After Brunnhilde and Gin said their goodbyes, Brunnhilde still bowed to the Queen before leaving. Su Ming assigned Gin a task: return to Earth's Kamar-Taj and inform the Ancient One about the situation here.
Dealing with the Serpent required at least some preparation from the Sorcerer Supreme.
Steve might also do—he could fight for a whole day.
But the outcome likely wouldn't be great. Besides, he was busy shooting commercials. Wilson Enterprises was pivoting post-war, needing new products and publicity.
Not only was Steve a war hero, but his robust physique and handsome face made him prime celebrity material.
Girls wanted a boyfriend like the Captain; boys wanted to be the Captain.
From women's perfume and lingerie to men's luxury cars and watches, Captain America could endorse it all.
TV commercials took time to shoot and needed frequent updates for seasons and markets. Steve would be busy for a while.
After World War II, enemies seemed to vanish.
Steve was gradually sidelined by the military as society shifted toward economic growth, no longer glorifying war heroes.
No matter—his popularity could still be leveraged. Su Ming's media empire already included TV stations and a film company, recently acquiring the Daily Bugle. Maintaining influence in New York was enough.
This time, Su Ming would handle Hydra himself. Asgard's affairs needed to stay under wraps.
Gin left the palace, leaving Su Ming with the Vanir sisters.
"You two can rest now," Su Ming said.
Just then, Loki hurried in from outside, sweat on his brow, clothes disheveled, as if chased by Cerberus.
He greeted his mother and aunt before kneeling on one knee before the throne.
"All-Father, Thor failed. He couldn't defeat Surtur. I barely saved their lives, but on the return, Thor insisted on marching, and the army was ambushed by the undead, suffering heavy losses."
Loki wasn't lying, strictly speaking—just omitting key details to absolve himself.
Su Ming slammed the Eternal Spear against the floor, feigning anger.
"And you, my younger son? Why did you flee back alone?!"
"Because I learned Heimdall was in trouble, so I returned to see if I could help—open the Bifrost to bring the army back."
Su Ming narrowed his eyes. Loki could indeed use the Bifrost, though where he learned it was unclear.
Before leaving, Gin had left the greatsword, the key to the Bifrost, now leaning against the throne, gleaming coldly.
After a moment's thought, Su Ming hurled the sword. It spun through the air, embedding itself in the floor before Loki, a strand of his black hair drifting down.
Loki swallowed hard, nearly losing his nose.
"Do it," Su Ming growled.
Loki's face lit up. Controlling the Bifrost meant Odin trusted him more.
He struggled to pull the sword from the floor, bowed hastily, and rushed toward the Bifrost. Outside, chaos reigned—various factions treating the All-Palace as a battlefield, yet Odin was chatting with his mother?
And smoking Midgardian tobacco, no less.
But the priority was retrieving his foolish brother and his foolish followers, along with whatever remained of the army.
The All-Palace needed troops. Loki had initially planned to let the undead wipe out Asgard's forces from Muspelheim to pin the blame on Thor.
The timing wasn't right now. Pity.
After Loki left, Frigga's face showed disbelief.
"You sent my children against Surtur? Do you know what he is?"
Su Ming casually stubbed his cigarette on the throne. "Of course. Fire demon, one of the Hell-Lords, on par with Bor and Odin. I also know Surtur's sealed in a volcano, unable to take a step."
Frigga opened her mouth, but Deathstroke had said it all. He knew everything and had a plan.
After a few seconds of silence, she nodded lightly in farewell and went to heal Heimdall.
Gullveig, engrossed in her drama, had no urgent tasks. She sat at a long table nearby.
Moments later, Loki returned with Thor and the battered Warriors Three.
Thor was covered in blood from Tyr's slashes, wounds still oozing, though mostly superficial.
The Warriors Three looked like they'd been mauled by zombies—black handprints marked their bodies, with bite marks on Volstagg's arm.
Sif fared better, but her shield bore new cracks, effectively ruined.
"Thor, my son," Su Ming said calmly, ensuring his tone and words revealed nothing.
"Yes, Father, I failed… The underworld's army, led by Tyr, attacked us."
The figure on the throne remained still, expressionless.
"How many did I give you when you set out?"
"…Two million," Thor said, head bowed, Mjolnir resting on the floor beside the sword's mark.
"And how many did you bring back?"
Silence fell over the hall. Loki's lowered face broke into a smile.
"Less than two hundred thousand," Thor admitted, his expression shifting but ultimately resigned.
Even Gullveig, watching the drama unfold, was moved. What had Thor faced to lose so many?
Loki's spirits soared. Here it comes—Odin would surely thrash Thor and banish him to Midgard's coldest reaches, where he'd wear furs and eat snow.
Then Thor would depend on him. Loki would sneak him food, and Thor would look at him like a savior.
But Su Ming seemed not to hear, instead asking, "What did you learn from this?"
"Huh?"
Thor froze. Learn? What could he learn from a defeat?
Nothing, really—except that Surtur and Tyr's undead army were strong.
"I asked what you learned!" Su Ming stood, driving the Eternal Spear into the floor, cracks spiderwebbing from the dais.
Thor, anxious and guilty, racked his brain but came up empty.
Then he thought of Muspelheim, Surtur's ever-burning realm.
"I learned the will of fire," Thor said, bracing himself.
Su Ming's body twitched, veins bulging on the hand gripping the spear.
Loki thought Odin was about to erupt, but instead, Odin nodded slightly and sat back down.
With an approving look, he said warmly, "Good. You learned something. Go to your palace, rest. Wine and food await, my son."
Loki couldn't believe his ears. He looked up, stunned. Nearly two million lost, and Odin treated it as a lesson?
Why? Why did everyone coddle Thor?!
He stepped forward, ready to argue that Thor should be punished to maintain order.
The fault was clear—kings couldn't show such blatant favoritism!
"Father, Thor—"
"Silence, traitor! Don't think I don't know what you've done!"
Su Ming exploded, roaring at Loki. He stood, pointing the Eternal Spear, voice thundering.
Who knew what Loki had done? But saying it was enough—Loki would fill in the blanks himself.
Loki's mind raced. Was it impersonating Odin? Toying with the Warriors Three? Spreading rumors about Thor and Sif?
He'd done too much to pinpoint what Odin meant.
Su Ming wouldn't let him figure it out. Loki was still useful.
With a flourish of the spear, Su Ming panted heavily, as if on the verge of a fit, then calmed.
"Given your many mistakes, after I awoke, Gaia and Kiden suggested I toss you into a star's core. But Frigga pleaded for you. This time, I'll let you off—clean Thor's sheep pens for a month. Every bit of dung, spotless. Heimdall will check."
Volstagg's beard twitched, barely containing laughter. The annoying Loki was finally punished.
Odin was wise—Volstagg didn't know Loki's crimes, but Odin was surely right.
Loki stood frozen beneath the dais, unable to argue, his mind reeling with doubts about an unfair world.
Why? Why was Thor spared while he took the blame?!
He hated Odin's injustice but was powerless—his strength was nothing before Odin.
Gaia and Kiden, who'd slandered him, were etched in his mind. He'd exact revenge, cruelly.
Seeing Loki's sinister expression shift to a smile, Su Ming chuckled inwardly.
"Thor, drag your despicable brother to the pens! Then rest. Don't drink too much, don't overeat, and cover up at night."
Thor scratched his head. What had Loki done? He hadn't noticed.
But Odin's word was law. After such losses, Thor dared not argue with an enraged Odin.
That would only mean two cleaning the pens.
Thor decided to help Loki and sneak him dinner and wine—he owed him a bottle, after all.
He pulled Loki out. Volstagg carried Hogan to a healer, while Fandral and Sif bowed and left.
Su Ming descended the dais, picking up Heimdall's greatsword and propping it against the throne again.
He winked at Gullveig.
Those two women wouldn't live long. Loki would handle it discreetly, as he did with Balder's death.
This benefited Gullveig, so she'd stay silent. They were all accomplices in Asgard's future murder now.