Chapter 121: Intelligence

Nick Fury’s face was dark as he once again posed the question he had asked before.

"I’m telling you, this really is Thor’s hammer. Why would it appear in this place?"

"It is absolutely Mjolnir, no doubt about it. But as for why it appeared here, I haven't the slightest clue. After all, I am not the owner of the hammer," Gu Zhongyan replied.

Of course, he knew exactly why the hammer was here. Old Man Odin was setting the stage for his foolish son to teach him a lesson and help him grow—it was a classic script. But could he say that? Absolutely not. If he spilled the beans and it ended up affecting Thor’s character development, what then?

Don’t be fooled by the fact that it was just the two of them; who could guarantee that Odin’s two ravens, capable of traversing the Nine Realms, weren't watching them right now? Thor was the old man’s sore spot. In the *Fear Itself* event, Odin wouldn't have blinked an eye if he had to sacrifice Earth just for Thor’s sake.

In *Thor: Ragnarok*, Hela was right about one thing: Odin wasn’t as benevolent as he appeared. The gods had retreated from Earth, and Asgard stood supreme, possessing a fearsome reputation across the universe. Where did that come from? It was all carved out by the old man and his Gungnir. If he truly hindered Thor, Gu Zhongyan had no doubt that the kindly-looking old man would make him taste the power of that very spear. He wasn't about to touch such a thankless task with a ten-foot pole.

Nick Fury was clearly dissatisfied with the answer. As soon as Gu Zhongyan finished speaking, his face, already so dark that his features were barely discernible, grew even gloomier.

Considering his own gains from this incident, Gu Zhongyan felt he couldn't just say nothing, so he spoke up immediately.

"However, if you think about it, the appearance of Mjolnir here isn't all that inconceivable. After all, Earth belongs to one of the Nine Realms ruled by Asgard, which they call Midgard."

"In their view, the relationship with Earth is probably much like the one between New York and New Jersey. It’s quite normal for something to show up here."

"The Nine Realms?" Hearing a new term, Nick Fury’s expression softened somewhat as he pressed for more.

"Yes," Gu Zhongyan nodded. "In Norse mythology, the world is composed of nine realms supported by the World Tree."

"In fact, this is no mere myth. In higher-dimensional spaces, nine locations, including Earth and Asgard, are indeed connected by an invisible tree. The Asgardians were the first to discover this and, using the World Tree as a foundation, built the Bifrost. Years ago, they unified the Nine Realms and became their nominal masters."

"However, as time passed, each of the Nine Realms developed on its own. Just as there are over two hundred countries on Earth that have never heard of Asgard, the other worlds don't exactly have a great relationship with them either."

"The territory Asgard truly rules is, to put it plainly, just Asgard itself."

"But much like England and the Commonwealth, these areas nominally still belong to Asgard. So, from their perspective, it’s perfectly normal for the God of Thunder to come here for a vacation or whatever."

Upon hearing this, Nick Fury’s heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly asked, "The World Tree? Is that for real? Have you seen it?"

*Seen it in the movies, sure,* Gu Zhongyan thought to himself.

He shook his head and said, "No. As I said, the World Tree exists in an extremely high dimension. You can only perceive its existence through specific methods. I know it exists, but I cannot see or sense it."

"I suspect that besides Odin, very few people in this world could see it."

"Still, even if you can't see it, it doesn't matter. The World Tree’s influence on reality is minimal. Aside from Odin occasionally plucking a few branches or leaves from it, it has almost no presence."

Despite these words, just by looking at the thoughtful expression on Nick Fury’s face, Gu Zhongyan knew that the King of Spies was likely already planning operations regarding the World Tree.

Soon, Nick Fury snapped back to reality. He didn't pursue the subject of the World Tree, instead shifting the conversation to the Nine Realms and the gods of Asgard. Evidently, these tangible existences were far more important to him than the ethereal World Tree.

Gu Zhongyan didn't hold back; the real Nine Realms were roughly the same as those recorded in mythology, so they were not difficult to explain. Whether it was the structure of the Nine Realms, their history, or the situation regarding the Asgardian gods, Gu Zhongyan gave a detailed introduction.

Just as the two were engrossed in their exchange, a commotion broke out in the orderly camp. Seven or eight agents rushed forward, struggling to pin down a white man.

The man was tall, with a physique as sturdy as an ancient Greek statue, long golden hair, and sharp, heroic features. Currently, he was being pressed to the ground by the agents, struggling fiercely.

"Let go! Let go! I am Thor Odinson, son of Odin the All-Father, Prince of Asgard, and Master of Thunder! You mortals, release me at once and return Mjolnir to me!"

Had this happened before they knew the origin of the hammer, everyone would have dismissed him as a lunatic and sent him to a hospital. But now, Nick Fury looked at Gu Zhongyan with a strange expression. The implication was clear: *This is the powerful Thor, the God of Thunder from Asgard you were talking about? This guy?*

Under Nick Fury’s skeptical gaze, Gu Zhongyan nodded and said, "Don't doubt it. He is indeed Thor, the God of Thunder. Though he may seem unworthy right now, it is only because his power has been sealed."

"Once he awakens, he will become exactly what he claims to be: the Master of Thunder. Let him go."

Hearing this, though still full of suspicion, Nick Fury signaled for the agents to release Thor. Gu Zhongyan walked toward him, nodding with a smile. "Hello, Thor. I am Sean Gu, a wizard. It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re here for the hammer, aren't you?"

Hearing Gu Zhongyan’s words, Thor’s eyes lit up.

"Yes, yes! Where is Mjolnir? Please, return it to me at once. If you return it to me, when I return to Asgard, I will surely reward you handsomely."

"That won't be necessary. Come with me," Gu Zhongyan said with a smile, leading Thor to the edge of the crater.

Looking at the hammer in the crater, Thor immediately grew agitated.

"Mjolnir!"

Thor shouted with excitement, a smirk tugging at his lips. His handsome face shone with a hint of arrogance as he extended his right hand, as if to summon the hammer from thin air.

Knowing that the hammer was a divine artifact, the surrounding crowd subconsciously held their breath, watching the scene with great anticipation.