Chapter 52: The Traitors are Actually in Cahoots with the Police!
Coulson turned to look at Tony and asked, "Consultant Tony, what's the situation here?"
"It's simple. This gentleman is a prince from an extraterrestrial civilization. His name is Thor. For anything else, you can go buy a book on Norse Mythology," Tony teased.
"What? You mean he's really the God of Thunder! How do you know that!" Coulson was genuinely surprised. If Norse Mythology was real, did that mean Zeus and God existed too?
Seeing Coulson's surprised expression made Tony Happy. He couldn't keep the embarrassment he felt when he first met the Asgardians all to himself; Tony wasn't a selfish person. Naturally, he had to share it with others.
"How do I know? There's no need to tell you that. You don't actually think S.H.I.E.L.D. is the only one protecting Earth, do you? I don't know whether to call you confident or arrogant. How many years has it been since you were founded? Who was protecting Earth before that?" Tony said. He really disliked S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attitude from yesterday—that feeling that whatever they did was right and everyone else had to obey.
"You should be glad you didn't harm this god who lost his Divine Power. He is the Crown Prince, after all. And Asgard possesses interstellar planet-killing weapons. Think about the consequences yourself. We're leaving. Once you're done recording, remember to send it to your Director Braised Egg and then destroy it. It's not good for too many people to know about this."
Tony waved his hand and went to regroup with Lan Xingyu.
Coulson was startled; he hadn't expected Tony to know he was recording. Instantly, this great inventor became mysterious in Coulson's eyes. He turned and began contacting his own black-hearted, bald Director.
Coulson highly suspected that the Director made him work overtime constantly just because he was jealous of his hair, making the Director's own bald head look less conspicuous.
What Coulson didn't know was that Lan Xingyu had told Tony that last line via voice transmission.
As soon as Lan Xingyu came out, he sensed what Tony and the others were saying. He moved closer to perceive the situation and found that Coulson was recording, so he decided to let Tony show off a bit. Tony, of course, agreed. Thus, Tony's final act of posturing came to be.
"How does it feel? You look quite satisfied!" Lan Xingyu smiled as he saw the content look on Tony's face.
"Mm-hmm! It was indeed good. But Xingyu, is it really okay for them to know?" Tony asked.
"It's fine. I have some deductions. I expect some things are about to happen. Although S.H.I.E.L.D. is weak, they are the visible force protecting Earth right now. It's beneficial for them to understand a bit," Xingyu said.
Seeing Thor standing silently to the side, Lan Xingyu said, "Don't be so down. Your father isn't dead! Do you think my Master wouldn't know if your father had died?" Lan Xingyu was truly speechless at this 'Alaskan'; he was way too easy to fool!
"How is that possible! My brother Loki told me himself yesterday!" Surprise and hope appeared on Thor's face simultaneously.
"Yeah! Exactly. That's the key point—Loki told you this. What kind of god is he? The God of Mischief and Lies. He's messed with you so many times, why don't you ever learn?" Lan Xingyu said.
"And even if we take a step back, since he came to find you, would he not tell me, a Prince, about such a major event? Use your brain!" Lan Xingyu said, exasperated.
"Then my father is okay! That's wonderful." Thor's mood instantly brightened.
Lan Xingyu jumped up and punched him on the head, then said, "Wonderful my foot! If everything were completely fine, would the God King allow Loki to run wild like this? So something must have happened to Odin. It's just not as serious as death."
"I see! Dammit, this is all my fault. It's all because of my recklessness and that pointless vanity. Now Asgard is facing a crisis, my father is in trouble, and the Frost Giant are going to war... Dammit!" At this moment, Thor finally truly realized his mistakes.
"Good, you've realized your mistakes. Thor, you must remember: 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown.' Are you really prepared to bear that? It's a weight much heavier than you can imagine," Lan Xingyu said to Thor.
Thor fell silent. Seeing his silence, Lan Xingyu didn't say anything more. He and Tony brought Thor to the car and drove toward the town.
"Let's go have breakfast first," Lan Xingyu said. The group arrived at the same restaurant from yesterday.
"Tony, did you bring your armor?" Lan Xingyu asked Tony.
"Yeah, I brought it. Why, did you sense something?" Tony asked, his expression turning serious.
"Yeah! I feel like some troublesome things are going to happen. If you have your armor, keep it near Sister Potts as well." To be safe, Lan Xingyu still wanted Tony to have his armor ready.
"Okay, I'll contact Happy and Pepper and tell them to come over. My armor is with Happy anyway." With that, Tony went to make the call.
It didn't take long for Tony to return.
"Done. Happy has already gone to pick up Pepper. They should be here soon."
The food arrived just then, so Lan Xingyu and the others set aside their worries and began to enjoy the meal.
As far as Tony was concerned, Lan Xingyu was there anyway. Although it was a bit embarrassing for a father to stand behind his son, nobody knew about it right now.
For Lan Xingyu, it was even simpler: 'I'm invincible anyway, the rest of you do as you please.' Even Thor put aside his distractions for now. Food was the most important thing in the world. He wasn't the God of Thunder right now; having lost his Divine Power, he could get hungry too.
While Lan Xingyu's group was eating happily, things were different for The Warriors Three and Sif in Asgard.
Fandral was pacing around their gathering place, his mouth moving as he spoke to Volstagg, who was currently following Tang Youyou's philosophy of turning grief and indignation into an appetite.
"Our dearest friend is exiled, Loki has usurped the throne... Asgard is on the brink of war," Fandral said irritably.
He then turned to the still-gnawing Volstagg and said in frustration, "And yet you can still eat four wild boars, six pheasants, half a cow, and two kegs of beer! I'm ashamed for you. Don't you care at all?"
As he spoke, he slapped the plate out of Volstagg's hand.
This made Volstagg angry. You must be joking—you're not the only one who's angry! Can't you see I've grown two sizes wider from anger these past two days?
What do you think grief and indignation bring? Calories! I'm using my body to express my mood, and you come and hit my plate? Don't you know you shouldn't touch a fat man's plate?
Without a word, Volstagg retorted directly: "Don't mistake my eating for indifference. My grief and indignation have already bloated my body!"
"Enough, both of you." Sif and Hogun immediately pulled the two troublemakers apart.
After separating them, Sif saw that this couldn't continue and said, "We all know what needs to be done!" It was phrased as a question, but her tone was exceptionally firm.
The laconic Hogun also spoke up: "We must set out!"
Hearing the usually silent Hogun speak, everyone looked at him.
"We must find Thor," Hogun continued in his deep voice as he saw his companions looking at him.
Hearing his companions' words, Fandral said, "But this is treason. Not just treason, it's practically suicide." Fandral pointed out the consequences of such an action.
Then Sif said firmly, "If it were Thor, he would come for us too."
"Keep it down, Heimdall might be watching right now," Volstagg whispered.
Just as he finished speaking, their door was thrown open. A soldier arrived at the entrance and said to them, "Heimdall wishes to see you."
"We're finished," Volstagg said, still a bit dazed.
What do you do when the police catch you plotting treason? Waiting for an emergency response now.
The four of them arrived at the Bifrost Bridge feeling quite dejected.
Seeing his sister and The Warriors Three arrive, Heimdall spoke majestically: "You dare to defy King Loki's orders, breaking every oath you've taken as warriors, willing to commit treason just to bring Thor back?" Heimdall's words grew harsher with each sentence, his eyes that could see through all things staring fixedly at them.
"Yes..."
"Good."
Sif was about to say something but was interrupted by Heimdall's "Good." The four were stunned. Sif was the most confused—he'd suddenly learned how to mess with people. Heavens! This is the end of the world; did Thor pluck out all of Odin's beard hairs?
Seeing Heimdall walking toward them, Sif couldn't help but ask, "Then will you help us?"
Heimdall didn't look back and continued walking as he said, "I must remain loyal to the King, therefore I cannot open the Bifrost Bridge."
"Truly an unpredictable fellow, isn't he!" Fandral said strangely. After all, today's Heimdall was too different from his usual self.
"What do we do now?" Volstagg asked, having finally processed the situation.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed past their heads. This wasn't a visual effect like in Conan; it was a real bolt of lightning flashing right beside them.
Sif and The Warriors Three immediately turned toward the sound and found that Heimdall's sword was still inserted into the Bifrost Bridge, slowly opening the bridge.
There was no more reason to hesitate. They were panicking after being caught by the police while committing treason, only to find out the police were on their side.
What were they waiting for? Sif and The Warriors Three then stepped onto the Bifrost Bridge.
They didn't know that the moment Heimdall's sword opened the Bifrost Bridge, Loki sensed it. He came to the terrace of the palace.
Seeing the Bifrost Bridge opening, Loki's face turned grim. As if he had made a decision, he strode toward Odin's armory.
He arrived at the innermost area where various Divine Artifacts were displayed. He walked all the way to the light curtain at the very back and struck the ground with Eternal Spear. A sound rang out, the bars on the light curtain began to disappear, and a massive figure stepped out from within. That's right, this was Odin's armor.
Looking at this armor that could follow orders and possessed immense power, Loki commanded it: "Ensure my brother never returns. Destroy everything!"
It is only natural for a Disciple's Ninja Way to be passed down from their Master. Writing isn't easy, everyone please leave a recommendation or a monthly vote before you go. Love you all.