Leaving aside how shocked Ellis was by the announcement, the reporters below had already erupted into an uproar.
After all, in the history of human civilization, this was the first time humanity was establishing formal diplomatic relations with an extraterrestrial civilization in the true sense of the word.
Atlantis did not count—it was a native Earth civilization.
General Zod and his followers did not count either—they were nothing more than a small hostile force, not a civilization.
But now, the legendary Asgardian Aesir, straight out of Norse mythology, were preparing to visit Earth for friendly diplomatic exchanges—and as a full-fledged civilization.
Even more importantly, they had chosen America as their first point of contact.
That alone was enough to send American pride through the roof.
Who was Ellis?
A man capable of climbing to the position of President of the United States was no fool.
After a brief moment of shock, he immediately grasped the political significance and opportunity behind this event.
And who was Lucas?
The Terminator.
A globally acknowledged superhuman hero.
Especially in a society that worships individual heroism as much as America does, Lucas was practically a living symbol.
Thus, Asgard's willingness to establish relations—personally delivered by Lucas—instantly reinvigorated Ellis.
The instincts of a top-tier politician kicked into overdrive as he began calculating how to maximize this opportunity.
"Thank you, Lucas!"
Ellis reached out and firmly shook Lucas's hand, gratitude evident and sincere.
Because this was nothing short of a second political life, perhaps even a chance to reach greater heights.
"You help me, I help you," Lucas said with a knowing smile.
"Yes," Ellis replied earnestly. "You help me, I help you."
This time, there was no false politeness in his expression.
The moment was captured by countless cameras.
The next day, newspapers ran headlines such as:
[The Terminator to Lead the Norse Gods in Establishing Formal Relations with the United States]
Online media—still in its early growth phase—quickly followed with even more sensational titles:
[Shocking! The Terminator Brings the Norse Gods to Earth—Threat or Opportunity?]
[The Terminator Subdues the Norse Gods, Leads Them to Earth for Diplomacy]
[Is Earth About to Fall? Is the Terminator a Traitor?]
Lucas didn't bother responding to any of this nonsense.
He had an enormous corporation behind him—and a legal team of over eighty professionals who would gladly deal with slanderous media outlets.
That was one of the perks of being wealthy in America.
---
In the backyard, Lucas lounged in a chair, basking in the sunlight.
Beside him, Little Surtur lay sprawled on a tabletop, mimicking his "dad" by crossing his legs in the exact same pose.
In the swimming pool, Carrie splashed around happily, while Fenrir soaked leisurely nearby.
Off to one side, Pietro grilled meat and sausages, while Wanda mixed fruit juices and drinks.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Carrie continued playing in the pool without concern—after all, the renovated house now had an intelligent home assistant to handle such things.
Two minutes later—
Two middle-aged adults stepped into the backyard.
"Dad! Mom!"
Carrie's eyes lit up. She swam to the edge, climbed out, and ran straight into her mother's arms.
"Oh, my precious girl," the woman said warmly, hugging her. "It's been a while. You've grown taller."
She laughed and added teasingly, "Looks like your brother's been sneaking you extra food. Your cheeks are getting chubbier."
Lucas removed his sunglasses and walked over.
"Dad, you look great. Guess Mom hasn't been beating you too much."
He hugged his father Jonathan Reed, then his mother Helen Reed.
"Oh, stop talking nonsense," Helen scolded lightly.
"Just look at what you've turned this place into. If that young man Jackson hadn't confirmed it was our house, I wouldn't have dared come in."
Jackson—the local police officer responsible for the neighborhood.
"He's a good guy," Jonathan said as he sat down, puzzled.
"But he gives me a strange vibe."
"Oh, he's gay," Lucas said casually.
"And especially into muscular men like you."
"WHAT?!" Jonathan jolted.
"No wonder he shook my hand before leaving—and even squeezed it twice!"
"It's fine," Lucas waved it off. "Just be clear with him. He already has two boyfriends anyway."
Lucas then gestured toward a small girl.
"This is Elaine Belloc, the child I told you about. I adopted her."
Elaine walked over obediently.
"Oh, what a sweet child," Helen said gently, pulling her close.
"What happened to your parents, dear?"
"I don't have a mother," Elaine explained softly.
"My father left a long time ago and never came back. My uncle had something very important to do and couldn't take care of me anymore."
"Oh… you poor thing," Helen said, clearly misunderstanding, her eyes softening.
She then said firmly, "Don't worry. Since you're part of our family now, I'll treat you like my own daughter."
Lucas chose not to correct the misunderstanding—it made things simpler.
"Welcome to the family," Jonathan added kindly, patting Elaine's head.
Lucas swallowed several sarcastic remarks and kept quiet.
"Next," Lucas continued,
"This is Pietro Maximoff, and this is his sister Wanda."
"What happened to these two children?" Helen asked again.
"They're from Sokovia," Lucas replied simply.
As experienced travelers, Jonathan and Helen instantly understood and began comforting them warmly.
Helen looked around at the now bustling household, smiling brightly.
"Your father always worried the house would feel empty with just you and Carrie. Now look at this—what a lively family."
"There's more," Lucas said, clapping his hands.
Fenrir leapt out of the pool, shook off the water, and padded over.
"This is… a wolf?" Jonathan asked, studying him carefully.
Fenrir had already adjusted his size, appearing like a large but normal dog.
...
🔥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Read ahead! 🔥
If you're loving the story, you can unlock 70+ ADVANCE CHAPTERS right now for just $4/month on my Patreon! Not only do you get a massive backlog to binge-read, but you also directly support my daily translation work. ❤️
👇 Grab your early access here:
🔗 [patreon.com/user?u=79514336]
(Or simply search for Translator-Sama on Patreon!).