Howard approached Garfield ready to finalize the deal, until something in the distance caught his eye.
Rin.
The not-quite-human girl leapt through the field, wind swirling around her fingertips.
Then~shhhh-kraaaack! A single curved blade of wind carved clean through an entire row of trees, each trunk wider than half a meter.
The trees toppled in perfect unison.
"…" Howard stopped mid-step.
"…Garfield," He whispered, "What the… what… WHAT IS THAT? What is going on?!"
Garfield didn't even look up from cleaning his paw. "Welcome to the other side of the world."
"Wh~!" Howard blinked three times.
(⊙o⊙) "Ah?"
His brain short-circuited and in that dazed, stunned state… he signed the contract.
Once the shock wore off and the negotiations resumed, things went surprisingly smoothly. Both sides made adjustments, clarified details, and eventually…
They became friends.
The contract terms remained largely unchanged.
Garfield (via the High Claw Group) holds 60% of Stark Industries.
The agreement, unconditional support for all decisions made by Howard Stark and his direct descendants.
High Claw cannot interfere with company operations, press core decisions, or sell original shares.
If the Stark family ever wants to exit, High Claw has the right of first purchase at 20% above market value.
If High Claw ever sells its shares, they must be sold back to the Stark family, 10% below market price.
An unusual, almost absurdly generous partnership.
Both sides walked away satisfied.
A consensus was reached and to celebrate, they shared a lavish dinner.
Garfield had invited one more guest, his friend Henry Morgan, a pleasant man in his forties with sharp eyes and a strange, timeless air.
Howard soon learned why.
"Every time Henry dies," Garfield explained casually, "He wakes up again in the river closest to where he lived."
Howard nearly choked on his drink.
Garfield continued, unfazed: "Think of it as… a system glitch. The universe forgot to label him as mortal."
Henry smiled politely, as though discussing a mild allergy.
Water, Garfield added, holds the primal conditions for life. It's the natural reboot point.
Howard wasn't sure whether to be impressed or terrified.
And that was just the beginning.
Curious and slightly overwhelmed he finally asked, "Garfield… who are these people around you?"
Garfield answered in order, as if giving a roll call.
"Queenie Goldstein… my chief maid and her sister Tina. Both are witches working for the American Ministry of Magic. Think of it as a magical government parallel to your own."
"Lilith and Vivienne," Garfield added, "Are succubi sent by Mephisto, a Hell lord."
Howard stiffened.
"Calm down. They're under my supervision."
"And Rin." Garfield said, nodding toward the girl now practicing hand signs, "Comes from a world not native to this one. A shinobi of Konoha."
"So… wizards, demons, immortals, and extradimensional ninjas." Howard stared at him, overwhelmed.
"Correct," Garfield said.
Howard pressed a hand to his forehead. "So complicated…"
Garfield's tone shifted, suddenly heavy.
"Howard, listen carefully. You don't need to remember every detail… but remember what not to say."
"Go on." Howard swallowed.
"The wizarding world is closed and fragile. If their existence leaks to the public, people will panic and people do terrible things when they panic."
"Lilith and Vivienne are harmless only because they serve me. Never provoke Mephisto. He's… unpredictable."
"If not for my master, the Sorcerer Supreme, he would have caused disasters long ago."
"And Rin's world…" Garfield paused, eyes narrowing. "Pray you never meet the apex beings of that realm."
"There are monsters there who could erase our planet on a whim. As long as no one anchors their world to ours, we're safe."
Howard nodded so fast his hair nearly flew off. "Understood. Understood. Absolutely understood."
"Good. Then eat." Garfield patted his shoulder with a paw. "Enjoy the night, welcome to the real world."
And just like that, the partnership was cemented, and Howard Stark's life would never be the same again.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
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