Chapter 199. Exposed

Amidst the thunder and lightning, Thor gripped the hammer.

However, the heavyweight coming from the grip of the hammer caused a sudden change of expression on his face.

As expected, the scene of easily picking up Mjolnir didn't appear.

Undeterred, he stretched out his arms again and firmly grasped Mjolnir's grip before him. But unfortunately, even with all his strength, Thor couldn't lift the hammer, which was placed on the table, even by a fraction.

Without the subduing power of [Imagine Breaker], the magic that Odin had applied to Mjolnir made it impossible for Thor to pick it up until he had been acknowledged.

However, if he wanted to pick up Mjolnir again, there was obviously still a gap between Thor's current changes and what was needed.

The purpose of Odin's magic on Thor's hammer was to change Thor's reckless and arrogant character and make him a true King. Unfortunately, Thor was unaware of Odin's painstaking efforts. All he knew was that he had gone to great lengths to find Mjolnir, but he still couldn't lift it.

Looking at the familiar yet heavy Mjolnir in front of him, Thor's face revealed a look of dejection.

"Indeed, even Mjolnir has ceased to acknowledge me..."

"Thor."

Jane couldn't help but look worried as she saw Thor's dejected expression.

"This doesn't look good." Darcy turned and whispered to Erik on the side. Although they didn't know the reason, they all saw the situation, and it didn't go as smoothly as Thor said it would.

"Well, it doesn't look like you're going to be able to pick it up either." Shaking the bottle that was now only half full, Charlie patted Thor on the shoulder. With an intoxicated reassuring expression, he said, "Don't worry about it too much. To be honest, you're not the only one who can't lift it. Everyone in the bar is the same, none of these losers could pick it up."

"Since no one can pick it up, how did it get to the bar in the first place?"

Hearing those words from Charlie, Darcy looked puzzled and asked.

"It's that bastard from before. He somehow managed to bring it here ..."

Charlie, still holding his bottle, cursed and complained to Jane and the others about his previous encounter and how he got scammed.

His look alone seemed like a proper scam victim.

However, Bucciarati, unperturbed by the incessant grumbling from old Charlie, stepped forward, passing the shocked Thor. With unblinking eyes, he looked at Charlie's dark and wrinkled face in front of him and spoke in a cold, expressionless tone, "Finally, I've got you! Phantom Thief -- Kid!"

This sudden statement by Bucciarati brought the whole bar to a standstill.

Thor's otherwise listless gaze also began to develop a slight change, converging again to look towards Charlie.

When he met the eyes of the people in the bar, Charlie, who was still looking like a drunk, had a change of expression and a faint smile appeared on his dark face. He looked at Bucciarati and asked in mock surprise, "How did you find out? I'm obviously well disguised."

As his identity was revealed, Charlie's voice, which had been hoarse and heavily accented, changed and became younger.

At the sound of this voice, the crowd in the bar erupted.

"I can smell it, the smell of someone who's lying ..." Bucciarati faintly replied, looking directly at the expression on Charlie's face.

"The smell of lying?" Hearing Bucciarati's reply, Charlie, no, it should be said, Phantom Thief Kid, a clone, subconsciously mumbled.

Then, he lifted his hand and rubbed it across his face. In the next instant, his entire body transformed from an old, dark-skinned black man to a flamboyant figure in a white-cloaked suit and a top hat.

A-level character card [Bentham] was also one of the cards Ryan was using right now.

Although in terms of combat, [Bentham]'s ability wasn't awe-inspiring, the use of the Clone-Clone Fruit ability would allow Ryan to take over any role. Moreover, the character he changed into, using the Clone-Clone ability, could maintain his appearance even if he suffered damage. Not having to worry about revealing a flaw or anything was clearly more than a cut above the previous clone-disguise technique.

At the moment, Ryan was using [Bentham]'s Clone-Clone Fruit ability to create the illusion of Phantom Thief Kid's godlike disguise ability.

[Reputation points from Erik Selvig +120]

[Reputation points from Darcy Lewis +90]

[Reputation points from Thor Odinson +15]

[Reputation points from Jane Foster +210]

"That's quite a bothersome ability." Taking the form of Phantom Thief Kid, the clone pulled the top hat off his head and looked at the Bucciarati, speaking in a fake bemused manner, "Speaking of which, aren't you tired of following me around New York and now New Mexico?"

"You know the reason I'm after you. That Stone Mask. That evil and dangerous thing is not something you can control." Looking at the Phantom Thief, Bucciarati replied with a heavy voice.

"Stone Mask?"

Hearing Bucciarati's deliberate information revealed, the fluctuation in Thor's eyes was even more obvious.

"Oh, that strange-looking mask? I've returned it to its owner a long time ago."

"Owner?"

Borrowing the foundation from Phantom Thief's set-up, Bucciarati then made a disbelieving expression and said, "The Stone mask doesn't have an owner, it only turns people into horrible monsters."

With that, Bucciarati shifted his stance and looked at Phantom Thief, "Since you won't tell the truth, I'll just have to catch you and interrogate you some more."

"I'm telling the truth."

Hearing Bucciarati's words, the Phantom Thief's face, which was covered by his top hat, revealed a helpless look, and he spoke with a bitter smile.

"How on earth did you lift Mjolnir?"

Standing among the two, Thor looked at the suit and cloak-wearing Phantom Thief Kid in front of him and couldn't help but interrupt.

Like Loki before him, he was filled with doubt and disbelief at knowing that the Phantom Thief had picked up Mjolnir, and this was especially true after he had tried and failed to take it.

"Mystery is the life of all magic, so please forgive me if I don't get to tell you the secret."

Hooking up the corners of his lips, the Phantom Thief addressed Thor in a pretentious tone.