"Listen, pal."
Tony took a deep breath, deciding to reintroduce himself in a way the other party might find easier to understand.
"I'm rich. Very rich. Let's just say, buying the ground you're standing on is as easy for me as buying a can of soda."
He pointed to the private jet behind him.
"This iron lump is mine. It can fly, it can be invisible, and it can launch… well, it can launch some really powerful stuff that can blow you to smithereens."
"And I…"
He pointed to himself, his smile becoming confident.
"I can build many iron lumps even more powerful than that one."
He spread his hands, his smile still confident, "So, do you understand who I am now?"
Tony was very confident; he felt this approach should make this seemingly not-so-bright fellow understand his status.
However, things often turn out contrary to one's wishes.
After listening to him, Thor's expression became even more peculiar.
He looked at Tony, his eyes filled with sympathy.
"Oh, I see."
Thor nodded, enlightened.
Then, he said to Tony with a very sincere tone,
"You are the Dwarf King of Midgard, aren't you?"
"Just like Eitri, he is also skilled in forging and possesses many shiny stones?"
… "Interesting."
This time, Leon truly couldn't hold back.
Thor, how had he never noticed he was so foolish?
Dwarf King!
Shiny stones!
Oh, damn it, how did Thor manage to hit every single one of Tony's sore spots?!
He was practically a natural-born troll!
Leon swore that once this farce was over, he would set this recording as a private collection.
Whenever someone was unhappy in the future, he would take it out and watch it.
Guaranteed to cure all ills… In the desert.
Tony was petrified.
He was truly on the verge of laughing from anger.
Dwarf King?
What kind of description is that? Do I look short?!
He, Tony Stark, was five feet nine inches tall, even if it was with elevator shoe inserts.
A dashing, handsome, valiant man who took home two cover models a night, was actually mistaken for a dwarf?
And a Dwarf King who liked shiny stones?
This was worse than saying he was a new metal!
"Pfft!"
Darcy, standing behind him, couldn't hold back a laugh.
Immediately, she realized her mistake and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
But her wildly shaking shoulders still betrayed her.
Jane and Professor Erik also had expressions of wanting to laugh but not daring to.
The scene was incredibly awkward for a moment.
Of course, except for Thor.
He looked at everyone with confusion, only to see peculiar expressions on all their faces.
Well, he could only ask innocently,
"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong? The wealthiest and most skilled in forging in Asgard are the Dwarves. I think it's a compliment."
A compliment?
I compliment your whole family!
Tony felt his sanity on the verge of collapse.
He glared at Thor, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth.
"I, am, not, a, dwarf!"
"Oh, well then."
Thor shrugged, with an expression that said, if you say you're not, then you're not.
He turned, no longer bothering with this inexplicable mortal, and refocused his gaze on Jane.
His eyes became as gentle as Water.
"Jane," he said softly.
"Come back to Asgard with me."
Come back to Asgard with me.
It sounded like a confession, and also like a declaration.
Anyway, Jane Foster was completely bewildered.
Do you even hear what you're saying?!
Who takes someone home on their second meeting? Okay, this is the United States.
But that's still crazy!! They haven't even started dating!
Her heart began to pound wildly, her breathing became rapid.
Ecstasy, shock, and excitement overwhelmed all her thoughts.
How to put it, she hadn't become a scientist, but was she about to become a prince's woman instead?!
Asgard!
This was the dwelling of the gods, existing only in myths and legends.
It was also the dreamland she had poured all her efforts into, trying to glimpse through a telescope.
Now, this man from the divine realm was inviting her?
This made her feel even more dizzy than discovering a planet.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.
She could only stare blankly at Thor, then they gazed deeply into each other's eyes.
If anyone had more thoughts at this moment, it was her good friend, Darcy.
She had already given up on managing her expression.
Her mouth was wide open, her eyes as round as copper bells, the watermelon on her chest heaved with her breathing, and the half-eaten bag of potato chips in her hand had scattered across the ground.
Oh, my God!
What did I just see? Damn it, why wasn't it me who went to the divine realm first… cough cough.
What kind of divine plot is this?!
One second it was a tense Dwarf King dispute.
The next second it fast-forwarded straight to the domineering god falling in love with me and taking me home to get married?!
This, this, this is too exciting!
Darcy felt she had heard more gossip today than in her past twenty years combined.
She quietly pulled out her phone.
No, this part must be recorded!
This was a firsthand, cross-species courtship scene!
Post it, must post it! It would definitely go viral globally on YouTube!
Compared to Darcy's gossip-fueled reaction, Professor Erik's response was a bit more normal.
He looked at Thor and Jane, his eyes filled with a touch of worry.
As an elder and Jane's mentor during her growth, he was naturally happy for Jane to find her own happiness.
But how to put it, the other party was a god.
A god from another World.
Could the love between a human and a god truly have a happy ending?
In mythology, the gods who fell in love with mortals often brought tragedy to those mortals.
For example… Zeus?! Those who know, know.
Therefore, he didn't want Jane to become the next tragic heroine.
However, just as the three were lost in their own thoughts, a slightly sarcastic voice rang out.
"Ahem."
Tony had recovered.
He slowly walked between Thor and Jane, forcibly separating their loving gazes.
He once again showed his confident smile.
"Alright, Mr. A-what-gard," he deliberately drew out the syllables, speaking with an exaggerated tone.
"Shouldn't I remind you of the current situation?"
He held up one finger, pointing to the private jet behind him.
"First, it was my plane that brought Dr. Foster and them from New York, thousands of kilometers away, to this godforsaken place."
He then held up a second finger, pointing at a bewildered Jane.
"Second, Foster is currently my employee. Stark Industries' Chief Astrophysicist Consultant, with an eight-figure annual salary, paid annual leave, comprehensive insurance, plus an unlimited research budget. I just signed the contract with her, and the ink isn't even dry yet."
Finally, he held up a third finger, waving it in front of Thor.
"So, you're trying to poach my Chief Consultant right in front of the boss, and even kidnap her to some unknown corner of a village of yours?"
Tony shrugged, his tone flippant.
"Do you think that's appropriate?"
His tone was light, yet every word was cutting.
Thor was stunned.
What was this guy babbling about?
Plane?
Employee?
Boss?
Poaching?
What were all these jumbled words?
He couldn't understand what this chattering dwarf was saying.
In his opinion, this matter was simple.
He liked Jane, he wanted to take her home, introduce her to his father and brother.
What did this mortal in front of him have to do with it?
"I don't understand what you're saying, mortal."
Thor's brow furrowed tightly, his patience was being worn thin.
He looked at Tony again, his tone becoming unfriendly.
"This is between Jane and me, it has nothing to do with you. Now, get out of my way!"
The last word, he practically roared.
The next second, a powerful divine might erupted from his body, stirring up the sand on the ground and forming small whirlwinds.
Mjolnir in his hand also hummed, and electric arcs danced around the hammerhead… Stark Tower
"Oh ho, it's about to get real."
Leon watched the screen, the smile on his face growing wider.
He tossed a grape into his mouth, then leaned back comfortably in his recliner, adjusting to a more relaxed viewing position.
Indeed, it was as he expected.
One was a brute who reasoned with a hammer.
The other was a genius who reasoned with money and a sharp tongue.
These two together, if they could get along peacefully, that would be a miracle.
"Jarvis," he said lazily.
"Turn the live audio to maximum. I want to feel more immersed."
"Yes, Mr. Leon."
… In the desert.
Faced with Thor's threat, Tony not only wasn't afraid but laughed instead.
"Get out of my way?"
He sounded as if he had heard a joke.
"Hey, big guy, I have to admit, your cosplay outfit is good, and the lighting effects are quite intimidating. But…"
His tone suddenly turned cold.
"Did you forget, this is Earth."
"On my territory, shouting at me, are you qualified?"
As soon as he finished speaking,
"Whirr!"
A sound suddenly came!
Below the private jet parked not far away, a red and gold suitcase was suddenly ejected!
The suitcase arced through the air and landed steadily at Tony's feet.
"Click!"
With a soft sound, the suitcase automatically sprang open, and Tony extended both hands, lifting the suitcase.
The next second, to everyone's shocked gaze, countless pieces of armor rapidly extended, transformed, and assembled from the suitcase!
Their assembly was dazzling, quickly covering Tony's body!
Arms, chest, thighs, helmet… In just a few seconds, the playboy in a suit transformed into a futuristic Iron warrior!
"Boom!"
The thrusters on the armor's feet spewed blue flames, making his body slowly float in mid-air.
He was now at the same eye level as Thor.
"Now."
A heavy electronic voice came from beneath the Iron mask, carrying a hint of dominance.
"We can have a proper talk."
… At this moment, the desert suddenly became silent.
"My God…"
Darcy's phone clattered onto the sand, she even forgot to pick it up.
"That's so cool! It's cooler than in the movies!"
Thor squinted at Tony floating in mid-air.
His expression had changed from initial anger to curiosity.
( ◐ ‿ ◑ )
He could feel that after this dwarf put on this armor, the energy fluctuations emanating from him had indeed become much stronger.
Although in his eyes, it was still pitifully weak.
But for a mortal to achieve this much was already quite remarkable.
"Oh, so this is the Iron Man you spoke of?"
Thor looked Tony up and down, his eyes filled with approval.
"Not bad, your tin can shell looks a bit more refined than the armor crafted by the Dwarves."
"I just wonder about its hardness."
… "Pfft!"
This time, Leon truly spat out the slushie in his mouth.
He swore.
In all his years, he had never seen such an odd combination as Thor and Tony.
Thor was a conversation killer and an expert at hitting sore spots.
Tony was a narcissistic maniac constantly thinking about how to show off and flaunt his superiority.
These two together were, to put it mildly, a disaster.
Well, or a comedy.
Leon ate another grape, continuing to watch the show with relish.
He could already anticipate Tony's mood at this moment.
Hmm… let him think, it must be even more broken than when he was called the Dwarf King.
For example, his greatest invention, being described as a tin can shell?
And 'a bit more refined'?
Tsk tsk, Thor, Thor, I never realized you were so good at retorting.
Leon decided that after this farce ended, he would definitely have a good discussion with Tony about the generation gap between Asgardian aesthetics and Earth technology.
That would surely be very interesting… In the desert.
Tony felt like he was about to laugh from anger.
Tin can shell?
And 'how about its hardness'?
Was this guy genuinely unable to understand human speech, or was he deliberately provoking him?!
"Do you want to try?!"
Tony's voice came from beneath the mask, already laced with suppressed fury.
He felt that if he said another word to Thor, he might directly die of anger.
So, he decided to use action to show this country bumpkin from the divine realm what the power of technology was!
"Jarvis!"
"Yes, sir."
"Analyze the material of his curtain cloth for me. And lock onto that hammer in his hand, calculate its weight and density!"
Tony decided to crush the opponent with data first!
However, Jarvis's reply broke him again.
"I'm sorry, sir. Analysis failed."
"The target's clothing material cannot be identified, suspected to be woven from unknown energy and metal."
"The target's hammer's weight and density cannot be calculated. Based on energy feedback analysis and mythological style speculation, perhaps only the target individual can lift it."
Only Thor can lift it?
Tony was truly laughing from anger.
What the hell?
Just a hammer, and it needs a specific person to lift it?
Is this physics, or theology?
"Very good, very good."
Tony took a deep breath.
"Since data can't analyze it, then let practice verify the truth!"
As soon as he finished speaking!
"Whoosh!"
The miniature missile launcher on his shoulder instantly opened!
Two armor-piercing missiles, trailing long plumes of flame, shot towards Thor!
He wanted this arrogant god to taste the greeting from Earth's Dwarf King!
Facing these two missiles that could pierce armor, Thor frowned, an impatient expression on his face.
He hated it most when flies buzzed around while he was talking to a lady.
"Annoying fellow!"
He growled, not bothering to look at the rapidly approaching missiles.
He casually raised Mjolnir in his hand!
Power of Thunder!!
"Rumble!!!"
A thick bolt of lightning instantly descended from the sky, striking fiercely upon the two missiles!
There was no violent explosion, no sky-filling fire.
The moment the two armor-piercing missiles touched the lightning, they vaporized instantly, like ice meeting the scorching sun.
They came lightly, and left lightly, with nothing remaining.
The process was clean, swift, and utterly unreasonable.
After doing all this, Thor smiled, confidently lowering his hammer.
Then, he looked up at Tony in mid-air.
His eyes were calm, yet full of disdain.
Just scrap metal, is that really impressive?
.....
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