The Black Bat King could be regarded as a tragic hero.
Possessing vocal cords that could unleash devastation with the slightest whisper, he had accidentally taken the lives of his own parents as a child due to an inadvertent murmur.
To be honest, Shen He found it difficult to imagine living like that—constantly fearing that a single spoken word could kill loved ones. The thought of accidentally whispering in his sleep and causing harm made him shudder.
Because of this impression, Shen He felt a rare sense of sympathy for the ruler of the Inhumans.
"Queen Medusa, there are many guardians of Earth. We are merely one of them, which is why we are privy to knowledge that ordinary humans are not."
Shen He kept his explanation vague, pausing briefly before continuing.
"We understand why the Inhumans migrated to the Moon to avoid war, and we have no intention of interfering. However, you cannot remain hidden forever. The day will come when your people must step into the light again. When that time comes, we would be willing to help you establish a bridge of communication with Earth."
Ever since deciding to establish Chaldea, Shen He had abandoned the superior attitude he once held. Acting aloof and secretive would only make Chaldea another version of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Ancient Wizards Association, or even Asgard.
Instead, the best way to cement an organization's influence was by proving its strength—ensuring that both allies and enemies alike recognized its power.
A long silence stretched on from the other end of the communicator before Medusa's voice finally returned.
"The King wishes to express his gratitude for your goodwill. He would also like to establish a means of contact."
"If you ever need to find us, just reach out to a businessman named Tony Stark. He's quite famous—shouldn't be hard to locate."
With that, Shen He returned the communicator to Crystal. If he could secure Black Bolt's friendship, it would bolster his confidence in the upcoming battle for New York.
After all, Black Bolt was a powerhouse—his voice alone had the potential to level entire cities. More importantly, he was an honorable king, and rare was a ruler who understood gratitude. Such a person was worth aiding.
Crystal exchanged a few whispered words with Medusa before shooting a defiant glance at the two rituals. Then, with a respectful nod toward Shen He, she turned to leave.
Shen He gestured for Jeanne to tend to the massive dog, Tetanus, before casting a knowing glance at the two rituals.
"Looks like you two were getting along well."
"Are you blind?" the two rituals shot back, visibly irritated by his teasing. "And don't act like you accomplished anything. You left here all confident, and yet you came back empty-handed."
"No matter how much preparation you do, success ultimately depends on fate." Shen He shrugged. "Even with Jeanne's abilities, it seems the heavens didn't heed her prayers today. On the other hand, you stayed behind and got a guest literally crashing at your doorstep. Maybe you should come with us tomorrow—"
"No thanks. Sounds boring."
With that, the two rituals turned on their heel and headed for their usual spot on the sofa.
Meanwhile, back on the Moon, within the city of Attilan, Crystal found herself summoned to the palace.
Awaiting her were her sister Medusa, her brother-in-law Black Bolt, and Karnak, the Inhumans' chief strategist.
"Crystal, tell us more about the people you encountered."
Medusa's fiery red hair moved subtly, responding to her emotions as she spoke. Like all Inhumans, she had undergone Terrigenesis upon reaching adulthood, awakening the ability to manipulate her hair with remarkable precision.
Once Crystal finished recounting her encounter, a heavy silence settled over the room.
Crystal's abilities weren't weak—not among the Inhumans. Yet, she had been easily restrained. More concerning was how these outsiders had recognized her and her lineage on sight.
Black Bolt, ever composed, clasped his hands before him and then slowly raised them to sign.
"The outsiders know who we are and where we reside, yet they have chosen not to expose our existence to humanity," Medusa translated. "The King believes we should consider engaging with them, as Earth is ever-changing. Eventually, they will find us, and we must be prepared for that day."
Black Bolt had already noticed an unsettling trend—some of the Inhumans' distant bloodlines on Earth had begun to awaken. Their genetic markers, dormant for generations, were becoming active once more.
Yet, history had proven that humanity feared what it could not understand. Across the planet, Inhuman descendants were being hunted, studied, or imprisoned.
This placed immense pressure on the King's shoulders.
"…Who should we send as an envoy?" Karnak finally asked.
Black Bolt pondered the question for a moment before gesturing toward Crystal.
For better or worse, this unexpected encounter was already altering the course of history for the Inhumans.
Meanwhile, Shen He had quickly moved past his dealings with them, shifting focus toward his more immediate task—spending the night in the Arctic.
Although their aircraft was luxurious, it was still only a mid-sized plane, lacking dedicated beds. With the exception of Saiki Kusuo—who had returned to his own world to rest—the remaining team members had no choice but to make do with the sofas for the night.
Not that it was a hardship. The seats were plush enough to make one feel as though they were sinking into clouds. Coupled with the cabin's warm temperature and the faint, comforting scent of leather and wood, it was more than sufficient for a good night's rest.
When morning came, the blizzard had finally ceased.
"…Jeanne? You're up early?"
Shen He yawned, checking his watch. It was barely past five in the morning.
"Yes… The bed was too soft," Jeanne admitted sheepishly. "It felt like sleeping on clouds, but I kept feeling like I would fall if I relaxed too much… Not that it affects my spirit, of course. As a Heroic Spirit, sleep isn't truly necessary…"
She trailed off, stealing a furtive glance at Shen He.
She hoped he wouldn't laugh at her.
She couldn't even sleep properly because the bed was too comfortable. That felt… pathetic.
In her past life, the softest thing she had ever slept on was a pile of hay. She would simply have to adapt.
Shen He didn't comment, merely nodding in understanding. He wasn't about to start hauling in hay just to accommodate Jeanne's sleeping habits.
Summoning Saiki Kusuo back, Shen He left a note for the still-sleeping two rituals before setting off again.
The sky remained dim, but with the storm now cleared, visibility had vastly improved. They ventured deeper than before, combing the Arctic wilderness for any sign of Captain America.
Then, just as they were about to begin their search—
A blonde girl and a giant dog suddenly appeared before them.
"…Crystal?" Shen He blinked in surprise.
It seemed Black Bolt was even more eager for an alliance than he had expected.
"Hi," Crystal greeted them nervously. "Are you looking for something?"
"We're searching for a hero who was frozen here over seventy years ago," Shen He explained.
Crystal's shoulders relaxed slightly. "In that case… I might be able to help. I train my abilities here often, so I think I know what you're looking for."