"Then quickly tell me the method... You don't know how dangerous the situation is for the major countries within the [Nine Realms] right now. People are dying from the corruption of chaotic energy every minute."
Thor urged, as if no one else was around, "If we can't resolve the threat of the [Eye of Fear] in time, I'm afraid that before long, all areas of the [Nine Realms] except [Midgard] will be transformed by that evil chaotic energy!"
However, to his surprise, the Ancient One across from him smiled and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Prince Thor, I am unable to fulfill your request."
"Huh? This..."
Thor frowned, somewhat annoyed, and questioned, "Didn't you just say that [Kamar-Taj] could use a magical barrier formed by three [Sanctuaries] to resist the invasion of the [Eye of Fear]?"
"Why are you refusing now? Do you know how many innocent civilians will die because of delaying the best opportunity?"
Facing the irritable Thor, the Ancient One was not angry and still explained to him gently, "First of all, although the three [Sanctuaries] can most likely withstand the erosion of the [Eye of Fear], they were built by the [First Supreme Sorcerer] using the [Source of White Magic], so even I don't have the ability to replicate them..."
"Secondly, the mission of us [Mystic Masters] of [Kamar-Taj] is only one: to protect Earth from the invasion of mysterious forces..."
"As for what kind of threats other countries will encounter, that has nothing to do with us... The residents there can only pray that their 'gods' will save them."
Although the Ancient One's words were very impersonal, that was the reality.
From the day it was established, [Kamar-Taj]'s responsibility was to protect Earth, and only Earth!
Neither [Asgard] nor the other major countries in the [Nine Realms] were within [Kamar-Taj]'s jurisdiction.
On the contrary, Thor's father, Odin, has always been recognized as the [Overlord of the Nine Realms], so when something happens in the [Nine Realms], they should naturally seek his protection, right?
Could they blame [Kamar-Taj] for it?
"Ah, this..."
Thor, who had always been poor with words and preferred action over thought, was immediately rendered speechless. But just as he was about to try again to persuade the bald woman opposite him, he heard the Ancient One change her tone and continue:
"However, I can give you a small suggestion..."
Seeing Thor cast a fervent and eager gaze at her, the Ancient One put on an air of superiority and said meaningfully:
So, after considering all aspects, she naturally chose to stop at the crucial point!
"[Sokovia]... Karl Mordo? Hmm, why does this name sound so familiar?"
Thor squeezed his facial features together and thought for a long time. When his gaze inadvertently swept over Wanda, he suddenly reacted and exclaimed loudly:
"Ah, I remember now, you must be talking about that brat who snatched the [Aether] from me last time, right?"
However, as soon as he finished speaking, a stream of scarlet chaotic magic directly imprisoned his burly figure and tightened like a pair of giant steel hands.
The one who attacked was naturally Wanda.
Who told Thor to be foul-mouthed and disrespectful to Karl? Who else would she punish if not him?
"Ugh..."
Thor's body immediately flashed with crackling arcs of lightning, seemingly trying to use his divine power to forcibly break free from the chaotic magic released by Wanda, but no matter how he tried, it was all in vain.
"Prince Thor, perhaps apologizing would be a good choice at this time," the Ancient One said calmly, taking a sip of tea.
What else could the Ancient One do?
This love-struck saintess under her command was terrifyingly strong. Maybe in a few years, even she wouldn't be her opponent.
But she was hopelessly devoted to that dimension demon, Karl Mordo, who harbored ulterior motives.
The Ancient One was also very helpless about this!
It was really like all the good cabbages were snatched by pigs...
"Um... sorry, I mean Mr. Karl Mordo."
Without thinking, Thor immediately yielded to Wanda, after all, the purpose of his trip was not to fight.
Every minute he delayed here, hundreds or thousands of innocent civilians in the [Nine Realms] would die, so he couldn't afford to waste time here.
Sure enough.
The next second, Wanda directly withdrew her chaotic magic, but her beautiful face was full of warning.
If it weren't for the Ancient One being present, she definitely wouldn't have let Thor off so easily.
After all, the last time in [Greenwich], Thor and Odin almost directly clashed with Karl and the others.
So, as early as the first time she saw Thor, Wanda had already remembered his identity.
"Wanda, this matter might also be beneficial to Mr. Karl, so please send Prince Thor over there?"
The Ancient One turned to look at Wanda meaningfully. Although the latter disliked Thor, she eventually nodded, then put on the [Sling Ring] and directly opened a portal to the front door of the [Subspace Group Building].
"Go, Prince Thor... I hope you can find the answers you want from Mr. Karl Mordo!"
The Ancient One flicked her finger forward, and the portal directly crashed into Thor. In the next instant, Thor had already been transferred from the [New York Sanctum] to the front of the [Subspace Group] building.
"This thing is much more convenient than the [Rainbow Bridge]. If [Asgard] had such [wizards], that would be great!"
Thor looked around, then strode towards the [Subspace Group Building].
A few minutes later, led by a busty secretary, Thor successfully arrived at the CEO's office and saw Karl, who was sitting on the [Golden Throne] and generating electricity.
"We meet again, [Thor]!"
Karl smiled and spoke first, not only did his face not show any hostility, but it also carried a bit of anticipation as if a 'big client' had come to his door.
"Yeah, why don't I see that man with the flames burning on his knife this time?"
Thor said seriously, "The last time we met, I wasn't in a good state, otherwise I would definitely have been able to defeat that group of Dark Elves and take back the [Aether] myself..."
Thor had obviously not forgotten his crushing defeat in [Greenwich], but after the little episode with Wanda earlier, he immediately explained his intention.
"Um... Mr. Karl Mordo, please don't misunderstand. I'm not here to ask for the [Aether] this time, but to seek your help..."
"Oh?" The smile on Karl's face grew even stronger, "Tell me about it."
"A lot of things happened after we last met, but those are all unimportant. What's important is that the [Nine Realms] are now facing an unprecedented crisis..."
Then, Thor recounted the course of events in his rough and rambling narrative style, without logic or focus.
If everything that happened hadn't been planned by Karl himself, he probably wouldn't have understood what the other party was saying at all.
He really didn't know how a cunning fellow like Odin could rest assured letting this muscle-brained guy come to Earth alone to find answers.
He might be good at fighting, but problems that require thinking... forget it!
"The situation in the [Nine Realms] is roughly like this..."
Thor, who was parched from talking, gestured on his thick hair and then continued, "Later, that bald-headed [wizard] told me that I could find the answers I wanted here."
"So, Mr. Karl Mordo, I want to know, are you the one who stepped in to stop that chaotic energy from corrupting [Midgard]?"
Karl didn't speak, he just nodded noncommittally. Thor was overjoyed at the sight and cheered like a child:
"Yes, that's great, now [Asgard] and the [Nine Realms] are finally saved..."
But before he could finish speaking, he heard Karl say faintly from the [Golden Throne], "But why should I help you and [Asgard]?"
"Ah?"
Thor was stunned for a moment, then said somewhat unhappily, "Didn't I also help you [Midgardians] solve those alien legions that invaded [New York] before?"
"As a matter of courtesy, shouldn't you help [Asgard] this time?"
"Prince Thor, I think you must have misunderstood something?"
Karl unceremoniously exposed him, "The [Battle of New York] was originally a disaster caused by your brother Loki. It's already giving you [Asgardians] a lot of face that humans haven't settled the score with you, okay?"
"Moreover, even if you and the so-called [Avengers] hadn't taken action, those Chitauri would not have been able to accomplish much in the end. After all, the most abundant thing on Earth is superhumans..."
"And this time, the appearance of the [Eye of Fear] and the subspace energy storm that affected the entire [Nine Realms] were still caused by your death-seeking brother Loki..."
"No matter how you look at it, this is the result of Odin and [Asgard] not managing that troublemaker well... So, why should I help [Asgard]?"
"Ah, this..."
Thor was directly rendered speechless. He knew Loki's crimes better than anyone, but after all, that was his lovely stinky brother.
Apart from unconditionally forgiving him again and again, what else could he do?
Thor thought for a while and said with a very sincere expression, "Mr. Karl Mordo, I deeply apologize for the crimes committed by my brother Loki, and I am willing to use my actions to help [Midgard] solve various crises in the future..."
"But right now, you are the only one who has the ability to help [Asgard] and countless innocent civilians in the [Nine Realms] through this crisis... As long as you are willing to lend a hand, I and the entire [Asgard] will become your most loyal allies in the future!"
Alliance, this was the best solution that Thor could think of in his mind right now.
It should be known that before the [Eye of Fear] appeared, being able to form an alliance with [Asgard] was equivalent to having an extremely powerful backer in the [Nine Realms].
This was something that many countries dreamed of.
But right now, Thor was a little unsure whether such conditions could impress the young man on the [Golden Throne] opposite him.
"Alliance?"
Karl chuckled upon hearing this, and immediately joked, "Even [Asgard] is having a hard time protecting itself now. There's no benefit for me to form an alliance with you!"
"But..." Thor looked embarrassed, but he was unwilling to give up.
"Don't waste your energy there. It's not impossible for me to help, but [Asgard] needs to show the most basic sincerity!"
Seeing Karl loosen his mouth, Thor's eyes lit up immediately, and he asked eagerly, "Hmm? What do you mean by sincerity..."
Karl said bluntly, "I want the [Tesseract] and the technology to build the [Rainbow Bridge]!"
"What?"
Thor was obviously startled by such a blatant request. Dude, aren't you taking advantage of the situation a bit too much?
Don't you know how important the [Tesseract] and the [Rainbow Bridge] are to [Asgard]?
Are those things you can just ask for?
That's too much, bro!
So, without thinking, he directly shook his head and refused, "I'm sorry, Mr. Karl Mordo, I don't think my father would agree to such a request, because both the [Tesseract] and the [Rainbow Bridge] are extremely important treasures to [Asgard]..."
"Especially the [Rainbow Bridge], which combines [Asgard]'s most cutting-edge technology and its most profound magic. If I give you the [Rainbow Bridge technology], it would be equivalent to giving you a weapon that can destroy [Asgard]... So, can you change it to something else?"
Who would have thought that Karl's attitude would be unusually firm, "If I really wanted to destroy [Asgard], I just need to stand by and watch now, why would I need to bargain with you here?"
"As for what you said, the [Tesseract] and the [Rainbow Bridge] are very important to [Asgard], I don't deny this..."
