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Chapter Seventy-Five: Loki's Life Experience

Jane Foster stayed at the manor. Maya Hansen and Betty Ross were slightly surprised by her arrival, but they said nothing.

During the day, Jane trained with Thor to learn how to control her new powers. At night, she read astronomy texts brought from Asgard, which broadened her understanding of the universe far beyond what Earth had to offer.

By the third day, Jane insisted on moving out. The constant noise during the night was unbearable, causing her to have dark circles under her eyes every morning.

Thor couldn't do much about it; the noise was simply part of the lively life young people in the manor.

In her spare time, Natasha Romanoff would come to practice combat skills with Thor. Thor would suppress his own strength and spar with her using only physical techniques.

Natasha, being the Black Widow, could almost defeat Thor with just a single move. On Earth, only Captain America, who had recently emerged and had not yet awakened, might be superior to her.

Thor had 1,500 years of combat experience, but if he had known earlier, he might have done bed battle stamina training.

…

Meanwhile, in Asgard, something significant was unfolding.

Ten years ago, an injury in Jotunheim had caused Loki to question his identity, but he had always avoided considering the most troubling possibilities.

When Jane Foster lifted Mjölnir recently, Odin's shock revealed that even in exile, Odin had been watching Thor. Loki seized the opportunity to investigate the Ice Gate in the treasure room. Using the power of the Ice Gate, he uncovered the truth about his origins.

"Why? Did you cause the destruction in Jotunheim and then bring me back?"

"Why!" Loki was more excited than ever before. Even though Thor had beaten him twice in three days, it hadn't caused this level of excitement.

Odin sighed deeply: "Because you are an innocent child..."

"No! There must be another reason for bringing me back. Tell me! Tell me!" Loki shouted, his voice rising in anger. He couldn't believe that Odin's reason was so simplistic. Perhaps there was a deeper reason, but Odin's claim that it was to spare him only meant he wasn't worthy of being brought back to Asgard as a prince.

Realizing he could no longer keep it a secret, Odin admitted: "I hoped that one day our two realms would unite to bring about lasting peace. Through you, a permanent alliance would be forged."

The truth often hurts more than lies, and Loki's face twisted with pain: "Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Odin, helpless, explained: "I concealed the truth to protect you..."

"Protect me? From what? Being a monster that runs around at night? I finally understand why you have always favored Thor. I have always been treated as a mere tool, and you would never allow a Frost Giant to sit on the throne!"

Loki had never lost his composure as he did that day. The ensuing conflict caused Odin to fall into a coma and enter Odin's Sleep prematurely.

Loki assumed control of Gungnir and temporarily governed the realm of Asgard. He resolved to take decisive action to truly prove himself to Odin.

…

"Stop fighting. Every time you lose, you come back to seek revenge. I've never seen someone so petty!"

Natasha Romanoff set Thor down and sat on a recliner, complaining.

Jane Foster, who was in the middle of contacting Thunder Control, froze and muttered under her breath: "Scumbag!"

"By the way, the director has sent me to Stark Industries, your nephew's place, to gather intelligence and evaluate his abilities and character. But I think it might be more useful to ask you directly," Natasha said suddenly.

Thor's eyes widened. Was this the beginning of the plot for Iron Man 2? Tony Stark should be suffering from palladium poisoning at this time, leading him to live a life of disillusionment as before.

The military was also interested in Tony's armor technology. After all, Thor's powers came from himself, and the technology of armor that could be worn seemed to be of more immediate practical use.