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Chapter [Hulk]

Killian glanced at Maya Hansen. "I'm a huge admirer of your research!"

"Me?" Maya asked in surprise.

"He must mean me," Tony retorted, clearly not convinced.

"That's correct," Killian chimed incoherently, his gaze wandering as if under the influence of some medication, making it hard to discern whom he addressed.

Switching topics abruptly, Killian squeezed into the nearly packed elevator. "Miss Hansen, back when you were a sophomore at MIT, we closely followed your organization's research."

It was evident he held genuine admiration for Hansen, alongside his appreciation for Tony Stark, much like many others.

Tony felt uncomfortable and disgruntled, especially around a woman he was about to engage with romantically.

Killian rambled like a neurotic, then pulled out two business cards, offering one each to Tony and Hansen. "I've founded a company called Advanced Idea Mechanics and I'm aiming big. We should discuss potential collaboration!"

"No need," Tony declined, but Killian persisted, pressing the cards into their hands.

Tony reluctantly accepted one.

Continuing his disjointed monologue, Killian painted vivid mental pictures, causing impatience to simmer among the elevator's occupants.

"Ding." The elevator doors opened.

As people filed out, Tony and Killian remained behind.

"If we can collaborate, it could be quite exciting," Tony suddenly remarked, his expression serious.

Killian was taken aback, seemingly unable to believe his ears. "Really?"

"Absolutely," Tony affirmed. Killian's naivety surpassed Tony's expectations. "Let's meet on the roof in five minutes."

"Sure, no problem." Killian nodded hastily. "See you up there."

"See you then," Tony said casually, then turned and left.

Six hours later...

On the lofty rooftop of the hotel, Aldrich Killian shivered in the cold New Year's breeze, the distant sky beginning to brighten.

Killian hadn't anticipated that the five minutes Tony Stark mentioned would stretch out so long, realizing belatedly that he had been duped.

"Damn Stark!"

He flung his cane angrily and limped away.

---

With Thanos' forces dispersed, Forseti found himself with ample free time and, needing to monitor Thor covertly, spent most of it on Earth.

Thor's life on Earth was notably arduous.

An orphaned, disabled child, his background was undeniably tragic.

Coupled with Blake's introverted and timid nature, he became a frequent target of bullying, suffering greatly as a result.

Odin, observing from Asgard, took note of this but made no move to intervene, believing Thor needed to endure more hardship.

Not only that, Odin even entertained the idea of dispatching someone from Asgard to torment Blake, only dissuaded by Frigga. Such a notion was patently absurd; even the education of children must adhere to basic principles.

However, the aging Allfather was growing impatient; time was short, and he sought potent measures to aid Thor's development.

Blake's frail, disabled physique prevented him from resolving conflicts with physical prowess like Thor. Instead, he devoted himself to reading and contemplation, developing a deep-seated love for books.

This revelation startled Asgard.

Heimdall informed Odin that young Blake had read more books than Thor, much to Odin's delight.

Noontime.

Forseti sat in a room, a pale golden crystal hovering in his palm, radiating a brilliant light and an aura of holiness.

The crystal continuously absorbed the divine light emanating from Forseti's body, its glow intensifying.

This crystal was crafted through the manipulation of Holy Light,

By continuously condensing the holy light and maximizing its potency within the crystal, the Eternal Holy Light Crystal could be formed.

The Eternal Light Crystal also served as a primary component for the creation of Ashbringer.

At this moment, the holy light crystal suspended in Forseti's palm was the culmination of years of effort. Though not yet fully saturated, the holy light contained within was formidable.

If fully triggered, its power would rival that of a nuclear bomb.

However, Forseti harbored doubts about whether it could be fully detonated using Holy Shock.

For one, he had not tested it; secondly, speculation was futile. The amount of holy light contained within this crystal was immense and dense, casting doubt on the possibility of triggering it all at once.

Forseti conjectured that Divine Shock might release a portion of the crystal's energy, but not its entirety.

This theory was grounded in logic; a crystal formed through hastily condensed holy light could be detonated completely, whereas an Eternal Holy Light Crystal, according to sacred texts, could not be detonated at all, representing a wholly distinct form of holy light.

This crystal occupied a middle ground between the two extremes, thus justifying Forseti's conjecture.

After some contemplation, Forseti stowed away the crystal, rising from his seat and deciding to dine out.

This residence belonged to the Golden Hand.

More precisely, it was one of the properties owned by the Golden Hand, chosen by Forseti due to its location in a well-known culinary city in Brazil.

Under the management of Duflan and occasional counsel from Forseti, the Gold Hand Investment Company—the secular arm of the Knights of the Silver Hand—had grown over decades into the wealthiest consortium in the human world.

Despite its wealth, the Golden Hand remained obscure, known primarily through market rumors and conspiracy theories, eluding widespread recognition.

From its inception, Forseti and Duflan agreed on a discreet approach to accumulating wealth, preferring silence over notoriety.

Forseti strolled through the streets of this small Brazilian city, eventually arriving at a restaurant where he settled in for a leisurely lunch.

"Give it back!" a loud voice erupted from the street outside.

Initially indifferent, Forseti paid little heed.

In Brazil, gang activity was rampant, law enforcement erratic, and street altercations commonplace.

Yet this seemed different from the usual street brawl.

"I'm warning you! Return what you took immediately! Don't provoke me!" A passerby had apparently been accosted by a gang.

Undeterred, the passerby stood firm, issuing threats.

"Warning? Do you know who I am?" scoffed a gang member. "You have three seconds to apologize."

"Three...two...one!"

"Alright, have it your way!"

With that countdown, sounds of scuffling and blows followed, suggesting the gang was assaulting the hapless passerby.

"Roar - Roar!!"

Suddenly, a thunderous roar reverberated through the air, causing the restaurant walls to tremble slightly.

At the ferocious, bestial sound, Forseti's expression shifted subtly as he stepped outside to investigate.

"Roar!"

He beheld a green-skinned behemoth, fists clenched in fury, effortlessly hurling gang members aside with sweeping gestures.

...