The coffee shop buzzed with light conversation and the clink of porcelain cups, a cozy haven in the heart of the city. Seated in the corner, Joseph stirred his cappuccino leisurely, savoring the rich aroma. The soft hum of jazz in the background gave the place a cultured ambiance, but the real intrigue unfolded at his table.
Opposite Joseph sat three individuals—Jane Foster, Daisy Louis, and Dr. Erik Selvig.
"Mr. Joseph," Jane Foster said, her voice slightly trembling with surprise, "are you saying you're willing to fully fund my research? Even help me establish an astrophysics laboratory?"
There was a soft blush on her fair cheeks, a mix of astonishment and excitement sparkling in her intelligent eyes. She couldn't quite hide her delight—and it didn't go unnoticed. Several nearby customers had already begun stealing glances, though oddly enough, their attention seemed to stray toward her companion.
Sitting next to Jane, Daisy Louis looked every bit the opposite—bold, relaxed, and chewing on a lollipop with a look of suspicion on her face. She was dressed casually, her figure accentuated by a snug T-shirt under an unbuttoned coat. Her thick black-rimmed glasses sat on the bridge of her nose, and her luscious black curls spilled down her shoulders. She had the effortless charm of someone who didn't need to try too hard, and the customer seated at the next table had definitely noticed.
Joseph noticed too.
He smirked inwardly. "Looks like the one being watched isn't Jane Foster this time," he mused.
Daisy, for her part, didn't seem bothered by the attention. She twirled her lollipop thoughtfully and shot Joseph a skeptical look.
"You look like you haven't even graduated from college yet," she said bluntly. "Do you have any idea how expensive it is to build an astrophysics lab? Are you sure this isn't some kind of scam to impress girls?"
Jane's eyes widened slightly at Daisy's brash tone, but Dr. Erik Selvig nodded gravely in agreement.
"She has a point," Erik said. "Astrophysics is a long game, Mr. Joseph. It requires not just funding, but sustained commitment. It isn't profitable. Corporate investors rarely—if ever—take it seriously unless there's military application."
The elder scientist's tone was measured, but his suspicion was clear. A young man, no older than thirty, suddenly offering millions to fund a specialized research field like astrophysics? It was hardly believable. Was he really interested in the science? Or was he trying to impress Jane or Daisy?
Joseph remained unbothered.
"I understand your doubts," he said, setting his cup down with a gentle clink. "But rest assured, my interest is genuine."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes calm. "After Stark Industries acquired Hammer Technologies, their stock surged. The shares I previously invested in have now multiplied several times. As of this moment, the liquid funds I can access are well over one billion dollars."
His tone was casual, but the number landed like a thunderclap.
"I'm prepared to invest in your research," he continued. "Not only will I fund your lab, I'll also provide a private plot of land to build it. And in exchange, all I ask is this—"
He paused, then smiled.
"—join the new Xavier's School as visiting professors. You won't be full-time. Just teach a few classes a week."
The stunned silence at the table was palpable.
"Did you say… one hundred million?" Daisy repeated, her lollipop falling from her mouth.
"For the first phase," Joseph replied. "More can come later depending on progress."
Jane Foster's breath caught in her throat. Her heart was pounding. She looked at Erik Selvig in disbelief. "That… that's life-changing funding…"
Daisy's eyes gleamed, already filled with scheming.
But Selvig's expression darkened.
"You said Xavier's School?" he asked slowly. "As in… the Mutant Academy?"
Joseph nodded. "That's correct."
The excitement around the table deflated in an instant.
Jane blinked. Daisy frowned. Selvig leaned back, visibly guarded.
Mutants.
It wasn't that any of them held overt prejudice. But the fear and stigma surrounding Mutants still lingered heavily in public consciousness. Most ordinary people didn't truly understand them—and fear bred hesitation.
"Why us?" Jane asked, a trace of confusion in her voice. "Why would a school for Mutants want astrophysicists like us?"
"Because your work," Joseph said patiently, "involves the theory of wormholes. Spatial anomalies. Dimensional physics. Do you know how many of our students exhibit space-bending abilities? Portals? Teleportation? Wormhole phenomena?"
He allowed the thought to hang in the air before adding, "Imagine what you could learn from them. What they could learn from you."
That made them pause.
Selvig shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't accept that offer. I appreciate your generosity, but… I'm not comfortable working in a Mutant environment."
Jane hesitated, clearly torn, but followed her mentor's lead with a sigh. "I'll have to decline too… for now."
Daisy, unusually quiet, didn't say anything. But her knuckles were white from gripping her lollipop stick.
Joseph expected as much. Without arguing, he reached into his coat and handed each of them a thick envelope.
"These are your offers. The invitation stands, indefinitely. Should you change your minds… contact me."
He stood up, buttoning his coat. "But before I leave, allow me to show you something."
The three watched him cautiously.
Joseph snapped his fingers.
A strange hum filled the air. Then, just beside the table, the fabric of reality twisted—a golden portal appeared, faintly glowing like sunlight through fog. It opened like a zipper through space, revealing something vast and green beyond.
The portal expanded, enveloping the entire table and the four of them.
And then—
They were no longer in the café.
Jane, Daisy, and Selvig found themselves standing in the middle of a dense, humid jungle. The trees were massive, the air was heavy and warm, and the distant roars of wild beasts echoed in the distance.
"What the—where are we?!" Jane gasped.
Daisy gawked. "Is this… Africa?"
Selvig staggered, dumbfounded. "He teleported us—?"
They turned—Joseph was gone.
Only his voice remained, echoing around them with a serene calm:
"This is one of the test zones used by Xavier's School. If you wish to return, just walk back through the portal. And remember… space-bending isn't theoretical anymore."
The three stood speechless.
After several stunned moments, they stepped cautiously back through the shimmering portal—and instantly returned to the café. The familiar aroma of roasted beans hit them in the face.
Daisy exhaled sharply.
"Okay. That wasn't a dream."
"Teleportation," Selvig muttered. "Instantaneous. No known technology—this changes everything…"
"Professor," Jane said cautiously, "we need to consider this."
Daisy grinned. "Forget consider. I'm already packing my bags!"
Jane looked at her in surprise. "That enthusiastic, huh?"
"Damn right," Daisy said, adjusting her glasses. "Joseph is hot. He's mysterious. He folded space. I don't know if he's a Mutant or a wizard, but either way—he's now number one on my fantasy list."
Jane facepalmed. "Seriously?"
"I'm serious," Daisy said. "And let me be very clear, Jane—if you even think of flirting with him, I will fight you."
Jane looked at her in stunned silence. "What happened to tracking the celestial anomaly we've been studying for two years?"
Daisy shrugged. "Forget that. We don't need celestial signs to prove wormholes anymore. We just walked through one. He is the anomaly we've been waiting for."
Selvig remained silent, still absorbing the shock.
Jane glanced down at the invitation in her hands.
Astrophysics, wormholes, real spatial manipulation, and a school full of students who could potentially bend space-time.
Her heartbeat quickened again.
Maybe… just maybe… this was the opportunity of a lifetime.
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