Chapter 132: The Polemic

Nick Fury was, of course, dissatisfied.

The items Gu Zhongyan provided were by no means meager, but that only served to prove that he had walked away with even more. The two had been dealing with each other long enough that, having been fleeced so many times—and having suffered a significant loss this time around—Fury was certainly not going to let it slide without getting something back.

After some inevitable haggling, they finally settled on a final arrangement.

In truth, Gu Zhongyan didn't care much about the minor fluctuations in compensation. Compared to supreme treasures like the Eternal Flame or the Philosopher’s Stone, a bit of gold or some Asgardian weaponry meant nothing. Haggling over these "worthless" items was merely a way to strengthen his relationship with Nick Fury; after all, a give-and-take dynamic was essential for better cooperation in the future.

With their deal concluded, Thor and Loki parted ways. Following a brilliant flash of the Bifrost, Loki vanished, leaving behind only a scorched magic circle upon the earth. Seeing this, Nick Fury instinctively began formulating seven or eight new contingency plans in his mind. Gu Zhongyan, playing the part, stared intently at the magical patterns on the ground for quite a while.

Unfortunately, the Bifrost was a product where both technology and magic had reached an incredibly high level; even with his current knowledge, he could discern nothing. This was to be expected, however. It was, after all, Asgard's trump card; if it were easily deciphered, Asgard wouldn't be the only place in the universe possessing such technology.

Turning his gaze away, Gu Zhongyan looked at Thor, who was filled with melancholy over Loki's departure. "Thor, do you remember our conversation before Loki appeared?"

"Huh? What?" Startled back to reality, Thor replied blankly, "What were we talking about?"

Watching Thor's bewildered expression, Gu Zhongyan said, "About where exactly you went wrong."

"Where I went wrong?" Thor asked, puzzled.

Gu Zhongyan continued, "Do you know why His Majesty Odin is unwilling to go to war with the Frost Giants?"

Thor hesitated, his expression flickering with suppressed anger and resentment. Gu Zhongyan smiled. "I know. In your eyes, His Majesty Odin is too cowardly, afraid to spark a war even in the face of the Frost Giants' provocations."

"But in reality, war is not that simple. In this affair, you acted more like a general than a king."

"I don't know much about Asgard, but I know a great deal about Earth's history. There are over two hundred countries on Earth, and war has never ceased since the day humanity was born."

"Humanity has even endured two world-shattering wars. You could say that humans are the race that understands war the best, and therefore, we also understand its horrors the most."

"To a general, war is a ladder to victory, glory, and power. On Earth, there are also groups of people who are constantly inciting war to reap massive profits."

"But for the citizens of a country, the vast majority despise war. Unless absolutely necessary, they never want it to happen."

"Because once a war begins, heavy costs are paid regardless of who wins or loses, especially the cost of innocent lives."

Gu Zhongyan let out a long sigh. "In war, those in power are often impassioned, declaring that they will stop at nothing to achieve victory."

"That is not necessarily wrong in itself, but for those civilians and the soldiers on the front lines, they are the ones who are sacrificed."

"This grand narrative isn't inherently wrong, but as a leader, one must also consider the needs of the people at the bottom under such narratives."

Gazing at the contemplative Thor, Gu Zhongyan spoke earnestly. "Thor, you are the God of Thunder of Asgard, the Crown Prince of the Realm Eternal, and the wielder of Mjolnir. You possess invincible divine power; even the massive Frost Giants face only death and destruction before you."

"But war is not yours alone; it belongs to all of Asgard, to millions of Asgardian soldiers and their people. They do not have your divine power, nor your peerless combat ability. Have you ever thought about their fate once war breaks out?"

Thor was completely stunned by Gu Zhongyan's words.

For as long as he could remember, he had considered himself a man-of-the-people prince. His subjects loved and revered him, and he had naturally assumed they would support his decisions. He wasn't arrogant like Loki; he could drink and carouse with any Asgardian in a tavern.

Yet now, he realized that when he sought to wage war against the Frost Giants, he hadn't thought of the common people at all. In his heart, there was only the anger of being offended by the Frost Giants. He wanted to crush them, to establish an inviolable majesty, but in this grand vision, his own people had no place.

Seeing this, Gu Zhongyan continued, "Within any border, or between any nations, conflict is inevitable. If one were to start a war every time a minor dispute arose, it would only lead to endless conflict."

"Each war brings not only victory but also repeated devastation."

"Thor, your father is the King of the Nine Realms, the All-Father Odin. In his hundred-thousand-year reign, he conquered the Nine Realms and established an inviolable majesty throughout the universe."

"Do you truly believe he is afraid of the Frost Giants and therefore dares not fight?"

"You are wrong. He is unwilling to start a war over a momentary impulse because he is the King of Asgard, and he must consider his people."

"The reason His Majesty Odin stripped you of your power is because you have yet to grasp the qualities required of a king."

"He banished you to Earth in the hope that you would view the world through the eyes of an ordinary person, and then consider how to rule your kingdom, rather than viewing yourself merely as a warrior leading a charge, thinking only of battle."

"Does this mean... does this mean that war is always wrong, and I should never have initiated it?" Thor asked, his voice lost.

"War is not necessarily wrong," Gu Zhongyan shook his head.

"Hmm?" Thor looked up instantly, confused by the shift in tone.

Gu Zhongyan said, "Although the vast majority of people dislike war, in many cases, it is necessary."

"When your bottom line is crossed, no matter how reluctant you are, and no matter how great the sacrifice, you must fight."

"But before you fight, you must be clear about why you are fighting and for whom. Only when you know these things will you understand how to be a king."

"Go and see where humans live. See how an ordinary person without divine power survives. See how a common person faces war. When you understand these things, you should be able to lift Mjolnir."