14

Chapter Fourteen: The Vengeful Thor

As Thor pondered his situation, he suddenly realized something was amiss.

The mission's focus was on preventing Stark's death.

After all, the Mandarin incident wasn't particularly crucial.

Iron Man's retirement wasn't a permanent departure.

Even if Thor did nothing, Tony would eventually return.

This part of the task seemed superfluous.

Why was this included in the mission?

Moreover, mission rewards are typically proportional to their difficulty. What makes Extremis so significant that it warrants a hellish challenge?

Perhaps, this was a hint that to complete the task, Thor needed to address the Mandarin incident.

It was impractical to wait more than ten years for the plot to unfold, and solving this problem would likely require going to great lengths.

Two key figures are central to this plot: Aldrich Killian, the mastermind behind the Extremis, and Maya Hansen, the botanist and creator of Extremis.

At this time, Killian was still a fan of Tony Stark, making him hard to locate. However, Maya Hansen, being a renowned botanist, likely began her Extremis research around now.

Thor decided to enlist S.H.I.E.L.D.'s help to find Maya Hansen's whereabouts.

Though his scheduled meeting was rejected, it wasn't too much to ask for help in locating someone, right?

…

On a beach in Hawaii, Maya Hansen, who was vacationing, looked at the man who had suddenly appeared before her.

"Sorry, I don't have an appointment," she said, clearly mistaking Thor for someone who had come to chat her up. Though she wasn't entirely wrong.

She had a vision that, if successful, would greatly advance human development. However, her research was still in its early stages, with many problems to solve. Furthermore, without sufficient funding, few believed her ambitious idea would work.

She was here to relax and had no interest in men or women, though Thor's appearance was undeniably striking.

"I know you don't have an appointment because your mind is occupied with your laboratory. Am I right, Miss Maya Hansen?" Thor smiled. Female scientists are usually very focused on their work, and my future girlfriend, Jane Foster, seems to be of this type as well.

"You know me? You... know about my experiment?" Maya Hansen asked, her surprise mingled with skepticism.

"Absolutely. Although your vision may seem unrealistic to many, you are actually on the right track."

Thor's expression grew serious. "However, your research faces significant resistance and disbelief from others.

Many people view the world from a narrow perspective.

They spend their lives trying to expand this narrow view to learn more.

But when they realize that the world could be much larger than they ever imagined, they reject the possibility."

Maya Hansen's eyes began to shine with hope, and she smiled expectantly. "I'm starting to believe that you didn't just come across my information by accident and that you've come to help me."

Thor smirked. "No, I'm here to invest in you and to assist you along the way!"

I hold grudges deeply. If you dare to cancel on me, I'll make sure you regret it!

"Hahaha..." Maya Hansen laughed, not taking it too seriously. "If what you say is true, I don't mind."

Though she was skeptical that this young man, who seemed to be around her own age, had the resources to support her, she knew that if what he said was true, it was an opportunity not to be missed.

"Alright, we're almost set."

Thor glanced around to make sure no one else was present. "I will provide you with ample funding, the most advanced materials, and the best assistants," he said quietly. "But as I mentioned, the world is much larger than you think.

Many of your current beliefs and views will be challenged.

If you're ready to take this step, then follow me."

Seeing Maya Hansen's puzzled expression, Thor led her to a secluded spot. Maya Hansen hesitated but followed.

Thor took Maya Hansen's hand, narrowed his eyes, and a faint electric glow appeared beneath his feet. The next moment, they soared into the sky.