In front of Garfield, Howard flicked open a lighter.
The flame caught instantly. Page by page, every note names, locations, metals, gods was reduced to ash.
Decisive.
That single action told Garfield everything he needed to know.
The young see the old, he thought.
With this kind of resolve, it's inevitable he'll build an industrial empire that reshapes the world.
Garfield nodded.
"Your determination exceeds my expectations, Howard." He said. "In that case… I'll tell you more."
What followed was an explanation so long and dense that even Howard… genius, engineer, futurist felt his brain overheating.
When it finally ended, Howard sat there, staring into space.
"…So." He said slowly, "The black cat with you… is actually a Black Panther."
Garfield said nothing.
"And that Black Panther," Howard continued carefully, "Is a clone of a goddess. The guardian deity of Wakanda."
Garfield's chest puffed out with pride.
"Accept it or not." He said smugly, "We conquered a true goddess."
Howard's shoulders slumped.
"…And the boss is a cat," He muttered, "Who stands on the front line of cosmic mysteries."
Garfield froze. A massive, invisible question mark seemed to hang over his orange head.
"What?" He demanded.
Howard looked genuinely miserable.
"I used to think I was handsome. Talented. Rich. Surrounded by beautiful women at least a dozen at any given time."
He glanced at Garfield. "And now I realize I'm completely inferior to you, Boss."
"…" Garfield stared.
"I've been surpassed by a cat." Howard sighed.
Garfield reached out and patted Howard's shoulder.
"Think about it this way," He said calmly. "We were never on the same level to begin with."
He gestured vaguely. "I operate within the mystical domain. You operate in the human world."
"There's a fundamental difference."
Howard straightened slightly, pride flickering.
"Yes." He said to himself, "I am still a human~"
Garfield immediately crushed that thought. "It's not impossible for an orange cat to transform into a human."
Howard closed his mouth, One of his last remaining advantages evaporated.
"…I'm hurt," Howard said quietly.
That night, Howard had dinner at Garfield's house. Afterward, Garfield opened a portal and sent him home.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
In Space
A vast golden city floated in the void. Thor had just returned from Midgard.
Still seething, he reported the Kree's actions to Odin.
Did Odin already know the Kree were interfering on Earth?
Yes.
Not only did he know, he had been watching closely.
As the guardian of the Nine Realms, Odin observed every disturbance within them.
"Thor, my son," Odin asked calmly, "What do you believe should be done?"
From childhood through millennia, Thor had been raised with one belief carved into his soul… Protect the Nine Realms.
That was his duty.
That was his purpose.
The Kree had crossed a line.
"Father." Thor said firmly, "The Kree have invaded Midgard. As guardians of the Nine Realms, we must teach them a lesson."
Odin nodded. "Then the decision is yours."
"…" Thor blinked.
"But first," Odin continued, "You must understand the Kree's strength."
"Define your objective. Determine the cost. Consider what must be sacrificed and what will be gained."
He fixed Thor with a steady gaze. "Think carefully. You have one month to give me your answer."
Thor scratched his head. This was… complicated.
He preferred lifting Mjolnir and smashing problems until they stopped moving.
For a moment, he considered asking Loki.
Then he stopped himself. No, he thought. This is my responsibility.
"Father," Thor said, standing straighter, "I will do my best."
…
One Month Later
Thor scratched his head again. This… was the best plan he could come up with.
It still felt incomplete.
He turned slightly and glanced at his younger brother.
Loki stood nearby, watching silently.
Thor exhaled. He had been tasked with planning a confrontation against an interstellar empire.
If he succeeded, the future throne of Asgard would be his.
Naturally, Loki had no intention of sacrificing tens of thousands of Asgardian warriors simply to ensure Thor's failure.
More importantly, Loki despised the Kree's covert experiments on Midgard just as deeply as Thor did.
Thousands of years of indoctrination were etched into Loki's bones.
The protection of the Nine Realms was not Thor's burden alone, it was Loki's as well.
So Loki put on a thoroughly conflicted expression, spread his hands, and sighed.
"Thor." He said helplessly, "This is beyond me. I truly can't help. Perhaps… you should think it through again."
Thor groaned and returned to scratching his head.
Loki, meanwhile, was delighted.
On the surface, he appeared supportive. Internally, his mind was already racing.
The Kree, he thought, must be made to understand their mistake thoroughly.
And then the answer surfaced.
The Bifrost.
The Bifrost was not merely a means of travel, capable of reaching any corner of the cosmos.
It was also Asgard's ultimate deterrent, a weapon that reminded every civilization mapped across the universe why Asgard's authority was unquestioned.
A space fleet?
Erased.
A planet?
Reduced to cosmic dust.
If Loki were tasked with formulating a plan, it would be brutally simple. Let Thor charge ahead, hammer in hand, smashing indiscriminately.
Let the Kree lose their world.
Let the universe remember once again the fate of those who dared touch what Asgard protected.
And then…
Loki's lips curled faintly.
I, Loki, would stand upon the merits of victory. The nobles who distrusted him would be silenced.
The people would cheer his name, and the throne would be within reach.
In his mind, the image formed effortlessly.
The golden throne.
Thor kneeling before it, calling him king. Generals who once sneered now bowing in silence.
Perfect.
Glorious.
Loki fell into his fantasy, utterly still.
Thor continued scratching his head, unaware of anything beyond his own dilemma.
Neither of them noticed the subtle tension that crossed Odin's face as he watched his sons.
Odin was not troubled because Thor had delayed presenting a plan.
He was troubled for a far more dangerous reason.
That orange cat.
The being had not yet set foot in Asgard, and already the cosmos was drifting toward war.
If Garfield arrived, became the Third Prince, and involved himself directly in Asgard's affairs…
Would Asgard remain a guardian? Or would it begin walking the path of conquest?
Odin exhaled slowly.
At last, he made his decision.
The welcoming ceremony for Garfield the troublesome orange cat, would be held one month later.
In the meantime, Odin would observe.
He wanted to understand Garfield's habits, temperament, and intentions especially after seven years of disappearance.
Only then would he decide whether bringing him to Asgard was salvation…
Or catastrophe.
Garfield, of course, knew none of this.
For blissful days, he lounged at home, sprawled across a soft cotton cushion, enjoying peace.
Then trouble arrived, one problem after another.
The first was mild.
Representatives from the Ministry of Magic arrived bearing gifts, claiming they wished to welcome Garfield back and confirm whether the legendary orange cat had truly returned.
Garfield was unimpressed.
After his disappearance, the Ministry had not helped him. They had sabotaged him from the shadows.
He responded accordingly.
Several officials left with fresh claw marks across their faces.
They were escorted out without ceremony. Then came a letter from Dumbledore.
Respectful and carefully worded.
Dumbledore explained that he was extremely busy and lacked Garfield's ability to teleport freely across continents.
He requested very reasonably that Garfield come to England and visit the Ministry of Magic in person.
What Dumbledore did not know…
Was that his greatest rival had already moved.
One step ahead.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream