The small town lay fifty kilometers east of the hammer. Inside a modest restaurant, the sharp crash of a porcelain cup shattering against the floor disrupted the quiet atmosphere. "Another!" The man's booming voice echoed through the room. Dr. Helen Cho, seated in the corner, flinched at the sudden noise. She glanced at the man in confusion before turning to Hong Fei, who offered a faint smile and a nod.
Perhaps this was just how Asgardians expressed themselves—smashing a cup wasn't an act of provocation but a gesture of approval. From his seat a few meters away, Hong Fei could clearly overhear the conversation at Thor's table. Thor Odinson, Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy, Jane's assistant, were deep in discussion. As Jane bent to pick up the shards of porcelain, she sighed.
"You could just say it." Thor's reply was matter-of-fact. "I did say it."
"Could you be a bit friendlier?" Jane pressed. "I meant no disrespect," Thor answered, his tone sincere. "But you can't just go around smashing things, alright?" Thor met her gaze and suddenly smiled. "I promise you." Jane's expression softened, though it carried a hint of bewilderment. Darcy, watching from the side, raised an eyebrow with a knowing smirk.
Dr. Helen Cho leaned closer to Hong Fei, her voice low. "I think there's something going on between them," she whispered. Just then, a newcomer entered the restaurant, mentioning the object that had fallen from the sky in the distance. Thor's head snapped up.
"You haven't seen the most interesting thing in that crater yet," the man continued. "Some say it's a satellite that crashed into the desert. We were having a great time until the FBI showed up."
"I heard about it," another patron chimed in. "That thing's heavy—no one can lift it." "Your news is outdated," the first man countered. "I heard a young lad picked it up, though I'd already left by then." Thor shot to his feet, his voice thundering across the room. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! No one but me can lift Mjolnir!"
The passerby turned, startled. "I'm telling the truth. Many people saw it. No photos were taken, but the hammer's position definitely moved. If the federal agents hadn't cordoned off the site, I think even more people would've been able to lift it." "Impossible!" Thor roared again, his fists clenched.
Jane and the others exchanged worried glances, quickly rising to pull him back. Thor shrugged them off and strode toward the passerby. "Where is this place you mentioned?" "Fifty kilometers to the west," the man replied. Without hesitation, Thor turned and headed for the door. "If I were you," the passerby called after him, "I wouldn't waste my time. When I left, it looked like the army had arrived!"
Thor paid no heed, storming out of the restaurant with Jane hurrying after him. Dr. Helen Cho watched them go, then turned to Hong Fei. "Should we follow them?" she asked. Hong Fei shook his head. "No rush. Let's finish eating first." They took their time with the meal, paid the bill, and stepped outside—just in time to see Jane, Erik, and Darcy walking dejectedly down the street.
"They have no right to take what belongs to me!" Jane fumed. "That's property protected by the Constitution! I'm definitely going to sue them!" Erik tried to calm her. "Don't be impulsive. Their identity is quite unusual..." Hong Fei led Dr. Helen Cho past them, slipping a small object into Erik's pocket as they crossed paths.
At the pet shop, Thor marched in with purpose. "I want a horse!" he declared. Dr. Helen Cho stifled a laugh at the door. The clerk blinked in confusion. "Sir, we only have dogs, cats, and birds here. No horses." Thor's expression remained dead serious. "Then give me something large enough for me to ride." Hong Fei stepped forward, raising a hand. "Hey, brother, I heard you want a horse?"
Thor turned sharply. "You have a horse?" "I do," Hong Fei replied. At the stable on the edge of town, he gestured to the horses. "Arabian horses. White, black, or red. Take your pick." Thor studied them for a moment, then pointed decisively. "I want the white one!" "Good choice," Hong Fei said with a smile. "Thirty thousand." Thor's brow furrowed. "Too expensive?" Hong Fei shrugged. "Twenty-eight thousand. I can't go any lower."
Thor pressed his lips into a thin line. "I don't have any money."
Hong Fei's smile dropped like a stone. He jabbed a finger toward the door. "Get out."
"Wait—I'm Thor, the God of Thunder!"
"For the glory of the Northern God?"
"What?" Thor recoiled, offended. "Asgard rules the Nine Realms. You think we'd settle for just the North?"
Hong Fei shoved him hard.
"No money, no talk. Scram."
"Hold on, I do have money! Just... not on me right now." Thor cleared his throat. "Lend me the horse, and I swear I'll repay you a hundredfold."
Hong Fei arched a brow. "Ten times or a hundred?"
"A hundred! On my honor!"
A heartbeat later, Thor was astride the horse, kicking up dust as he tore off down the road.
Dr. Helen Cho folded her arms. "You bought this place just to hand him a horse?"
"Hardly." Hong Fei checked his watch. "I've got business tonight. Let's get you back to the hotel."
Night fell. Helen helped Hong Fei into his gear—black tactical suit, black mask, the gold-and-red cross-blade strapped to his back.
"My research is nearly complete," she said, adjusting his collar. "Next time, you might not need this getup."
Hong Fei gave a curt nod. He vaulted through the window, slid into the driver's seat, and powered on his phone. Two red dots pulsed on the screen. Selecting one, he floored the accelerator.
The highway stretched empty under the stars. Thor galloped alongside Jane's idling car, mane and cape whipping in the wind.
Jane propped her chin on one hand, eyelids drooping. "This is ridiculous."
Thor beamed through her window. "Ditch the metal box! A horse is the true romantic ride!"
She forced a tired smile. "I don't ride."
"I'll carry you!"
They reached the cordoned-off site—a makeshift research base built around a massive crater, walls bristling with floodlights.
Thor swung off the horse, vibrating with energy. "It's here. I can feel it calling me."
Jane peered through binoculars. "Doesn't look like a satellite crash. They'd have hauled debris away by now."
"Stay here." Thor clapped her shoulder. "Once I reclaim Mjolnir, I'll get your things back."
"Are you serious? There's an army down there!"
He grinned. "I'll fly out."
Meanwhile, Hong Fei rolled to a stop outside a squat bungalow. Thunder cracked overhead.
Think I'm here for the hammer? Wrong. Here for Thor.
Think I'm here for Thor? Wrong again.
His target was simpler: Dr. Erik Selvig. Find him. Take him. Leverage him.
When Selvig joined S.H.I.E.L.D. to study the Tesseract, Hong Fei would have his coordinates. Then? Steal it.
The door exploded inward under his boot.
Darcy shrieked, nearly toppling her coffee. Erik shot to his feet—just in time to lock eyes with the masked figure in the doorway.
Darcy's finger trembled as she pointed. "Y-you—Liberty Island—you're the bomber?"
Hong Fei flicked his wrist. The cross-blade flashed into his grip.
Darcy plastered herself against the table. "I'M BLIND!"
Erik lunged for a drawer. A gun gleamed inside—
Thunk. The blade pinned the barrel to the wood. He yanked his hand back with a yelp.
A moment later, the two were knocked unconscious, stuffed into the car, and taken away.