Chapter 33: Sneaking straight to the Ferris wheel! Magic controls the driver!

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Lorien didn't expect this turn of events.

Wanda, usually so composed, now wanted to have some fun behind Gwen's back! Where did she learn such behavior? Or was this her own spontaneous idea?

Lorien silently chastised Wanda for her mischief, but he followed her without a word. Right now, Wanda was clutching Lorien's hand, leading him across the bridge where their battle had recently ended. Cars were scattered around, abandoned in the aftermath. The scene felt surreal and strangely romantic as Wanda pulled Lorien from one end of the bridge to the other.

When they reached the other side, she flagged down a random car.

"Wait, Wanda, this isn't a taxi," Lorien warned, trying to be the voice of reason.

"Time is of the essence. If we're late, Gwen will notice. We'll compensate the driver generously," Wanda replied confidently.

With that, she waved her hand in front of the driver, sending a wave of scarlet magical energy into his mind. The driver stared blankly ahead, gripping the wheel. Wanda quickly pulled Lorien into the back seat and instructed, "To the Ferris wheel."

The driver, now under Wanda's spell, silently pressed the accelerator and drove off. Lorien was stunned. "You know these kinds of spells?"

This wasn't just simple interference magic. Wanda had performed a full-on hypnotic control, a much more complex and difficult feat. The difference was like conjuring a fireball versus summoning a fire dragon.

"I'm not sure," Wanda shook her head, looking at her hands before meeting Lorien's gaze. "I just really wanted it to work. I really wanted it."

"Just use your magical abilities, and you'll succeed!" Lorien muttered, marveling at her talent. Damn genius! Just knows how to use her gifts effortlessly! What else does she have besides talent? Isn't it just her curvy figure, sexy body, long legs, and long hair…?

All right. Lorien admitted it. "Emergency" moments indeed bring out hidden potential.

But as the car neared their destination, Lorien's curiosity grew. "Wanda, why are you so anxious today?"

Wanda sighed, "We're leaving for an overseas mission tomorrow night. Someone's modified Chitauri weapons and is smuggling them to conflict zones abroad. Steve wants to stop them before they reach the battlefield."

She explained that she might not see Lorien for days and didn't want to miss the chance to fulfill their plans. Lorien was about to express his frustration with the constant foreign interventions but held back, understanding her perspective.

"It's always the same story. Foreign wars stirred up by political agendas. The President wants the fighting to drag on rather than resolve quickly," Lorien muttered.

Wanda nodded in agreement. She harbored a deep resentment towards weapons and those who profit from them. They had destroyed her home, killed her family, and ravaged her country. The thought of weapons caused her to distrust the very nation she now lived in. She had no love for the Avengers either. If given a choice, she would pick Lorien over them without hesitation.

As they arrived near the Ferris wheel ten minutes later, Wanda hurriedly placed a wad of cash on the passenger seat. Seeing this, Lorien added some more. "Let's go," Wanda said eagerly, pulling Lorien out of the car. "He'll be fine once we're gone."

They ran to the base of the Ferris wheel. Behind them, the driver snapped out of his trance, startled to find a small stack of hundred-dollar bills on the seat beside him.

"Wow!!!" The driver exclaimed, counting the money. "One, two, three... ten!!!"

"One thousand dollars!!!" he shouted. "My God! This will cover our medical loan for another month! And we won't have to sell the car!!!"

Meanwhile, Wanda excitedly reached the ticket booth at the Ferris wheel, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Two tickets, please!" she asked the attendant.

The attendant shook his head sympathetically. "Sorry, the Ferris wheel is undergoing maintenance today. It's operational, but we can't allow anyone to ride it."

For a moment, Wanda's bright eyes dulled, her excitement replaced by a wave of disappointment and sadness. Lorien felt her change in mood keenly. He leaned close and whispered in her ear with a reassuring smile, "I have a plan."

Wanda's eyes lit up again, filled with hope and curiosity.

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