Reborn with Steve Stand

Chapter 25:

The managers of the KFC restaurant were terrified when the Quinjet descended vertically outside the door.

Inside the restaurant, everyone - staff, customers, and managers - looked bewildered as several agents in suits with sunglasses walked down from the plane. They pushed open the door with serious expressions and entered the restaurant.

"Um... sir..." stammered the restaurant manager, his brain trembling with fear. He wondered if there were employees hiding nuclear bombs. "Is there... anything... uh... I can help you with?"

"Do you have an event called 'Crazy Thursday' here?" asked the agent in an interrogative tone.

"..."

The Quinjet quickly took off and flew towards the desert near Puente Antiguo, leaving behind a relieved restaurant manager and a group of customers who had enjoyed the spectacle.

"Here's your fried chicken," said Nick Fury, handing the bag to Fang Mo with a stern face. He continued, "Can you explain the cause and effect now?"

"Your SHIELD's efficiency is really fast," remarked Fang Mo, taking the paper bag and sitting cross-legged on a gold block. He relished the food and said, "Remember to arrange the meteorite for me. I do need that thing."

"Agent Barton has already found the so-called meteorite for you. It will arrive in about half an hour," Nick Fury replied, suppressing his anger.

"Oh, that's good," nodded Fang Mo. Seeing Nick Fury's rising frustration, he decided to explain, "Anyway, this time I did go back. Don't worry, I didn't do anything behind your back. As for this hammer... I think you'd better ask Odin."

"Wait..." interrupted Nick Fury, unable to hold back. "Who did you say I should ask?"

"Odin," replied Fang Mo, chewing on the fried chicken.

"..." Nick Fury stared at Fang Mo for more than ten seconds, then took a deep breath and said, "If you don't want to say, you can refuse..."

"Damn it, I'm telling the truth," Fang Mo explained. "This hammer was indeed dropped by Odin. Haven't you heard of Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor? It's made of Uru metal and used by the Thunder God Thor..."

"So what are you trying to say?" asked Nick Fury, unable to contain himself. "Are you saying that mythical legends are all true? That those deities from the myths actually exist?"

"Otherwise?" countered Fang Mo, spreading his hands. "Where do you think my Golden Apple came from?"

"Huh?" Nick Fury was also stunned by Fang Mo's statement.

"No, bro, you've seen even more incredible things, like Captain Carol Danvers. Is there still something you can't believe?" Fang Mo continued. "You should have known by now, right? Earth is not alone or something like that. So, what if I put it another way? The gods in Norse mythology are actually extraterrestrial civilizations or something like that. They descended on Earth in ancient times. Do you get it now?"

"You mean..." As soon as Fang Mo mentioned it, Nick Fury instantly realized.

"That's right, the aliens have come knocking," Fang Mo smiled and continued eating the fried chicken. "Let's see how you guys handle it."

"What is their stand?" Nick Fury felt a thud in his heart and immediately asked, "Do they want to invade Earth? Or something else? What's their strength?"

"You'll know in a moment."

Fang Mo sat calmly, savoring his fried chicken, completely disinterested in engaging with Nick Fury.

"..."

As Nick Fury observed this scene, his anger intensified. The impending alien invasion threatened Earth, yet Fang Mo seemed oblivious, engrossed

in his KFC meal. Had he lost his mind?

Despite his anger, Nick Fury refrained from scolding Fang Mo directly. After all, the valuable golden block on which Fang Mo sat was enough to keep him quiet. Moreover, Nick Fury needed a favor, so he took a deep breath, turned around, and issued an order to one of the agents.

Shortly after, the agent returned with a glass of chilled cola.

"Here you go," said Nick Fury, presenting the cola with a sour expression. He suppressed his anger as he handed it to Fang Mo. "It complements the fried chicken, doesn't it?"

"Huh?" Fang Mo was surprised by the gesture. However, when he looked up at Nick Fury's expression, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Should I give you two boxes of blood pressure medication? The veins on your temple are about to pop out... By the way, now that you're this angry, aren't you going to drop an 'oh my goddamn motherf***er'?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you're really good at annoying people?" Nick Fury retorted, gazing at Fang Mo.

"I've learned Qigong. I can make people die from anger," Fang Mo replied.

"You..."

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore." Fang Mo blissfully took a big sip of cola, then explained, "In any case, you don't need to worry too much about this matter. The gods themselves are having trouble at home, and it has little to do with us."

"But that hammer..."

"If you know enough about Norse mythology, you should know that Earth represents the center of the Nine Realms, also known as Midgard," Fang Mo said. "From a different perspective, Earth was originally under the protection of Asgard. Strictly speaking, it's like their living room. When a family has a fight, they might break a coffee table or a TV. Have you ever seen someone throw a nuclear bomb into their living room during a family quarrel?"

"Your analogy seems a bit childish," Nick Fury frowned, neither affirming nor denying it. "So, where did you get this information? Is it some kind of prophecy, including Captain America's shield at S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"It's a transcendent prophecy," Fang Mo shrugged and continued to boast, "It's a power similar to the Eye of Fate, capable of observing the general flow of parallel worlds and timelines. But since you're a Muggle, even if I tell you, you wouldn't understand."

"What should we do now, then?" Nick Fury remained skeptical of Fang Mo's words. However, after pondering for a moment, he realized that there didn't seem to be any logical loopholes in Fang Mo's argument, leaving him unable to refute it. So he straightforwardly asked, "Should we just let these gods wreak havoc on Earth?"

"Do whatever you want. Am I stopping you?" Fang Mo retorted. "I came here to be the financial backer of S.H.I.E.L.D., not to wipe S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ass... Besides, even if I told you what to do, would you really believe me? Are you, the mighty motherf***ing superhero, the kind of person who relies on prophecies for everything?"

"What you said does make sense," Nick Fury instinctively nodded after hearing Fang Mo's explanation, as if he had understood what to do.

"Anyway, let's seal off this area first." Nick Fury's decisive nature manifested as he swiftly issued the order. In no time, a large group of government personnel arrived and cordoned off the meteorite crater. A team of researchers hurriedly joined to study the data of the hammer inside the crater.

Just then, a man carrying a bow and arrow entered from outside.

"Director, the meteoric iron you wanted has arrived."