Chapter 124

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"No!!!"

Phil Coulson, who had high expectations for Thor, couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.

His boss, Nick Fury, talked big, and that "vagabond" acted so confidently, as if the hammer was his own property.

For a moment, Coulson actually believed that the stranger could lift the hammer.

But the result was the same!

"Thor can't lift his own hammer? This must be the most ridiculous joke in the world!" Tony Stark couldn't help but blurt out sarcastically.

"Isn't it? It's as absurd as Batman getting hammered or Iron Man hammering others," Black Widow added casually, also poking fun at Iron Man.

Iron Man's mouth twitched in response.

Less talking if you can't hold a conversation!

All these slanders come from Zhou Cheng!

"Thor, what's your plan now?"

Nick Fury waited until Thor had vented for a while before approaching him.

"This shouldn't be happening. It shouldn't be like this."

"I can't possibly fail to lift my hammer; there must be a problem somewhere."

Seeing the hammer, Thor immediately poured out his disbelief to the object.

"I know."

Nick Fury wasn't just placating or comforting Thor; he genuinely thought the same, "How about this? Since the hammer is here, why don't we go back for now and then slowly figure out a solution?"

What else could Thor do?

He surely couldn't kneel here forever?

He could only leave with Nick Fury, albeit dejectedly, and was temporarily settled in a prepared base.

"Thor, take a rest for now."

"I'm not sure what Asgardians prefer, or if you're accustomed to Earth's food, but I've prepared lunch for you."

"Someone will bring it to you later."

Inside Thor's room, Nick Fury spoke to Thor earnestly.

Although he had many questions for Thor and needed to confirm a lot of information, now wasn't the right time.

He can be patient.

"Thank you, I am indeed a bit hungry."

Thor didn't stand on ceremony with Nick Fury.

Since being exiled from Asgard by Odin, one misfortune followed another, and Thor was indeed exhausted, body and soul.

Nick Fury nodded without saying much more and left Thor alone.

Thor closed the door and secluded himself in the room, sitting blankly on the couch, still dazed.

Stripped of his powers and unable to lift his hammer, this great disparity was like falling from the clouds to the bottom of a valley.

The arrogant Asgardian prince found it quite hard to accept, at least for the moment.

...

Compared to Thor's gloom and disappointment, Zhou Cheng was in a completely different state.

Lounging comfortably on a sofa worth tens of thousands of dollars, he played furiously on a gaming keyboard.

The ultra-large screen in front of him, also worth several thousand dollars, provided top-quality graphics and sound – true gaming bliss!

This is what gaming should feel like!

What was that old experience of his?

A complete waste of time!

Indeed, the quality of life for the wealthy was truly different.

The sounds of rapid keyboard tapping and various game effects filled the living room lively.

After several rounds of games and a growling stomach, Zhou Cheng took a break to enjoy a lovely lunch in the dining area.

Ever since becoming a billionaire, Zhou Cheng admitted to being a bit decadent, too lazy even to cook for himself.

He mostly dined out at high-end restaurants.

The reason for their high prices was indeed justified: better taste, fresher ingredients, and superior environments.

Such experiences brought great satisfaction.

So, although spending on meals could amount to a regular worker's annual income, Zhou Cheng didn't care at all.

After all, wasn't the money he earned meant to be spent?

"What recent events should I pay attention to?"

After eating well and returning to his mansion, Zhou Cheng checked his computer, looking for something noteworthy.

After a few clicks, interesting news items appeared on the screen.

However, his expression remained unchanged.

The news didn't interest him much until he came across a story about a meteorite in a New Mexico town and authorities getting involved.

New Mexico? A meteorite?

Could it be that Thor had descended from the sky?

That was the first thought that crossed Zhou Cheng's mind.

After a quick search, the answer was clear.

Apart from some speculative and polished reports, there was nothing substantial to find.

Clearly, the truth about the meteorite event had been covered up by the authorities.

If it had been the Zhou Cheng of the past, he might have been at a loss.

But now, with super-hacking skills from Shang-Chi, this was no challenge.

In well under a minute, Zhou Cheng skillfully retrieved the deleted and censored photos and videos.

"It's indeed Thor's hammer!"

Seeing that familiar hammer, a spark of light flickered in Zhou Cheng's eyes.

The hammer's arrival was opportune!

The events of "Iron Man 2" had shifted beyond recognition, and so much time had passed without the appearance of Whiplash or War Machine.

Zhou Cheng wasn't even sure where the main storyline of Marvel had reached.

But now that Thor's hammer had appeared, it signaled the end of "Iron Man 2" and the start of Thor's story!

He only wondered if Thor's narrative would have any deviations.

While these thoughts crossed his mind, Zhou Cheng reached for his diary and began recording his ideas.

...

Ding-a-ling!

New Mexico, at the temporary base.

Thor deftly used knife and fork to cut a piece of steak on his plate.

Although it was his first time seriously eating Earth's food, there were no real obstacles.

Cutlery is something that Asgard has as well.

Even though it's different from Earth's, the usage is the same.

As for the beef?

To be exact, it's beef from Earth, because Asgard has cattle and sheep as well.

It was also Thor's first taste, and it was different from Asgard's beef, instead offering Thor a sense of novelty.

Perhaps it was after some time to adjust, or maybe a full stomach provided some comfort, but Thor's condition had already improved significantly.

Though he couldn't let go completely, he had come to accept everything calmly.

Snap!

After swallowing the last piece of beef, Thor patted his hands together, ready to leave the dining table.

However, a glimpse of something in the corner of his eye made him freeze.

"What is this?"

Thor looked at a black notebook beside his hand, his face full of confusion.

He had finished eating and had no recollection of this item ever being on the table!

Could he have remembered wrong?

No, that couldn't be!

Although Thor was not the cleverest, he was not a fool nor was he senile.

How could he misremember such a thing?

Thor was certain this object wasn't there before.

Could it be?

After a moment of doubt, an idea flashed through Thor's mind, invigorating him.

"Loki, is that you?"

Thor instinctively turned his head left and right, searching for Loki's figure.

In Thor's eyes, the only person capable of delivering this object so suddenly must be Loki, the top sorcerer of the Nine Realms and his brother.

Surely Loki couldn't bear to see his dear brother punished by their father and had decided to lend a hand in secret!

However, after a careful look around, Thor found no sign of Loki.

After pondering for a moment, Thor "figured out" what was happening.

Loki must have feared being seen by Heimdall, so he dared not act too brazenly, right?

Understood!

Indeed, my clever brother has thought this through well!

Since that was the case, it was time to see what Loki had brought him!

With this curiosity and excitement, Thor opened the notebook in front of him.

[Zhou Cheng's Diary].

???

Zhou Cheng?

Who is this person?

Why would Loki choose to use this name?

Thor admitted he was confused; with his intellect, understanding such matters was indeed difficult.

However, Thor had a strength: he wouldn't fuss over complex issues that required much thought. If he couldn't understand them, so be it.

Since Loki had acted this way, there must be some profound reason!

Without dwelling on the unfamiliar name "Zhou Cheng," Thor began flipping through the diary quickly, screening for content related to Asgard.

What?

Some guy named Hulk managed to beat him senseless?

What a joke!

He, Thor, was a top warrior in all the Nine Realms, no, the entire universe.

Who could stand against him, other than his father Odin?

Loki has come to Earth to steal the Tesseract and has teamed up with the Chitauri to launch something called the "Battle of New York"?

What does that have to do with returning him to Asgard?

And whatever chopping off Thanos's head with an axe meant, or going to Sakaar with the Hulk for some contest, was even more incomprehensible.

Thor was utterly baffled.

Wait a minute.

His own banishment was recorded in this?

What was Loki trying to tell him!

Thor was utterly at a loss, his already-not-so-bright mind becoming even more muddled.

Loki, what are you trying to do!

Whatever it is you want to do, just say it directly.

Why make it so complicated? I can't follow this!

Hm?

Wait a minute!

While in a state of confusion, Thor noticed new content starting to appear on the latest page of the diary.

[Finally!]

[Thor's hammer falls from the sky, signaling that Thor's story has truly begun, and Thor's unfortunate life must start now, right?]

[At this point, our dear Thor must be locked up in a hospital, treated as a mental patient, right?]

[One second, a high and mighty prince of the Aesir, the next locked in a mental institution!]

[Such a dramatic change, who wouldn't be overwhelmed by that?]

[But this is just the beginning, I hope Thor prepares himself mentally; when Loki also arrives, Thor will be even more devastated.]

[His father dies, he is banished from Asgard forever, I really fear Thor might lose his mind!]

What the hell?

Thor was even more visibly confused.

Plot?

What did that mean?

Okay, now is not the time to dwell on this, what Thor really didn't understand was, why did Loki sound so sarcastic towards him?

Why mock himself?

Yes, there were some conflicts and misunderstandings between him and his father.

Well, perhaps a slightly intense misunderstanding.

But Thor believed that if he explained himself sincerely to his father, his father would surely understand him.

How could this be considered tragic?

For the great Thor, what did that count for?

Wait a second.

Loki is coming down too?

As he was contemplating, a glimmer of excitement shone in Thor's eyes, finally seeing a message that invigorated him.

But that excitement lasted less than a second before freezing; Thor was once again lost in deep thought.

His father's death?

What on earth was Loki talking about!