"This is truly an undeserved disaster…"
Nick Fury rubbed his temples. He had no choice but to appease Thor first—ordering S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to treat him with the highest courtesy. Even Kingpin had been transported to Tri-Wing Tower for processing alongside him.
Interplanetary diplomacy was nothing like negotiations between nations. This was far beyond his authority. He had to report everything to the World Security Council, leaving the leaders of the five major powers to decide how to handle the matter.
The details of the operation would depend on the analysis of their respective think tanks.
Fury's mission was simple but perilous: extract as much information as possible about Asgard—its politics, its culture, and especially the personalities, abilities, and governing philosophies of the three princes.
Otherwise, supporting the wrong successor would be like handing the nuclear launch codes to a madman. One misstep could plunge the Nine Realms into chaos.
As expected of a professional intelligence agency, S.H.I.E.L.D. mobilized endlessly. For half a month they escorted Thor on sightseeing tours, using subtle psychological tactics to coax information out of him. Kingpin, meanwhile, was interrogated dozens of times—some methods less than humane.
Finally, they managed to piece together a full picture of Asgard's power structure and the traits of the three princes.
But when Nick Fury submitted the intelligence to the World Security Council… the room fell into a suffocating silence.
The Eldest Prince: Gilgamesh
The God of Light. Lord of Valhalla. Commander of twelve Gold Saints. His power rivaled Odin himself, making him the most likely successor to the throne.
But—he was also arrogant, tyrannical, and utterly self-righteous. He had once wiped out every frost troll over a meter tall on Jotunheim, and had nearly driven the Dark Elves to extinction.
If that kind of ruler became God-King… would Earth still have a future?
These national leaders were used to being domineering in their own right. Being ruled by such an overbearing god-king would leave them resentful for life.
The Second Prince: Thor
The God of Thunder. Reckless. Simple-minded. Naive. Easily manipulated.
But he glorified war above all else.
And as the old saying goes—
"He who loves war will perish."
If a war-hungry monarch took the throne, Earth would inevitably be dragged into endless conflicts. With humanity's current technology, fighting aliens could only end in humiliation.
The Third Prince: Loki
The God of Mischief—shrewd, cunning, ruthless when needed. The type of ruler everyone feared the most.
Even if they supported Thor, no one would ever choose Loki.
A simple monarch is easy to fool.
A clever monarch is a nightmare to serve.
Choosing Loki would be asking to get manipulated… and eventually eliminated.
In the End… No One Was Suitable.
After reviewing all three candidates, everyone reached the same dreadful conclusion: not a single one was reliable.
The council members stared at the documents in despair.
With these three disasters waiting to inherit the throne… how had Odin not died of stress already? He must be suffering a stroke every few days.
"So… who do we support?"
After a long, awkward silence, the intelligence teams murmured among themselves. Finally, the French representative spoke up.
"We choose to support Thor."
"The Rabbit Country agrees," said another representative.
"Seconded," the American delegate added.
Moments later, Russia and the United Kingdom voiced their approval as well.
In a shocking twist, the five permanent members of the Security Council—who could never agree on anything—unanimously chose Thor.
Nick Fury was surprised for a moment, though he had mostly expected this outcome. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s analysis had long concluded that among the dwarven pantheon, Gilgamesh—the God of Light—was overwhelmingly powerful and deeply influential. He appeared to be the most likely successor to the throne, but for Earth, he was also the least controllable.
Before a being of overwhelming strength, there are only two paths: fight to the death, or kneel and submit.
Everyone present was a seasoned strategist; none of them were naïve enough to ignore this truth.
Next was Loki, the God of Mischief—a master of schemes, a born trickster, a man whose independence made him impossible to deceive.
Which left Thor, the God of Thunder. Strong, straightforward, and—according to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s psychological analysts—carrying a deeply buried kindness. Someone who could be guided.
In other words, naïve and easy to manipulate. The easiest to change.
The think tank had already prepared a detailed plan tailored specifically to Thor's personality.
"You love war?
Then we'll show you the horrors humanity has endured.
We'll make you understand the cruelty of battle."
They would use love, friendship, and emotional bonds to reshape his heart, transforming Thor into a peace-loving king.
In the end, they would help Thor win the support of Earth, defeat the other two princes, and ascend as the new King of the Gods.
Not only would this fulfill Odin's wishes, but it would also forge a lasting kinship between Thor and Earth.
No one expected Thor to hand out advanced technology. All they wanted was for him to keep protecting the blue planet, just as he had for thousands of years—while not interfering with other nations' political affairs. Maintaining the status quo was more than enough.
World leaders, long accustomed to being the highest authorities, were not eager to gain another godlike "ancestor" looming above them.
"Then let's leave this matter to S.H.I.E.L.D.," the American representative proposed. The others voiced no objections. As an organization backed by the five major powers, S.H.I.E.L.D. remained trustworthy—for now.
Nick Fury immediately seized the opportunity, requesting increased funding from each nation. Changing the heart of a god required a flawless script, and helping him defeat two rival heirs required even more resources.
Even future losses and collateral damage from inevitable conflicts would require financial support.
Thus, the five major powers granted him additional funds and authorized him to act with full discretion. The formation of the so-called Avengers was also formally approved.
Nick Fury was delighted to receive such backing, though he had never been one to hesitate when action was required.
He immediately summoned the "honest man," Phil Coulson.
"Changing Thor's mindset isn't something that can be done overnight. First, gather psychological experts and conduct a full analysis—his aesthetic preferences, his tastes, everything. Nothing can be overlooked."
"Find out what kind of woman he's attracted to. Then send agents to locate someone who fits that profile and train her accordingly. I've always believed that love is the most effective tool for changing a person."
Coulson nodded and turned to leave—but Fury added, "And make sure this is done in absolute secrecy. Thor must not find out."
Coulson gave a confident nod. "Don't worry. My lips are sealed."
Satisfied, Nick Fury then called in Hawkeye Clint Barton and Black Widow Natasha Romanoff.
"My Avengers Initiative has been officially approved. We're moving forward. You two will be part of the team. Thor will serve as the temporary captain. Your job is to stay by his side, build rapport, and make sure he sees you as his most trusted allies."