Melin and Asura drank together until sunrise the next day before finally calling it a night.
"I'm telling you, getting stronger isn't all sunshine and rainbows. I can't even get drunk anymore—it's like drinking plain water," Asura complained, shaking his empty bottle.
"Well, that's a good thing. Keeps you from wrecking the place every time you get drunk," Melin teased.
"Hey! We agreed not to bring up my dark past anymore!" Asura shouted, his face turning red.
"There's no one else around. Even if I didn't say it, you think I'd forget?"
"Whatever. I've only got two hobbies—drinking and fighting. Now booze tastes like nothing, and you're always breathing down my neck when I brawl. What's the point of living?"
"Didn't you have a third hobby?"
"That's a biological need! You, Mr. Chaste-and-noble-lover-boy, wouldn't get it."
"Yeah, unlike a certain old bachelor, I've got a wife to keep me in check," Melin replied with a mock sigh. But the smirk on his face betrayed the smugness behind his words.
…
"You bastard! I—"
"All right, Asura. Let's get down to business." Melin cut him off, turning serious.
Seeing Melin's expression, Asura stopped messing around and got serious too.
"The entrance to the Buddhist realm has shifted, so I couldn't dig up much, but I did find some clues. Ran into a few stray Buddhist entities—turns out they've already pledged themselves to Hades."
Asura had been away from the Sanctuary for a while, investigating the rumored alliance between the Buddhist faction and the Underworld. Though they had their suspicions, hard evidence was lacking. Had the entire Buddhist sect fallen? To what extent? How much of their strength had they regained?
These were crucial pieces of intel. Melin had no intention of leading the Saints into battle with Hades's army only to get stabbed in the back by Buddhist forces.
If it hadn't been for Molkaba's death, Asura would still be out investigating.
"We need to locate the Buddhist faction's current whereabouts."
"I know. I'll leave right away."
Asura downed the last of his drink and was about to go when Melin stopped him.
"Hey, Asura."
"Got more orders?"
"Don't die, all right? Of all the old friends we had, there's only a handful of you left," Melin said, staring at the rising sun.
"…Tch. I thought you were gonna say something serious. That bunch of cowards can't take me down." Asura grinned, then turned into golden light and vanished into the sky.
…
Time flew, and soon it was 1980.
Not much had changed—no major crises, just constant minor annoyances.
Superpowered criminals were popping up more frequently. Both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the X-Men were stretched thin, and the Sanctuary's prison had already been expanded twice, yet it was still overcrowded.
Meanwhile, the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division—what would one day be known as S.W.O.R.D.—now had both a public front and a secret one. The secret side had been privately formed by Colonel Phillips, Steve, Peggy, and Howard. The official agency, however, was an international effort mandated by the UN to handle bizarre and supernatural events.
Due to her abilities, accomplishments, and ties to Steve, Peggy was appointed as the first director.
Peggy didn't reject the position, but she had zero interest in running an organization like this. If it hadn't been built on the foundation of the old SSR, she wouldn't have accepted it.
Beyond the bureaucracy, the personnel were a disaster.
Ex-agents from the CIA and FBI, pampered offspring of officials, scientists recruited through Operation Paperclip—and worst of all, captured Hydra members were included too. Peggy nearly lost it when she saw the personnel list. It took all her self-control not to "gift" the higher-ups a bullet to the head.
"Have they all been kicked in the head by a donkey? Hydra members! Instead of executing them, they're letting them join a top-secret agency?" she raged, slamming back a shot of whiskey.
"Calm down, Carter. They're not Hydra anymore—they surrendered," Colonel Phillips said.
"Yeah right. Even you don't believe that," Peggy shot back with a roll of her eyes.
"Well, you got me there. But it's not my call—it's orders from the top." Phillips raised his hands innocently.
"Which is why you're not getting a Christmas gift from me."
"Oh no, how will I go on? But come on, this director role's just for show. Our real base of operations is here." He pointed beneath them.
"I know that. But still… it's disappointing," Peggy sighed.
"They're just fools blinded by illusions. Let them be. But Peggy, keep an eye on those people. You don't want to take the fall if things go south," Howard warned.
"I've already put surveillance in place. I still control the original SSR personnel."
"Good. Want me to send people from S.W.O.R.D. to help?"
"No thanks. That place is a mess. Aside from SSR people, I trust no one. They're ambitious but competent, so exposure to S.H.I.E.L.D. would be too risky. We're already spread thin dealing with superpowered criminals—how can we spare anyone?"
"Fair enough. I was just asking." Howard smiled.
But his smile vanished when he noticed Peggy staring at him.
"Hey hey hey, you're joking, right?" After years working together, the four of them (including Steve) had impeccable understanding. Howard immediately knew what Peggy wanted.
"Of course… not! Now that I think about it, I do have a job for you."
"Come on, cut me some slack! I've barely been home—just one day this week!"
"One day is more than nothing. Look at the Colonel, Steve, and me—we haven't taken a break in ages."
Howard looked miserable. Sure, it was true, but it wasn't fair! Phillips was a lonely old man with no family, the agency was his home. Peggy and Steve were workaholics by choice. Not his fault!
But Howard had a wife and child!
That's right—ten years ago, Howard and Maria's son, future Iron Man Tony Stark, was born.
And because of Howard's constant absence, ten-year-old Tony resented him deeply, even accusing him of having another woman!
Howard was endlessly grateful to Maria, who'd quit her job to raise Tony. But they couldn't exactly explain his job. The fewer who knew about S.H.I.E.L.D., the better.
Still, Howard wasn't too worried about Tony turning out wrong. Maria was a devoted mother, and when Tony was born, Melin had personally given him a blessing. Howard also frequently brought the family to visit the Sanctuary, ensuring Tony grew up in a positive environment.
While Howard was racking his brain for excuses to dodge Peggy's request, their special communicator buzzed—it was Steve.
"This is Peggy Carter. Go ahead."
"Peggy, you all free in the next two days?"
"Yes. Why? What's going on?"
"Good. Head to the Sanctuary tomorrow. I'll meet you there."
"What happened?" Another god appearing?
All three faces turned grim at the mention of the Sanctuary. Unless it involved a deity, they wouldn't be summoned.
And to them, the appearance of a god was no small matter.
"Yes. Another god is about to descend."
"Do you know which one?"
"The goddess Athena."
"What!? How could it be her!? She was supposed to… wait, are you saying…?" Peggy gasped.
"Yes. Melin has issued a recall order to all Saints. The day after tomorrow marks the rebirth and arrival of the goddess Athena."
"This… wait… give me a moment to process that…"
After a while, the trio calmed down and exchanged glances.
"Understood. We'll leave immediately."
"Good."
The call ended, and they sprang into action. Athena's arrival wasn't a trivial matter. Peggy and Howard, both blessed priests, had to be present. They also wanted to confirm whether this Athena truly was the earth-protecting goddess of legend.
"Should we bring Maria and Tony?" Howard asked suddenly.
They were also recipients of the blessing, and technically part of Melin's priesthood, but they weren't deeply involved.
"…Let's bring them. I doubt Melin will mind, and it's important we show our sincerity," Peggy replied after some thought.
"Got it. I'll go pick them up."