Chương 91: Chapter 91: Intrigues on the Island 

On the other side, Captain Zhao let out a sigh of relief as he watched Clairvoyant and Clairaudient successfully strike up a conversation with Luke. 

For this trip to Asgard, they only had a total of four people: the two of them over there, himself, and Captain Yang standing beside him. 

According to the Director of S.P.E.A.R., who had briefed him beforehand, those three possessed exceptionally strong reconnaissance abilities, and Captain Yang also had remarkably formidable combat skills. 

One of their main objectives for visiting Asgard was to investigate Asgard's true strength. Another was to establish a connection with Luke, the "runaway prince" of Asgard. 

Although Luke hadn't taken an open, commercial flight back to China, they were still able to track him and his ninjas through the nationwide "Sky Eye" surveillance network. His tracks included, but were not limited to, food streets and various specialized academies. From this, they deduced that Luke was likely of Chinese descent, though they couldn't figure out why there was absolutely no record of his information in their databases. 

Originally, they thought Luke might have been born overseas, but they soon discovered that their counterpart, S.H.I.E.L.D., had no idea where this guy had popped out of either. 

S.P.E.A.R. had several theories about this. After ruling out a bunch of unreliable answers, they ultimately concluded that Luke might be a "returnee" from another world or outer space. 

They decided to put the speculation about Luke's identity on hold for now; the most important thing was to establish initial contact with him. 

They weren't afraid of how eccentric Luke's personality might be; they were only afraid he wouldn't communicate with them at all. 

Seeing Clairvoyant and Clairaudient successfully chatting with Luke, Captain Zhao relaxed and gave Captain Yang a meaningful glance. Captain Yang gave a slight nod, stepped forward with both hands guarding Captain Zhao, and the crowd of people completely surrounding Loki in front of them seemed to be pushed aside by an invisible force, automatically parting to clear a path. 

The US delegation watched in bewilderment as Captain Zhao squeezed right up next to them, exchanging frantic looks with the people around them: "What is wrong with you guys? Weren't you told to push them all to the outside?" 

The surrounding people suffered in silence. The UK and French delegations were basically just vassals to the US this time, having received strict orders from their superiors to assist the Americans with all their might. 

And the very first objective the US gave them was to surround Loki, preventing people from other countries from getting in or talking to him. 

But what they hadn't expected was that the Chinese team actually included superpowered individuals, or rather, that their team only had one normal person... 

After all, in their own countries, such individuals were considered unpresentable and were heavily stigmatized. How could they possibly be included in a diplomatic team meant to interact with a major power? 

Now that Captain Zhao had also made it to Loki's side, on the other end, mixed within the Russian team was a burly, eccentric man wearing a heavy fur coat—despite being on a tropical island. The burly man took a swig of liquor and shoved his way directly into the crowd. As he approached, the people trying to block them felt a bone-chilling cold. Frost visibly condensed on their jackets, causing their faces to pale in shock as they quickly scrambled out of the way. 

The rest of the Russian team watched this scene gleefully. A few of them changed into fur coats to follow him, while the rest grabbed bottles of vodka and headed straight for Thor, who was currently being annoyed to death by the other three delegations. 

According to the intelligence of these nations, Luke, Loki, and Thor were the official representatives of Asgard, while Jane and Erik were their mortal friends. Nobody knew who Sylvie or the Ancient One were, but they assumed they belonged to some minor, insignificant faction hiding in some corner of the Earth—not worth mentioning! 

Therefore, their primary goal for this trip was to establish dialogue with Luke, Thor, and Loki. 

The awkward part was that the US, UK, and France had recently voted 3-to-2 on the Security Council to pressure Luke, essentially having a falling out with him. So, they could only focus their efforts on the other two. 

Luke, on the other hand, was having a relaxing time chatting with Clairvoyant and Clairaudient, not caring at all if he accidentally let slip any classified information. 

Meanwhile, Thor had been having a great time chatting with Jane but was now surrounded by a mob of people, whose incessant chatter was driving him crazy. 

Just then, the Russians squeezed into the crowd, carrying booze. 

"Hey, friend! Vodka!" The leading Russian took a huge gulp straight from the bottle, then threw it onto the ground, smashing it to pieces. 

How barbaric! 

The surrounding tri-nation delegations frowned, dodging the glass shards and splashing liquor. Why was their diplomatic team so unprofessional? 

But this was exactly Thor's style. Originally annoyed beyond belief, he suddenly saw a team that perfectly matched his tastes, and his approval rating of them maxed out instantly. 

"Let me try that!" Thor laughed, taking a bottle of liquor. He frowned slightly as he took his first sip, but then found it to be quite good. 

"Good drink! Though it can't compare to Asgardian mead, it's strong enough!" Thor's brow unfurrowed. In a burst of enthusiasm, he smashed the bottle on the ground, sending shards flying everywhere. But the Russians didn't flinch or try to dodge at all, making Thor feel that they were absolutely his kind of people! 

Clairvoyant smiled as he glanced over at the commotion. "It seems Asgardians are quite fond of drinking?" 

Luke thought about it. "Asgardians do love to drink. In fact, they respect anyone who can drink them under the table, and they love fine wine." 

Clairaudient chimed in, "If we had known, we would have brought some of Du Kang's brew. It might have made these Asgardians ecstatic." 

"The God of Wine?" Luke asked curiously. "Is the wine he brews really like in the myths? Can it actually keep you drunk for three years?" 

Clairaudient smacked his lips and said, "While it differs a bit from the myths, the effect is roughly the same. I only slept for a little over two years. But recently, it seems that kid improved the recipe. Someone drank it two years ago and still hasn't woken up." 

Good grief, so you've actually tried it. 

Also, who was the guy that still hasn't woken up? With a prior example, he still dared to drink it? Was he not afraid of waking up more than half a century later? 

Luke shook his head in bewilderment. Clairvoyant smiled and said, "Don't underestimate that kid's wine. Although the side effects are strong, the benefits are equally potent. It can accelerate our cultivation, heal the physical body, and cure the soul." 

"That sounds pretty good," Luke nodded. He could believe that alcohol could heal the body—after all, medicinal wines were a common folk remedy—but curing the soul was no simple feat. 

Even in Kamar-Taj, there was hardly anything capable of healing the soul. As expected of my homeland, they really have a lot of good stuff. 1

"When you have the time, would you like to pay a return visit to China to meet our guys?" Clairvoyant asked, striking while the iron was hot as he noticed the shift in Luke's expression. 

"I can definitely go back and take a look sometime. Tony was practically drooling after eating just two barbecue skewers. I need to let him experience what real food is!" 

Just then, three streaks of fire flew closer from the horizon. Luke looked up. Speak of the devil, here he comes. 

Suddenly, Luke noticed the anti-aircraft guns of the surrounding warships silently taking aim at Tony. He frowned, and energy began gathering in his hands. 

"Whoa, don't get trigger-happy, guys," Tony's voice boomed through his external speakers. Slowly, the surrounding warships lowered their anti-aircraft guns. 

"You really know how to court death," Luke said helplessly, dissipating the energy in his palms as he patted Tony's shoulder after he landed. 

"I didn't expect them to be so highly strung either." Tony stepped out of his armor, wearing an expensive tailored suit. On the other side, a bulkier 'Thursday' armor also opened up, and Pepper Potts stepped out. 

"How was your first flight?" Tony asked with a smile, holding onto Pepper's arm. 

"It felt pretty good, quite comfortable actually. But it was terrifying when those anti-aircraft guns pointed at me just now. Could you please not play around like that next time?" Pepper took a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart. 

"I think you're perfectly justified in ignoring Tony for the rest of the day," Luke interjected, offering some devious advice. 

"Good idea." Pepper shook off Tony's hand, looked around, and tentatively walked toward Sylvie and the Ancient One. 

"That really wasn't a good idea," Tony sighed helplessly, retracting his rejected hand and looking at Luke. 

"You have to let her vent a little. She really was terrified just now; her heart was beating incredibly fast," Clairaudient noted from the side. 

"Uh, who are you guys?" Tony asked, looking at the duo. 

"S.P.E.A.R., China. I am Clairaudient." 

Hearing the introduction, Tony frowned and tapped his earpiece. "Saturday, while we still have internet access, quickly download all of China's mythology and history." 

"Uh, Boss, I don't think I have enough memory for that." 

"Then link up with Thursday and Sunday's memory banks." 

"Boss, it's still not enough..." 

Tony let out a frustrated sigh. "Looks like I need to upgrade more than just your combat systems. For now, just download the mythological figures and their abilities." 

"That should be enough," Saturday's cheerful voice replied. 

"Your little sidekick is quite optimistic," Clairaudient smiled. 

"Indeed," Tony nodded. "Actually, I specifically reinforced the defense systems on the 'Thursday' suit I gave Pepper. Not even a missile could blow it open, but she was still worried." 

"It can't be helped. They haven't stepped into our world yet. Once they get used to it, perhaps they'll understand us," Clairvoyant chuckled. 

"You're right, that makes a lot of sense," Tony nodded, watching the three women chatting over there. 

"Is Master Ancient One going to Asgard as well? Perfect, I plan on paying a visit to Kamar-Taj soon." 

Luke nodded. He had no idea what new crazy idea Tony was brewing, but this guy always brought surprises—or rather, shocks. 

"Master Ancient One? Is that the lady in the yellow Hanfu over there?" Clairaudient asked curiously. 

"Yes. She is the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, leader of Kamar-Taj, responsible for protecting Earth from being devoured by interdimensional demon gods. Recently, she seems to be considering revealing their organization to the world. You might want to try communicating with her; it could be of great help to you. The other one is my niece, the Sorcerer Supreme's disciple," Luke explained, casually sharing some non-critical intel. 

Clairaudient nodded. "Sounds like a very mysterious and powerful organization. We'll try to get in touch with her. And the other one is your niece..." Clairaudient shot Clairvoyant a look. Clairvoyant understood immediately and stepped aside to whisper something into his earpiece. 

Luke didn't comment on this. Instead, he turned to Tony. "Did you bring the AllSpark? Don't tell me you have to go back and get it." 

"Of course I brought it. Sunday has the AllSpark." Tony swiped on his smart bracelet a few times, looking at the profiles of mythological figures on it. 

"It seems your abilities are very strong, you have a specific system, and you can fully control your powers?" Tony looked at Clairaudient in confusion. 

"Yes," Clairaudient nodded. "After all, a few thousand years is enough time for us to explore and accumulate a lot of knowledge." 

"Time truly is an incredible foundation. By the way, are you the actual entity recorded in the myths? Have you lived for thousands of years?" Tony asked curiously. 

"Of course not. Or rather, I'm just an ordinary person who inherited the legacy of Clairaudient. There's a whole van's worth of people like me in S.P.E.A.R. I'm just the best one among them," Clairaudient laughed. 

"Uh, how much is 'a van's worth' as a unit of measurement?" Tony looked at Luke in confusion. 

"It just means the number isn't small," Luke answered with a smile. 

"More riddles? Looks like I'll have to pay a visit to your side of the world too." Tony kept mental notes, adjusting his schedule. 

"Plans always change. I suggest you just come whenever; we still have plenty of time," Luke said, slinging an arm around Tony's shoulder. "Why do you look so rushed?" 

Tony was taken aback. "Do I look rushed?" 

"Absolutely!" Luke swiped on Tony's smart bracelet. "Look at how many days your schedule is booked for. Damn it, do you not have a single moment of rest for the next month?" 

Tony glanced at his own schedule and paused. 

"Alright, I've definitely been pushing myself too hard. I should at least schedule two parties in there." Closing the schedule, Tony rubbed his temples. 

"What's wrong with you?" Luke asked, puzzled. 

Tony sighed. "You have no idea what it feels like to think you knew everything, only to finally realize that there is still so much you don't know." 

Ah, the agony of a genius. 

Luke shook his head helplessly. "If you ask me, happiness is what matters most." 

At that moment, Loki exchanged a few words with Captain Zhao and the Russians, then shouted loudly: "Alright, it's time. We must depart for Asgard." 

Just as the crowd was assembling and lining up, a group of people stealthily slipped into the mix. 

"Hey, Braised Egg!" Luke suddenly appeared and slapped the perfectly bald head that was flawlessly absorbing all the sunlight. "What are you guys doing here? I thought you weren't going." 

"S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't have any missions this time; we're just here to watch the show. The Security Council has strictly forbidden any operations." Fury sighed, recalling the 5-0 vote by the Council. 

"Looks like you brought quite a crowd this time. Are you sure you're not going to cause any trouble?" Luke looked at the entourage following him: Coulson, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Captain America, and... Alexander Pierce. This lineup... 

Interesting! 

Luke nodded in absolute certainty about this lineup. Fury was definitely going to cause trouble! 

At the very back, Pierce, who was desperately trying to hide himself, was constantly praying not to be noticed by Luke. He hadn't wanted to go to Asgard in the first place, knowing he would run into Luke. 

During their last meeting, he realized this guy was backed by a highly secretive organization that knew his true identity. But Fury, desperate to glean some intelligence from this banquet, had dragged him along dead or alive. 

"Hello, Pierce," Luke greeted him with a smile. 

"You two know each other?" Fury asked curiously. 

"Sort of. Remember last time when some oversight committee above S.H.I.E.L.D. asked me about internal S.H.I.E.L.D. matters? I just asked Coulson and Pierce if such a committee actually existed." Luke shot Pierce a highly exaggerated wink. 

Bro, can you please not wink at me right in front of them?!!! 

Pierce was extremely nervous internally and quietly glanced at Fury. But Fury didn't say anything; Coulson had reported this incident to him back then, so he didn't think much of it. 

Pierce didn't rush to explain himself to Fury. As long as Fury didn't ask, he wouldn't speak. That way, he wouldn't arouse suspicion. 

Seeing the tense Pierce, Luke didn't tease him any further and turned away. 

As for exposing Pierce? S.H.I.E.L.D.'s three Helicarriers hadn't even been built yet. If he exposed him now, Snake-H.I.E.L.D. (Hydra) would probably shut down instantly. It was much better to wait, skin the snakes alive at the very end, and send them on their way. 

Depending on the situation, he might even bring 'The Bus' over. Then he would have four giant mechanical titans. Hey, maybe I should bring them over to that other universe to show them off. It'll probably scare the crap out of Optimus Prime and the others. 

Returning to Tony and the others, Luke watched as the crowd gathered tightly together. Then, following Loki's shout of "Heimdall!", a massive pillar of light descended from the heavens.