Loki knelt on the cold ground, the thought of using Thanos to eliminate Peter only just having surfaced in his mind.
As a result, in the next second, countless ill-timed images flooded his mind.
His best-laid plans had been easily dismantled by Peter in a manner that was almost humiliating.
And then... there was the tragic death of Laufey and... his father's face.
"It was my mistake."
His father's apology echoed in his ears.
And then there was Thor.
The look of pain on that fool's face as he lunged forward to grab his cloak the moment he fell.
Loki's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
A conflicted expression appeared on his face.
He could indeed join Thanos and have him lead an army to invade Earth.
But what after that?
Setting aside whether Thanos could deal with that monster-like Earthling...
Even if he really won, so what?
Would his father and brother look at him in a new light because of it?
Thinking deeper, his father was already extremely old. If he led the Chitauri army to Midgard now, would they later become insatiable and strike at Asgard?
The more he thought, the more Loki didn't dare to speak.
Thanos clearly sensed his hesitation.
But this overlord of Titan did not grow angry; he simply reached out unhurriedly and picked up the Mind Stone from beside the throne's armrest.
The gem embedded at the top of the scepter emitted a faint blue glow; a single glance was enough to make one feel a strange attraction.
"I know what you fear."
"But let me tell you, before Thanos, the things you fear are not worth mentioning at all."
"I can grant you power."
Thanos casually tossed the Mind Stone before Loki, the sound of metal hitting the floor echoing in the empty hall.
"I can grant you an army."
"I can give you all the chips needed to complete your revenge."
"But if, under these circumstances, you cannot even summon the courage of a warrior—"
"Then my Titan will no longer welcome you!"
This last sentence was the true killing blow.
Loki knew very well what it would mean if he were no longer welcome on Titan.
In the past period of time, he had been displaced and had suffered through the coldness of the world.
If he were expelled from Titan, it would mean being deemed by two cosmic overlords as having no value for survival on their Planets.
His future days would only become even more difficult!
Thinking of this, he subconsciously reached out, his fingertips touching the Mind Stone.
The moment his fingertips contacted the surface of the scepter, a cold current surged from his finger into his brain.
The emotions he had been struggling to suppress just now were instantly magnified tenfold, a hundredfold.
Anger.
Resentment.
Jealousy.
And an inferiority complex that reached his very marrow.
Deep in Loki's pupils, a flicker of faint blue light flashed by.
He gripped the scepter tightly and slowly stood up.
"My Lord Thanos."
His voice was much steadier than before, even carrying a hint of his former composed manner.
Ebony Maw raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the change in Loki's state.
Thanos also took a slight interest, leaning forward slightly.
"Speak."
"I can provide you with the coordinates of Earth."
The moment Loki's words fell, Peter's face eerily surfaced in his mind once again.
This caused the lofty ambitions that had finally sprouted in his heart to diminish by more than half out of thin air.
Thus, the words at the tip of his tongue changed to:
"But I have one condition: I will not participate in this invasion. Whether the outcome of this invasion is success or failure, it has nothing to do with me."
"I cannot possibly go and provoke that monster Peter Parker again!"
"Otherwise, even if he spares me, my brother and father will never forgive me!"
Upon hearing this, an unpleasant look immediately appeared on Ebony Maw's face. Just as he was about to speak up and reprimand him, he was stopped by Thanos raising his hand.
In fact, Thanos also very much wanted to kill Loki right now.
But he knew he couldn't act yet.
This little waste was still useful.
He was the best springboard for his future invasion of Asgard.
Therefore, Loki could not die yet!
Not only could he not die, but he also had to help him eliminate the fear in his heart bit by bit.
Only in this way could he truly make Loki serve him!
With this thought, Thanos stepped down from his throne and approached Loki step by step.
Loki subconsciously took half a step back but forced himself not to continue retreating.
Thanos looked down at him, the corners of his mouth slowly curling into an arc.
"Your fear, I understand."
"But your fear happens to prove one thing."
He reached out, took the Mind Stone back from Loki's hand, and weighed it in his palm.
"On that Planet, there is something worthy of my personal attention."
At this, he patted Loki's shoulder and said:
"Your condition, I grant it!"
"Now, give me the coordinates of Earth."
"As for that Midgardian you're worried about—"
Thanos turned around, sat back on his throne, and spoke with an overflowing Haki:
"You only need to sit here and watch a good show with me."
"See just how long that monster Earthling you speak of can last before my army."
Loki's lips pressed into a line.
The residual influence of the Mind Stone was still churning in his brain. Those magnified negative emotions were like trash left on the beach after the tide recedes; although the tide was gone, the trash remained.
He really wanted to refuse.
But he also knew very well that before Thanos, he had no right to refuse at all.
Moreover...
A thought slowly took shape in his mind.
If Thanos won, then by following Thanos, he at least wouldn't be a loser.
If Peter won—
Then he wouldn't have lost anything on Thanos's side either. Since he didn't act personally, at worst he could say he was coerced by him, and Thor and his father couldn't blame him.
This calculation was so shameless that even he himself felt it was enough.
But there was no helping it; who told him he was the God of Mischief?
What was wrong with the God of Mischief playing a few tricks?
Survival isn't shameful.
"Milky Way Galaxy, Third Quadrant, the Third Planet of the Solar System."
Finally, Loki closed his eyes and slowly recited the coordinates of Earth.
"Very good!"
Thanos nodded with satisfaction.
"Ebony Maw."
"Your subordinate is here."
"Pass down the order. Supergiant and Black Dwarf are each to lead two Chitauri Capital Ships, plus one Flagship, and depart immediately."
"Target—Earth."
Ebony Maw took the order and left. Loki still knelt in place, not moving.
Thanos glanced at him and suddenly smiled.
"Don't be nervous, Loki."
"If things go smoothly, you will soon be able to return to Asgard."
"As a conqueror."
Loki did not answer.
He just kept his head down, staring fixedly at his blurred reflection on the ground.
He almost didn't recognize the face in the reflection.
But soon, a violent vibration disrupted the hesitation and conflict in his heart.
That was five whole Chitauri Leviathans. Each Leviathan carried thousands of fully armed Chitauri soldiers who had conquered countless star systems!
Looking at those fully armed troops, Loki unconsciously tightened his grip on the scepter in his hand.
He felt the chaotic thoughts in his heart gradually calm down...
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