"Is this S.H.I.E.L.D.'s decision, Nick Fury's decision, or yours?"
Fenris narrowed his eyes, and his expression instantly turned dangerous.
"Fenris, this is Director Fury's decision. I hope you can understand my position…"
Coulson's gaze swept faintly across the surrounding area.
As the strange phenomenon faded, the agents who had already retreated far away had gradually begun moving closer. Dozens of eyes were fixed on the two of them from a distance.
Moreover…
Mjolnir was a rare artifact even in mythology, one worthy of ranking among the greatest divine weapons.
If they had not known before, that would have been one thing. But now that they had already witnessed its power, Nick, from a thousand miles away, naturally would not allow someone else to take it away so easily after receiving the news.
In other words, even if Fenris truly had lifted the God of Thunder's hammer, the hammer had indeed been secured by S.H.I.E.L.D. first. On top of that, S.H.I.E.L.D. also had no shortage of elite agents. Who could guarantee that none of them could lift the hammer?
If nothing else, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s absolute elites, Hawkeye, Clint Barton, a candidate member for Nick's Avengers Initiative, was currently not far from the base.
"A mythological weapon is a matter of great importance. Fenris, whether emotionally or rationally, publicly or privately, I have to stop you."
Looking at Coulson, who had abandoned his usual manner and was now blocking him with firm, official resolve, Fenris met his eyes for several breaths. Then he paused, and suddenly gave a soft laugh.
"Fine."
With that, his hand loosened. Mjolnir fell and slammed heavily into the ground.
"Coulson, I'm leaving the hammer here. Make sure you protect it."
Fenris laughed and patted Coulson on the shoulder.
He was not angry. Casually taking Wanda's hand, he hoisted Thor over his shoulder and turned to leave.
As the space before them rippled, the two stepped into it and vanished into thin air right in front of Coulson.
"Fenris, you finally got that hammer. You're just giving it up?"
Inside the Mirror Dimension, Wanda tilted her head. Looking at Thor on Fenris's shoulder, she asked curiously, "Also, why are you taking him back?"
"His name is Thor Odinson, the true owner of the God of Thunder's hammer."
Fenris chuckled. "As for Mjolnir…"
"I'm giving Coulson a way out so he can report back."
…
Outside the devastated S.H.I.E.L.D. temporary base.
Coulson looked at the agents drawing closer behind him, then at the plain little hammer in front of him, and sighed with a headache.
Buzz—
Mjolnir, which had been sitting quietly in place, suddenly began vibrating at a low frequency. Tiny arcs of electricity spread over the hammerhead, and crackling thunder abruptly rang out.
"Hm?"
Coulson instinctively took several steps back. Then, as if answering some call, Mjolnir shot into the sky before his eyes.
The wind rose abruptly. Watching the hammer break the sound barrier in the blink of an eye and streak toward the distant town before quickly vanishing from sight, Coulson finally came back to himself and blinked, wearing an expression that said, Just as expected.
"That Fenris…"
Everything was understood without being said. Coulson smiled and shook his head.
A moment later, he took out his communicator and dialed a number.
"Coulson, what's the situation?"
A slightly impatient voice came from the other end. The sound of writing and drawing mixed in from time to time, making it obvious that the man was currently buried in work.
"Director, Fenris did not forcefully take the hammer. After saving an unidentified man, he left on his own."
Without waiting for Nick to ask more, Coulson calmly recounted everything that had just happened.
"According to the database, that man's name is Donald Blake. However, all of his personal information is forged and has no reference value."
"He didn't take it?"
Nick lifted his head from the complicated documents in front of him and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That doesn't fit his usual style. Especially after his strength has surged several times recently. He still actually gave S.H.I.E.L.D. face?"
Just how many hidden losses have you suffered at Fenris's hands?
Coulson shrugged helplessly, but in the end, he did not say those words aloud. Instead, he said, "However, we were also unable to keep Mjolnir."
"What do you mean?" Nick immediately sat up straight.
Although he did not know why the hammer had appeared here, or where the legendary God of Thunder had gone, there was no doubt that the God of Thunder's hammer held major strategic significance for S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Did Clint lift it?"
"No. It flew away by itself."
Coulson explained without changing expression.
Bang!
A loud slap against a desk came from the other end of the call.
"Agent Coulson, are you certain the hammer flew away on its own, and that it wasn't taken by someone?"
"Yes, Director. The hammer did indeed fly away on its own."
Glancing at the busy agents around him, Coulson swore to the heavens that there was not a single falsehood in his words.
"As you know, I'm only an ordinary person."
"Haa…"
The other end of the call suddenly fell silent. Coulson did not rush him. He simply stood where he was and waited quietly.
A long while later.
Nick finally let out a faint sigh.
"Fine, Agent Coulson. Your mission in New Mexico is over."
"Congratulations. You can return to New York."
Hearing that, the corners of Coulson's mouth immediately lifted slightly.
"Thank you, Director."
Beep. Beep.
The communication cut off. Coulson turned and left without the slightest reluctance, his steps even a little lighter.
Not far away, several S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles had already been waiting for some time.
The man at the front wore a finely made uniform and carried an American hunting bow on his back. His eyes were incomparably sharp.
Clint looked at Coulson and quickly stepped forward.
"Sir, what do we do next?"
"Have everyone pack up all the data. We're preparing to leave."
Coulson smiled faintly and got into the car with practiced ease.
"Remember to return Dr. Jane Foster's data files and equipment to her. After all, I promised her I would."
"Yes, sir."
Hawkeye Clint nodded and was just about to leave when a sudden gust of wind rising from the ground interrupted him.
"What's going on?"
Clint frowned, keenly sensing that something was wrong.
He spun around. Several kilometers away, a massive eye of wind had suddenly begun to condense in the sky.
As the wind speed grew faster and faster, they could sense the abnormality even from this distance.
When the originally clear sky darkened once more and the clouds gradually reached down toward the ground, a brilliant rainbow beam descended from the heavens and connected sky and earth not far from the town. Coulson froze, then abruptly climbed back out of the car.
Four powerful auras rose all at once. The instruments they carried immediately detected energy readings far beyond normal human levels.
"The Bifrost… It actually appeared again?"
Coulson frowned.
"All personnel, stay alert. We have new guests."
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]