Chapter 103

Buzzing…

Whoosh!

A brilliant, multicolored beam shot out from the Rainbow Bridge, cutting through the universe and attracting the attention of major cosmic powers. The return of Asgard's ability to govern the Nine Realms sent ripples across the universe, causing many factions that had been waiting in the shadows to pause their schemes, retreat, and bide their time for another opportunity.

Standing on the Rainbow Bridge, Abel turned to Thor and Frigga with a smile. "Thor, Frigga, I'm heading back. If you need anything, you know how to reach me, right?"

Thor stepped forward, handing Abel two small boxes. "Inside are the branches of the golden apple tree and feathers from the raven on my father's shoulder. You know how valuable these are. In fact, they've exhausted all the goodwill my father had for you. Are you sure it's worth it?"

Abel smiled confidently. "I have my reasons. Besides, this won't affect my bond with you or Frigga. It's only my connection to Asgard as a political force. For me, it's entirely worth it."

Thor nodded, a hint of sadness in his voice. "We'll always be friends. That's not going to change. Take care, and look after Jane for me."

"Don't worry, I've got it under control. You could always take a break and visit Earth yourself, you know?"

Thor chuckled. "Not quite yet. Maybe soon."

"Alright then, no more farewells. It's been almost a year, and it's time for me to return."

With that, Abel pocketed the two items, waved goodbye to Thor and Frigga, and entered the Rainbow Bridge. He gave a nod to Heimdall before disappearing into the vibrant light.

Meanwhile, not far from New York, a colorful beam pierced the dark clouds and struck the ground with a boom. As the light faded, Abel stood in the clearing, the magical markings of the Rainbow Bridge still glowing faintly beneath his feet. He quickly waved his hand, erasing all traces of his arrival, then opened a portal that led directly to the top floor of Stark Tower.

Upon arrival, he noticed Tony Stark was absent, which wasn't surprising. Stark rarely stayed in one place for long.

"Jarvis, compile everything from my social circle over the past year and send me the conversations between my virtual avatar and my mother," Abel instructed, his voice steady.

Tony had long set Abel's clearance in the Stark Mansion to just below his own, on par with Pepper, so Abel had full access to Jarvis' systems. Within moments, Abel's phone emerged from a table, activating and booting up within three seconds. The files Jarvis sent were already open.

The phone looked the same as Abel's usual device, but he knew Tony had secretly modified it, filling it with various advanced technologies.

Just as Abel was about to dive into the files, a video call request popped up, accompanied by Tony's usual cheeky profile photo. With a sigh, Abel answered.

Tony, his hair tousled from some recent adventure, grinned. "Well, well, look who's back. You didn't even bother to tell me you were coming. That's not very friendly."

Abel smirked. "Your hairline is showing."

Tony waved it off. "It's fine, still got plenty of hair. But really, no heads-up at all?"

"I just got back, and you have my phone, so I couldn't exactly call you."

"Fair enough. Hold tight, I'm heading back now."

"You don't need to rush back, I'm just—"

Click.

Tony had already hung up. Abel shook his head, sinking into the couch as he scrolled through the files on his phone. A year had passed, but the contents of the files were unremarkable, nothing of major note. However, just as he was nearing the end, his eyes widened in shock.

Treya has a boyfriend?!

A doctor in his thirties, well-off and decent-looking. Nothing overly intimate had happened yet, but it seemed they were getting close. Abel's blood boiled. Even though the man wasn't some shady figure, Abel felt uneasy. Something about it didn't sit right with him.

Without waiting any longer, Abel stood up, determined to head home and investigate. Just then, a golden-red figure landed on the balcony. Tony, in his Iron Man suit, strode inside, the armor disassembling as he moved, leaving him dressed in a sharp suit.

"Tony, where did you just come from?"

"Washington. I was dealing with some S.H.I.E.L.D. business."

"S.H.I.E.L.D.? You're mixed up with them now?"

Tony shrugged, pouring himself a drink. "I had no choice. The Stark Expo was a mess, and while we're the so-called 'heroes,' there were casualties. S.H.I.E.L.D. is helping smooth things over. Besides, my dad helped found it, so it's not like I can avoid them."

Abel waved it off. "Not my problem. Anyway, I've got to go. We can catch up later."

"In a rush? Treya's fine. No major issues there."

Abel grimaced. "She has a boyfriend, Tony. I need to check on things."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Check? What are you planning to check?"

"I've got magic that can reveal what people are really thinking. I need to make sure this guy doesn't have any hidden motives. I won't be at ease otherwise."

Tony chuckled. "Abel, you're overthinking it. Isn't it a good thing that Treya has found someone? I looked into the guy. He's clean—no red flags. If you're too rash, you might make things awkward for her."

Abel frowned. "Tony, you don't get it. Have you ever heard of prophecy magic? When I saw that guy in the picture, I felt something bad. I need to see for myself to be sure."

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