Creak...
Thor had spent seven full days in seclusion, thoroughly mastering the Law of Time, the Law of Reality, and how to use the Sling Ring.
He was in a great mood, but the moment he pushed open the door and saw everything outside, he was genuinely bewildered.
?!!
Where the hell had he ended up?
Was this still Knowhere?
He had only been in seclusion for seven days, not a century. How was it that everything outside was now full of modern buildings?
And what the hell was that building over a hundred meters tall?
Whose subordinate was this? How could they be so formidable?!
The speed of construction had caught up to China in his memories of his previous life, and even surpassed it.
And how had Classic Loki become a teacher?
Why were every one of you behaving like obedient students?
What on earth had happened during the seven days he was away?
Had they picked up a mad scientist?
Hm?
Was someone spying on him nearby?
Thor's gaze quickly locked onto the spot where Valeria was hidden, and he immediately shouted, "Who's there? Come out right now! Unless you want to turn into a charcoal-grilled twist."
Sizzle...
Violent currents flowed over his body, ready to strike at any moment.
Hum-!
A strange hum rang out. Valeria deactivated her invisibility and jogged up to Thor with an instrument in both hands, her golden hair swaying as her delicate little face appeared before him.
"Thor, can I give you an injection?"
?????!
Thor had never imagined that one day a creepy little girl would block his door and say something so outrageous the moment she opened her mouth.
Wait, what?
What was going on?
He had merely absorbed and comprehended a stone, and not only had everything changed by the time he came out, but there was also a creepy little girl hiding invisibly beside the cabin where he had been in seclusion, doing who knew what.
The Marvel Universe was still too crazy!
And judging by the little girl's appearance, not only was she delicate, but her features were clearly beginning to mature, like a flower bud about to bloom.
It was clear that this little girl's mother was definitely a beauty too. She was already this stunning at such a young age; what would she be like when she grew up a little more?
The problem was, the way the little girl looked at him was deeply unsettling, just like the way a crazed, perverted scientist would look at a special lab rat.
"Who are you? What are you sneaking around next to my place for?"
Thor warily backed away several steps. This was the first time he had ever found a pretty little girl so eerie. Who could understand that feeling?
"Oh? Right. Elizabeth said you were going to absorb and comprehend the Infinity Stones. I happened to arrive after you went into seclusion. Let me introduce myself. I'm Valeria Richards. Thor, can I give you an injection now?"
Valeria's eyes lit up as she looked at Thor. He really was a perfect research subject!
Valeria Richards?!!
When Thor heard that, he instantly took a huge leap back into the house. Only after making sure there was some distance between him and this creepy little girl did he speak, and with just one sentence, he easily made her expression change.
"Holy shit! You're the daughter of the Marvel Universe's number one shit-stirrer, Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards?!!"
"How did you get in here? Did that shit-stirrer throw you in here because he's up to something again?"
The fanatical smile on Valeria's face instantly froze.
"Shit-stirrer? Reed Richards?"
She blinked, seemingly taking three seconds to digest those two terms. Then her little face fell, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.
"My dad can be pretty... self-important sometimes, but he's not bad enough for you to describe him like that, is he?"
Thor hid behind the doorframe, peeking out with only half his head, as wary as a startled golden retriever.
"You still haven't answered my question! How did you get in here? Is your dad working on some big 'save the multiverse' plan again, and ended up losing you?"
Valeria took a deep breath and looked at him as if to say, "Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about my dad?"
"First, I observed Knowhere's coordinates myself and opened a door to get in."
"Second, my dad doesn't even know I'm here."
"Third..."
She paused, a hint of pride and a little disdain in her voice:
"My dad is Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards, not 'Reed Richards.' He does often come up with things that... exceed expectations, but this time it has nothing to do with him. I just came out to have fun on my own."
"To have fun on your own?" Still doubtful, Thor edged half his body out from behind the door. "Do you know what this place is? This is Knowhere, the multiverse's garbage dump. You came here to have fun? Do the adults in your family know?"
"Yes." Valeria spoke with complete confidence. "My brother knows."
"Your brother?"
"Franklin." She blinked. "He said I could play wherever I wanted as long as I didn't provoke any of those dimensional demon gods. He can find me no matter where I am anyway."
Holy crap! Isn't that the famous Omega-level Mutant Franklin from the comics?
The freak who could make pocket dimensions with his bare hands at the age of three?!
What kind of bullshit luck did he have, to run into Valeria Richards, the second child of Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman, here of all places?
This freak... no, this little girl wasn't just a super genius and scientist who was in no way inferior to her father. Most importantly, she had a multiverse-level big shot backing her!
He hadn't expected that, after the God of Stories Loki, he'd get to latch onto another powerful backer!
Did Heaven-Defying Comprehension boost his luck too?
"All right, I understand, Miss Valeria. Was there something you wanted to see me about?"
Thor promptly gave the little girl a demonstration of Sichuan opera face-changing, going from utterly terrified at first to exceptionally welcoming now.
He was so welcoming all of a sudden that even Valeria found it a little hard to adjust.
"...You know Franklin?"
"Of course I do. I also know who you are and what kind of crap your dad has pulled before, but none of that is what we're here to discuss."
Thor slapped both hands heavily on Valeria's shoulders and spoke with great enthusiasm and a hint of indulgence.
"But since you've come here and joined my team, I'll grant you anything you want, unconditionally."
Thor made a grandiose boast. Didn't she like doing research?
No matter what people or equipment you want, I'll make sure you get them all. Getting on Franklin's good side isn't easy, but getting on the good side of a mad scientist and research fanatic like you? That'll be a piece of cake.
"Then can you catch a dimensional demon god for me to study?"
"Uh... well..." Thor awkwardly scraped at the ground.
"Tsk, why talk so big if you can't do it? Men will say anything to fool you." Valeria curled her lip disdainfully.
"You know, I'm still developing right now. Once I've grown stronger, I'll beat a dimensional demon god for you to study, no problem."
Valeria didn't believe Thor's empty promise at all. Instead, she pulled out a small syringe, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Hold out your arm. Why are you looking at me like that? Weren't you the one who said you'd grant all my requests?"
"You can't catch a dimensional demon god for me to study, so letting me draw a little of your blood isn't too much to ask, is it?"