the years, I forcibly summoned you to be my pet, and since then I can't be a human anymore, I can only be a cat. I've already suffered enough emotionally, okay, meow?

How come, according to your plan, I'm going to lose even my biology studies next, meow?

Furthermore, how could you speak so recklessly in front of me, saying that you wanted me to be buried with you?

Although considering the long lifespan of dragons, I'll definitely die before you, barring any unforeseen circumstances...

If we're unlucky, this might be the last time we, master and servant, meet.

"...Alright, stop looking so sad, give me a smile! Anyway, I'm entrusting the guild to you now, so make sure it's well managed until I get back!"

Having said that, Miss Silver Dragon Lulutia took the gem badge representing her status as the leader of the Adventurers' Guild from the sash on her chest, then took out a key and a scroll of documents, stuffed them into Phil's hand, then got into the carriage and sped away to the Land of Eternal Rest.

Only Phili, the cat with a rigid mind and a blank brain, remained standing outside the empty Adventurers' Guild, at a loss.

A gentle breeze swirled fallen leaves, passing over Phil's head as he stood there dumbfounded, creating a rather desolate scene.

"...Meow? Does this mean I've become...an abandoned cat?"

Looking back at the empty Adventurers' Guild behind the open doors, Phil couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Author's message

PS: Based on bamboo slips unearthed in recent years, the disastrous defeat of the Yue Kingdom during the Wu-Yue rivalry was probably not as dramatic as legend portrays. In fact, the course of this battle was somewhat similar to the Franco-Prussian War:

King Goujian of Yue learned that King Fuchai of Wu was gathering troops for an upcoming southern expedition. To avoid losses on his homeland, and also because his confidence was swelled after killing King Helü of Wu, he launched a preemptive strike northwards towards Taihu Lake. However, the Yue army, numbering only 30,000, was hampered by logistical problems and had to resort to plunder. Meanwhile, the Wu army, fighting on its home turf, assembled its strongest force of 55,000 and ultimately decisively defeated the Yue army at Fujiao on the shores of Taihu Lake (in the heart of Wu territory).