Chapter 181: Loki’s Ambition
New York.
In Gwen's room, Pikachu held a bag of snacks, happily munching away.
"Pikachu, don't eat so many snacks! If you gain weight, I won't be able to carry you anymore," Gwen teased.
"Pika... chu..." Pikachu wobbled its little body to show it was staying active and wouldn't get fat so easily.
Gwen chuckled and returned her attention to the computer in front of her. With Red Queen tapping into the global network, she was confident it wouldn't take long to track Loki's whereabouts.
The images on the laptop screen kept changing, displaying individuals who bore some resemblance to Loki, only to be filtered out one by one by Red Queen.
Feeling a bit bored, Gwen absently fiddled with her wristwatch. "I wonder what Alan is doing right now... And when he'll be back."
It wasn't until this moment that Gwen realized just how much she missed Alan after only a day apart. Back when they spent nearly every day together, she had never experienced this feeling.
"Miss Gwen, I've found Loki," Red Queen's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Where is he?" Gwen immediately turned to the computer screen.
The image showed Loki in a sharp suit, holding a glass of champagne. Judging by the elegant surroundings, he appeared to be attending a high-end gala.
"Did he come to Earth just to attend a banquet?"
The scene felt strangely incongruous no matter how Gwen looked at it.
"This is in Stuttgart, Germany, at a high-society evening event. Miss Anna was also invited to attend."
The screen shifted, and Anna's figure appeared before Gwen.
Her expression changed immediately as she grabbed her phone, intending to call Anna and urge her to leave the party at once. But before she could, Loki had already approached Anna.
"Damn it!"
Gwen dialed Anna's number, but the call went unanswered.
Anna's attire at the event didn't leave room to carry a phone, and Gwen suddenly remembered that Anna had a habit of turning off her phone during important gatherings or meetings.
According to Anna, different times called for different focuses, and keeping her phone off ensured she wouldn't be disturbed.
"Red Queen, is there any way to get to Germany as quickly as possible?"
Gwen knew it was a pointless question. At this moment, flying there was the only option. What else could she do—grow wings and fly herself?
Watching Loki walk away after greeting Anna, Gwen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But in the next instant, Loki killed someone.
The entire ballroom descended into chaos, with guests fleeing in all directions. Only Anna remained calm amidst the panic.
"Miss Gwen, don't worry," Red Queen reassured her. "Someone is already on their way."
"Who?"
The computer screen split into two video feeds.
One showed the inside of a jet fighter, where a man in a blue suit sat, fully prepared for action.
The other displayed Tony Stark in his Mark 6 armor, flying at full speed toward Germany.
Gwen immediately recognized the man in the jet. "Captain America—Steve Rogers!"
"Correct. S.H.I.E.L.D. has also located Loki and dispatched Steve Rogers to intercept him. Tony Stark seems to be acting independently."
Gwen nodded slightly, feeling a bit more at ease. She wasn't very familiar with Steve Rogers, but she trusted Tony's abilities.
In some ways, Tony Stark's capabilities might even rival her own.
Knowing she couldn't possibly make it in time, Gwen could only place her hopes in Tony and S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Red Queen, connect me to Tony."
"Understood, Miss Gwen."
The screen displayed a connection indicator, which quickly switched to a connected status.
"Tony, are you heading to Stuttgart, Germany?" Gwen asked urgently.
"Hi, Spider Lady." Tony's teasing voice came through. "Do you know how startling it is to have you suddenly break into J.A.R.V.I.S.'s comms? You almost gave me a heart attack."
His lighthearted tone did little to ease the worry in Gwen's heart.
It seemed Tony realized the tense atmosphere and shifted his tone as he continued, "Yeah, there's a terrorist situation over there."
Then, as if something occurred to him, Tony asked, "Did Nick Fury give you the intel too?"
"Yes, Hill brought it to me."
Tony nodded—it was just as he expected.
"So, are you in Stuttgart as well?"
"No, Tony."
"I need to ask you for a favor."
The corner of Tony's mouth lifted slightly. He rather enjoyed being asked for help, especially by someone he respected.
"Go ahead, Spider-Lady!"
"There's a girl at the banquet named Anna Granger. I want you to ensure her safety at all costs."
"She's very important to me."
With Tony's intelligence, he quickly grasped the situation.
"No problem. And don't worry, I won't reveal your identity."
"Thank you."
Gwen smiled and expressed her gratitude.
"You're welcome!"
Now with an additional task on his plate, Tony pushed his suit's engines to maximum, creating a sonic boom as he sped toward the banquet.
---
Outside the Grand Hotel.
Terrified banquet attendees were fleeing in all directions, but no matter where they ran, Loki, clad in his Asgardian attire, would block their path.
Each time, he would kill the person leading the group, using the act as a warning to terrify the others.
Before long, Loki had everyone surrounded.
At the hotel entrance, Anna frowned as she watched the scene unfold.
Having witnessed battles between Emperor and Green Goblin before, the current events seemed less intense in comparison.
Still, they were proof that the man before her was anything but an ordinary human.
"Are you a mutant?" she asked.
Loki's expression darkened. "Don't lump me in with you pathetic humans!"
Using his scepter, he tilted Anna's chin upward and continued, "But I do admire you."
"Earth woman," he said.
"I need someone by my side to witness how I conquer this world and become its king."
Having lived in Thor's shadow since childhood, Loki had always been overlooked. Everyone cared for Thor, and no one ever paid attention to him.
This upbringing had shaped Loki's current personality.
He craved admiration. He wanted his name to be known by all.
His desire to rule Earth was driven not only by ambition but also by a deep-seated need to get back at Thor.
"You think I'd help you with that?" Anna retorted.
Loki smirked confidently. "That's not up to you, Earth woman."
"To chronicle the epic of Earth's new king will be the greatest honor of your life—consider yourself a royal scribe!"
Loki raised his scepter, gently placing its tip on Anna's chest.
Her eyes immediately darkened, shrouded in an inky black haze.
This scene didn't escape Gwen, who was watching through a live feed.
However, due to the camera angle, Loki's back was to the surveillance camera.
"Red Queen, what is Loki doing?"
Red Queen responded with some regret, "I don't know, Miss Gwen. But it doesn't appear he's harming Miss Anna."
"Loki, if anything happens to Cousin Anna, I don't care which realm you hail from—I'll deal with you myself!"
Gwen clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles cracking with audible pops.
---
As the ritual was halfway complete, a blue figure suddenly rushed in, slamming Loki aside.
Anna regained her senses, shaking her head to clear her mind.
Steve Rogers didn't pay much attention to Anna, focusing instead on Loki. "Loki, surrender now."
Instead of panicking at Captain America's arrival, Loki's face broke into a sly grin, as if his plan had succeeded.
Raising his scepter, he engaged Rogers, taking the fight from the hotel ballroom to the area outside…
(To be continued...)
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