Nick Fury sat in his office, rubbing his temples as yet another headache brewed. His mind was consumed with problems—problems Kurogai neither knew of nor cared about. The mysterious young man had his own agenda.
He was heading to Kamar-Taj to learn the mystic arts. But before that, he had unfinished business.
"Send a gift to the orphanage," Kurogai muttered to himself.
Though Kamar-Taj wasn't far from New York, and the Sanctum Sanctorum stood as a beacon of magic within the city, Kurogai knew he might not return anytime soon. He wanted to ensure the orphanage was well taken care of in his absence.
With that thought, his figure vanished into the shadows of the street.
---
A few days later — Mary's Orphanage (now relocated)
A knock echoed at the front door of the orphanage's new location.
"Hello? Is this Mary's Orphanage?" asked a man in a tailored suit, standing alongside several others dressed just as formally.
Director Mary, who answered the door herself, looked confused but calm. "Yes, I'm Mary, the director. Can I help you?"
"Good afternoon, Director Mary," said the first man. "I represent the Eddie Foundation. We're here with a donation."
Another stepped forward. "We're from Seagull Enterprises, also here to contribute."
"And I'm with Monarch Investments—we've come to donate as well."
More followed, each bearing checks with multiple zeroes. None of them knew exactly why their CEOs had suddenly grown generous overnight, but it was their job to carry out orders—and carry them out perfectly.
Director Mary stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed. Donations weren't uncommon, but this many, at once, and in such large amounts, was unheard of. These were life-changing sums.
Unbeknownst to her, this miraculous generosity had a single orchestrator: Kurogai.
After verifying the legitimacy of the donations, Mary finally accepted them with gratitude. With this kind of funding, the orphanage's future was secured. The children could attend school, live comfortably, and finally have a stable home. To her, it felt like a blessing from above.
Around the corner, a tall figure in a black trench coat leaned casually against a lamppost, observing silently. Beneath the brim of a dark hat, two heterochromatic eyes glowed—one purple, one gold.
Kurogai's lips curled into a faint smile as he saw Mary accept the help. Without another word, he turned and vanished into the wind.
---
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ
Director Nick Fury stared at the screen, still dealing with the lingering tension surrounding the recent activities of Kurogai.
Ignoring Kurogai? Not an option. The higher-ups wouldn't allow such a volatile figure to roam freely. He was a wild card—capable of incredible destruction if pushed too far.
But pursuing him? That was equally dangerous.
Fury had already witnessed the depth of Kurogai's abilities—abilities that could crush even S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in silence. Angering someone like him wasn't a risk Fury was willing to take.
Beep—beep—beep.
His communicator blinked. He opened the line, visibly irritated.
"What now?"
"There's activity at the orphanage," came the voice on the other end.
Fury listened. His eyes narrowed as the report rolled in.
"…Understood," he muttered after a long pause.
He tapped a button on his desk. "Natasha, remove Kurogai from the active watchlist. We're not pursuing him anymore."
---
Elsewhere — Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Inside the darkened chamber of Cerebro, Professor Charles Xavier removed the telepathic helmet with a thoughtful expression.
"Jean," he said quietly. "Tell Scott to recall the X-Men. Bring the team back."
She looked surprised but nodded and left to follow his order.
Professor X sat silently for a moment.
He had once believed Kurogai might spiral into villainy—an isolated powerhouse with no moral anchor. He'd even sanctioned forceful intervention, hoping to bring him into the fold before it was too late.
But today, he saw something different.
Someone who remembered where he came from.
Someone who gave generously to the very place that raised him.
No matter how distant or cold Kurogai appeared, that kind of man wasn't lost yet.
And so, Professor X rescinded his efforts to find or recruit Kurogai. He no longer saw the need.
---
Kurogai, meanwhile, remained unaware of all this.
He didn't care much for the politics of mutants or secret agencies. He had already left New York behind and was now headed down a new path—the path to Kamar-Taj, where mystic forces and ancient secrets awaited him.
The world had yet to see what Kurogai was truly capable of.
---
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