Chapter 116: Where's My Power of Thunder?!
"Argh—"
The adhesive tape of the waterproof corridor was smashed through by Thor as he was kicked out from the second-story iron scaffolding by an Agent's straight kick.
He slammed heavily into the mud in the rain, looking as if he had been covered in a bucket of paste.
There was no cover here; rain shot down from the sky, slender and dense like countless bright white needles falling upon him.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
He clutched his chest, feeling short of breath, with a dull pain in his ribs and a dazed look in his eyes.
"What a piece of bad luck."
The two Agents didn't pursue him, standing by the opening and spitting to the side.
Their breathing was heavy, chests heaving; it had to be said, Thor was truly resilient—he didn't even have a scratch on him, yet they were the ones gasping for air. Was this guy made of iron?
"Disregard him. Stand by."
Hawkeye's voice crackled through the earpieces.
"Yes, sir!"
A few levels higher on the waterproof scaffolding, a figure could be vaguely seen with an arrow notched.
He crouched on the iron beam, bow held horizontally before him and arrow on the string, tip pointing down like a crow perched on a branch, aiming its beak at its prey.
Thor shook his head, propped himself up, scanned his surroundings, and then spotted Mjolnir at the center of the area.
"My hammer!"
He immediately broke into a joyful grin and strode forward. His boots stepped into the muddy water, splashing slush onto his pant legs, but he didn't even look; his eyes were fixed solely on the hammer.
Just then, a clapping sound rang out from the side. Thorlooked toward the noise and saw a tall, thin woman in fishnets standing a few meters away, palms pressed together.
Then, an invisible Impact wave erupted from her palms, sweeping aside the curtain of rain and causing splashes to burst to both sides.
The Impact hit him, and his brain buzzed as if someone had struck the back of his head with a sledgehammer.
The ground beneath his feet felt like an earthquake—it softened and gave way, and his legs buckled as he fell into the mud.
"Hmph."
The masculine-looking woman gave a cold sneer and walked toward the hammer.
Her pace was fast, and though muddy water poured into her fishnet stockings, she didn't care. She took a few steps toward the hammer but then suddenly stiffened.
She turned back in shock. Thor was lying on his back in the mud, nose bleeding, but one hand was gripping her ankle, and his grip strength didn't seem affected in the slightest.
"How is that possible?!"
How could this guy withstand her stun wave? Even if he didn't pass out for hours, he should at least have stayed down for a few minutes!
"The hammer is mine!"
Thor gave a roar and a yank, causing her to lurch forward. He kicked off the ground, lunged up, and grabbed at her backside with his other hand.
"You bastard!"
The woman's eyes widened, and she delivered a massive slap.
Thor tilted his head, his face twisting to the side, but he didn't even pause. He tackled her to the ground and stepped over her toward the edge of the crater.
"Don't even think about it!"
The woman was also ruthless, perhaps out of embarrassment and anger, as she tackled him back just as he had done.
The two of them rolled in the mud, and Thor's back slammed into a puddle.
"You foolish mortal woman!"
"You shameless rogue!"
The two began to bicker and scuffle, pulling and dragging each other to prevent the other from touching the hammer.
Thor's hand pressed against her shoulder while her foot pushed against his abdomen. Mud covered their faces, making them unrecognizable.
At some point, Green Morgan walked over holding a large tub of buttered popcorn. He pinched a piece, tossed it into his mouth, and chewed while watching the show, with Lorna by his side.
"Where did this woman pop out from?"
Green watched the woman wrestling with Thor in the mud. She was currently straddling Thor, hands choking his neck, while Thor was pulling her hair. Neither would let go.
"She's a Mutant, codename Arc Light," an Agent reported. When she broke into the base, cameras had already captured her facial features and synced them with the big database for comparison.
"Original name Philippa Sontag. Her ability is to release intense seismic energy Impact waves by clapping her hands together, causing large-scale destruction, stunning, and ground tremors."
"Additionally, she is a subordinate of the Mutant radical, Magneto."
Lorna's eyes flickered slightly, some emotion flashing through them like something swimming beneath the surface of water.
Green saw this, quietly withdrew his gaze, and pressed his earpiece.
"Barton, shoot her. Cripple her."
"I've been in the game longer than you, can't you at least add'Senior'?"
Hawkeye's voice came through the headset, lazy and carrying a hint of a smile.
"The arrows I shoot travel further than yours. If you call me Senior, I'll teach you—Laura likes a strong thrust."
[Laura Barton: Clint Barton's (Hawkeye) wife (currently girlfriend), codename Agent 19.]
The surrounding Agents immediately turned their heads to play deaf. Some picked their ears, some looked up at the waterproof tape, and some pretended to study the tablets in their hands.
Their superior was too good at making dirty jokes, and he was teasing another superior at that. They didn't dare listen.
"Heh, f*ck you!" Barton wasn't angry; having worked with this guy a few times, he knew his temperament. Of course, he wouldn't let him get too close to Laura if his life depended on it.
He released his hand, and the arrow left the string.
The arrow pierced the rain curtain, its tip splitting raindrops as it transfixed Arc Light's right thigh.
Blood splashed from the wound, mixing with the rain and creating several dark red flowers on the muddy ground.
She screamed and collapsed, clutching her leg.
Thor took the opportunity to break free from her, scrambled up, and stumbled toward the hammer, grinning like an idiot.
"Finally, you're back in my hands, old friend."
He bared two rows of white teeth on his mud-caked face.
"Come! Thun—" Thor grabbed the handle and pulled... but it wouldn't budge?!
He was stunned, looking down at his hand and then at the hammer.
Refusing to believe it, he strained harder! The veins on his forearms bulged, and every muscle in his face was working, but it simply wouldn't move.
"Where is my divine power? Where is my thunder?"
Thor felt wronged, and he tilted his head back to shout at the sky.
You can't play like this! He was kicked out of the house, and they even froze his bank account?!
He pulled with all his might, and pulled again, but the hammer remained motionless as if grown into the rock.
"No! Father! You can't do this to me!!"
The miserable Thor was truly miserable.
"Hahaha!"
Arc Light watched him from behind and mocked him.
She propped herself up from the ground to sit, the arrow still stuck in her thigh.
Her palm quietly pressed against the ground, attempting to affect the hammer through molecular acceleration—the so-called Impact wave.
The mud beneath her palm vibrated slightly, but the hammer remained motionless with no supernatural reaction; it was just a very hard, very heavy metal.
"I thought you actually knew something, but you're just a lunatic."
She lifted her leg, preparing to stand. The intel gathering was finished; it was time to retreat.
A foot stepped on her head, burying her propped-up body back into the mud.
"Do you think this is the Land of Light? Coming and going as you please."
Green ground his heel into the back of her head, shoving her entire face into the mud.
She struggled in terror, her hands clawing at Green's pant legs and her legs kicking up a spray of muddy water, but she couldn't get up at all.
With her face buried in the mud, her mouth filled with slush, and her whimpers muffled in her throat like a drowning person.
Thor heard the familiar voice and turned his head.
He saw Green, and it was like seeing a family member. He was so aggrieved!
"Green, my divine power is gone, it's gone."
He was like a child whose candy had been stolen, his voice carrying a sob as he pointed at the hammer.
Green curled his lip.
"Uh-huh, as expected."
"What?"
Thor was confused. He wiped his face and gave his hand a flick, then saw a large number of Agents walking out of the tunnel behind Green.
"Green, run!"
He roared and ran toward Green.
Green looked at Thor running toward him with a bit of surprise and some amusement.
But before he could reach Green, his face was met with a rifle butt. Nosebleed sprayed out again, drawing an arc in the rain.
His eyes rolled back, his body pitched forward, and he fainted at Green's feet, kicking up a splash of water.
That Agent was the very one who had encountered him in the corridor.
He knelt down, fearing Thor's special constitution, and delivered a few more blows to his face just to vent his frustration.
"Do you have a grudge against him?" Green asked, not intending to reprimand him.
"Reporting to the Officer, no!" The Agent stood straight.
Green stared at him for a few seconds and understood.
"Your bonus is doubled. Consider it hazard pay."
"Yes!"
The Agent suddenly felt heat rush to his face, and his mouth couldn't help but curl upward.
He had originally thought their performance was too poor and there would be no bonus, or at least it would be halved.
He turned his head, glanced at his companion out of the corner of his eye, and pointed somewhat sheepishly.
"Officer, actually there's one more..."
That Agent immediately snapped to attention.
"I have eyes."
"Yes." The Agent gave his companion a look.
"Am I a good pal or what?"
"Best brother!"
Green didn't care about their little schemes. To him, loyalty and emotional value that could be bought with money didn't matter how much it cost.
In any case, he could expense it—not from that pauper Fury, of course, but from Pierce.
Yes, Alexander Goodwin Pierce.
Since revealing his identity, Drake had introduced him to the various heads of Hydra currently entrenched across the World. Strictly speaking, he was now the face of Hydra.
"So, what kind of benefits should I squeeze out of your old man?"
"Oh my, I really am bad."
Green looked down, a playful smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.
Lightning streaked across the night sky with a white light, illuminating the entire camp in a deathly pale hue. His figure stood in that paleness, his silhouette carved deep by the light.
Chapter 117: Naive Thor
In the interrogation room, an incandescent lamp sat on the table, its light pressed low. Thor lay sprawled on the table, slowly regaining consciousness.
The piercing glare made him blink several times. His eyelids felt heavy, as if he had just been fished out of water.
"What?"
He moved his fingers and felt something on his wrists connecting him to the table—handcuffs. He then looked in confusion at Green Morgan across the table, who was playing a game.
"Awake?"
"Green?" Thor called out, his voice a bit raspy.
"Why aren't you handcuffed?"
"This is my turf, so of course I don't need them," Green smiled, his thumbs never stopping.
Thor was dazed. His mud-soaked clothes clung to him, ice-cold. He couldn't help but sneeze; the hollow heat gave him a sense of discomfort he had never felt before.
But that wasn't the point. The point was...
"You played me! You played Jane!"
He lunged upward, leaning forward. The iron chains snapped taut, and the cuffs clanged against the shackles with a loud 'thud'.
As he spoke, he couldn't help but sneeze again, spray flying everywhere. Green quickly grabbed a clipboard from the table to block it.
"Didn't you want to come in? Didn't you touch the hammer?" Green spoke slowly, tossing the clipboard back onto the table.
"You just didn't consider the consequences of your actions. I'm not responsible for that."
"What do you want?" Thor asked coldly.
"Have a sip of hot coffee first," Green said gently, gesturing with his chin toward a steaming paper cup on the edge of the table.
"What about Jane and the others? What did you do to them!" Thor remembered something and asked hurriedly.
"Dead," Green said flatly.
"What?!" Thor's eyes widened, his pupils trembling violently.
"Just kidding."
"You... cough..." Hearing this, Thor almost lost his breath.
"Let me think..." Green put down his phone, feigning contemplation.
"Unauthorized entry into a high-level classified military restricted zone, intentional damage to critical power infrastructure, and intent to steal national strategic assets—yes, that hammer."
"That is my hammer!" Thor shouted.
"Any evidence?" Green rested his hands on the edge of the table and leaned forward slightly.
"The 'impotent' God of Thunder... it's quite funny."
"Also, you assaulted my subordinates."
"They assaulted me!" Thor retorted. His nose still hurt!
"Aren't you the God of Thunder?" Green chuckled, leaning back into his chair.
"Don't tell me that after living all these years, you only know how to swing, smash, and shout 'Father, grant me the power of lightning' or whatever."
Thor fell silent.
"So it really is like that." Green observed his reaction, the corners of his mouth curling up.
"Drink some coffee."
Thor frowned, picked up the paper cup, and downed it in one gulp.
"Does it taste good?" Green asked.
"It's as sweet as the Golden Milk of Vanaheim, but I don't like sweets." He smacked his lips twice.
"Coffee is actually bitter, and I didn't add sugar," Green smiled.
Thor's hand froze as he was putting the paper cup back on the table. He looked up suspiciously.
"So, this is..."
"Poison, of course," Green propped his legs up on the table.
"A newly developed one. As long as your physiological structure isn't too different from a human's, your immune system won't perceive it as a threat.
Then it spreads throughout your body. You'll be fine mostly, except you'll get the runs and vomit from time to time, and it'll get more frequent until it's uncontrollable, anytime, anywhere."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Maybe you'll be the first god to die from exhaustion on the toilet."
Thor's face turned from pale to purple. He bent over, clutching his stomach, a muffled groan rolling in his throat as if something were churning in his gut. Clearly, he was already feeling the effects.
Green pulled a small glass vial from his pocket, about the size of a thumb, containing a pale blue liquid.
He swirled the liquid inside, placed it on the table, and pushed the bottom of the bottle with his fingertip, sliding it in front of Thor.
"Drink it. This is the antidote."
Thor hurriedly grabbed it, pulled the stopper, and poured it into his mouth.
He put the bottle down and took a breath. The cramping in his stomach slowly subsided. He leaned back against the chair, his chest heaving.
"Actually, what you just drank is the real poison," Green added after waiting for him to catch his breath for a moment.
"That cup earlier was just my coffee with sugar."
"?" Thor was stunned, his lips twitching as he watched Green take a sip of his own coffee.
"What? Want another cup?" He handed it over with a beaming smile.
"No!"
Thor recoiled as if he'd seen a ghost, leaning back as far as he could. He was terrified of being tricked again.
"Fine~ then!" Green raised his eyebrows and withdrew his hand.
Thor stared at Green for a few seconds before suddenly speaking: "Can you let Jane and the others go? They only did it to help me."
"Of course!" Green pursed his lips as if in agreement.
"Keeping them around is useless anyway, and I'd have to provide their meals. It's more trouble than it's worth, isn't it?"
Thor immediately breathed a sigh of relief. His shoulders slumped, the chains loosening and clinking against the edge of the table.
"Might as well just kill them then, saves them from going out and blabbing."
Thor's heart leaped into his throat again.
"Are you kidding me?" he cursed.
"No, no, I'm very serious." Green sat up straight, his hands folded on the table.
"In this place, I am the judge and the jury. If I want them dead, they die. At the very least, I can arrange life imprisonment if I think it's fun. They could even have other... special uses."
"You monster!" Thor pushed against the table to stand up, but the table legs were welded shut and didn't budge an inch.
"Thanks for the compliment," Green leaned back again.
"However, such bad things can be avoided." His tone suddenly changed, becoming lighthearted, but his eyes held a hint of playfulness that made Thor's skin crawl.
"What... what do you want to do?"
"Don't worry, it's something beneficial for you. It'll be very 'refreshing'."
"No..." Thor instinctively refused. He had learned his lesson; when Green spoke in riddles like this, it was never anything good.
"Hmm?" Green raised his index finger like a blade hanging in mid-air.
Thor's words caught in his throat.
"If you refuse, you'll soon receive a video of Jane being 'processed' by several Black Agents. Of course, I'll go first. High-definition and uncensored."
"You shameless villain!" Thor was completely enraged. The chains rattled violently as he tugged at them. He glared, the veins in his neck bulging as if he were about to snap the iron chains and pounce.
Even the pirates he had encountered in the Universeweren't as low as this guy.
Green, however, appeared bored. He yawned and rubbed the corner of his eye with his fingertip.
"Don't bother with those uninspired insults."
He stood up and walked to the door, his hand resting on the handle. He paused.
"You have five minutes to think."
He looked back, the corners of his mouth curving into an arc.
"A test to see if your love for Jane is true."
Click.
The door closed. Thor sat by the light, deep in thought.
What was he thinking about?
Thinking about his backside.
In the corridor, Green walked toward the cells. Barton was leaning against a pile of crates, holding a phone and smiling sweetly. His entire aura had softened.
Upon seeing Green approach, that smile instantly transformed into a serious face.
"I'll call you back later, honey. Mwah." He stared at Green with a warning look.
"Why so defensive?" Green acted as if his heart were wounded, clutching his chest.
"Go, go, go." Hawkeye waved him away in disgust. You couldn't give this guy a good face; as soon as you did, he'd start plotting against you. He put his phone away into his pocket.
"Since you're stationed here, I should be going. I have other missions."
"Oh, then hurry up and get out of my base." Green waved his hand dismissively. Boring.
"I think I'm the one in charge of the base." Barton laughed in frustration. The contrast before and after was truly massive; as expected, this guy was up to no good.
"Former person-in-charge. All the cups you stored in the base are mine now," Green's voice drifted back.
"Asshole!"
Barton secretly flipped him off at his back, then turned and left in another direction. He had to go back to his room because he really did have a cup—one that Laura had custom-made for him.
Chapter 118: The Price of a Sentence
Green walked straight to the cell and opened the door.
Louis and the other two were sitting in a row against the wall, huddled in the corner like three quails soaked through by the rain, none of them speaking.
Outside the cell door, Laura was entertaining herself with a bouncy ball.
To the side, Lorna was eating Green's bucket of popcorn while writing a geological survey report; judging from the way she was scratching her head, it was indeed a bit difficult for her.
"Why stay here? The base has internet, go play." Green rubbed Lorna's small head.
"I have to learn something from you, don't I?" Lorna looked up. "I hate being just a pretty face."
"Heh." Green looked down at her.
"Sir, this counts as entrapment, there's no law..."
Seeing Green enter, Louis immediately began to cry injustice.
Before she could finish, Green pulled out a remote and pressed it; the smart handcuffs on the three of them automatically popped open.
The cell door opened as well, the iron gate sliding to one side.
"Eh?" Louis froze for a moment, blinking her eyes.
"You can leave," Green said.
"Really?" She grinned.
"I can find you no matter where you are anyway; it's just moving to a larger cell." Green's words made Louis's smile freeze.
He gestured with a tilt of his head, and the Agents following behind him stepped forward, took three anklets from a box, and held them out before them.
"Your punishment will be compensated in another way; when we conscript you and need your abilities, you must obey unconditionally."
"This is too overbearing," Louis muttered, and Foster, beside her, patted her.
"Hmph." The Agent in front of them heard her and curled his lip in disdain, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes before he turned and walked away without a word.
There weren't just S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents in this base, but the sole highest authority was Green.
"No problem, we accept," Erik said proactively as he took an anklet and fastened it around his ankle.
"Then there's no problem." Green turned to leave.
"Excuse me, how are you going to handle Thor?"
Foster spoke up; Louis looked at her with a face full of speechlessness. Like, didn't you just lecture me? Now you're being irrational?
Green's figure paused. He turned back.
"What?"
Foster swallowed, her voice trembling slightly.
"Thor, what do you plan to do to him?"
"Heh." Green laughed.
Has this woman studied herself into stupidity? Does she not even understand the meaning of being a prisoner? Or has the American concept of freedom, democracy, and rights already rotted her brain?
He waved his hand toward the several Agents waiting nearby; understanding his intent, the Agents turned and walked toward the three of them.
"Wait, wait, what are you doing? No, why are you handcuffing us again?"
Louis struggled in panic, pulling her wrists back and twisting her shoulders.
An Agent grabbed her wrist, and with a click, the handcuffs locked back on.
"We already accepted your conditions, you can't do this!" Erik shouted.
Green looked at the apologetic Foster and found it amusing.
She stood there, lips pursed and eyelashes lowered like a child who had done something wrong. His gaze moved from her face to Erik.
"She seems rather reluctant to leave her big boy, so she might as well stay here. Of course, when I said'she', I only meant you."
"I was wrong, I shouldn't have asked." Foster looked up, her eyes rimmed with red.
"Just take me, let them go, I beg you."
"No." Green turned toward the door and waved his hand with his back to her. "Two people are better for relieving boredom; one isn't enough to play with."
Foster and Louis seemed to understand something and resisted desperately.
"It's none of my business! Why am I included too?!"
"No! I don't want this! Let me go!"
"No! No!! Don't hurt them! Please!" Erik shouted, grabbing the bars.
"Tsk!" Laura looked at Foster with displeasure, then looked at Lorna, whose eyes had also turned cold.
"Handle them."
"What a talkative bitch." Lorna raised her hand, a dark green ball of light appearing in her palm, which she then squeezed shut.
The handcuffs on Louis and the other woman instantly shrank until they bit into their wrists.
The metal rings tightened, sinking into the flesh and pressing out a bloody mark along the edges. They cried out in pain.
The Agents showed no mercy, taking the opportunity to pull out tranquilizer guns and give each of them a shot.
The needles pierced their necks, the plungers were pushed down, and their struggles slowly softened. Their eyelids drooped, their bodies slumped, and they were dragged away by the Agents.
"Enjoy living alone, old man."
Laura smiled wickedly at the ashen-faced Erik, then turned to leave with Lorna as the door slowly closed.
Erik was stunned for a while, his expression becoming distorted.
Whether it was Jane, the most outstanding student he had ever trained, or the talkative Louis who kept him happy, he was never willing to refuse their requests.
But for a man claiming to be the God of Thunder, he had lost both of them at once, and from the looks of it, they were going to be violated.
He shouldn't have rashly believed the other party, but tracing it back to the source...
"Fuck you, Thor! Fuck you!!"
Green returned to the interrogation room; when the door pushed open, Thor had an expression as if he were ready to die for a cause.
"Come on! For Jane, I can do it!"
"..." Green was silent for a few seconds, a question mark popping up over his head.
"Uh..." Thor seemed to realize he had misinterpreted things, his expression freezing on his face.
"Ahem! So, what do you want?" He feigned a cough and awkwardly looked away.
"Follow me." Green gave him a strange look and turned toward the door; actually, Thor hadn't been entirely wrong in his assumption.
Lorna pointed at Thor's shackles; the shackles broke on their own, and the iron chains slid off, falling to the floor by the table leg.
Thor rubbed his wrists, looking at Lorna with some surprise.
Lorna gave him a meaningful look and turned to follow Green.
Thor tentatively walked out the door, looking left and right.
Agents in the corridor walked past carrying coffee, walked past organizing documents, or leaned against the wall chatting; not a single person looked at him.
He hesitated for a moment but still followed Green.
To be honest, this kind of unconstrained neglect made him feel a bit uneasy; he didn't plan on challenging Green's bottom line.
"Where are Jane and the others?" He walked to Green's side and couldn't help but ask.
"You two really are in love; the thing you care about most is each other's safety," Green said indifferently, his gaze landing on the end of the corridor ahead.
"Did she... say that too?" Thor felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this, his lips curling up.
"I've already released her; as for the conditions, you understand, right?" Green looked at him sideways.
"I understand," Thor said in a heavy voice.
He had also begun to feel the powerlessness of those weak creatures he used to look down upon; he even began to recall how foolish it was for him to go to Jotunheim to declare war not long ago.
He wasn't sure how many Frost Giants he had killed back then.
But to him at the time, they were just a group of humanoids made of ice; yet to the Frost Giant race, who also possessed high intelligence and complete emotions, how terrifying he must have been.
It was precisely because of this that his Father King had stripped him of his divine power.
"In the end, I brought this on myself." He smiled bitterly; the blow of powerlessness was far more profound than any reprimand. He regretted it.
"Good that you know." Green stabbed him again with his words.
Thor's psychological introspection snapped and faded.
The group walked out of the base to the helipad, where a Quinjet was parked.
"Where are we going?" Thor was puzzled.
"To the place where you'll work." Green stepped through the hatch.
"Work?" Thor was confused; he suddenly had a phantom pain of being exploited.
"Move it." Laura gave Thor a push from behind.
Large as Thor was, he was actually pushed into a stumble, only steadying himself after rushing forward two steps.
He looked back at Laura in surprise; in his eyes, this girl's arms were as thin as two bamboo poles. What kind of strength was this?
But he still obediently walked up and sat in a seat on the side.
Laura and Lorna naturally sat down beside Green.
Several Agents walked in dragging two people who were hooded and wearing one-piece straitjackets, sitting them down next to Thor.
The straitjackets were gray, made of thick canvas, wrapping from the neck down to the ankles with zippers in the back and very tight buckles; from the silhouettes, one could vaguely tell they were female.
"What kind of work am I going to do?" Thor curiously glanced at these two prisoners and then looked at Green. Since Jane and the others were already gone, he didn't care about justice now; he'd look out for himself first.
"Take a guess."
Green put a cigarette in his mouth and flipped through data on a tablet; at his status, there were indeed some things he had to learn, at least he needed to know what permissions he could mobilize under his command.
Laura familiarly pulled a silver lighter from his trouser pocket and lit it for him.
The flame jumped up, dancing in the dim light of the cabin, then she held it in her hand to play with.
Green took a drag and looked up at Thor.
Smoke drifted from the gaps of his lips, his eyes hidden behind the smoke, mixed with a malicious amusement, like a cat looking at the struggling mouse under its claws.
"You will find it very pleasant."
"Or rather, *I* will find it very pleasant."
Chapter 119: DJ Green is Online
Las Vegas.
The night was thick, without rain or clouds.
Above the city that never sleeps, brilliant beams of light pierced the night sky—red, blue, and gold interweaving, staining the base of the clouds a murky orange.
Beneath the moon, a black speck rapidly expanded.
A quinjet emerged from the clouds, its engine noise low, swallowed by the city's clamor.
It wove through the neon skyscrapers, the glass curtain walls of the buildings on either side reflecting the light from its fuselage in rhythmic flashes.
Giant screens on the buildings played low-bass 3D phantoms; massive virtual avatars looked down at the streets, their lips moving soundlessly.
The fighter jet finally landed on a helipad atop a towering skyscraper, the airflow blowing the ground clean.
The hatch lowered.
Green stepped out. The night wind rushed into his collar, and he narrowed his eyes.
Beside him, Laura and Lorna looked around in wonder.
"Sir, Presidential Suite No. 3 has been prepared for you. I will lead the way."
The waiting hostess stepped forward respectfully, lowering her eyes as she handed over the room card with both hands.
Her fingertips were short, and her nails were painted a nude pink that was almost invisible under the lights.
"And what I asked for?" Green asked as he took it.
"The setup is complete. We can begin at any time."
"This can count as a report, right?" Green said, turning to the two girls.
"Mm-hmm," Lorna said, raising an eyebrow. She looked around; from this vantage point, the lights of the buildings looked like scattered gold dust, and the distant mountains were reduced to a black line.
She took a deep breath. The night wind filled her nose, carrying the dry scent unique to this desert city.
"I like it a lot."
"If you want to have fun, I'll bring you here often."
This building was a public asset of Hydra, but it had been given to him by its former owner. Green could do as he pleased here; even the pure hostess before him was considered his property.
"If you come, I'll come." Lorna took Green's hand, her fingers interlocking with his.
She glanced at the hostess in front of them, her gaze sliding over that exquisite face before turning back.
"Are we going back to the room now?"
"No, let's show our guest his working environment first." Green tilted his head toward Thor, who was walking toward him in amazement.
The blonde powerhouse was staring up at the glass dome of the skyscraper's top floor, his mouth slightly agape like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time.
"You Midgardians really know how to have fun."
"Entertainment until death—that's my life motto." Green threw an arm around his shoulder.
Thor instinctively slumped his shoulders, looking at Green with a bit of wariness.
"Let's go, we need to hurry." Green glanced at the two Zhenren (Immortal) toys being dragged down.
"You're going to shine tonight."
In the tech-styled backstage of the bar, the lights were dimmed. A blue-purple light strip ran along the ceiling, making the whole room look like the bottom of an aquarium.
Brought here, Thor looked at the room full of beauty and couldn't help but lick his lips.
Some were applying eyeliner in the mirror, some were perched with their legs up filing their nails, and others leaned on sofas flipping through magazines. Their exposed collarbones shimmered under the lights; their natural and light makeup exuded a high-end, cold elegance.
The corners of Thor's mouth couldn't help but curl up, a smile emerging through his stubble.
"Do they look good?" Green asked with a half-smile.
"So, what are your intentions?" Thor said, feigning seriousness. He tucked his chin and lowered his brows, pretending to be unmoved.
"These are just ordinary decorations. The real headliner has only just arrived."
"Headliner? Where?" Thor peered eagerly, his neck stretching long like a goose waiting to be fed.
"You," Green laughed.
Thor's expression instantly collapsed. He pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Me... Me?!" He thought Green had brought him here to be a bodyguard to keep order, or perhaps to have some fun with colleagues, but he never expected he'd be made to be "sisters" with the women.
"That's right," Green said firmly.
Without a moment's hesitation, Thor turned—
"Ugh..." Green grabbed him by the neck, his arm tightening. Thor's face turned red at a visible speed.
"Listen up, Big Boy." Green's voice was right against his ear.
"Either you behave and go dance to hit the sales targets—once you've earned enough money, I'll bring Jane back so you two can live your lives..."
"Or, you go be a stud for me, twenty-four hours a day without stopping. Once you're drained dry, I'll have you neutered immediately."
Thor's face was flushed red from the chokehold. He hurriedly patted Green's arm. Green didn't let go, dragging him to the other side of the backstage—the male model section.
Thor saw a room full of distinctive, high-quality men. Their bodies were exposed, and their expressions were beyond miserable.
Some wore transparent G-strings, some wore only a necktie, and some were rubbing oil onto their pectoral muscles, the oil reflecting brightly under the lights.
"It starts in half an hour. Keep your ass up high for me." Green threw him inside like a sack of potatoes. Thorstumbled a few steps and only steadied himself by leaning against the wall.
Green turned and left, the door closing behind him.
Before Thor could recover his senses, a hand landed on his shoulder.
"You've got a nice body, blondie."
The male models swarmed over, their hands wandering all over him.
"Don't come any closer!" Thor coughed, not yet having regained his strength before being pinned down, his back hitting the wall.
"The boss said there's still half an hour. That's plenty of time."
A Black man took off his clothes and gave Thor a hungry look. He was shirtless, his abs looking like a row of chocolate squares under the light.
"There's a rule for newcomers here." He ripped off Thor's dirty, dried clothes. The sound of fabric tearing was crisp—and heartbreaking.
"And that is to get 'acquainted' first, whether you're a 0 or a 1."
"No!!" Happy tears flowed from the corners of Thor's eyes.
...
Half an hour later.
With eyes that were numb yet carried a hint of inexplicable relief, Thor made his debut. Yes, he had officially become a male stripper.
Lights crashed down from above, casting distorted shadows onto the floor.
Psychedelic metal music echoed through the venue. The drumbeats pounded against his chest one by one, making his heart throb in sync.
A crowd gathered below the stage, venting and jumping. Some held up cash, some held up wine bottles, and some just held up their phones.
Thor began to let loose as well, especially after being tipped by a few people and being fed vodka.
He grinned, sinking into it. Since there was no way to escape and it had already happened, he might as well enjoy it.
Green was at the DJ booth, his fingers rubbing the pink-and-black butterfly-style mixing panel, his body swaying back and forth with the rhythm.
Below the stage in front of him, his 'metronomes'—Louisand Foster—stared at Thor on stage through a one-way mirror, their expressions crumbling.
Their foreheads were pressed against the glass, and the heat from their flared nostrils condensed into two patches of white mist on the mirror, reflecting their blurred images.
Yes, they were very happy.
Forced... yet gradually beginning to cooperate of their own accord...
Chapter 120: Odin: How Did My Pokémon Turn Into a Sweetheart Baby?!
Asgard, the Chamber of Odinsleep.
The stone platform was cold, carved with ancient Runesthat emitted a faint golden light in the dimness, like embers that refused to die out.
A white-haired, bearded, one-eyed old man lay on the platform, fallen into a deep slumber.
His chest did not rise or fall, his breath was silent, and his bodily functions were near zero, yet he seemed to exude an infinite power, like a sheathed sword—its edge hidden, yet making one dare not approach.
Odin, King of Asgard, Father of All Gods.
Possessing the cosmic-level energy of the 'Odinforce,' he required periodic deep sleep to stabilize, recharge, and repair the power, maintaining his control over it to extend his lifespan and satisfy high-level cosmic laws.
However, his soul was not entirely dormant. Much like human breathing, his consciousness briefly drifted out of his physical body.
The spiritual entity sat up from the stone platform, looking down at his translucent palms and then at the aged shell remaining on the platform.
He stood up and walked through the stone door of the chamber; the stone wall rippled away before him like water.
He first went to look at the empty throne. The Great Hall was vacant, the high back of the chair looming, its armrests carved with the totems of the Nine Realms, with no one sitting upon it.
He stood for a moment, thinking of his troublesome second son, Loki—that foolish child who always wavered between lies and truth, likely off to Jotunheim to find his biological father.
Fortunately, he still had a backup. He didn't know how things were progressing now, but... surely, perhaps, probably, he wouldn't starve to death, right?
The spiritual entity sighed and, using the soul channel of the Bifrost Bridge, projected himself to Earth.
Dazzling colors swirled around him, contracted, and then vanished.
Once the rainbow passage faded, he stood above Las Vegas. Beneath him was an ocean of neon, and beams of light pierced the night sky, passing through his transparent body.
Guided by that surge of thunderous divine power, he passed through the glass curtain walls of skyscrapers and through metal walls.
Then, he watched in shock as his first-in-line heir held a steel pipe, showing off his 'charms' amidst a surrounding crowd.
"Thor!!"
How long had it been? How could his eldest son have been trained into this state!
The translucent spiritual entity suddenly flared. The pressure of the God-King crashed down from above like an invisible boulder.
Everyone in the venue was knocked unconscious by a psychic boom, including Thor.
But it wasn't fatal; after all, this wasn't his territory.
With a grim expression, he looked at the DJ on the high platform who was completely unaffected.
That damned DJ!
"Your handiwork?" he asked in a low voice.
"Mine?" Green pulled away, casually pushing the unconscious Foster aside while zipping up his pants, amusedly sizing up the god who had come to demand answers.
"Did you not consider this possibility when you banished him down here?"
"I did not consider that there would be someone as evil as you!" Odin's spiritual form vibrated slightly, like a flame flickering in the wind.
"How did the Ancient One allow you to survive?"
"Me?" Green pointed at himself, his playful smile deepening.
"People are products of their environment. In a kingdom of sin, if I'm not evil, am I supposed to be a little white flower for people to trample?"
His gaze swept over Odin's face with scrutiny and mockery.
"On the contrary, it's you."
"You knew exactly what kind of place this country is, yet you threw him down here alone."
"I was merely following the free will of this nation, guiding him slightly to escape the expectations his father calls 'discipline.'"
"Look, he's very happy."
Green grinned wickedly.
"Ultimately, your education is the problem. You taught him for so many years and he only grew muscles, not a brain. Who's to blame if he gets played? I'm certainly not taking the fall!"
Odin was somewhat surprised by his boldness, but mostly enraged by his insolence and malice.
"Sophistry!!"
The Eternal Spear, Gungnir, manifested in his hand. The spear was silver-white, with Runes spiraling along the shaft like countless closed eyes.
Then, the spearhead pointed directly at Green's heart.
DIE!!!
Green's intuition was screaming; his pupils shrank to pinpoints, and his hair stood on end.
If he couldn't dodge, he'd die!
If he couldn't block, he'd die!
But as long as he didn't die, he could adapt!!
"Jie jie jie..."
"Come on, come on! I'm ready!!"
Green spread his arms wide, leaving his center open, and stared mockingly at the three-meter-tall spiritual form of Odin.
He wouldn't dodge! This spear likely had some sort of'sure-hit' property. Once his health dropped below 35%, he would instantly trigger Crimson to tank it and close in to kill this old geezer!
Though the success rate was near zero, it was a death worth dying!!
Odin looked at the fearless man before him and hesitated for a moment.
Why did he also have a premonition of an 'instant death' timeline?
His single eye, representing wisdom, felt a throbbing pain. In a daze, he saw a knight clad in Crimson blood armor, a fist wreathed in black light piercing through his soul body.
Moreover, it was only a blur, not clear—an uncertainty that only appeared when facing an opponent of the same level.
But the aura of this kid before him was only Planet-level, even if it was still climbing.
Just then—
A pitch-black throne appeared behind Green.
The throne emerged from the void, towering and silent, its back carved with twisted totems like countless serpents coiled together.
Black mist spread and diffused behind him, covering the surrounding buildings like a tide, like the night, like something was waking up.
A perfect androgynous humanoid grew its upper body out from the center of Green's back, embracing him.
Its skin was as white as wax, with butterfly-like wings growing from its wrists. Though its face-less head was blank, it gave off a sense of a mocking smile.
"Odin, do you intend to touch my treasure?" An ethereal voice echoed from all directions.
Not only that,
Green's left eye faded, turning into a burning, hollow skull socket.
Flame poured out from the socket—orange, flickering flames.
On his neck, a hickey left by a certain Shy Girl began to glow with a faint incandescent light. The light was weak at first but grew brighter and brighter.
Vaguely, a cold and elegant petite beauty could be seen standing in front of Green, raising a silver sword.
The blade obscured his right eye, with white flames flowing along the edge. The flame wasn't hot, but it was bright—bright as the midday Sun.
"If you touch my ally, I will cut you down, old man," Irene said in a cold, unquestionable voice.
"Heaven and Hell?! Two Sub-Skyfather level guardian imprints, and a primal Spirit of Vengeance."
Odin's expression darkened. Every parallel Universe had these specific dimensions, and they were interconnected, orbiting Earth like companion Planets. He even knew of the existence of his own counterparts.
But hadn't these two opposing dimensions in this Universegone dormant? Why had they suddenly revived?
No, or rather...
The existence of a certain person had become the key that pried them open.
But what Odin didn't know was that Green was also looking at these entities in surprise.
His original plan was that if Odin attacked, he would escalate the situation and gamble on whether the Ancient One, who was sipping tea in another dimension, would intervene.
If not, then they'd fight. He didn't have a vast territory like Asgard or millions of people to worry about.
As long as Odin made a move, he would surely be drained or even injured, and then his enemies would have their chance.
As for himself, if he died, he died. He'd go to Heaven or Hell and then find a way to run back.
How fun would that be!!
But in all likelihood, Odin wouldn't act. He was too old, even with the Asgardian physiology where they grew stronger with age.
He was holding it all up alone, and his three children were all problem children. He couldn't afford to lose or be injured.
Regardless, he had back-up plans anyway.
But he hadn't expected these guys to jump out on their own.
But now, looking at Odin again, Green felt...
Hey~ It seems... I can take him!
Odin's single eye flickered.
In the end, he restrained his killing intent. The soul fire burning around his silhouette calmed down, changing from a roaring blaze to a thin layer of light clinging to his skin.
The long spear in his hand dissipated into shimmer; golden fragments drifted in the air for a few seconds and were gone.
He looked at Green, now with a hint of appreciation and a sense of familiarity.
Once upon a time, he too was so unrestrained. His younger self was no saint; now that he was old, he had many more misgivings.
"A complete gambler and warrior indeed."
He chuckled. Indeed, he couldn't afford the cost right now.
He could feel that as his aura flared, more and more entities from other dimensions were peering in.
Especially those from Hell and Heaven, and even... the Celestials???
And the opponent wasn't someone he could easily take down.
Fighting to the death with such a chaotic and frenzied person would be terrifying. He had faced one long ago and sealed her away himself.
Perhaps... if the opponent's future self were to look back from the river of time, it would be a disaster for him and for Asgard.
He had reason to believe this brat could reach that level, surrounded by Heaven and Hell.
If he died, Ragnarok for Asgard would be imminent.
But if he acted now, today might very well be Ragnarok.
"So that's that then? You've caused me quite a loss," Green shrugged, looking at the crowd collapsed on the ground.
"These are but actors you used for your show," Odin saw through it clearly.
"My son has become your clown."
"What do you want from me?"
"Divine artifacts, Runes, or maybe a few Valkyries—the pretty ones."
"And what are you prepared to give in return?"
Green curled his lip and shook his head.
"Nothing."
Yes, the rogue Green was being a total rogue.
In terms of wisdom, he couldn't beat this old man who had lived for countless ages, so he simply let him make the choice.
His only chip was Thor—a dummy whose brain and rear end had been messed with, though he hadn't suffered a loss either; he'd had his moments of 'advancing,' albeit forced.
A sharp light flashed in Odin's narrowed eye. He didn't actually care much about Thor's humiliation; Asgardians lived long lives, and some traumatic memories could actually make him tougher, including love between the same sex.
What he cared about was prestige. Green's actions were undoubtedly a challenge to Asgard's honor.
"I will give you items of sufficient value," he said deeply. "Straighten out Thor's head. My bloodline must not be broken."
"Anything else?" Green raised an eyebrow.
"After I enter the Eternal Sleep, don't let them come looking for me in Valhalla so soon."
"Is that a condition?"
"It is a request." Odin's tone shifted quickly. Since he couldn't be an enemy, he would recruit him as an ally, an asset for the two brothers.
His tone changed from commanding to negotiating, and from negotiating to entrusting.
"I'm not good at protecting people; I'm good at'solving' people," Green said, hands in his pockets, looking like a total hoodlum.
"That's even better." Odin glanced at the useless Thor on the ground, his eye twitching.
The dummy was sprawled on the floor, face pressed against the stage, rear in the air, pants halfway down, revealing two pale thighs.
He looked away, and looking at Green again, he felt it would have been better if Green were his eldest son—he was practically a replica of his younger self, no, even more devoid of a bottom line.
If he were to meet Hela...
The thought popped into his mind but was immediately snuffed out.
Absolutely not!
He suspected that if those two lunatics were paired together, they could blow up the Nine Realms.
Oh no...
Since he had appeared here, Hela could also sense this place... and likewise... sense Green.
"I must check if the seal is still intact."
His thoughts spinning, Odin's soul body turned into a streak of light and flew away. Staying here and seeing Thorjust made him want to beat him.
Before leaving, a token flew into Green's hand.
Green caught it and weighed it; it was a gesture of sincerity, a disguised yielding. The gazes from other dimensions withdrew one by one, like lamps being extinguished.
At the same time, a sentence dropped from the sky.
"Also, teach Loki a lesson for me, but don't make it so dirty!"
"Hmph hmph." Green looked down at the token, his thumb rubbing the Runes on the back.
"Of course not. As long as there's 'money,' everything is negotiable."