Chapter 44: Mission Ended with Deception

Inside the Airbus, still hovering above the North Pole.

The lounge was pure chaos.

Everyone was red-faced and mid-scream in what had devolved into a full-blown shouting match…

Everyone except Hela and Clark.

Hela had long since gone from being impressed by Clark to being flat-out bored. She'd swiped Dante's phone and was now scrolling through IG reels with an expression of practiced indifference.

Clark wasn't angry, but he definitely looked flustered. He glanced at Hela like he was silently begging her for help.

"Oh, young God of Humanity, you must grow accustomed to these absurd quarrels," she said flatly.

"This... I really don't think I can."

Clark gave a helpless smile.

In front of him, Coulson had taken off his gentlemanly mask. His suit jacket was off, his tie was loose, shirt sleeves rolled, and watch stowed.

He slammed the table like he was about to throw hands with Dante.

"...If Clark Kent has feelings for Lois Lane, why can't he just confess?! What's he waiting for—another fake death and years of separation?! You want to live in regret forever?!"

Coulson's eyes were red as he shouted.

He couldn't help but think of Audrey—the cellist he'd loved before his "death." She had been his calm, intellectual White Moonlight throughout his entire agent career.

But after everything that happened… after dying… he could never show up in front of her again.

Most of the time, he could suppress that pain.

But today? Too many emotional spikes. Then Dante randomly started dissecting Clark's relationship drama and even turned to Coulson—him—for thoughts?

What did he think?

Coulson said he saw it with his own two eyes!

So yeah, Clark's emotional issues had somehow sparked a full-blown debate between Coulson and Dante.

Then Ada Wong got dragged in.

Then Loki.

Harley Quinn? No help at all—she was just there to stir the pot.

"Yeah Coulson's right!"

"Me too!"

"I, Harley Quinn, hereby officially support this ship!"

She threw in whatever sounded most chaotic.

"Sure, Lois Lane has plenty of admirers," Dante argued with a smirk. "But Clark is the most special one. Plus, she's a career-driven power woman. Let him take his time. Wait it out. And when it matters, just show up as Superman and drive the competition off!"

He grinned. "As the old saying goes—'All's fair in love and war.'"

"You're a damn emotional scammer! Liar! Feelings fraudster!"

Ada's eyes flashed. The elegant femme fatale twisted her waist and sent a spinning kick flying right at Dante.

"Hey! We're talking about someone else's love life! Don't use this as an excuse to unleash your inner Fire-Type, Ada!"

"Hmph. You short-lived mortals are all so shallow," Loki scoffed. "Love? Romance? What foolishness. We Asgardian gods are born to rule the cosmos."

"Shut up, thousand-year-old virgin!"

The entire group turned on Loki with synchronized disdain, and the room hit another crescendo of insanity.

Clark looked around, completely at a loss for who he was supposed to be listening to.

Then Hela finally looked up.

Her presence immediately suppressed the chaos like a sword had dropped into the room.

"Clark Kent. God of Humanity from beyond the Nine Realms," she said, her voice low and commanding. "Your power may be great, but your heart has not yet caught up."

She set down Dante's phone.

"I've lived thousands of years. Let me give you a piece of advice…"

"Please," Clark said, nodding solemnly. "I'm listening, Ms. Hela."

"Don't listen to others. Follow your own heart."

"Follow my heart… I understand now. Thank you, Ms. Hela!"

Clark's brow finally relaxed. He nodded to Hela with genuine gratitude, then—using his signature method—opened the hatch and exited the Airbus.

As usual, the perfect mix of brute force and courtesy.

"What did he even understand?" Hela muttered. "I don't even understand what I said."

She yawned and stood up. "Whatever. That guy flew off at high speed the second he stepped outside."

As soon as she said it, the whole room froze.

Coulson straightened his tie. Dante stretched and cracked his back.

Ada walked off to check if the drone storage units were still intact, and Loki poured himself a martini—something he'd only allow himself post-mission.

Only Harley Quinn looked genuinely confused.

"Eh? Why'd everyone stop yelling? Keep going! I was feeling that!"

"Insane," Dante muttered, rolling his eyes at her.

"Ohhh my Pudding~ That look you gave me just now—mmm, so intense! Excuse me, everyone, I need to go check if I packed spare shorts."

Harley tossed out a one-woman monologue no one asked for, then bolted toward her room on the ship.

"Not bad, Coulson," Dante said. "You really sold that scene. I almost thought you were actually fired up."

"...Ahahaha, yeah, yeah, totally. Acting. All acting!"

"…You weren't actually acting?" Dante squinted at him. "You still hung up on someone?"

"Of course not! I'm a cold, ruthless, seasoned FBI agent!"

Coulson's awkward smile said otherwise.

Dante sighed.

It was supposed to be a performance to throw off Clark Kent, but Coulson had made it personal.

Nick Fury really needed to start monitoring the mental health of his agents more closely.

"Dante, memory cores on all three drones are wiped," Ada reported.

"Yeah… Clark Kent's simple, but not stupid."

Dante waved it off. He wasn't interested in the Fortress of Solitude anymore.

He'd officially met the Big Guy now. So sooner or later, they'd cross paths again.

Maybe the Avengers and Justice League would merge someday...

Call it the Justice Avengers or something.

Just a thought. There wasn't a universe-level threat yet that could force all these lone-wolf types into cooperation.

"All right, Ada—set a course. We're really heading back this time."

With the coordinates locked in, the Airbus finally pulled out of hover mode.

This particular model was old, and hovering burned way too much fuel.

On the return trip, Dante had already decided—he was going to hit up Nick Fury for more funds.

As the Airbus rose higher into the sky and left the North Pole behind entirely, the system prompt finally chimed in.

---

[Mission: The Perfect Frozen Man – Complete]

[Mission-Related Characters: Coulson, Captain America, Loki, Hela, Superman]

[Acquired Ability: Kree Blood (Phil Coulson)]

[Acquired Ability: Super Soldier Serum (Captain America)]

[Acquired Ability: Astral Projection (Loki)]

[Acquired Ability: Necromancy (Hela)]

[Acquired Ability: Heat Vision (Superman)]

(To be continued.)

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