Time passed, and Melin became very close friends with Hank's family—to the point they almost wished they could live together.
Hope practically spent all her time at Melin's house when she wasn't in school. For one, she got along extremely well with Galon, treating him not like an older uncle but as a close friend. And two, she could ask Melin anything about her studies whenever she had questions.
Hank, on the other hand, was genuinely jealous. He was a scientist too—one of the best! So why would Hope go ask Melin instead of her own father? Was Melin better than him? Did he have more PhDs?
Then…
Hope and Galon secretly opened the box where Melin stored his degree certificates, laid them out neatly, took photos, and showed them to Hank.
Hank was instantly deflated. The house was full of PhD certificates—they had to take ten photos just to fit them all in.
Physics, chemistry, psychology, literature, history… you name it, he had it.
Hank grew frustrated. Melin didn't even look older than him—probably in his early thirties at most. How on earth had he earned that many PhDs? And across such a wide range of fields: humanities, sciences, business, arts?
Hank's confidence in his own genius was seriously shaken. He started to question if he was still a genius at all.
Melin, of course, knew about the whole thing but didn't stop them. After all, quietly waiting for life to go by could be boring—adding a little fun now and then wasn't a bad idea.
…
…
And those degrees? They were all real!
Back then, when a rule was made that Saints had to earn at least one PhD, it caused massive… well, not quite rebellion, but definitely a lot of complaints.
To set an example for the young Saints, Melin personally earned over ten PhDs in one year, and after that, the kids behaved.
All except for one: Galon.
"Galon, I really wish just one of those certificates had your name on it," Melin said in a mock sorrowful tone.
"Yes, I've embarrassed you, my lord," Galon answered quietly with his head down, practically clawing a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with his toes.
But seriously—he could endure any hardship in training and always fought for first place. But studying?
Please have mercy, my lord! A master's degree was already his limit! Anything beyond that was too much!
"Sigh, Galon, listen to me…"
"Not again! Big brother, save me! Waaaah!" Galon was really about to cry. If Melin had just hit him, he'd feel better. But the verbal lectures—always the same three-hour "oral punishment"—were absolute torture!
And he couldn't run. Even if he did, he couldn't escape. He could only accept his fate.
But maybe today fate decided to spare him. Just as the "harshest punishment" began, a heated argument erupted outside the door.
"Hank, long time no see."
"Long time no see, Peggy. You're still as beautiful as ever. Steve must've built up several lifetimes of good karma to marry you. And you… despicable thief!"
"Hey, Hank, I've already explained what happened back then. Why won't you believe me?"
"Hmph! You think I'd believe that?"
"I really… sigh, never mind."
"Hmph! So you admit it, Howard? If it weren't for the fact that I didn't want Maria and your son to witness a brutal scene, I'd have beaten you black and blue!"
"Hank, back then—"
"That's enough, Maria. I don't want to argue. Nothing will change the fact that he stole my research! Out of old friendship, I won't call the police. Just leave."
Hank, of course, knew who the four people in front of him were. The police couldn't do anything to them, but if the scene blew up and got reported—officers from the world's security organizations, Captain, and the Stark family being taken in by the police—it would be a public relations disaster and damage both their reputations and careers.
"Actually, we're not here for you, Hank. We didn't even know you lived here," Howard said with a shrug, though he knew Hank wouldn't believe him.
"Save it for someone gullible, Howard. You think you can just let me leave your control? A genius scientist like me, holding technology that could change the world, and you'd just let me go? No way!"
"Cough, well… we really didn't come for you," Steve added, coughing awkwardly. He'd always gotten along with Hank, and even though Hank left the organization, their relationship wasn't as strained as Hank's with Howard.
"I really misjudged you, Steve. I thought you were my friend, but now you're telling the same lies!"
"Hank, we—"
"Enough!" Peggy tried to explain, but Hank angrily cut her off. By now, he was certain they had joined forces to deceive him—to get his Pym Particles!
"Save your tricks. I'm not giving you the Pym Particles."
With that, he turned to go back inside and slam the door. But just then, Melin stepped out.
"What's going on?" Melin asked, feigning confusion. In truth, he already knew everything before he came out.
"Hey, Melin, it's nothing. Just a bunch of thieves. Don't worry, I've got this…" Hank tried to persuade Melin not to get involved. He saw Melin as a friend and didn't want him to get caught up in this.
But before he could finish speaking, something that left him dumbfounded happened.
"Sorry for the disturbance, Mr. Melin," Peggy and the others completely ignored Hank and respectfully bowed to Melin.
Hank had never seen anything like it!
Howard was one of the proudest people alive. Peggy, one of the most assertive. Yet here they were, showing someone such deep respect—not even the president got treated like this!
Hank now looked at Melin differently. He began to question Melin's true identity. He had already suspected Melin wasn't ordinary—but now, it seemed he was far from it.
Soon, Hank's face changed again—to fury, feeling betrayed.
"You're one of them!?" Hank demanded.
"No, Hank. To be precise… we are his people," Peggy said softly, then made a gesture. The agents behind her immediately began clearing the crowd.
"You… you work for him?" Hank's genius brain couldn't quite catch up.
Given Peggy, Steve, and Howard's current statuses and reputations, even their so-called bosses didn't dare mess with them. On paper, they were employees, but in reality, they answered to no one. They'd never admitted to serving anyone.
But now, they had publicly declared themselves subordinates of Melin.
So who exactly was Melin? Someone higher than those people?
"Come inside. Hank, you too. Misunderstandings should be cleared up early, don't you think?" Melin said with a gentle smile.
Hank was reluctant at first. He didn't think there was a misunderstanding, and he didn't want to talk to Howard. But somehow, Melin's calm voice carried a kind of magic—making people instinctively want to obey.
"Fine, I'll just tell Hope first—"
"Bring her along. Leaving a little girl at home by herself, she'd feel lonely. Galon can keep her company."
"…Alright."
In the end, Galon took Hope off to play. Some things weren't for children to hear—not even for Tony Stark, who was already an adult. He still wasn't suited to these kinds of discussions.
Hank sat down, but he still glared at Howard with undisguised hatred. If looks could kill, Howard would've died thousands of times by now.
"Heh, relax, Hank. Have some tea." Melin handed him a cup gently.
Though Hank's glare didn't fade, he still took the cup and sipped.
"Mmm~ As expected of your tea, Melin—so refreshing." The fragrant taste slid down his throat, calming his anger. Hank felt noticeably less agitated.
"As long as you like it."
"Tea brewed by Mr. Melin?"
"Damn it, Mr. Melin—you even know how to do this?"
"Hank, you're really lucky. If certain people found out you drank tea made by Mr. Melin himself, they'd die of jealousy."
…
"What, is he really that amazing?" Hank asked, already losing count of how many times he'd been stunned by Peggy and the others' reverent attitude toward Melin.
Peggy and the rest gave a wry smile and shook their heads. "Calling Mr. Melin 'amazing' doesn't even begin to describe it."
"So… who are you really?" Hank looked at Melin and asked.
"Me? I'm Melin—you already know that, don't you?" Melin smiled and poured more tea for the others.
"I'm not asking your name, I'm asking about your identity!" Hank pressed, feeling like he was being played again.
"Hank, don't you think the name Melin… sounds really familiar?" Howard asked with a chuckle.
To ordinary people, Melin's existence was a secret. But to those in the upper echelons and global organizations, he was anything but a secret—especially after the major incident he stirred up recently.
"Shut up, Howard. I don't want to talk to you," Hank snapped—but even so, Howard's reminder got him thinking. Melin… why did that name sound so familiar?
"If you need a hint: Greece. Sanctuary," Peggy added.
"Greece… Sanctuary… Melin… You're Melin?! The Melin from the Greek Sanctuary!?"
With Peggy's help, Hank finally remembered why that name sounded so familiar.
Everything about the Greek Sanctuary was top-secret. Most agents didn't even have clearance. But Hank did. Howard, Peggy, and Steve had also warned him multiple times not to mess with anyone from the Sanctuary.
"If there isn't another Melin at the Greek Sanctuary, then yes, that's me," Melin said with a smile.
"Mother f—!"