79
Chapter 79: System, Hand Over the Task!
"Boom—"
Unable to wait for the elevator doors to open, Thor pushed them aside and saw Tony Stark staring back at him. From a distance, he could see Killian pestering Pepper Potts, talking incessantly while Pepper looked increasingly anxious and helpless.
The security at the venue was quite strict, with guards present to ensure everything was secure. However, Killian wasn't causing any trouble—just persistently following, which was incredibly irritating for Pepper.
Thor moved swiftly, pulling Pepper Potts away from Killian and turning to address the flustered researcher.
"Mr. Killian, I have no interest in your research, and I don't believe it has much potential for success. So, don't waste my time. If you insist, you can wait for me on the rooftop; perhaps I'll change my mind in a few minutes."
He casually took out the business card Killian had given him, tore it into pieces, and walked away with Pepper.
Killian's face reddened with anger and embarrassment. He hadn't expected Thor to publicly dismiss him so blatantly.
…
"Some people just don't understand when they're being dismissed. Next time you find yourself in this situation, just pour red wine on him. If that doesn't work, hit him over the head with the wine bottle. If anything goes wrong, call me, and I'll handle it!"
Pepper Potts' face turned red. "I'm worried about causing trouble for you, boss..."
Thor stood still with a smile. "Don't you know that I thrive on causing trouble?"
Pepper Potts: "..."
Nearby, Stark observed the scene and whispered to the security guards, arranging for Killian to be escorted out "politely."
Even though Thor was from Stark's own circle, his behavior was quite aggravating...
…
Thor indeed enjoyed a bit of trouble, especially when it didn't directly impact him—what's life without a bit of excitement?
The next day, Maya Hansen approached him suddenly: "Boss, do you know a man named Aldrich Killian? It seems he's involved in scientific research as well."
Thor frowned. "Yes, I know him. Why?"
"Oh, he somehow obtained my contact information and wanted to discuss a potential collaboration, but I didn't agree. It shouldn't affect you, right?"
So, trouble had indeed arrived. Even though she had refused, Killian was still trying to poach someone?
Thor found his methods too amateurish to be of much interest.
"Definitely not," Thor said with a reassuring smile. He sent a quiet message and then continued, "The collaboration is a ruse; he's interested in exploiting your research results. By the way, how are your research findings coming along?"
Maya Hansen shook her head. "There have been some breakthroughs, but many challenges remain..."
…
After leaving the laboratory, Thor received a message from Kingpin saying he had sent someone to deal with Killian.
Thor ignored the message and began to think deeply.
"What are you contemplating?"
The System's voice broke his reverie.
Thor glanced at her. "I'm calculating how much time is left."
"What time?" the System inquired, intrigued. "Ragnarök? Or the arrival of Thanos?"
"Both," Thor replied. "I've been in this world for over fifty years, and significant changes are imminent. I'm assessing whether my current resources are sufficient to face the future Infinity War…"
"Yes, but they're not enough."
The System's tone became serious. "If your only goal is to defeat Thanos, your current strength is sufficient, and you could call Captain Marvel back. However, you might not be able to manage the cost of victory."
"That's nonsense. After all, Thanos has destroyed how many planets? It's not easy to handle. Besides, isn't your system supposed to be more useful? The tasks and rewards are scarce, and the costs are exorbitant!" Thor couldn't help but complain.
"That's because you always choose the most expensive options!"
"Because the cheap ones don't offer anything worthwhile!"
"That's why the good things are costly!"
"Wait!" Thor suddenly stopped arguing. "Are you suggesting that I can earn more points? If there's a new task, hand it over quickly!"
System: "..."
…