The White House, where Emma Frost lived and worked.
A vast conference hall was packed with people.
There was Baby Groot, the three-person Hydra squad, three Loki variants, Laura and Gambit's squad, the Human Torch trio, Captain Carter's squad, and Emma Frost seated at the head of the table, with Betsy and Thor beside her.
Knock, knock, knock!
Emma tapped her knuckles lightly against the wooden conference table, producing a crisp sound.
"Good. Now that everyone's here, let's discuss who will go with Thor to collect resources across the multiverse, and who will stay behind to guard this place."
"Our squad abstains. We'll stay behind to guard Knowhere."
Elektra was the first to speak.
"Reason?" Emma asked, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Our squad isn't very strong. If we run into a powerful enemy in the multiverse, there's nothing we can do, and we might even lose people. I propose that our squad stay behind and handle security."
"Provisionally approved. Who's next?"
Emma produced a small gavel from somewhere and tapped it lightly against the sound block on the table.
"Our squad will go."
Captain Carter spoke next.
"Reason."
"Danny, Natasha, and I may not be very strong, but we're capable enough to gather intelligence in the Prime Universe. We can go there first and collect the relevant information, then meet up with Thor and the others after they've rescued Groot's teammates."
"And..." Captain Carter paused and looked at the Hydra Captain across from her. "Personally, I don't want to work in the same place as Hydra."
"Steve, your first love really can't stand you now, can she?" Seeing this, Ophelia didn't forget to fan the flames.
"Provisionally approved. Also, Ophelia, that's one mark against you."
Emma glanced at Madame Hydra Ophelia.
"Tsk... What a boring woman."
Having received a warning, Ophelia pursed her lips, leaned back in her chair, and idly played with her manicured nails.
"I agree with Carter's proposal. Our squad will also stay behind to guard Knowhere."
Hydra Captain Steve tapped the table lightly, agreeing to the request.
"Finally, it's my turn!" Human Torch Johnny shouted excitedly. "I'll go with Thor to the multiverse. I'm strong enough to help."
"You can't go."
Before Emma could speak, Valeria once again exposed her uncle from a parallel universe.
"Johnny is too flighty and immature. According to my personality data simulation model, there's a 99.999% chance he'll cause trouble. I wouldn't even be surprised if he accidentally blew up Earth one day."
"Valeria! I'm your uncle!"
Having once again been exposed in front of everyone, Johnny's face turned liver-red, and he shot Valeria a vicious glare.
"From a parallel universe. Strictly speaking, you don't even count as a distant relative."
"You!"
"All right, Valeria's analysis has never been wrong. Johnny, you'll stay on Knowhere. Valeria, Gamora, what about you two?"
Emma interrupted them.
"I'm not going. It's too dangerous out there."
Gamora kept it short and to the point.
"What about you?" Emma looked at Valeria.
"I'm not going either. I'll stay here and do research. If I go out, Franklin could easily catch me and take me back. I don't want to be grounded again."
Valeria folded her arms, clearly unwilling to go home so soon.
"Besides, Knowhere happens to be outside the universe. As long as I don't send out my coordinates, there's no way Franklin can find me."
"Oh, right, Thor, you need to bring me back some materials: the High Evolutionary's technology, a large quantity of Vibranium, and Asgardian Uru metal. Adamantium, the same material as Wolverine's claws, will do too."
"I can use them for some of my research. After all, since you can't capture a dimension demon god for me to study right now, I'll just have to make do."
Valeria rattled off a long list of materials and looked at Thor.
"All right. You're asking for a lot for a little brat." Thor nodded.
"Tch, Thor, the god of thunder whose IQ is lower than a little brat's."
Valeria fired back without thinking.
"Pfft..."
As Ophelia's bell-like laughter rang out, some of the others present couldn't hold back either and burst out laughing.
"Wait, what? What are you laughing at? Emma, do something about them! We're in a meeting. This is serious, okay?"
Thor looked at Emma beside him, only to find that the corners of her mouth had curved up slightly too.
Seriously?
Nice going, Emma! And you fence-sitters too!
Just wait until I get the chance. See if I don't zap every one of you!
He hadn't earned the title of Lightning Dharma King for nothing!
"All right, approved. Your turn, Loki."
Emma spoke calmly, her imposing aura spreading out and forcibly putting an end to the laughter.
"I'm going with Thor too!"
Kid Loki sprang to his feet and showed off the sword at his waist.
"You stay here and focus on training." Classic Loki placed a hand lightly on Kid Loki's shoulder, and an irresistible force pushed him back into his seat.
"Those two will stay. I'll go with Thor. I can do everything they can, and I'm stronger."
"Hey! You old bastard, you... Mmph..."
Before Kid Loki could finish, Classic Loki raised a hand and physically shut him up.
"Fine. Does anyone object to these arrangements?"
Emma stood and looked around like a queen.
"No."
"No."
"Good. Then, Thor, when are you planning to leave?"
"Now, I suppose. After all, I don't know how much longer Groot's teammates can hold out."
Thor snapped his fingers, and everyone instantly appeared in a vast plaza.
Groot was also very excited that he finally had a chance to rescue Rocket and the others. Something tall, resembling a bamboo-copter, instantly grew from his little head.
Whirr...
As the two bamboo-copter blades on Baby Groot's head began spinning wildly, his body slowly rose into the air. Within a few breaths, he flew onto Thor's shoulder.
Thor stared at the sight for a long time.
Is that right?
Could it be that you're actually Doraemon, Groot?
"I am Groot!"
(Thor! What are you standing around for? Let's go!)
Thor couldn't shake the feeling that the Marvel characters he knew seemed completely different from how he had known them in his previous life. Why were they all starting to develop in such strange directions?
But then he thought about it. Although the Marvel Universe had been comics and movies in his previous life, that didn't stop this universe from having its own logic.
Even comic book characters had histories of growth. These people were living, breathing people now-well... living, breathing creatures. A few relatively minor changes probably weren't a big problem, were they?
"Emma, are you coming with me?"
Thor looked at Emma beside him.
"I'm nobody's songbird, Thor. I'm my own queen."
"All right. What about you, Betsy?"
"Can I take that as an invitation to go on a date with you in the multiverse, Thor?"
Betsy had changed clothes. She was no longer wearing her high-cut one-piece combat suit, but a tight purple combat suit made of special high-fiber material.
"Of course. You can take it that way, Betsy."
Thor couldn't quite follow her train of thought for a moment. After thinking it over, he smiled and agreed.
"I'm sure this will be a very exciting date." Betsy walked over to Thor and slipped her arm through his.
Captain Carter stood behind Thor with Iron Fist Danny and Black Widow Natasha. Classic Loki had changed into a standard black-and-brown suit and strolled over with a thermos in his hand.
"Looks like everyone's here. Now it's time for Sorcerer Supreme Thor to make his entrance!"
Thor put on the Sling Ring and silently focused on his target. Open a portal to the Earth-199999 universe!
Sizzle...
Golden sparks danced in front of Thor, then rapidly spread into a circular portal fully twice a person's height. Beyond it was a gloomy, oppressive sky.
Everyone studied the portal curiously, looking through it.
Crunch, crunch, crunch...
Chewing sounds unlike those of a normal living creature came from beyond the portal. Against the dark gray, oppressive sky, a figure in a golden combat suit hovered silently in midair.
As if sensing something, the figure slowly turned around, revealing a pale, ashen face. Disheveled long blond hair hung over his shoulders, and he held a severed arm in one hand. His mouth kept chewing, blood dripping from its corners.
A large white S on his waist caught everyone's eye. Immediately afterward, a bloodthirsty voice filled with unconcealable hunger came through the portal:
"Tsk... Look what I found. Fresh food, delivered right to my door... Crunch, crunch, crunch..."