The expert sighed for no apparent reason, then hurried on.
"Great Odin and Zeus appeared together in Egypt not long ago. That suggests Odin has reached an agreement with the gods of Olympus to join forces against Ragnarok. That's why Loki, who opposes him, released Typhon to keep the gods of Olympus occupied."
"The Papal State's Angel on Earth ruined Loki's plan this time. But given his hatred of the gods and his refusal to stop until he gets what he wants, he's bound to make another move."
"That's why I said the disaster is far from over."
Hodgson's heart stirred. "Loki's target is the gods of Olympus. Does that mean we have nothing to worry about?"
"Mr. President, you've misunderstood." The expert knew exactly what Hodgson was thinking, but he had to shatter that hope. "When we dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb on Hiroshima during World War II, our targets were the people of the Eastern Isles. Countless animals died all the same."
"Right now, we're a colony of ants in Hiroshima, and the coming disaster is the atomic bomb. Even if Little Boy isn't aimed at us, it'll blow us to pieces when it goes off."
"All we can do is pray Loki doesn't catch us in the blast."
"Pray? Who should we pray to?" Hodgson asked.
The expert promptly shut his mouth. Who should we pray to? You're asking me a question harder than the Riemann hypothesis? You think far too highly of me. I'm an expert, not a god.
Hodgson saw that the expert had fallen silent and did not blame him.
Things were painfully difficult for America. They had showered the Papal State with aid money and friendly overtures, only to get no response. It was as though they had thrown the money into