Chapter 240: He Is Not a Guest

"Loki."

Seeing that Tony couldn't intervene, Thor quickly shot Loki a meaningful glance.

"The great Void God Kassadin is not only merciful but also great and forgiving," Loki said, despite his reluctance. As much as he didn't want to, he put on a respectful expression. He knew full well that trying to pull any tricks on Void Island would be pointless.

Even without considering the woman who seemed to be in charge, dealing with Reno, Kael, and the others would be a challenge.

He hadn't forgotten how effortlessly these individuals slaughtered the Chitauri like chickens. If he wanted to leave here alive, he had no choice but to talk his way out.

"Asgardian, you'd best remember your words," Sonya's sharp gaze bore into Loki.

"This is not Asgard, nor is it one of the Nine Realms under your control. This is Void Island."

"If you've come here with respect, we'll welcome you, but if you dare show any disrespect to Lord Kassadin, there will be no place for you here."

Turning to Tony, Sonya continued, "Mr. Stark, he's from the Nine Realms. Your home, Earth, is also one of the Nine Realms. You should host him, teach him our rules, and then send him back."

Tony, hearing Sonya ask him to handle Loki, wanted to argue that he wasn't all that close to Loki. But seeing Thor desperately pleading with him with his eyes—almost as if Thor was ready to bow—Tony understood how much Thor cherished his foolish brother.

"Alright, I'll take care of him and send him back," Tony agreed, deciding not to refuse.

"Apologies for the trouble my friend's brother has caused you all," Tony said.

"In a few days, I'll host a grand banquet as an apology. Please forgive us for the inconvenience."

Without wasting any time, Tony grabbed Loki by the collar and flew off with him, ensuring Loki wouldn't say anything else that could offend anyone and make the situation impossible to fix.

"This was just a small matter. You don't need to hold it against Tony, and you certainly don't need to blame him for anything," Sonya addressed the crowd of Void Cult members who had gathered to watch.

"We understand. This has nothing to do with Mr. Stark," Reno said respectfully, bowing slightly.

He knew that without someone stepping in to clarify, the members of the Void Cult might develop a negative impression of Tony due to Loki's actions. As Tony's friend, he was aware that this incident was entirely Loki's fault, not Tony's. Loki had simply misjudged the weight of his own identity and recklessly snuck over, causing trouble.

"Thank you, Miss Sonya," the other members chimed in, following Reno's lead, regardless of their thoughts.

Sonya gave a slight nod and then left.

"You should've thought about where you were coming!" Tony said, after dropping Loki to the floor in his lab. Loki, still dazed from the flight, couldn't even open his eyes. "This is Void Island—the headquarters of the Void Cult. Here, Lord Kassadin's authority is absolute."

"Even members of the Void Cult would face consequences if they showed disrespect to him. So where did you, an Asgardian, get the nerve to show up here?" Tony added, clearly annoyed.

"Tony, I appreciate your help this time," Thor said, embarrassed as he saw Loki sprawled on the ground but otherwise unharmed.

"No need to thank me. We're friends after all," Tony replied, waving his hand dismissively.

"But if you're going to thank anyone, you should thank Miss Sonya. She was the one who allowed me, someone from Earth, to take Loki away."

"If she had decided to hold a grudge, Loki could've had a hundred lives, and it still wouldn't have been enough to survive."

Thor nodded seriously. "I'll make sure to thank her properly next time."

"But... who exactly is this Miss Sonya?" Thor asked curiously.

"You're a god, so let me put it in terms you'd understand," Tony began.

"The Void Cult worships the Void God, Kassadin. Sonya is his emissary, his chosen one."

"The Void Cult's emissary?" Loki, having gotten to his feet, asked with a frown.

"Then why didn't I find anything about her when I was investigating?"

"How much information did you find?" Tony asked, giving Loki a sideways glance.

"I found that the Void Cult has around 400 members and has formed an organization in the bounty hunter world," Loki replied.

"Is that all?" Tony asked incredulously.

"What about how to pass the Void Cult's trials and receive the Void's blessing? What about the strength of the members on the island? And do you even know how the Void Cult generally treats its guests?"

Loki shook his head.

"If you didn't even figure out the basics, how did you have the audacity to come here?" Tony said, dragging Loki toward his lab.

"Come with me. I'll teach you the rules, and then you can go right back to where you came from."

"Mr. Stark, who is this guest?" Lalatina asked, approaching Tony curiously. She had seen Tony rush out in a hurry and now return with someone she'd never seen before.

"He's not a guest. You don't need to prepare any food or drinks for him. He'll be gone soon enough," Tony replied casually, brushing it off.

Thor, watching Tony scold Loki, couldn't help but feel a bit amused.

As Loki's brother, Thor could never bring himself to punish him—he could only scold him. But seeing Tony berate Loki, knowing that Tony wouldn't hurt him, gave Thor a strange satisfaction.