The golden sparks gradually faded away.
Time, which had been paused, began to flow again. The holographic image in mid-air continued to play, and Thor was still standing at the convenience store entrance, studying the discount flyer with a serious expression.
"Buy two get one free, so if I buy two hot dogs, I can get the third one for free? But what are the applicable terms and conditions?"
Thor frowned, as if he were studying Asgard's national policies.
The top floor of Stark Tower.
Tony had just swallowed a handful of popcorn when he suddenly realized something was wrong. Why did the scene jump around like that?
An instinct made him turn his head sharply, his gaze fixed on Chen Mo's outstretched right hand.
It was completely empty.
The deep blue Space Stone has disappeared.
Tony's expression froze instantly, and the popcorn he hadn't yet swallowed got stuck in his throat.
"Cough... cough cough!"
He clutched his chest and coughed violently, then grabbed a can of cola from the table and gulped it down before finally managing to swallow the popcorn.
"No, where's your gem?"
Chen Mo, chewing on his straw, leaned back lazily on the sofa and casually said, "It was taken away just now."
Tony paused for a moment.
"Who?"
"An old man."
"What old man? The one who didn't give you face before?"
"Yes, white-bearded, wearing a long robe, quite old, but walks rather steadily."
Tony's eyes widened, and he slowly turned his head to the side.
Of course he didn't see anything; The Ancient One left.
"Etc."
Tony suddenly stood up, scattering the popcorn he was holding all over the floor.
When did he take it? Why didn't I notice at all?
"Come on, Tony, of course you wouldn't notice."
Chen Mo rolled his eyes, reached out and picked up a piece of popcorn, stuffing it into his mouth.
"Your stats as a mortal are far too weak. What level is the Sorcerer Supreme? Forget about taking things right in front of you, even if he stood in front of you and emptied your house, you'd only find a table left in the living room after he left."
"I'm Iron Man!"
What happened to Iron Man?
Chen Mo took a sip of his cola, his tone perfectly calm. "Can Iron Man see a sorcerer turn invisible? Have some basic common sense, okay?"
Tony opened his mouth.
"But I also have an AI butler on standby 24/7."
"Clearly, JARVIS, who's on standby 24/7, didn't see it either."
"I have surveillance cameras throughout the entire building."
"As expected, the surveillance footage definitely didn't show it."
"I have..."
"I know, I know, Tony, you have a heart of gold that never gives up."
Chen Mo summarized for him. "Unfortunately, this didn't do any good."
Tony's face gradually darkened.
He looked down at the popcorn scattered on the ground, then at Chen Mo's smug face, his chest heaving violently.
This is sarcasm.
A blatant mockery.
But he had no way to refute it.
" JARVIS, retrieve all the footage from earlier and analyze it frame by frame."
"Sir, the analysis is complete."
JARVIS's voice rang out from all around. "Nothing unusual has been detected. Apart from the abrupt changes in the image on the light screen, all readings show no abnormal response."
Tony fell silent.
Chen Mo, however, burst out laughing.
"Did you hear that? You don't even know when they're going to make a move, and you still have the nerve to call yourself a genius?"
"Shut up!"
Tony whirled around and raised his hand to bring up a large holographic screen.
"I need to upgrade all the sensors, add a magic energy recognition module, and redesign the security system."
"Please, Tony, you don't even know what magic is."
That's why I need to study it!
Tony pointed at Chen Mo and said seriously, "I will absolutely not allow anyone to enter my lab like this again, take my things, and leave without me noticing."
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.
But the jewels aren't yours.
"That's also one of my research subjects!"
"Since the Ancient One took it all anyway, why are you so concerned?"
"I didn't give him permission to take it."
"Do they need your permission?"
"So I will go and get it back myself."
Chen Mo looked him up and down, pointed at him, and couldn't help but laugh.
"How are you going to ask for it? Take your Iron Man Armor and go knocking on the door of Kamar-Taj?"
Tony didn't answer; he simply sat back down at the lab bench and pulled up the armor structure diagram.
"Wait while I develop the sensor that can detect magic."
He stared intently at the blueprints before him, his gaze growing increasingly serious.
"Whether it's magic or space technology, as long as it exists, it must have its own rules. There's nothing that science can't understand."
Chen Mo looked at him for a moment, but did not continue to attack him.
"Then take your time to study it."
He lay back down on the sofa, picked up the remote, and zoomed in on Thor's image.
"I'll go see when that big oaf will learn how to use coupons."
Tony gritted his teeth, steeled himself to abandon his low-level interests, and turned to his experiments.
A moment later, only the sound of keyboard typing remained in the laboratory.
On the other side.
Asgard, the Golden Palace.
Loki stood at the bottom of the steps, a smile of paternal love and filial piety on his face.
But his body was very tense, even his buttocks were taut.
This was because Odin on the throne had been silently watching him for a long time.
Those old yet sharp eyes seemed to pierce through all pretense, seeing clearly his every thought.
Cold sweat began to bead on Loki's forehead.
Does Father already know?
Did they know he was secretly contacting certain people, that he was investigating the arrangements for the succession to the throne, and that he was no longer content to live forever in Thor's shadow?
He even started considering whether he should kneel down and admit his mistake right now.
Although it was humiliating, it was better than being executed on the spot by his father.
Loki.
Odin finally spoke.
Loki immediately lowered his head, his tone respectful. "Father."
Odin looked at his adopted son, a complex emotion flashing deep in his eyes.
He knew Loki's ambition, and he also knew that the boy had always been jealous of Thor.
But Loki is not without merits.
He is intelligent, cautious, good at planning, and knows how to exploit other people's weaknesses.
If Thor is a sharp battle axe, then Loki is a dagger hidden in his sleeve.
Asgard needs warriors, and it needs daggers like these.
It's just that this dagger sometimes has a tendency to stab its own people.
Odin raised his hand and pressed it against his aching chest.
Odinsleep is coming soon.
He didn't have much time to wait any longer, nor could he let Loki stay in Asgard to slowly lay the groundwork.
Since the timeline is already in disarray, let this child, who excels at creating chaos, step onto the chessboard ahead of time.
I have a task for you.
Loki raised his head slightly.
"Please give your orders, Father."
Odin said in a deep voice, "You must go to Midgard."
Loki's smile froze.
"Earth?"
"That's right."
"Ah, I see. Are we going to pick up Thor?"
Odin remained silent for a moment.
"No, you need to find him, observe him, and help him when necessary."
A barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed in Loki's eyes.
Isn't this just about picking up that big, dumb guy?
How long has it been? Why is Father so biased!
"Of course, before that, you have one more thing to do."
Odin raised the Gungnir, its tip landing on the map in the center of the hall.
" The Space Stone has appeared in Midgard."
Loki's pupils contracted slightly.
" The Space Stone?"
It no longer belongs to Midgard, nor to Asgard.
Odin's voice deepened. "It's in the hands of a man named Chen Mo."
Upon hearing the name, Loki instinctively frowned.
He had certainly heard of Chen Mo.
That guy who had no sense of hierarchy and threw Thor into the streets of Earth, although he did a good job, his disrespect for Son of Odin was a capital offense.
However, the more important issue now is that the other side actually possesses the Space Stone.
"Your mission is to bring the gem back to Asgard."
Loki slowly raised his head, and the smile on his face returned to its radiant state.
"Father, rest assured, I will certainly not let you down."
Odin looked at him, his expression becoming even more complex.
This child has clearly begun to plan how to use the Space Stone and how to complete his plans on Earth.
He's so naive and innocent; he doesn't even know what kind of monster he's about to face.
But some things, children will only understand when they truly leave this little Asgard.
"Besides."
Odin leaned back on his throne, his voice tinged with weariness.
"I'm going to go into a deep sleep."
Loki could hardly contain his joy.
The king is asleep, the queen mother is soft-hearted, Thor is banished.
Isn't this the perfect opportunity?
"I see."
He bowed deeply, his tone utterly respectful. "Father, please rest assured. Asgard is in my care."
Odin's eyelids twitched slightly.
Doesn't this sound a bit like announcing one's succession to the throne in advance?
Loki.
"Father, is there anything else you need?"
"After you go to Earth, do less unnecessary things."
This was Odin's last bit of fatherly love.
Loki's smile turned into a father's farewell to his son.
"I only do what is necessary."
Odin stared at him for a few seconds, then finally waved his hand.
"Get lost."
Loki turned and left the hall.
Once he was out of the God King's sight, he could no longer suppress the smile on his face.
Earth.
Thor.
Space Stone.
There is also a father who is about to fall into a deep sleep.
This time, the throne will finally be his.
Loki raised his hand, and green magical light danced slowly at his fingertips.
Midgard.
He murmured the name, his gaze gradually turning cold.
"May you be prepared to welcome a truly noble God."
Kamar-Taj.
Inside the training room, Mordo stood alone against the wall.
His back was ramrod straight, his hands hidden beneath his wide robes.
At the fingertips, a wisp of dark magic pattern slowly emerged, spreading along the skin towards the wrist like a tiny snake.
Mordo stared at the black pattern, his eyes showing no fear, only a long-suppressed ambition.
The Ancient One didn't care about the rules either.
He can borrow the power of the Dark Dimension, hide his secrets, and gain everyone's respect by virtue of his status Sorcerer Supreme.
Why can't he?
With enough power, so-called taboos are nothing more than rules of the game set by the strong.
Just as Mordo was about to continue casting the spell, an old voice suddenly came from behind him.
" Mordo."
The black lines disappeared instantly.
Mordo's body stiffened, and he slowly turned his head.
The Ancient One had been standing behind him without him noticing.
His white beard hung down to his chest, and his face showed no anger or questioning; he simply looked calmly at his disciple.
Mordo broke out in a cold sweat.
"Teacher."
Go and get ready.
The Ancient One slightly raised her eyelids, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger.
"I have a very important task for you."
Mordo bowed his head in greeting.
"Yes, sir."
He didn't see that the Ancient One's gaze lingered on his hidden fingers for a moment.
The old monk slowly turned around and walked out of the training room.
"Stupid without realizing it."