After Brynhild and Gin said their goodbyes, they still paid respects to the Queen before leaving. Meanwhile, Su Ming assigned a task to Gin, asking her to return to Earth's Kama Taiji and inform the Ancient One about the situation here.
To deal with the Great Serpent, at least the Supreme Mage needs to be somewhat prepared.
Of course, sending out Steve might work too; at least he could fight for an entire day.
But the results probably wouldn't be very good...
Moreover, he still has to continue shooting advertisements, as Wilson Enterprises needs more new products to promote after its post-war transition.
It's not just because Steve is a war hero; his robust physique and handsome face are all star material.
Girls want a boyfriend like the Captain, while boys want to become a stylish man like him.
Therefore, whether it's women's perfumes or lingerie, or men's luxury cars or watches, Captain America can endorse it all.
TV commercials require not only shooting time, but they also need frequent updates based on the season and market, so it seems Steve will be busy in the future.
After the victory of World War II, the enemies seemed to vanish.
Steve was gradually marginalized by the military, as society shifted its focus to economic development, and the nation no longer promoted war heroes.
However, it's okay, as long as popularity remains, he can be rebranded. Su Ming has TV stations and movie companies under his command, and he recently acquired the Horn Daily. Ensuring influence in New York should be enough.
Su Ming decided to handle Hydra himself, as matters concerning the Immortal Palace need to remain secret.
Gin also left the palace, leaving only Su Ming and the two sisters of the Vanir Race.
"You may go and rest now."
While Su Ming was speaking to the two, he saw Loki hurriedly walking in from outside the palace.
His forehead was sweating, and his clothes appeared very disheveled, as if he had been chased by a Hellhound.
However, he first greeted his mother and aunt, then knelt on one knee before the throne.
"Father, Thor failed. He did not defeat Surtur. I barely managed to save their lives, but on the way back, Thor insisted on walking, leading the army to suffer heavy losses from the Undead's attack."
Technically, Loki wasn't lying; he merely downplayed the situation, leaving himself out of it.
Su Ming stomped the ground with his spear, expressing anger.
"Then what about you, my youngest son? Why did you return alone?!"
"Because I discovered something had happened to Heimdall, so I returned to see if I could help, and to open the Rainbow Bridge to assist the returning army."
Su Ming narrowed his eyes; Loki could indeed use the Rainbow Bridge, though he wasn't sure where he learned it from.
Before leaving, Gin had left the Great Sword as a key, and that weapon was now leaning against the throne, still radiating cold light.
After a moment of contemplation, Su Ming raised his hand and threw the Great Sword, watching it spin and thrust into the floor in front of Loki, a strand of black hair slowly drifting down.
Loki swallowed, nearly having his nose sliced off.
"Do it."
Su Ming simply said in a low voice.
Loki was overjoyed, now in control of the Rainbow Bridge, indicating Odin valued him more.
He immediately struggled to pull the Great Sword from the floor, hastily paid his respects, and rushed toward the Rainbow Bridge. Outside, it was already a battlefield, with various forces treating the Immortal Palace as their combat ground, yet Odin had the leisure to chat with his mother?
He still had Midgard's tobacco in his hand, which was really...
But the immediate priority was to bring back his foolish brother and the foolish companions, see how many of the army were still alive, and bring some back as well.
The Immortal Palace now needs troops; originally, he planned to let the Undead annihilate Asgard's army from the Flame World, to increase Thor's culpability.
The timing isn't right now, what a pity...
After Loki left, Frigga looked incredulous.
"You actually sent my children to deal with Surtur. Do you know what kind of existence he is?"
Su Ming calmly snuffed out his cigarette on the throne: "Of course, a Flame Demon, one of the Lords of Hell, his strength rivals Bor and Odin, and I also know Surtur is sealed within the volcano, unable to step out."
Frigga opened her mouth, but Deathstroke had finished saying everything she wanted to, clearly knowing everything and having plans in advance.
So she stood there for a few seconds, gave a slight nod as a farewell, and went to tend to Heimdall.
Gullveig, meanwhile, was engrossed in TV dramas and didn't want to leave. Having nothing urgent to attend to, she sat down at the long table beside the hall.
A moment later, Loki returned to the hall with Thor and the Three Warriors, who were in a tremendously dreadful state.
Thor was covered in blood marks inflicted by Tyr, his wounds bleeding outward, but mostly superficial, nothing serious.
The Three Warriors looked like they had been attacked by zombies, their bodies imprinted with Black Hand Seals, leftovers from being dragged by the Undead, and Vostag's arm bore a few bite marks.
Sif was in slightly better shape, but her shield had several new cracks, almost rendered useless.
"Thor, my child."
Su Ming spoke in a calm tone, ensuring no one could detect anything through a change in intonation or inappropriate wording.
"Yes, Father, I failed... The Netherworld's army attacked us, led by Tyr."
The figure on the throne remained motionless, his face void of expression.
"How many men did I give you when you set out?"
"...Two hundred thousand." Thor lowered his head, placing his Mjolnir on the floor next to the previous sword mark.
"Then, how many have you brought back?"
As the question was uttered, the atmosphere in the hall fell into silence, and everything seemed to quiet down. On Loki's lowered face appeared a smile.
"Not even 200,000."
Thor's expression kept changing, but in the end, he could only resign himself to truthfully answer.
Even Gullveig, watching the scene from the side, was somewhat moved. What had Thor experienced to lose so many troops?
Loki's mood soared uncontrollably; it was coming, Odin would certainly beat Thor once, then send Thor to the coldest place in Midgard.
There, Thor could only wear beast hides and eat snow to fill his stomach.
This way, he would rely even more on him, and Loki would secretly bring food to Thor, by then Thor's eyes would look at him as if seeing a Savior.
However, Su Ming seemingly did not hear, instead asking, "So, what have you learned from this action?"
"Huh?"
Thor was stunned. Learned what? Could you learn anything from a defeat?
It seemed not; apart from realizing that Surtur was strong and Tyr's Netherworld army was strong, he discovered nothing else.
"I asked you, what did you learn?!
Su Ming stood up, the Eternal Spear fiercely stabbed into the ground, and cracks stretched all the way down from the Imperial Steps.
Thor was both anxious and guilty; he tried his best to think, but his mind was clearly a blank.
But at this time, he thought of the Flame World, Surtur's eternally burning plane.
"Yes... I learned the Will of Fire."
Thor said stiffly.
Su Ming's body shook, the veins bulging on the hand holding the Eternal Spear.
Just as Loki thought Odin was about to explode, unexpectedly, Odin merely nodded and sat back down on the throne.
He spoke kindly to Thor, appreciation showing in his eyes.
"Very well, as long as you've learned, go back to your palace to rest, fine wine and food await you, my son."
Loki could not believe his ears, he raised his head in surprise, losing nearly two million troops, and Odin said nothing, but treated it as Thor's lesson?
Why? Why does everyone favor Thor so much?!
He immediately took a step forward, seemingly to persuade Odin, that Thor must be punished, otherwise, there would be no justice.
The responsibility was laid bare for all to see, you are a King, yet you cannot be so partial!
"Father, Thor he..."
"Shut up! Ungrateful child! Don't think I don't know what you've done!"
Su Ming suddenly lost his temper, pretending to roar angrily at Loki, he stood up from the throne excitedly, pointing the Eternal Spear at Loki, shouting loudly.
The devil knew what Loki did, but saying that would be right, he would fill in the gaps himself.
Loki was indeed thinking rapidly, was it that disguising himself as Odin was found out? Or was it fooling the Three Warriors that was found? Or was it spreading rumors about Thor and Sif?
He had done too much, he couldn't think of what Odin was talking about for a moment.
Of course, Su Ming wouldn't let him figure it out; Loki still had great use.
He simply swung the Eternal Spear, gasping heavily as if he was so angry that he was about to fall ill, but he gradually calmed down.
"Considering you've made so many mistakes, after I awoke, Gaia and Qitong suggested I imprison you in the core of a fixed star, but Frigga was pleading for you... This time I'll let you go, punish you to clean Thor's sheepfold for a month, every dropping must be cleaned up, I will have Heimdall check."
Vostag had a strange expression, his big beard twitching, he almost couldn't hold back his laughter, annoying Loki finally got scolded by Odin.
Odin's wisdom was truly great, though Vostag didn't know what Loki did, Odin was surely right.
Loki was stunned below the Imperial Steps; he had no idea how to argue for a moment, his mind filled with doubt about this unfair world.
Why? Why?!
Why did Thor make mistakes, and he, Loki, was the one punished!
He was so hateful! Hatred for Odin's unfairness, yet powerless, his strength was nothing before Odin.
Those two goddesses who slandered him were etched deeply in Loki's heart; he had already decided to take revenge, with the most ruthless means.
Watching Loki's sinister face return to a smile, Su Ming also smiled inside.
"Thor, throw your despicable brother into the sheepfold! Then you can rest... Oh, don't drink too much wine, don't eat too much at night, cover yourself well."
Thor scratched his head, did Loki do something despicable? Why did he not know?
But Odin's words were like commands; in his current situation of heavy losses, Thor didn't dare to talk back to the furious Odin.
That wouldn't make Odin change his mind, it would only make it two people cleaning the sheepfold.
Thor had decided, to help Loki with the chores and secretly deliver dinner and wine to him, he still remembered owing Loki a bottle of wine.
He took Loki out, while Vostag carried Hogan to find a doctor, Vandar and Sif also left after paying respects.
Su Ming walked down the steps, picked up Heimdall's Giant Sword from the ground, and placed it by the throne again.
He winked at Gullveig.
Those two women previously mentioned wouldn't live long, Loki would do everything unknowingly, just like how he tricked Dead Balder.
This matter would benefit Gullveig, she wouldn't speak of it; everyone was now a co-conspirator in the future murder case of the Immortal Palace.