Somewhere in Flower City's subway station.
Light flared, illuminating Jack's face.
He grunted and raised a hand to block the light, then snarled at the gray-haired girl.
"Mind your own business!"
Belle lowered her head and whispered, "Sorry for the trouble."
At that moment, McCleary's voice rang out. "Belle, you don't need to apologize to him. You didn't do anything wrong."
"If it weren't for you, he'd be dead already. How does he still have the energy to throw a tantrum here?"
The grim-faced old man walked in, followed by three Vikings.
Loki chewed bubble gum, blowing a bubble every so often. Each one popped with a slap, making her laugh. She sat down on a nearby chair, her stocking-clad legs swinging back and forth. Her carefree look made Jack want to beat her up.
Thor, meanwhile, held up a mirror and examined himself. Looking at the wounds Xia Yan had carved across his face, he couldn't help sighing repeatedly.
Tyr was a man of few words. He sat cross-legged in a corner of the station, arms folded and eyes closed in a fake nap, as though nothing that happened had anything to do with him.
McCleary walked up to Jack with a stern expression. "Major Jack, have you forgotten that I'm the highest-ranking commander here?"
"You disobeyed my orders. I can send you before a military tribunal!"
Jack's arrogance subsided somewhat as he defended himself. "Commander McCleary, I didn't mean to disobey your orders. I just couldn't stand being a deserter."
"Idiot!"
McCleary tapped him on the head. "You're a soldier, a serviceman—not a knight."
"There's nothing shameful about a strategic retreat. Our goal is to obtain the Golden Apple, not to fight the Strategic Affairs Department to the death."
"Even if you want to fight to the death,