Discussion

"Hill, weren’t you off embezzling funds with Nick Fury? Why did you come back to Asgard?"

Wang Bert looked at Hill and asked in surprise. Hill did not answer. She watched Korath warily and asked, "Blood God, why is there a Kree by your side?"

Korath said in a deep voice, "Because the Blood God is my master. Is there a problem?"

"Master?"

Hill was stunned. The Blood God was so formidable that he had even subdued a Kree?

Wang Bert smiled. "Don’t worry, everyone here is one of us. Just say whatever you need to say."

"Alright."

Hill did not waste words. She said, "A year ago, a rumor suddenly spread through the universe that the Space Stone among the Infinity Stones was on Earth. Fortunately, someone secretly suppressed the rumor, so it did not cause much trouble.

"But for some reason, the rumor resurfaced recently, and this time, no one is suppressing it."

Korath said, "Ronan suppressed the rumor last time. He wanted the Space Stone for himself."

"Ronan the Accuser?"

Hill suddenly understood. "No wonder the rumor has reappeared."

Korath asked, "What do you mean?"

"You don’t know?"

Hill said, "Ronan was expelled by the Kree Empire. He can barely protect himself now, so naturally he has no interest in helping Earth suppress rumors."

Korath shouted in disbelief, "Ronan was expelled by the Kree Empire? How is that possible?"

Hill said, "The Kree Empire intends to make peace with the Nova Corps. Ronan, as a staunch advocate of war, firmly opposed it and was forcibly expelled by the Supreme Intelligence."

The Supreme Intelligence was a living computer created by the Kree, as well as the ruler of the Kree Empire.

"No wonder no one came to Earth to ransom us. So that was why."

Korath gave a bitter smile. Ronan could not even look after himself, much less them.

Wang Bert asked, "So aliens are planning to come to Earth and seize the Space Stone?"

"Yes. Bounty hunters and Ravagers have all set their sights on the Space Stone."

After hesitating for a moment, Hill asked, "Blood God, is the Space Stone really on Earth?"

Wang Bert stretched out his hand, and the Tesseract appeared in his palm. He said, "This is the Space Stone."

Everyone was stunned. "The Tesseract is the Space Stone?"

"Yes."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Bert put away the Tesseract and called out to Tony and Ivan, who were locked in a fierce battle up ahead, "Stop fighting for a while. I’ll explain the Infinity Stones."

Tony and Ivan stopped and said, "Go ahead. We’re listening."

"Alright."

Wang Bert nodded and used magic to conjure six Infinity Stones. "The Six Infinity Stones were born during the Big Bang…

"Among them, the Space Stone is in my hands. The Time Stone is controlled by my master, Ancient One. If I’m not mistaken, the Mind Stone is the Mind Scepter. As for the remaining three—Power, Reality, and Soul—no one knows where they are."

"Three of the Six Infinity Stones are on Earth?"

Everyone frowned. No matter how they thought about it, that did not seem right.

"The Infinity Stones are extremely powerful."

Wang Bert said, "The Power Stone can even destroy an entire planet. In addition, the Mad Titan Thanos has been collecting the Infinity Stones. Once he gathers them all, he can snap his fingers and halve all life in the universe."

"Half the life in the universe?"

Everyone cried out in alarm. The Infinity Stones were far too terrifying. Tony hesitated before asking, "Bert, if the Infinity Stones are so dangerous, why don’t we destroy them?"

"The Infinity Stones are not so easily destroyed."

Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Besides, if you were Thanos and discovered that Earthlings had destroyed the Infinity Stones, what would you do?"

Frank said coldly, "Blow up Earth."

Wang Bert asked, "Exactly. All life on Earth, or half the life in the universe—which would you choose?"

Ivan answered without hesitation, "The former, of course, because I’m from Earth."

Everyone nodded. Wang Bert smiled. "Correct. Besides, the Infinity Stones are an important asset in our fight against powerful enemies in the universe. Without the Time Stone, Earth could never have remained peaceful for so many years."

"I understand."

Tony nodded and said, "What should we do about this? The Infinity Stones are so important. There will definitely be many enemies coming."

"Handling it won’t be difficult. I’m just considering which method to use."

Tony asked, "Which methods? Let’s hear them."

"The first method: intimidation."

Wang Bert said, "Simply put, I act alone and eliminate all the Ravagers and bounty hunters. That will intimidate the other greedy ones and keep them from coming to Earth."

"Can that really be done?"

Hill was stunned. "Blood God, those are spaceships, not Helicarriers without Defense Shields."

Everyone could not help laughing. Hill had been the Helicarrier’s first captain!

"A trivial matter."

Wang Bert smiled. "If Captain Marvel can do it, so can I, and more easily at that. Hill, let me put it this way: my current enemies are only gods, demons, and god-level civilizations."

"I never expected you to grow so quickly, Blood God."

Hill sighed in relief. It seemed Earth would be fine this time, because Earth had the Blood God.

Tony frowned and asked, "Bert, is there another way?"

"Of course."

Wang Bert glanced at Tony and said, "I don’t act. You and the governments of various countries stop the Ravagers instead. Of course, I’ll watch from behind the scenes, and if anything goes wrong, I’ll help."

"That method is good."

Tony said happily, "It can solve the problem while also improving our combat experience, as well as that of the various countries. It will lay the groundwork for the coming interstellar age."

Wang Bert teased, "You just want to show off, don’t you?"

"Not really."

Tony shook his head. "Bert, sooner or later, you’ll take over Master Ancient One’s position. By then, your attention will shift to gods and demons, and you won’t have time for worldly affairs.

"I think we should get used to living without you in advance, so we won’t be caught off guard when that day comes."

"That makes sense."

Everyone nodded. Wang Bert said, "Alright, then we’ll use the second method. Tony, inform the governments of all countries. We’ll intercept the Ravagers and bounty hunters at the edge of the Solar System. The Inhuman Kingdom will also join the battle."

Tony nodded. "Alright. The governments of every country will definitely be interested."

"Wait, isn’t this unreliable?"

Hill hurriedly said, "Forget space warfare. With Earth’s technology, can we even reach the edge of the Solar System? Also, I know you’re strong, but this is a battle in space, not a battle inside a planet."

"It’s not like we’ve never fought in space before. Last year, we defeated the Inhuman Kingdom and the Kree Fleet on the Moon."

Tony said arrogantly, "They’re just a bunch of space pirates. What’s there to fear?"

"You defeated the Inhuman Kingdom and the Kree Fleet on the Moon?"

Hill stared in shock. "How did Earth’s technology develop so quickly? I haven’t been gone that long, have I?"

Wang Bert smiled. "Hill, don’t worry. They can handle the Ravagers. Even if they can’t, there’s still me."

"I hope so."

After thinking for a moment, Hill said, "Fury will secretly provide you with intelligence on the Ravagers."

"Fury is among the Ravagers too?"

Everyone was a little surprised. Wang Bert asked, "What is Fury responsible for in the Ravagers Alliance?"

Hill smiled. "Logistics."

"Nick Fury is responsible for logistics?"

Everyone erupted in uproar. Banner even sprayed out a mouthful of wine. Korath looked confused. Why was everyone reacting so strongly? Wang Bert asked, "Hill, what is the difference between putting Nick Fury in charge of logistics and letting a rat into a rice barrel?"

"There is a difference. A rat only eats a little, while Nick Fury embezzles the entire barrel of rice."

Hill laughed. "Earth’s number one embezzler did not earn that reputation for nothing."

Everyone burst into laughter. Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Let us observe a moment of silence for the Ravagers Alliance. Hill, if Fury needs us to cooperate with anything, just tell us."

"He won’t stand on ceremony."

Hill took several communicators from her pocket and said, "These are communicators made by the Skrull Empire. Not only can they communicate across star systems, they’re also very discreet. Keep them on you."

Korath took one, examined it, and said disdainfully, "A Skrull Empire product from ten years ago. It was cracked long ago. Here, take this instead. The Kree Empire’s latest encrypted Quantum Communicator."

Hill was stunned. She had wanted to show off a little, yet someone else had ended up showing her up instead?

"The Ravagers’ technology is surely inferior to that of a proper empire."

Wang Bert smiled. At that moment, an object fell from the sky and crashed beside the bonfire with a bang.

Wang Bert raised his head and shouted in dissatisfaction, "Who has no sense of public decency? Also, throwing things from high places is illegal!"

Odin descended from the sky with an unhappy expression. "I make Asgard’s laws. There’s no such law. If there is, I’ll remove it tomorrow."

"Odin?"

Wang Bert froze, then turned to look at the object and discovered it was Thor, beaten until his face looked like a pig’s head.

Wang Bert teased, "Even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, Odin. Was that really necessary?"

"This guy is utterly hopeless. I beat him up for an entire day, and he still didn’t release a single bolt of lightning."

Odin gritted his teeth. "Thor, are you the God of Thunder or the God of Hammers?"

"What’s the difference between using Thor’s Hammer to release lightning and releasing lightning myself?"

Thor sat up unhappily and shouted, "Banner, bring me some alcohol. I’m dying of thirst."

Banner tossed him a bottle of baijiu and asked, "Are you sure you can still drink in that condition?"

Thor laughed. "No problem. These minor injuries will heal after a few bottles."

Dr. Richards complained, "Alcohol can heal injuries?"

Wang Bert secretly transmitted his voice to Odin. "Odin, if you want Thor to release lightning himself, you must first get Thor’s Hammer away from him. Otherwise, he’ll keep relying on that Meow Meow Hammer."

Odin thought for a moment and said, "Fine. Get that hammer away from him."

"I’ll do it."

Wang Bert smiled faintly and said to Thor, "Thor, what would you do if Thor’s Hammer were lost one day?"

Thor said arrogantly, "It can’t be lost. I always keep it with me, and besides, no one but me can lift it."

"Really?"

Wang Bert raised his hand. Thor’s Hammer beside them slowly flew up and landed in his hand.

Everyone stared in shock. Thor even sprayed out a mouthful of alcohol. He shouted, "That’s impossible! Why can you lift Thor’s Hammer?"

Ivan was equally confused. "With your character, Bert, there’s no reason Thor’s Hammer would recognize you. Is Thor’s Hammer broken?"

Wang Bert asked unhappily, "Is my character really that bad?"

"Yes."

Everyone nodded in unison. Wang Bert rolled his eyes. These people had to be jealous of him.

Although he enjoyed food and leisure, craved comfort, and liked beautiful women, how could the character of Earth’s next guardian possibly be bad?

Odin sneered. Wang Bert had not lifted Thor’s Hammer at all. He had merely added a space around the hammer, then lifted that space—if Thor’s Hammer was placed inside an elevator, it would rise along with the elevator.

Thor seemed to realize something and asked in shock, "Could it be that you’re also Odin’s…"

"Thor, I advise you to act like a decent person."

Wang Bert and Odin simultaneously raised their weapons and looked coldly at Thor. Thor instantly backed down and immediately shut his mouth.

Wang Bert nodded in satisfaction and asked, "Thor, do you remember that last year, you exchanged a cartload of walnuts for Thor’s Hammer?"

Tony complained, "Is Thor’s Hammer that cheap? Thor, I’ll trade you two cartloads of walnuts."

Thor had no time to deal with Tony. After thinking for a moment, he said, "That did happen. I traded with your disciple, Lina."

Wang Bert said angrily, "Then after an entire year, where are those walnuts?"

Thor scratched his head and said awkwardly, "It seems I really never gave them to Lina."

"Thor, you’ve gone too far. You even cheated a little girl."

Everyone looked down on him. Thor grew even more embarrassed. Back then, he had been scared half to death. How could he have remembered the walnuts?

"Someone who does not keep promises is not qualified to possess Thor’s Hammer. Thor, on Lina’s behalf, I officially reclaim your Thor’s Hammer."

Wang Bert said, "From now on, this hammer is no longer yours."

"How can that be? Lina is my sister. What’s wrong with me, her older brother, forgetting a promise or two?"

Thor panicked. Before he could finish speaking, a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, turning his hair into an afro and his body into charred black.

Odin withdrew his hand expressionlessly. If you want to die so badly, I’ll grant your wish.

Wang Bert could not help laughing. He waved his hand to create a portal and tossed Thor’s Hammer through it.

Lina, who was playing a game, turned at the sound and cried out in surprise, "Thor’s Hammer!"

"Lina, did you get Thor’s Hammer as a drop? I’ve run that dungeon dozens of times and it never dropped for me."

Little Hela ran over excitedly, only to discover that it was the real Thor’s Hammer. She said disdainfully, "So it’s this piece of junk. Lina, keep it to crack walnuts. Oh, right, run the Thor dungeon with me again tonight. I refuse to believe Thor’s Hammer won’t drop.

"Too bad Odin can’t be farmed. I’m quite interested in the spear he has."

Odin glared at Wang Bert. Was this the result of your education?

"Very cute. Very lively."

Wang Bert shrugged and closed the portal. Thor finally reacted and let out a heart-wrenching roar at the shrinking portal, "Mjolnir…"

Wang Bert said irritably, "Shut up. Anyone who didn’t know better would think someone had stolen your wife."

"I’d rather have my wife stolen."

Thor said angrily, reaching out to summon Thor’s Hammer. But the hammer did not react at all.

Wang Bert smiled without smiling. "Are you sure?"

"I was joking."

Thor came to his senses and gave an awkward laugh. Then he climbed to his feet and said, "I’ll go to Earth immediately and buy walnuts to trade for my hammer."

"Too late. Unless you master lightning yourself, don’t even think about getting that hammer back."

Wang Bert said. Odin nodded. "I agree."