**
Link arrived at the talk show with the aim of addressing various questions, and he also had some thoughts of his own. Although some events were different from the movie plots he had seen in his past life, it wasn't particularly surprising. However, certain underlying issues remained.
For instance, some individuals took advantage of the Avengers' appearance to criticize them, seeking attention or even maliciously guiding public opinion. They channeled people's fears into anger, directing it toward the Avengers. Although these statements didn't affect the Avengers much, they were still quite annoying.
Link disliked being morally coerced, which is why he concealed his true strength. If his full power were exposed, there was no telling what would happen. For now, he was simply a billionaire and an ordinary member of the Avengers, which kept attention away from him, unlike the ever-popular Stark.
In his appearance, he hinted at the existence of Kamar-Taj, though he provided no concrete evidence—just analysis. Link had never been approached by the Ancient One, something that both puzzled and made sense to him. The sorcerers generally didn't interfere with worldly matters. While Link's presence undoubtedly impacted the future, his strength was more than sufficient to protect Earth.
Thus, whether the Ancient One appeared or not didn't really matter. Now, by portraying Earth's situation as dangerous and complex, he shifted everyone's attention away from the Avengers.
"Mr. Link, are these things really true?" Oprah's voice had become a bit hoarse.
Link chuckled, responding, "Whether they're true or not doesn't matter. What's crucial is that humanity continues to develop—particularly in terms of technology..."
"Of course, technology doesn't advance overnight. It requires a strong foundation in basic science. Thankfully, we still have time to develop at a steady pace. For now, Earth is safe."
"The previous alien invasion was more of a test, after all. King Odin of Asgard is getting old, and Asgard has some internal problems. Earth's ancient protectors didn't intervene either. Perhaps they didn't think it was a true crisis. And as you all saw, our weapons worked."
"They didn't launch a direct attack from space but instead used a method to open a space portal. That alone tells us a lot."
Oprah jumped on that, asking, "Can you elaborate?"
"Of course," Link nodded. "Opening a space portal may seem simple, but it requires many conditions, including special artifacts and energy. That energy source has already been destroyed."
"Moreover, the portal was limited in size, preventing them from transporting a large army at once. As a result, we were able to ambush them at the exit."
"If they truly wanted to invade Earth, they would have positioned their entire force in Earth's outer space."
"That's why I say this was just a probe of Earth's capabilities. Our weapons proved effective, but our weakness lies in the fact that we can't yet conduct battles in space."
"This requires advancements in energy, materials, resources—an overall leap in Earth's technology."
"That said, once they enter our atmosphere, Earth's massive military forces should be able to handle it."
"Our current shortcoming is simply our inability to break free from our atmosphere!"
Hearing this, the audience felt somewhat reassured. After all, the Avengers had indeed fended off the aliens, with the assistance of fighter jets. It seemed manageable.
They had the power to fight back, and with Asgard in the picture, along with the possibility of ancient protectors, people's minds were at ease.
Yet, the remaining weakness of space exploration drove calls for rapid development of space technologies, an urgent priority.
…
After addressing these concerns, Oprah shifted to lighter topics, asking Captain America and Black Widow some questions. Link wisely chose to remain silent, having already said enough. He gave the others time to shine, and the show ran for over an hour.
When it finally ended, they left the studio. A crowd had gathered outside, but with the help of the NYPD, they managed to drive away without any major incidents.
Thankfully, there were no extreme disruptions, sparing them additional hassle.
Their appearance had formally introduced the Avengers to the public and revealed the existence of alien civilizations. The media erupted, with widespread discussions on the topics raised by the trio, effectively diverting attention from earlier fears.
Osborn Corporation's stocks rose, naturally boosted by Link's exposure.
The discussion helped ease some of the tension surrounding the Avengers, bringing a temporary calm. However, Thor soon received news from home: the Bifrost had been repaired.
Thor arrived at Avengers headquarters, which had just been completed, with all equipment and furnishings in place.
Gathering the group, Thor announced, "The Bifrost is repaired. I'm taking Loki back to Asgard. Who's coming with me?"
"I'm definitely going," Stark replied, scratching his head as he glanced at Bruce Banner. "Wanna see if we can learn something?"
"Sure, if the Allfather allows it," Bruce nodded. "We lack the means for interstellar travel. Perhaps Asgardian technology can help us."
Link chimed in, "I'll go with you. Leave the negotiations to me. You two aren't exactly the best negotiators."
"Alright, just the three of us. Cap, you stay behind to watch over Earth," Stark said, nodding. Negotiation wasn't his strong suit. "This time, let's try to get a communication device that'll allow us to stay in contact with Asgard."
Everyone agreed, and preparations began. Link went back to inform Jessica that he would be heading to Asgard. This time, he couldn't bring her along.
After all, Odin's attitude remained uncertain. The trio was the right number for this mission, especially with Bruce's raw power.
Link's main task was to converse with Odin. In front of the Allfather, it was essential to display a bit of strength. Only between equals could true conversations take place.
…
Once ready, the group gathered. Thor stood with Loki and called out, "Heimdall!"
A massive beam of light descended from the sky, instantly lifting the five of them as they soared upwards along the beam.
Stark and Bruce were fascinated. This magical technology could transport people from one point in the universe to another in mere moments.
Before long, they arrived at the Bifrost in Asgard. Link turned to glance at Heimdall.
Thor, in high spirits, introduced Link and the others to Heimdall before leading Loki across the colorful rainbow bridge toward the distant palace.
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(End of Chapter)