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*****
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Amidst everyone's eager anticipation, the first "Tony Stark Golden Dice Cup" was officially held in the Hero Community.
The contestants included various Avengers represented by Captain America, Steve Rogers; a few of the Avengers' family members and select neighbors (like Luke's family); the X-Men from Planet Kent; and a very small number of specially invited guests (The Ancient One, Odin, and Frigga).
The competition venue was set at Mike's house, primarily because, at everyone's request, Mike was providing the post-match celebration feast.
The referees for the match were Gwen, Little Lamb, and a few of their little friends.
At eight o'clock in the morning, still an hour before the competition was set to begin, a few particularly enthusiastic contestants had already started arriving at the venue.
Odin, Frigga, and the Ancient One arrived at Mike's house early, using their status as Mike's friends.
"You guys are here so early?"
Mike glanced back at the clock on the wall and asked in confusion, "There's still an hour before we start."
"We came early to inspect the competition venue!" The Ancient One said faintly, gently waving the small fan in her hand.
Odin nodded with a majestic air. "Yes, we definitely didn't come here on an empty stomach just to eat breakfast at your place."
Mike's mouth twitched.
Is it really okay to just say your true purpose out loud like that?
Frigga gently tugged at Odin, looking a bit embarrassed. However, the expressions on the Ancient One and Odin's faces didn't change in the slightest.
After a few seconds of silence, Mike suddenly slammed the door shut, shouting, "The competition venue isn't open yet! You guys..."
"Don't mind if we do!"
Odin and the Ancient One pressed their hands against the door, pushed it open with force, and strode inside.
Mike: (╬ Ò ‸ Ó)
"You guys..."
Raven looked at the three of them, a smile blossoming on her face. "You really are early. Have you had breakfast? Want to eat together?"
"We won't stand on ceremony then!" Odin said carelessly, plonking himself down at the dining table.
Mike looked at Odin speechlessly.
When have you ever stood on ceremony?
"Wait a moment, I'll go make you some breakfast," Mike said.
"Thanks for the trouble!" Odin shouted loudly to Mike.
Mike shook his head helplessly and walked into the kitchen.
After the three of them had faked their deaths and come here to live, they had adopted disguises, so they weren't afraid of being recognized by others. Aside from Mike and Raven, no one else knew their true identities—not even Gwen and Little Lamb, who had met the three of them many times.
"Grandpa Captain?"
Gwen paused for a moment, hurriedly swallowed the food in her mouth, and asked tentatively, "You guys... are also participating in the competition?"
"That's right!" Odin grinned, suddenly fishing two pieces of chocolate out of his pocket and handing them to Gwen.
Gwen was stunned.
Odin leaned forward and beckoned to Gwen. When Gwen leaned in curiously, he placed the chocolate in his hand on the table, gently pushed it toward her, and gave her a meaningful wink.
Gwen: "?"
Odin lowered his voice and whispered across the dining table, "I heard you're a referee for this competition?"
Gwen instantly understood. Just as she was about to righteously refuse, Odin chuckled and said, "We're all on the same side."
Under everyone's gaze, Gwen took the chocolate and gave Odin a wink in return.
Don't worry, I won't let Grandpa Captain get eliminated first!
Odin chuckled.
Now, it's in the bag!
Frigga looked helpless, Raven couldn't help but laugh, and the Ancient One's eyes flickered slightly. Just as she was about to open her mouth to warn the two...
"Dad!"
Little Lamb shouted loudly, "Big Sister is accepting bribes as a referee!"
Beautifully done!
The Ancient One excitedly waved the small fan in her hand!
Odin and Gwen's expressions changed as they stared at Little Lamb.
Little Lamb stared back at them, refusing to show weakness.
Doing that is wrong!
Mike poked his head out of the kitchen, waved a spatula at Gwen, and warned, "Gwen, don't be a blind referee! You'll get beaten up for that kind of behavior!"
Gwen thought about the image of being ganged up on by superheroes, broke out in a cold sweat, and nodded hurriedly.
Odin grinned. Although he really wanted to say that even if all these superheroes added up, they wouldn't be his match, he was currently "The Captain," not Odin.
Odin was depressed. Gwen shook her head at Odin and said, "Anyway? Thanks for the chocolate!"
Odin: "?"
Shouldn't you give the chocolate back?
"Pfft!"
Watching Odin, who had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, the Ancient One laughed happily.
Gwen then took out a piece and handed it to Little Lamb.
Little Lamb: o(′^｀)o
I don't want it!
I want to be a fair and just referee!
Gwen: (¬_¬)
She directly tore open the plastic wrapper, broke off a small piece, and stuffed it into Little Lamb's mouth.
"Ha! Now you've eaten it too. Saves you from using this against me later!"
Gwen laughed happily, put the chocolate aside, and happily continued eating her breakfast.
Little Lamb wanted to spit the chocolate out, but the sweet taste was just too delicious.
So, while eating the chocolate, he looked at Raven with teary eyes and cried, "Mom! I'm not clean anymore!"
"Hahahaha!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh out loud.
A moment later, Mike served breakfast to the three of them. After they finished eating, Raven went to clean up the mess, while Mike flashed around quickly, beginning to set up the competition venue.
There were quite a few people competing today, so Mike prepared four automatic mahjong tables.
The tables were definitely not enough for everyone at once, so the competition would be divided into several teams. According to Mike, it would end quickly anyway, since most people were just there to join in the fun.
Not long after the venue was set up, the contestants began to arrive one after another.
First were the Avengers living in Mike's house.
Tony's family of three and Steve's couple were the first to arrive at the scene.
"Uncle Mike!"
Tony greeted him, holding a box in his arms.
Everyone's eyes fell on Tony's box.
Tony chuckled, walked to the referee's table, opened the box, and took out the trophy inside.
The trophy was entirely gold. On a beautiful golden base stood a golden die. The dots on the die were made of red and blue gemstones.
Luxurious, blinding...
Looking at everyone's expressions with satisfaction, Tony smiled and said, "I wonder who will get it today."
"Of course, it will be me!" Odin spoke up unceremoniously.
Tony looked up and asked in surprise, "Who is he?"
Mike said expressionlessly, "Just an old man I'm somewhat familiar with. You don't need to worry about him."
Saying that, he lowered his voice and leaned closer to Tony. "Anyway, he'll be eliminated very quickly."
"?"
"He only learned how to play two days ago."
"Oh!"
Tony looked enlightened. Since he was Uncle Mike's friend, Tony nodded at him as a greeting.
Odin chuckled, staring at the trophy with burning eyes.
Mike shook his head, sighing at how a generation's God King had fallen to this state.
As they were speaking, Bruce Banner and Natasha arrived arm in arm.
Tony looked at Bruce in surprise and said, "I thought you weren't interested in this."
"But I am interested in the trophy." Bruce Banner pushed up his glasses.
Natasha chuckled softly. "It would be good for collecting or reselling."
The corner of Tony's mouth twitched. "Is it really okay for you guys to say that right to my face?"
"Haha!"
Steve laughed out loud and couldn't help but say, "To be honest, I also have thoughts of reselling it."
He looked at the trophy with fervent eyes.
As long as he sold this thing, he could recoup part of the money Peggy had gambled away!
Tony: "..."
If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have made the thing out of solid gold.
However, if it wasn't solid gold, there probably wouldn't be so many people participating.
Forget it!
Whatever they want to do with it.
Tony muttered helplessly.
Just then, more contestants arrived.
Pietro, Wanda, and Barton appeared together.
Looking at the three of them, Mike always got a sense of déjà vu, like a father with his son and daughter.
After greeting the three, Sam, Rhodey, and Vision also arrived at the competition site.
"The Avengers are almost all here, aren't they? Don't you guys have missions?" Mike couldn't help but tease.
Steve said, "We finished everything ahead of schedule, and we need appropriate rest too. By the way, Bucky isn't here yet."
Saying that, he looked outside the door. He remembered Bucky telling him he would come today.
"He's coming over with Crystal and the others," Tony said, rubbing his chin.
Crystal?
Mike paused, asking in surprise, "The Avengers have new members?"
"Yeah, two people who joined temporarily," Tony explained. "They're both pretty good."
Mike nodded and didn't pay it much mind.
While they were talking, Bucky walked into Mike's house with two girls.
Tony pointed to the two girls and introduced them. "Crystal, Daisy."
"Welcome!" Mike nodded to the two.
Crystal looked at Mike curiously.
This is Mike Kent?
He looks just like an ordinary person!
Crystal muttered in her heart. Noticing that Daisy was looking at Mike with excitement, she gently nudged Daisy and coughed lightly.
Daisy blushed, pulled Crystal into the living room, and started chatting with the Avengers, but her eyes still glanced at Mike from time to time.
Because Mike was her idol.
Mike had single-handedly sheltered the entire mutant community. She wanted to be like Mike and hold up the sky for the Inhumans.
Feeling the gaze on him, Mike lowered his voice and leaned close to Tony. "Inhumans?"
"You actually figured it out?" Tony asked in surprise.
Mike nodded and didn't ask further. He felt that asking more would bring trouble.
Mike looked at the already bustling living room, his expression turning peculiar.
The Avengers really hadn't missed a single member. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were gathering to fight a BOSS.
A knock on the door sounded again. It was Luke's family from across the street, along with Gwen's little friends.
"Sorry to disturb you!"
John smiled and greeted them. Looking at the superheroes in the room, he clicked his tongue in secret amazement.
Although he had seen this situation many times, as an ordinary person, seeing a cluster of superheroes still surprised him uncontrollably.
"Welcome!"
Mike smiled and said, high-fiving the little guys gently, then added, "Referees, you're finally here!"
"Hehe!"
The little guys laughed excitedly. To encounter such a large-scale event before school started made them all seem very thrilled.
"You guys are here! Come with me!" Gwen walked over to them and led them inside.
Just then, Mike's phone rang.
"Hello? What is it?"
"It's me! Open a portal!" Hank Pym's slightly arrogant voice rang out.
Mike's mouth twitched. "Old geezer, you..."
"Future in-law?"
"Opening it now!"
Mike rolled his eyes, took out a card, and casually flicked open a portal. Several figures walked out from inside.
It was Hank Pym's family, along with Clark and the second-generation Ant-Man, Scott.
"Cap-Captain!"
Seeing the living, breathing Steve Rogers, Scott shouted excitedly, reaching out and tugging at his own clothes as he walked over.
"Captain, please, you must give me an autograph!"
Steve: "?"
"So many people?" Clark frowned and said to Mike, "Dad, Charles and the others are coming too, plus the X-Men. The house is too crowded."
Mike nodded. "Indeed."
"Then let's go to Planet Kent," Clark suggested.
Mike thought about it and said, "That works too."
Their home on Planet Kent was big enough.
"Then I'll tell Charles and the others first, so they don't come here."
"Go ahead!"
Mike waved his hand. After speaking to Steve, who was standing with him, he walked into the living room and clapped his hands. When everyone looked at him, Mike said, "Because the number of participants this time exceeded expectations, we need to change the venue."
Everyone nodded.
"To Planet Kent."
Mike announced, casually opening a portal leading to the Kent home on Planet Kent.
Everyone passed through the portal quickly. After Mike stored away the mahjong tables, he called out to Steve and the others. Once everyone had walked through, he was the last to step through the portal and then let it dissipate.
The group appeared in the Kent home on Planet Kent.
Mike had opened the portal directly in the massive living room of the Kent house.
Compared to the house on Earth, this place was dozens of times larger, instantly feeling spacious.
Not long after they appeared, space tore open, and a blue portal appeared in front of them. Subsequently, mutants led by Charles and Erik walked out one after another.
"Dad!"
The two greeted Mike, only to see Mike's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
So many people?
How much food does he have to cook today?
"With so many people, do they all know how to play?" Mike asked Charles and Erik, his mouth twitching.
Charles grinned. "I spent half a day explaining the rules to those who didn't understand!"
Erik nodded faintly. "We can't lose to the Avengers, no matter what."
Mike felt a phantom ache in his back.
So, for that reason, you brought a whole horde of people?
Zzzzt!
At this moment, a blue portal appeared again. Personnel from the Superpower Police, led by Nick Fury, also arrived at the scene.
Watching this scene, Mike finally couldn't help but say, "Are you all really this free?"
(End of Chapter)