"Financial issues?"
That unique, emotionless baritone of Nick Fury came through from the other end of the phone, carrying an invisible pressure even through the communicator.
"Coulson, I sent you to solve a mythological problem, not to do accounting."
"Officer, the mythological problem has now become a financial problem."
Coulson rubbed his throbbing temples, lowering his voice.
"Rodriguez... he's put together an initial claim list for $250 million, and he's still adding to it."
"Stark is helping him with a technical assessment. I suspect that number will soon exceed $300 million."
There was a full five seconds of silence on the other end of the line.
"Coulson, S.H.I.E.L.D. is not a printing press."
Fury's voice turned cold.
"We are an agency that protects the World, not a charity organization that pays for the renovation of a rich man's backyard. Tell him we will conduct a professional third-party assessment, and we won't give him a cent more."
"I'm afraid not, Officer."
Coulson glanced at the pile of Destroyer wreckage.
"Rodriguez claims that the parts of these alien weapons were destroyed on his private property."
"According to the International Salvage Law and the Private Property Protection Law, he has priority ownership of the wreckage."
"He plans to sell these things... as scrap to Stark."
"He wouldn't dare!"
Fury's voice was filled with anger.
What was that?
That was the most advanced alien military technology available for research!
Its value could not be measured by money at all!
"Of course he dares."
Coulson replied helplessly.
"Stark has already made an offer. He said that the largest breastplate alone is worth a Stark Tower because he wants to use it to build a new toilet."
The phone line fell silent once more.
William, of course, heard Coulson's conversation. He flashed a "kind" smile at Coulson, then turned to look at the bewildered Thunder God Thor.
"Mr. Thor, is it Thor?"
William straightened his tattered suit as if it wasn't rags but Armani haute couture.
"Ah... yes."
Thor nodded, still feeling guilty for the trouble he had caused this "Lord of Midgard."
"Don't be nervous, I'm not here to hold you accountable."
William patted Thor's arm, which was thicker than his own thigh, and said earnestly:
"I'm here to help you solve your worries."
Thor looked puzzled.
"Think about it, how dangerous it was today."
William began his performance.
"You were hunted by the iron can sent by your brother and almost died."
"Fortunately, at the last moment, your hammer... oh, is it called Mjolnir? It arrived in time, and you turned the tide."
Thor nodded subconsciously.
Indeed.
"But what if?"
William's voice was full of temptation.
"What if it got stuck in traffic? What if it was delayed by something?"
"What if your brother sends two or three iron cans next time? You can't always rely on luck, can you?"
Thor's expression began to grow serious.
He had to admit that William had a point.
His victory this time did involve an element of luck.
"So, you need a guarantee."
William revealed his true intentions, pulling out a crumpled flyer from who knows where. Though wrinkled, he carefully smoothed it out.
"An insurance policy tailored for high-end individuals like you! We call it 'Deity Comprehensive Accident Insurance'!"
"Accident insurance?"
Thor uttered this word he had never heard before.
"Exactly!"
William's eyes were shining.
"It covers temporary or permanent loss of divine power, artifacts like your hammer being stolen or damaged, inter-dimensional teleportation accidents, and most importantly — personal injury caused by malicious attacks from close relatives, such as siblings!"
"As long as you sign this policy, the next time you encounter such a situation, you won't have to worry at all! Our company will send the most professional claims team..."
"Professionals will help you solve the problem! Even if it can't be solved, we will compensate you with a huge sum of money, enough for you to make a comeback anywhere in the Nine Realms! How about it, are you tempted?"
Thor, whose mind was blank from the impact of these unheard-of concepts, was tempted.
He stared blankly at William, then looked at the iron can Tony next to him, who was stifling laughter and almost suffering internal injuries.
The Thunder God felt that Midgard was more complex and... bizarre than any other World he had visited.
Coulson finally hung up the phone and walked over with a grim expression.
"Officer Fury agrees to talk to you. But the premise is that you must hand over the Destroyer's wreckage intact to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Of course."
William replied with a smile.
"I am a law-abiding citizen, and I am naturally willing to cooperate with official agencies. However, this transfer is for a fee."
"How much?"
Coulson asked warily.
William didn't answer but looked at Tony.
Tony understood, cleared his throat.
He walked to the largest, relatively intact leg armor of the Destroyer and kicked it with his foot.
"Although this metal is not of high purity, it is a rare commodity. Considering its research value, material value, and... well, artistic value, my personal estimate is eighty million U.S. dollars. Is that not too much?"
Coulson's face darkened.
Tony walked to another fragment:
"This, the energy conduction circuit, although burned out, the internal structural design is very interesting. It can inspire at least three new patents for me. Let's say fifty million for the technical licensing fee, very reasonable, right?"
Coulson's fists tightened.
"Oh, and this!"
Tony picked up a relatively intact hand part.
"Look at this joint design, what wonderful mechanical engineering! William, I think you can donate it to the Metropolitan Museum, or sell it to me, I'll put it in my office as an ashtray."
"One price, one hundred million!"
"I agree!"
William immediately echoed.
Coulson felt his head buzzing.
These two guys, singing and harmonizing... one a shrewd businessman, the other a scoundrel.
They were a match made in Heaven.
"Enough!"
Coulson finally couldn't help but roar, "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s budget is limited!"
"That's none of my business."
William spread his hands.
"Either you pay according to my list, and then I sell these 'scraps' to Tony."
"Or, you take these 'precious research materials' and settle the bill on my list."
"Two choices, very simple."
Coulson, in impotent rage, picked up the communicator again, preparing to report this "good news" to Fury.
He hadn't even had time to dial.
In the sky, a brilliant, rainbow-like beam of light once again descended without warning, crashing heavily on the other side of the island, stirring up a cloud of dust and grass clippings.
As the light faded, four figures appeared.
Leading them was a valiant female warrior.
Behind her followed three male warriors of different styles.
They were dressed in magnificent Asgardian armor, exuding an extraordinary aura.
It was the Heavenly Palace Four, who had come in search of Thor—Sif, and Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun.
They had originally come to New Mexico with a tragic desire to rescue their prince.
But after a long search, the quartet had only found Mjolnir in the crater and no trace of Thor.
They had to call Heimdall for a long time before he reopened the Bifrost Bridge.
But once they landed, the sight that greeted them left them all stunned.
∑ ( O _ O ; )
Their prince was holding a crumpled piece of paper, listening with a bewildered expression as a shabbily dressed mortal eloquently explained something.
Not far away.
Another mortal in iron armor was intensely haggling like a vendor with a bald young man over a pile of Destroyer parts.
The entire island was a mess.
Sif opened her mouth, looking at the scene before her, which could be described as magical realism, and couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
"In Odin's name..."
The fat man Volstagg whispered in awe.
"Midgard... what happened?"
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