Chapter 188: The Person You Want Is Brought to You!
"Thor, did you know that my former colleague Strange was in a car accident?"
"Oh?" Thor frowned and asked, "How severe are the injuries?"
"He was trapped in the car for a long time. By the time the helicopter arrived, it was past the critical period for treating his nerve damage. Eleven stainless steel pins were inserted into his bones, multiple ligaments were torn, and the nerves in his hands were severely damaged. He now has almost no feeling in his hands."
Christine's voice carried a note of sadness. As a surgeon, she understood the significance of hands to a doctor better than most—especially someone like Strange, who was known for his miraculous abilities.
"Oh? That serious?" Thor was puzzled. In the original timeline, Strange didn't seem to be in such a dire state. He could barely shave before.
He couldn't help asking, "Shouldn't it be different? Doesn't he have a colleague named Nick who is also highly skilled in medicine?"
Christine shrugged, "Nick couldn't be reached at the time, and later I learned he was at a parade..."
Thor rubbed his forehead. So, he had been let down again?
Thor asked, "Then why not you? You were my family doctor. You didn't sign any contract forbidding you from helping friends with surgeries..."
Christine shook her head, her voice soft, "I'm not proficient enough in neurosurgery. However, Strange contacted me and said he wanted to meet with you."
"No problem, anytime."
At an upscale café, Thor got straight to the point: "Tell me, what can you offer me?"
Across from him, Strange looked far from youthful and appeared extremely distressed.
He struggled to lift his coffee cup.
With a "clatter," the cup fell heavily onto the table.
The sound of the shattered cup broke the silence of the café.
Strange looked at his hands with pain, "Did you see that? Fool doctors ruined me! Now, probably only you can help me. I've heard you have a potion that can regenerate limbs—Extremis. I'm willing to offer all my assets..."
"Wait!" Thor interrupted, "I'm not short of money. I'm willing to give you the potion since you helped Stark, but it won't work."
"Why not?"
"Because... a certain bald magician advised me not to help you."
"A bald magician?" Strange was taken aback, then his face flushed with anger. "Oh my God. Even if you reject me, there's no need to use a fortune-telling charlatan to deceive me, right?"
The Ancient One, far away in Kamar-Taj, twitched her mouth in annoyance.
Thor stifled a laugh and said softly, "Though I can't help you directly, I can point you in the right direction."
"What direction?"
"Nepal, Kathmandu."
"Are you sure? Is there a doctor there who can cure me?" Strange asked skeptically.
Wasn't Kathmandu one of the least developed places in the world? Could a hidden genius doctor really be found there?
Thor smiled mysteriously, "I didn't say it's a doctor. Go there and find a place called Kamar-Taj. There, you will discover your true destiny."
"Can you be more specific?"
Thor thought for a moment and then nodded, "To be honest, it's better to go directly. It's too complicated to navigate otherwise. Let me give you a lift."
He extended his hand and swiped through the air, causing a golden circle of light to slowly appear.
"What's this?" Strange looked wary, remembering his previous terrifying experience.
Thor ignored him, waved his hand, and the golden halo enveloped Strange.
"Ouch..."
Strange fell to the ground with a thud, looked up, and found that everything around him had changed.
"Where am I?"
He was in an antique-looking hall with many people dressed in strange attire, creating an air of mystery.
In the center of the hall, ten middle-aged bald women in yellow monk robes stared at him blankly.
Through the fading portal, Thor's voice echoed: "Master Ancient One, the person you wanted has been delivered!"
The Ancient One, her forehead lined with frustration, wondered why Thor seemed to be trafficking people.
She had intended for Strange to face more challenges and conduct a thorough investigation, but Thor had sent him directly.
Observing Strange's suspicious expression, the Ancient One sighed.
"Young man, I understand why you are here. Do you believe in the existence of magic?"
"I do."
The Ancient One's prepared speech was derailed...
A curious monk asked, "Can you explain why? It's usually difficult for those with years of materialistic education to believe in our existence."
"Because a guy named Thor used magic on me. And didn't you see how I was thrown here?"
The Ancient One, sighed.
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