"Me?" Ethan pointed at himself and thought for a moment about what might have happened recently in this world that would prompt S.H.I.E.L.D. to seek him out. It didn't take long for him to guess. "What do you need my help with?"
"We just need assistance identifying something," Coulson replied.
That answer confirmed Ethan's speculation: S.H.I.E.L.D. must have found Thor's hammer. The magical nature of the artifact had likely reminded them of him—the only mysterious individual they were acquainted with.
"That shouldn't be a problem."
Ethan and Tony's research had reached a temporary stopping point. They had both learned much from each other, and Ethan had gained some valuable items from Tony as well. They both needed time to digest the knowledge they'd acquired rather than rushing into new experiments.
With no pressing tasks at hand, Ethan figured taking a trip to meet Thor might be worthwhile. After all, Asgard's seamless blend of magic and technology had long been on his list of interests.
"Are you leaving now?" Tony asked.
"You can take care of your own business first," Coulson replied, his tone as polite as ever.
Coulson had a way of leaving a positive impression, largely because he made an effort to consider others' needs. These gestures might seem small, but goodwill is built from the accumulation of such little things.
"Then give me a moment. I don't have much to pack," Ethan said.
"Wait," Tony suddenly interrupted, raising his hand to stop their conversation. "I'm bored lately. Don't you think it'd be better if you had one more person tagging along?"
Tony had indeed been restless. With Pepper managing Stark Industries and his research with Ethan temporarily on hold, he had nothing to do. Having spent so much time recently discussing strange and fascinating topics with Ethan, he had grown curious about the so-called gods and their associated mysteries. Since Coulson was here to consult Ethan about something supernatural, Tony naturally wanted to see it for himself.
"I don't mind," Ethan replied. "But the location is pretty far. Are you sure you want to come?"
"Where is it?" Tony asked.
"New Mexico," Coulson answered.
Tony hadn't expected New Mexico, but it wasn't a problem. Between his personal transportation and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s likely preparations, getting there would be no issue.
"What's in New Mexico?" Tony asked.
"We don't know exactly," Coulson admitted. "That's why we came to ask the expert for help."
Ethan quickly packed a few bags. The equipment he had created here had been condensed into a pendant he now wore around his neck.
"Do you need us to help transport anything?" Coulson asked.
"No need," Ethan said, shaking his head. "I'll take it with me."
In addition to his own gear, Ethan carried a few items Tony had gifted him. He had also placed a custom order with Tony for some additional tools, which he planned to collect before leaving this world. Since he had no designated place to store the rest of his belongings, it was more convenient to keep them on hand for immediate use.
"Well then, the plane is parked outside. We'll discuss the specifics on board," Coulson said, before turning to Tony. "Are you sure you want to come along?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?" Tony exclaimed, already suited up in his Iron Man armor. "Let's go!" He figured he could take off the suit on the plane if needed and could always fly home if the trip turned out to be uninteresting.
Tony hadn't given much thought to potential dangers. After all, how risky could identifying an object really be?
Thanks to Ethan's influence, Tony's armor had undergone several design upgrades. Previously, his suits required robotic assistance for equipping and removal. Now, Tony could don or shed his armor anywhere, a convenience he deeply appreciated.
Outside Tony's villa, a Quinjet awaited them. Its conspicuous presence had drawn protests from Tony, though his complaints were ultimately futile.
From the moment he boarded the plane, Tony began voicing his dissatisfaction. Coulson deflected his criticisms with calm responses until the jet stabilized mid-flight. At that point, Coulson handed Ethan a stack of documents.
"This time, we need your help identifying what this object is, what it does, and whether it poses any dangers."
The documents included photographs, written descriptions, and scientific analysis reports. Ethan skimmed through the scientific reports but quickly determined they were irrelevant. His understanding of such reports had improved thanks to Tony's tutelage, but in this case, they provided no useful insights.
Handing the reports to Tony, Ethan said, "Here, use these to pass the time."
Tony, expecting that Ethan might need his assistance, was caught off guard by the comment. Rolling his eyes, he refused. "I don't take things handed to me by others, you know that."
Tony's quirk of avoiding direct exchanges had been a source of irritation for Ethan in the past. But as with all quirks, it wasn't something easily changed.
"What's wrong with the reports?" Tony asked.
"Nothing. They're just useless," Ethan replied.
Ethan then focused on the photos and written descriptions, which were far more helpful.
"Thor's hammer…" he muttered to himself. "It's quite different from the versions in the comics and movies."
If this were the comic version of Thor's hammer, Ethan might have been tempted to claim it for himself. However, the movie version was far less appealing. As he had learned from Thor: Ragnarok, Mjolnir wasn't so much the source of Thor's power as it was a tool to help him control it.
This revelation significantly dampened Ethan's interest in the hammer. Asgard's technological knowledge was far more intriguing.
"Do you have any thoughts?" Coulson asked.
"Yes," Ethan replied.
"Oh? Do you know what it is?" Coulson asked, his curiosity piqued.
Ethan nodded confidently. "It's a hammer."
"…"
Coulson was beginning to understand how Ethan could get along so well with Tony, they shared a similar sense of humor.
"Just kidding," Ethan added with a smirk. "I'll need to see it in person to make an accurate judgment. Also, I need to make a call." He pulled out his phone and asked, "Does your plane have reception?"
"Uh… it should, I think," Coulson replied hesitantly. He wanted to remind Ethan that the matter was classified and shouldn't be shared, but he reconsidered. Ethan's associates were unlikely to be ordinary people, and they might even know more secrets than S.H.I.E.L.D.
However, Ethan's first sentence during the call nearly made Coulson spit blood.
"Arthur? How have you been? I've got nothing to do, so come over and see something interesting."
"…"
Ethan wasn't trying to be careless. Merlin had entrusted him with the task of broadening Arthur's horizons, and Ethan took that responsibility seriously. Since he finally had some free time, he saw no reason to leave Arthur behind.
Arthur had already met the Amazons of Themyscira and the demigoddess Diana. Meeting the Asgardians would provide another valuable perspective on divine beings.
"Is this… appropriate?" Coulson asked, uncertain.
"Don't worry," Ethan said, ending the call. "My friend isn't an ordinary person. You won't have to worry about secrets leaking or causing panic."
"Well… alright," Coulson relented.
The plane reached its destination quickly, landing at a temporary S.H.I.E.L.D. camp. Multiple defensive perimeters had been established to prevent anyone from approaching, let alone catching a glimpse of the mysterious artifact.
"This is Clint Barton, in charge of the camp's defenses," Coulson introduced as they exited the plane.
Clint, an unassuming man with a sharp gaze, approached and greeted Coulson before sizing up Ethan.
"This is the expert we invited to examine the artifact," Coulson explained.
"An expert?" Clint asked skeptically. He had been away on missions and didn't know Ethan's background. Given his initial impression that Ethan was one of Tony Stark's assistants, Clint was surprised to learn Ethan was the actual authority.
"Well, sort of," Ethan replied. "Your organization probably knows me for my expertise in this field."
As Ethan spoke, he sensed someone using magic to locate his position. Recognizing the familiar energy signature, he immediately knew who it was.
"Let's wait a moment," Ethan said. "My companion should be arriving shortly."
"Right now? Here?" Coulson asked, bewildered. Ethan hadn't disclosed the location during his phone call, so how could someone arrive so quickly?
No one answered him. Tony, fully aware of what was about to happen, simply smiled in anticipation.
"This is going to be fun," Tony said, instructing Jarvis, "Make sure you record everything."
"Understood, sir. Though I must say, your behavior is a bit… unsavory."
As Clint and Coulson looked on in confusion, a glowing ring of light suddenly appeared in the open space before them. The circle rotated as it expanded, eventually growing to the size of a door. Through the portal, they could see a completely different scene.
A blond-haired, handsome young man stepped through the glowing portal. As he approached, the ring of light behind him gradually faded, vanishing as though it had never existed.
***
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