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*****
In truth, Fini had no idea that he had acquired far more than just the 'Silver Knight' nickname. Across the internet, people were calling him everything from 'Messenger of God' to 'Child of Disaster.'
However, because the 'Silver Knight' moniker had the highest approval rating—and apparently even boasted a small following of self-proclaimed disciples—it remained the most viral topic on the web for the time being.
After mentally condemning the people responsible for these nicknames, Fini finished distributing his 'Fried Chicken Wraps' and began his daily cultivation.
The reason the previous battlefield had been so tragic was, in the end, because he wasn't strong enough. If he had been able to utilize the 'Mirror Dimension,' then even if every single robot had self-destructed, it likely wouldn't have caused any casualties or property damage in the real world.
Unfortunately, this particular spell was arguably the most profound and obscure in Kamar-Taj, second only to the Time Magic. It involved the deep mysteries of various dimensions, and so far, Fini hadn't even found a starting point.
Once his daily training concluded, Fini thought for a moment and then went to find the Ancient One.
"Master, I heard that Thor has been exiled by Odin. Is it true?"
"Your information is quite well-informed," the Ancient One replied, slowly sipping her freshly brewed morning tea. "He nearly shattered the peace treaty between Asgard and Jotunheim, so Odin hopes he can be tempered here on Earth."
"And we're just going to ignore it?" Fini couldn't help but ask. He was curious how the Ancient One could know about this but remain so indifferent.
"And what would you have us do?" The Ancient One looked at Fini with curiosity. "Do you have a way to help him correct his character more effectively?"
"How could I have a way?" Fini answered sheepishly. In his heart, he felt Thor was simply too arrogant—to put it simply, he was a 'bear child' who desperately needed a reality check.
Victorious in every battle across Asgard, with almost no rivals in his age group, and fueled by the stories of Odin's bloody conquests in his youth, Thor had developed a significant misunderstanding of his own power.
For a reckless warrior whose head was filled with nothing but muscle, Fini felt the best solution was to be even more reckless than him—to beat him until he was submissive. As long as Thor recognized his own weakness, everything would be resolved.
Odin's actions actually aligned with Fini's train of thought: seal Thor's divine power and toss him onto Earth—a place that wasn't exactly strong, but wasn't entirely weak either.
Then, Odin would let him suffer, toil, and wander in frustration to achieve a growth he previously lacked. Unfortunately, Odin was still too indulgent. This minor setback might change Thor for a moment, but it wouldn't make him truly grow up.
From the original plot, Thor's character didn't truly mature until the appearance of Hela, and the price of that maturity was the loss of almost everything he held dear.
Drawing back his thoughts, Fini stopped prying and instead asked some technical questions about the 'Mirror Dimension.' He had already given up on the soul-related secret arts for now, but he still coveted the 'Mirror Dimension' ability. It was one of the two goals he had set when coming to Kamar-Taj, and he was determined to master it.
On the other side of things, after returning to S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury contacted Coulson immediately.
"Have you discovered any unusual individuals near the hammer?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary for now. Is there a problem, sir?" Coulson asked into the phone. He could faintly sense that Nick Fury's tone wasn't quite right.
"Have Barton keep a close eye on the hammer. If any strange situations or individuals appear, report to me immediately."
Nick didn't tell Coulson about Fini's intel. First, he wasn't sure if the information was true; if it was false, it might mislead Coulson's judgment.
Next, using his director's clearance, he quickly located the item Fini had requested: the silver 'Obelisk.'
Looking at the information regarding this object in his hand, Nick Fury's brow furrowed deeply. Although its purpose was impossible to deduce, the danger of the object itself was clearly significant. A normal person would die instantly upon contact?!
Nick Fury began to hesitate. Before knowing what Fini intended to do with it, he didn't actually want to hand it over so soon.
However, he also wanted to know more about the hammer. Compared to the imminent threat in New Mexico, this object—no matter how dangerous—would only become a problem if Fini actually used it.
At the same time, Nick noticed something unexpected: when he had felt the desire not to give the item to Fini, his body hadn't experienced any abnormal reactions.
"Is there a distance limit?" Nick's skeptical nature led him to self-doubt. "Or is there a specific trigger condition?"
Nick had considered that Fini might be lying to him, but in a situation where one mistake could mean death, he didn't want to gamble with his life, no matter how bold he was.
Furthermore, the Ivan Vanko incident had planted a seed of suspicion in his mind. There was just too much going on right now for him to find time for a thorough internal investigation. Adding in Fini's bizarrely accurate intelligence capabilities, Nick Fury couldn't help but wonder if there was a mole within his organization.
After deliberating in his office for a long time, Nick eventually decided to give the item to Fini. Firstly, to gain Fini's favor, and secondly, because the hammer was currently in New Mexico. If things were truly as Fini described, he needed to understand the situation as soon as possible.
He then pulled up all of Fini's records again, scrutinizing them, but no matter how he looked, Fini appeared to be a perfectly normal person.
A few hours later, Nick Fury rubbed his temples in frustration and finally gave up on trying to find the source of Fini's abilities through his paperwork.
Early the next morning, Nick Fury contacted Fini with the 'Obelisk.' This time, the meeting place wasn't Tony's villa, but a S.H.I.E.L.D. base.
After obtaining Fini's consent, Nick Fury brought Black Widow along. After being fired by Tony, she had returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. duty.
"We meet again, Mr. Fini. I didn't expect the mysterious 'Silver Knight' to actually be a student," Natasha said with a cheerful grin, looking at Fini in his casual clothes.
When Nick Fury had informed her of Fini's identity on the way there, he had issued a mission: gain Fini's favor as much as possible and gather intelligence. Based on the existing data, she decided that to quickly build a relationship with Fini, it would be best to adopt an optimistic, bright, and lively personality.
Fini merely glanced at her indifferently and nodded, not paying her much mind. As the saying goes, 'unsolicited kindness is a sign of hidden motives.' Natasha's behavior was clearly abnormal, and he realized he would have to be careful when meeting other girls in the future.
They might just be agents arranged by Nick Fury. Even if Nick couldn't reveal Fini's secret identity to them, with his resources, he could easily orchestrate such encounters without disclosing any sensitive information.
"Did you bring the item?" Fini wasn't interested in small talk; he only cared if the 'Obelisk' had arrived.
Nick placed a black case in front of Fini.
Fini opened the box and looked at the 'Obelisk' inside. Since he wasn't yet clear on the mechanics of how it worked, he didn't dare to touch the thing recklessly.
(End of Chapter)