Chapter 32: The most affectionate person in New York! Wanda has turned bad!

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Lorien immediately saw through Tony's situation.

Wanda, starstruck, gazed at the Iron Man armor with wide eyes, while Lorien, hands casually in his pockets, continued speaking. "Then get to investigating quickly. This lizard's been causing havoc for days, and we can't keep handling it alone."

He added, "This is clearly a case of mutant genes. If someone can control their spread, you superheroes will be under fire until you're forced into retirement."

Tony's suit nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Before turning to investigate, he approached Lorien, lowering his voice. "I suspect this is tied to the Osborne Group. But even with Stark Industries' clout and my status as Iron Man, taking on Osborne head-on could backfire. We need a third party, someone who isn't an Avenger, to take action."

Tony's point was clear. The Osborne Group was a behemoth, and while Tony had the resources to challenge them, doing so could jeopardize the Avengers' reputation and stability. The scrutiny could be devastating.

So, Tony sought help from outside the usual circle. Among those capable and not affiliated with the Avengers, Lorien and Spider-Gwen stood out.

Lorien nodded thoughtfully, "Good analysis. It's the safest and most effective approach."

"Exactly," Tony replied with confidence. But Lorien quickly followed up with a smirk, "But why should I help you? I'm not driven by some heroic obligation. Can't I just enjoy my ordinary 9-to-5 life?"

Wanda, siding with Lorien, spoke up. She understood his desire for normalcy. "Stark! Not everyone wants to be a superhero," she asserted. "Lorien just wants to live a simple, happy life. If you need a third party, go ask that Spider Lady instead of dragging Lorien into this!"

She pointed to Gwen, who had just landed on a nearby rooftop, her figure silhouetted against the cityscape.

"Huh?" Gwen blinked, taken aback. She had just arrived and was already being singled out. What had she done wrong?

Gwen quickly ran through her actions. No, she hadn't done anything wrong. She was helping citizens and fighting crime. But Wanda's accusatory gesture made her nervous. The last thing she wanted was to leave a bad impression on Lorien, especially not as Spider-Gwen.

Tony controlled the Iron Man armor to turn towards Gwen on the rooftop. "Hey, Ms. Spider, we need to talk."

But Gwen shook her head firmly. "No talking."

Tony: ...

Tony, back in Los Angeles, scratched his head in confusion, and his Iron Man suit in New York mimicked the motion. He looked back at Lorien, puzzled. "What now?"

Lorien shrugged, "How should I know? I'm a psychologist. I can guide you, but I'm not here to fix your problems."

Tony was at a loss. People weren't willing to chat. Should he force it?

Wait. Force it?

Based on the data gathered by Friday, Spider-Gwen was a righteous superhero. She would step in to resolve crises and fight criminals. So, maybe she would assist if she knew more.

Tony turned back towards Gwen, ready to persuade her. "Listen, Spider—"

But Gwen was already gone. She had webbed her way into an alley and disappeared.

Tony: ..

Turning back to Lorien, Tony could only shrug in defeat. Lorien said nothing, instead turning to Wanda with a look of deep affection.

Wanda blushed under Lorien's gaze, moving closer to him instinctively.

"Okay, okay," Tony relented, controlling the Iron Man suit to wave goodbye. "I'm leaving. You two keep dealing with that lizard jerk. I'll continue gathering evidence on the mutation. When the time is right, we'll reveal it and let the Osborne Group self-destruct. Sound good?"

With that, the Iron Man suit's jets roared to life, lifting off and flying away.

Lorien turned just in time to see a furtive figure slinking towards the beach. Spotting Lorien's gaze, the figure leapt into the sea and made its escape.

"Damn it, it got away!" Wanda exclaimed, her fierce demeanor returning.

"It's okay," Lorien reassured, patting her head gently. "With your power, facing it again will be as easy as squashing a bug."

"Yeah," Wanda nodded, then suddenly grabbed Lorien's hand and started running.

"Wait, what?" Lorien was confused.

"Let's go! The bridge is intact, so we can still ride the Ferris wheel!" Wanda said excitedly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Lorien glanced back, "But Gwen is still waiting for us downstairs."

"It's fine! We'll enjoy the ride first, then come back and take Gwen for another round!"

"Are you sure?"

"They said it was too hard to fight the Lizard Man, so they let it get away."

".."

Lorien sighed, thinking to himself, Wanda, you've become mischievous!

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