Chapter 82: Man of Steel

Odin let out a long sigh. Though Loki was not his biological son, years of companionship had created a bond he couldn't easily dismiss. But Loki's betrayal also signaled the end of Odin's peaceful policy—if even Jotunheim was willing to provoke Asgard, some forces in the Nine Realms would certainly begin stirring.

Thor saw it differently. Historically, it was Asgard's inability to maintain the Bifrost that led to rebellions across the Nine Realms. Now, with Bifrost intact and the recent lesson of Jotunheim's downfall, he believed these forces would be more cautious.

"Don't worry, Father," Thor said confidently. "There won't be chaos. And besides, Loki will be back."

Odin didn't reply. He left, his thoughts unspoken.

Suddenly, a voice sounded in Thor's mind:

"Congratulations to the host for triggering Odin's exclusive mission: War and Peace. True peace cannot be achieved through passive avoidance of war. Sometimes, maintaining peace requires a show of strength.

Mission Objective: Convince Odin to accept your philosophy.

Reward: Passive skill—Man of Steel."

Thor's eyes widened at the reward description:

"Man of Steel: A signature ability of a superhero famous for wearing underwear outside his suit. Grants superhuman endurance and defense, and enables rapid recovery under the sun."

Man of Steel! Thor's heart pounded. This was one of Superman's defining abilities—perfectly suited for him. After all, his attack power was already formidable. With his weapon, Stormbreaker, he wielded one of the most potent offensive capabilities in the superhero world. But his defense could use improvement; even though he had endured the energy of a neutron star, he still hadn't withstood a blow from Thanos unscathed.

But convincing Odin would be no easy task. His father had clung to his ideology for thousands of years—even disowning his own daughter, Hela, to keep the peace.

Thor was beginning to understand a new pattern. The more powerful the target, the harder the task—but the richer the rewards. This was true for Odin and the Ancient One. Only Captain Marvel's flight ability and Sif's temporary enhancements had been granted without intense difficulty.

Just as Thor predicted, the Nine Realms remained calm, and even formerly turbulent regions had settled down.

Thor didn't stay in Asgard for long; he returned to Earth the next day, bringing Sif with him. For this trip, he used a portal, which he'd tested and found to be far more convenient than Bifrost for small groups.

Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D., a heated argument was unfolding.

"Those barbaric aliens caused a huge mess, wiped their hands clean, and left it all for us!" a middle-aged congressman shouted, slamming his fist on the table. "Everyone in New York saw the flashes and felt the tremors. Now Washington's demanding an explanation. What should we tell them? That it was some 'Manhattan Project 2.0?' Hell, this is New York!"

Natasha Romanoff frowned, countering sharply, "If those 'barbarians,' as you call them, hadn't intervened, that armor would've turned New York into a nuclear wasteland."

"Agent Romanoff, mind your position!" retorted a high-ranking official. "We know you have…personal connections with them, but remember, you're representing S.H.I.E.L.D. Stop defending them at every turn!"

Natasha held back her response, feeling the sting of bureaucracy's limitations. "Defending"? she thought bitterly. If anything, I'm defending S.H.I.E.L.D. These fools don't realize they're risking everything for politics. They'll turn America into a battleground.

At that moment, Nick Fury, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

"Why do we even need to fabricate an explanation?" he said. "Why not just tell the truth? Alien civilizations exist. They're not 'coming'—they're already here."

The room fell silent as Fury's words sank in.

"It's time the world knew."

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