Into The Marvel Universe : A Reborn Sorcerer Chapter 88 88: Welcome to the Avengers, Shaw

Sebastian Shaw's eyes widened at Tony's invitation, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Joining the Avengers? The idea hadn't crossed his mind until now.

But on reflection, it made sense. Tony, now a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant, was the perfect envoy to extend such an offer. Sebastian leaned back, his mind racing as Tony pressed on without waiting for a response.

"Shaw, I know S.H.I.E.L.D.'s not your thing," Tony said, swirling the wine in his glass. "Honestly, if I had a choice, I'd steer clear too. But this is different. You've faced Loki before—told yourself. He's a powerhouse, and his tricks are a nightmare.

His crew? Each one's a heavy hitter: Stern, Creel and now Hawkeye under his control, and that Asgardian witch. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s regular agents are outmatched. To fight a wizard like Loki, we need a wizard like you."

Tony's tone softened, a rare sincerity breaking through. "From a personal standpoint, I'm asking for your help. Fury's just the Avengers' coordinator—mbers like us call the shots.

You won't be tangled up with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s bureaucracy. Plus, Fury's desperate. He says if you join, S.H.I.E.L.D. will grant any request you make, as long as it's within their power."

"Any request?" Sebastian, poised to decline, paused. A calculating glint sparked in his eyes. "If that's the case, tell S.H.I.E.L.D. I'll help reclaim the Cosmic Cube. But when it's done, the Cube belongs to . If they agree, I'm in—Avengers included."

Tony blinked, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Equal exchange, huh? That's a steep price, Shaw. Fury'll have a heart attack. Even if they agree, they'll hate every second of it."

Sebastian's gaze remained steady. Tony, unfazed by the audacity, saw no issue with Sebastian claiming the Tesseract. In his view, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s scientists were ill-equipped to unlock its secrets.

If Sebastian secured it, Tony could also borrow it for his own research—a fair trade.

"I'm behind you," Tony said, nodding. "But convincing them? Good luck."

Sebastian's lips curved into a sly smile. "Actually, Tony, tell S.H.I.E.L.D. this: if Loki uses the Cube for sothing catastrophic, I won't stand by. I'll act against him—on my own terms. And any spoils I claim, including the Cube, are mine."

Tony caught the unspoken strategy instantly. "So, you'd skip the Avengers, go solo, and keep the Cube. Thor'd probably back you, and I'd help where I could."

"It's a bit different," Sebastian replied, his tone asured. "Just pass the ssage to S.H.I.E.L.D. They'll get it."

Tony grinned. "Got it. I'll lay it out for them."

Before he could continue, a low voice cut through from the doorway. "No need. I heard everything."

Nick Fury stepped into the villa, Phil Coulson at his side, their uninvited entrance bold and unapologetic. They stopped a few paces from Sebastian and Tony, Fury's single eye fixed on Sebastian.

Sebastian's lips twitched, a hint of amusent masking his irritation. "I could call the police for trespassing. Breaking into a private ho's a serious cri."

Tony coughed, scratching his neck. "I figured your… abilities didn't need top-tier security. I only upgraded the lab's defenses. Clearly, I need to overhaul the whole place after this."

"Stark," Fury interjected, his voice sharp, "this isn't the ti. The situation's worse than you think. Loki's just seized a massive haul of iridium in Germany. He's planning sothing big, and we're out of ti. We need to find him now."

Sebastian crossed his arms. "And that concerns how?"

Fury took a step closer, his gaze unrelenting. "It concerns you, Shaw, because if Loki succeeds, the world suffers. Your life, your mother's life—Alisha, right?—your friends, your classmates, all of them will be upended. Don't you want to protect them?"

Sebastian's expression hardened at Alisha's ntion, but his voice remained cool. "Protection? I'll handle that myself. You know as little about as I do about S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Cooperation maximizes your ability to protect them," Fury countered, undeterred.

Sebastian's tone was firm, unyielding. "My terms haven't changed. Want in? Fine. I want the Cosmic Cube. Give it to after we're done, and I'll do everything in my power to locate Loki. You're scrambling to find him, but my magic can track him faster than any tech you've got."

Fury's face betrayed a flicker of shock. He leaned forward, voice grave. "You're serious? You can find Loki quickly?"

"Absolutely," Sebastian said, his confidence unshaken. "Agree to my terms—equal exchange. You promise the Cube, and I'll deliver Loki and end his threat."

Silence hung heavy as Fury weighed the stakes. He knew S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hold on the Tesseract was tenuous. Loki's breach proved it vulnerable; others—ambitious or enhanced—could strike again. Placing the Cube with Sebastian, an Earth-born wizard with a track record against Loki, was safer than leaving it exposed or in the hands of an alien tyrant like Loki.

The uncertainty of reclaiming the Tesseract lood, but ti was slipping away. Haggling was a luxury they couldn't afford. Fury's jaw tightened, then relaxed as he made his choice.

"Deal," he said, nodding slowly. "Welco to the Avengers, Shaw."

With Nick Fury standing in his villa, Sebastian Shaw saw no need to maintain pretenses. The deal was struck, and masks were unnecessary. He joined Tony, Happy, Fury, and Coulson as they boarded a sleek, cloaked Quinjet, its engines humming softly as it ascended toward S.H.I.E.L.D.'s airborne fortress—the Helicarrier.

Fury led the group through the Helicarrier's labyrinthine corridors, their footsteps echoing on the polished tal floors. They arrived at a high-tech conference room, its walls lined with monitors flickering with global surveillance feeds. Already gathered were Natasha Romanoff—Black Widow, her sharp gaze assessing; Bruce Banner—the Hulk, his quiet deanor belying his inner strength; and Steve Rogers—Captain Arica, his upright posture radiating resolve. The Avengers' core stood united, awaiting their newest ally.