The poor Monac was carried back to Zhongsi Academy like a burlap sack. Currently, Gin and Natasha are still traveling in Japan and haven't returned; here, only Hamill and King father and son, as well as Charles the little bald head, count as high-end combat power.
There are also some trained graduates, but their equipment is still being studied by the adjutant and is not in full form yet. There's no need to involve them in these matters.
Su Ming descended from the sky accompanied by the dark night, landed on the rooftop, and strode back indoors, placing Monac onto the principal's office sofa.
"Hamill." The armor on Su Ming's body transformed into a suit as he instructed the Guardian beside him.
"Master." Hamill bowed slightly.
Su Ming took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, lit it, and gently exhaled a puff of smoke: "Keep a close watch on Monac, don't give him the chance to use magic or escape."
"As you command." Hamill wouldn't ask for the reason; he only needed to know it was an order from the Supreme Mage.
The controller of the Eye of Agamotto might have seen something in countless future timelines, but these possibilities are not explained by either The Ancient One or Deathstroke.
Deathstroke's gaze turned to the little bald head sitting on the principal's office sofa; at this moment, Charles looked like a child in his teens.
But his actual age is far from that, his face carried a mismatched Buddha-like smile, only lacking a flower or Jade Purification Bottle in his hand.
Seeing the host here looking at him, he politely nodded and greeted: "Mr. Wilson."
Su Ming walked over and casually touched his bald head: "Is there anything unusual within the academy's scope?"
"Everything is normal, no one has infiltrated or left."
Charles knew what Deathstroke meant, but at least for now, his worry hadn't manifested; though his mental perception couldn't yet cover the entire academy, he knew the peculiar hemispherical structures suddenly present atop every building in the compound weren't just water towers.
"Where is Lorin now?" Su Ming asked Hamill again.
Before completing the handover with King, affairs here were still under his management, and upon receiving news from the New York Temple, both father and son immediately returned from Kama Taiji.
King had returned to normal, as Zheng Xian had already prepaid part of the remuneration, restoring his sense of smell.
"With the students," Hamill replied succinctly, checked Monac's back of the head, and pushed him into a different position.
Lorin had no living relatives, and the SSR had basically forgotten about her, which is the ideal result.
"She's already secretly injected with the Leech Potion; has she noticed anything herself?" Su Ming rubbed his chin and asked again.
"Perhaps," Hamill gave an uncertain answer.
Though Lorin wasn't as outstanding in her profession as Peggy, she had undergone full special agent training; injected at a similar time as Peggy, she hadn't aged over the years, and some students retained unchanged appearances, which is suspicious.
But unlike Agent Carter, she hadn't divulged any secrets, pretending to know nothing.
Wilson Enterprises had provided various material and spiritual enjoyments in abundance; she had no standing to expose the secrets here.
She impersonated naivety well, like an ignorant young lady; it protected both the enterprise and herself.
"If my prediction is correct, SSR might soon be severed from the military; politicians won't want to bear this burden... This is our opportunity, notify Spider Web to prepare, and line up some off-campus affairs for Lorin."
Hamill stepped back, letting King take over: "He'll handle these matters in the future; I'm returning to Kama Taiji."
"Alright, idol trainees have their advantages too."
Su Ming spoke in a way everyone couldn't comprehend, making King mildly anxious, as he sneaked a glance at his father.
But Hamill moved swiftly, departing as soon as he said, and when King turned his head, the Teleportation Gate had just closed; he only caught a glimpse of fabric, even Monac was gone.
To prevent an escape of a mage of Magic Prince's level, there are no corresponding facilities here; Hamill had to return to Kama Taiji.
"King? Did you hear? Don't zone out." Su Ming waved his hand in his face.
"Yes, yes, Master, I follow your command."
Though slightly flustered, King's duty as a Guardian Race member prompted him to immediately comply.
Any command from the Supreme Mage is executed resolutely; even seemingly suicidal arrangements must have their reason, and time will prove everything.
"Alright, the world will be a bit chaotic these days, just take care of the academy. As you've completed the handover, make sure you're attentive," Su Ming didn't repeat himself, assured upon seeing the agreement: "Charles, keep an eye; I'll head elsewhere to deal with the Super Axis people."
If predicted correctly, Captain America and Peggy might be tangled in the same predicament as Monac; rushing there now would be too late, plus they have too many people around; it's impossible to clean up the mess.
According to Steve's personality, he will definitely take responsibility, and the upcoming events might impact the sales of Wilson Enterprises products...
No choice, the product spokesperson is involved in a scandal.
The plan was originally targeted at Captain America, and Monac just mistakenly fell into the trap, caught in the crossfire.
After all, the British Mage does not represent the United States, only the warrior wearing the Star-Spangled Banner symbolizes the American Spirit, and Hydra is only out to destroy Steve.
First capture him, then let him escape or be rescued, after which he would greatly overestimate the threat level of the situation, using lethal force extensively.
The result was that Americans were killed, thus hatred was born.
Next, if Leviathan becomes aware, the situation would become even more uncontrollable; the Cold War has already begun, and the disputes between Leviathan and SSR will come to the forefront, while the showdown between the eagle and Fur Bear will become increasingly intense.
Time is limited, it must all be ended before things escalate further.
Actually, Su Ming has a solution, but he cannot tell Monac, because the Magic Prince would definitely not agree.
Steve and Peggy, along with the reliable forces of SSR, probably haven't killed many people, and Monac has only killed a few hundred, less than a thousand.
If someone were to kill a thousand times more than them, would anyone still care about those hundreds or thousands of insignificant numbers?
Entire United States is currently controlled by about a hundred thousand troops, and the number continues to grow, with more National Guard units being controlled.
Hydra spies are likely implanted in state legislatures, and it's these people who gather the Guard in the name of war, and then use Faust mushrooms to hypnotize and control them, the means being those spiked anti-toxic masks.
Yet, the commanding the troops are still those few people from the Super Axis, first eradicate them, and these troops will have no leader, minimizing civilian casualties. If Lady Nine-Heads or Faust could be lured to personally direct, that would be ideal.
So Su Ming is now about to cut off the army's growth and eliminate the leaders, except keeping Zemo and Lotus for future use, the rest can be killed.
"So, Master, who will accompany you?"
Wang asked the crucial question, to move quickly, he must rely on the Teleportation Gate. Apprentices can't go out for tasks, it'd only be a hindrance, and now among the idle masters there's only Mordo left.
But Mordo always wears a black restraining strap-style revealing leather outfit, and carries an eerie pleased smile at all times, mysteriously excited... going out might bring disgrace to Kama Taiji!
"Don't worry, I have allies."
Su Ming pushed open the window of the principal's office, slowly floated out, black and yellow armor spreading over his body. He gazed into the snowy night sky and took a deep breath:
"Heimdall!"
A strong beam of light instantly descended from the sky, everything around seemed like daylight, and in a flash returned to silence, leaving behind complex and beautiful circular patterns in the snow.
The Rainbow Bridge ushered the Supreme Mage into Asgard.
...............
"I will inform His Majesty Odin, please wait."
Hamdar politely performed a chest salute, but tightly held his great sword with his other hand, as if afraid Su Ming might snatch it from him.
Not surprising, Odin told him what Deathstroke did after the previous incident; stealing the Valkyrie Squad, setting the World Tree on fire, even impersonating Odin to issue false commands causing great casualties, and even fostering Warnerheim's independence.
Odin, however, didn't hold him responsible, instead instructed Asgard to treat Deathstroke with courtesy.
Heimdall was unwilling because he is Asgard's Eternal Guard, protecting this place is his responsibility. But those were orders from the omniscient Odin, no rebuttal allowed.
Su Ming casually waved, Heimdall indeed is a straightforward person: "No need, Immortal Palace is Odin, Odin is Immortal Palace, if he wants to see me, he will naturally appear. You might face consequences for making your boss do unwilling things, afraid of 'wearing tight shoes' in the future?"
"???" Heimdall looked baffled, what does wearing tight shoes mean?
But he still stopped his steps, resting his great sword while standing in the Astrology Platform, without any intention to summon Odin.
Su Ming warmly patted the tall guard's shoulder, if he didn't know he was also from the Vanir Race, he'd suspect him of being mixed with some kind of giant blood. His tall and imposing presence indeed made him the best choice for gate security.
As for why Odin hasn't appeared, there's no need to think, he's surely covered in blankets, napping on a boat to delay his aging, mostly spending time in 'Odin's Sleep'.
Thor remains immature, so Odin cannot yet die, or Asgard would have no successor.
But he doesn't understand, as long as he lives, Thor will always be a big child, never grown.
Moreover, besides Thor and Loki, Asgard does have other heirs, after all, the God of Light Balder is still in Secret Guest's Hell, playing 'house' with insects and tentacle monsters...