"He still carries grief in his heart," Qi Mu Kusuo paused before continuing. "Perhaps because of his long lifespan, he has developed a resilience that allows him to endure sorrow better than ordinary mortals."
"Well… let's go straight ahead." Shen He took Violet's small hand and walked toward Thor and Jane, prepared to initiate a conversation.
"Hey, Thor, look." Jane nudged her new boyfriend's arm. "A beautiful family is heading this way. Be polite and offer them something to eat. I don't want anyone calling my boyfriend racist."
"Alright." Thor strode over, first glancing at Shen He, then at Violet, who was holding his hand. "Man, how are both you and your wife black-haired, yet you have a blonde daughter? Was she adopted?"
"Of course—"
Shen He had barely spoken a word before he froze.
How was he supposed to answer that? First, he should deny the "husband and wife" assumption.
Meanwhile, the two rituals stood silently beside him, her expression gradually darkening as she shot him a sharp, sidelong glare.
Shen He cleared his throat. "Ahem. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Shen He, the lord of the Chaldeans. We have been observing a war that should not have occurred in the natural course of time. Prophecy indicates that you are involved. Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard, can you explain why the flames of war have reignited between Asgard and the Frost Giants, despite the armistice agreement?"
Thor's face darkened slightly.
Behind him, Jane sensed something was off. She began to step forward, but Thor raised his hand, stopping her.
"Jane, go wait in the car."
"No." Jane ignored him and rushed over to shield Thor with her arms. "Are you with S.H.I.E.L.D.? Their director already cleared Tony."
"Thor, the God of Thunder, we have no hostility toward you," Shen He said, meeting Thor's eyes directly. "You understand that when Asgard wages war against the Frost Giants, Earth is always caught in the crossfire. As a guardian of this planet, I have the right to demand answers."
Thousands of years ago, the war between Asgard and the Frost Giants had begun with Earth as the battlefield.
Therefore, Shen He was justified in questioning Thor in the name of Earth's guardianship.
Thor's expression wavered, then wilted.
"It's all my fault. I was reckless, and my father punished me. He stripped me of my divine power and exiled me forever. I can't even return to see him one last time."
"So… Odin, the King of the Gods, is dead?"
Shen He's expression shifted multiple times within a single second, his acting reaching peak performance. Finally, he took a deep breath and asked Thor in a voice thick with anger.
"Do you realize what it means for Odin, the King of the Gods, to die before the next ruler is prepared? It means the Twilight of the Gods. The fall of Asgard. And, from that moment on, Earth will be vulnerable—countless warlords across the cosmos will set their sights on this great planet. The world will be engulfed in ceaseless war. Innocent lives will be sacrificed. Civilization as we know it will collapse!"
Thor's face turned red, his breath catching in his throat. In the end, all he could do was mutter, "Loki… my brother… he will handle everything."
"Deception may work for a time, but it is never a lasting solution," Shen He exhaled slowly, as if calming the emotional turbulence caused by such shocking news. "Loki will never become King of Asgard. He lacks Odin's power. You must take responsibility, Thor."
Shen He no longer addressed him as "Thor" because, in his current state, he did not deserve the title of God of Thunder.
"Man, if there's any way I can atone for my mistakes, I'll do it." Thor reached out and patted Shen He's shoulder, his gaze sincere but full of helplessness. "But as you can see, I'm just a mortal now. There's nothing I can do."
"No." Shen He shook his head. "You still don't understand. Odin could never take your power away—he lacks that ability. At best, he only sealed it. If you're willing to follow us, I'll help you find a way to break that seal."
"Wait, wait—! He can't go with you!"
Jane suddenly shouted, pushing at Shen He like an enraged cat.
Qi Mu Kusuo calmly lifted one hand, and his psychic energy restrained Jane mid-motion, suspending her gently in the air before setting her down on the other side.
He had just saved her life. Violet's hand had already gripped the hilt of her dagger.
"God…"
This display left the professor and interns behind Jane completely speechless.
Even Jane herself was stunned. A moment ago, she had assumed these strangers were using tricks from fairytales to lure her boyfriend away.
"Relax." Shen He closed his fingers into a fist. "We do not believe in coercion. A forced leader is unfit to be a king."
"Jane." Thor pulled his new girlfriend into his arms. "If there's a way for me to right my wrongs, then I have to take it."
"So… what you said is true?" Jane covered her lips, struggling not to cry. "I want to go with you."
"That would be dangerous."
"No problem."
Shen He and Thor spoke simultaneously—one stating a warning, the other dismissing it outright.
"Love helps one understand the meaning of guardianship. And Thor, we are not merely heading into danger…"
Shen He was about to continue, but at that moment, a convoy of black cars pulled up.
Agent Coulson stepped out of the lead vehicle and strode toward Shen He, extending his hand.
"Mr. Shen, what brings you to Mexico?"
"I imagine for the same reason you're here," Shen He replied, shaking Coulson's hand before glancing at Thor. "It looks like you've already been in contact. Do I need to make introductions again?"
"If you mean Dr. Downey, I believe we had a very… cordial interaction," Coulson said, then turned to the two rituals. "And congratulations on your recovery, Miss Ryougi."
The two rituals nodded expressionlessly in response.
"I'm not 'Downey.'" Thor ignored the warning glance the professor shot at him and spoke in his usual blunt manner. "I am Thor, Prince of Asgard. I was exiled from my homeland."
Coulson was stunned. While he had suspected "Dr. Downey" was using an alias, he hadn't considered that he might be the literal God of Thunder. He glanced at Shen He.
"He's telling the truth," Shen He confirmed. "You and S.H.I.E.L.D. have a right to be informed. Since we're all gathered here, we might as well sit down and discuss everything in detail."
"I believe we have a secure location," Coulson responded, already realizing this situation was far more complex than anticipated.
Thus, the entire group—including Jane, her professor, and her interns—relocated to the makeshift S.H.I.E.L.D. base set up around Mjolnir.
"…That is the general situation." Shen He folded his arms, glancing at Thor. "My colleague alerted me to the war's resurgence, and I rushed here immediately. However…" He frowned. "He never mentioned Odin's death. Logically, that event should be even more catastrophic than a war with the Frost Giants."
—