Marvel: Trading with Worlds

"Kain, is this your girlfriend?"

At the president's banquet, Carl glanced at Betty, standing next to Kain, with a tinge of envy. He knew his old classmate was never short of women, but Betty's quality was on another level.

By comparison, the female companion Carl had brought along seemed rather mediocre. Betty, perfectly groomed, radiated elegance.

 Her skin looked especially fair—whether it was due to some secret makeup technique or just good care, Carl couldn't tell. He mused that perhaps he could learn a trick or two from her for his own life.

"She's colleague," Kain replied with a slight smirk. Betty may have been his girlfriend, but the idea of her being snatched from someone else added an exciting twist if revealed. 

Still, Kain had no intention of saying anything. It was more satisfying to keep the truth to himself.

Carl leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "Those people are here too. I think they'll come to greet you later. If you decide to cooperate with them, be careful about the Oscorp Group. It's a lesson from the past."

Such warnings were common in the financial world. People were like wolves—ready to devour others without hesitation. 

Still, when it came to Kain, Carl felt compelled to issue a reminder. Kain wasn't just a major shareholder but also a mentor to their company. 

Without him, the private equity fund wouldn't have achieved its current success.

Kain nodded slightly. He already had some understanding of the situation. After exchanging a few more words with Carl, he excused himself and moved toward General Ross with Betty at his side. 

Although greeting Ross in such a public setting felt somewhat inappropriate, Kain knew he had to. Both Ross and Betty were critical to his current plans, particularly regarding the Oscorp Group.

The military's cooperation was vital to Kain's goals. Without their support, he'd have to rely on magical means. 

While using magic for self-defense was one thing, actively leveraging it to gain benefits was a risky gamble. He couldn't afford to draw the attention of groups like Kamar-Taj or similar organizations.

Kain understood the potential consequences of frequent magic use for personal gain. The thought of turning powerful politicians and capitalists into mindless puppets with an Imperius Curse was tempting, but it would also make him a universal target. 

If his abilities were discovered, they'd stop at nothing to eliminate him.

The banquet was crowded with America's elite tonight. In this setting, Carl was clearly out of his depth. 

If it weren't for Kain's influence, Carl wouldn't have even known about the event, let alone attended.

Kain made a mental note to remind Carl to keep a low profile and leave immediately after the banquet. 

Knowing Carl's cautious nature, Connor had likely already given him similar advice. Carl's greatest strength was his timidity—it was the one trait Kain could genuinely praise him for.

Tony Stark was probably invited to the banquet, but he didn't show up. Instead, he sent his assistant, Pepper Potts. 

The playboy genius clearly doesn't care for such occasions. Regardless of the president's opinion, Stark Industries' weapons division remains an irreplaceable supplier for the U.S. military.

No matter how much Justin Hammer of Hammer Industries tries to compete, without matching Stark Industries in heavy firearms and advanced weaponry, Hammer Industries will never take its place. The gap in research and development capabilities is just too vast.

After Betty went off to socialize with some colleagues, Kain leaned in close to General Ross and whispered, "General Ross, you're quite the liar. You even keep things from your partners. If you won't think about it, maybe I should—especially considering what's in Betty's belly."

Ross froze, his wine glass trembling slightly in his hand. His face reddened, and his mustache twitched with anger. "You bastard. How many months?" he growled.

Kain chuckled. "About an hour. Betty had some toast and milk before coming here."

Ross exhaled sharply, realizing he'd been duped. While it was a relief that there was no child on the way, Ross remained uneasy. 

He never saw Kain as someone Betty could rely on for a lifetime. In Ross's opinion, even Bruce Banner was a better choice.

But Betty's will was unshakable. Despite Ross's attempts to convince her otherwise, she remained steadfast in her decision. He didn't see what was so appealing about Kain, yet his daughter seemed utterly committed to him.

Meanwhile, Ross had heard that Bruce Banner had recently been recruited by the military—and that he had accepted.

Kain, noticing Ross's distracted demeanor, decided to press the matter directly. "What's going on in the Middle East battlefield? Don't bother lying to me—I can tell you're a little preoccupied. This isn't the behavior of someone celebrating a decisive victory. Betty told me about the extra order of Extremis virus serums. Why does the military suddenly need so many more?"

Kain's tone was sharp, cutting through the formalities. 

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