The importance of Mars has sharply declined, mainly because the human race realized that they do not necessarily need to develop land-based engineering equipment like ordinary civilizations do; their technical accumulation allows them to skip this stage and directly develop space equipment.
Normally, a civilization would use another non-native planet to test various land-based equipment. They need to first build an engineering base on another planet, slowly gathering everything needed to manufacture spaceship parts. For many future years, this base would produce all the spaceships and various machines needed on the surfaces of other planets for the civilization.
But humans do not need to do this. The parts of starships are manufactured on Earth and Mercury. The nanocompression technology mastered by Stark Group allows them to produce the most equipment in the smallest space. They directly use Mercury, the energy star, as a production base.
As for the assembly stage, which requires the most space and is the most troublesome, it is the simplest for humans because they have mages and mutants who can assemble directly in the cosmos without needing to first assemble in a gravity environment and then fly up.
Next are the engineering devices. An Eastern Great Nation has already maxed out this technology tree to produce superluminal engines, so they can directly exploit Jupiter after leaving Earth, without needing to find a place to build a base to produce the equipment used to exploit gaseous planets.
Thus, Mars, which would have been the best stepping stone, has become a useless appendage, hardly worth keeping. Using it as an industrial base is not very necessary; if developed into a scenic area, there's no landscape, just barren like most planets in the cosmos, nothing worth seeing. Being too close to Earth, it somewhat gets in the way when Earth sets out. So the mainstream opinion is to push Mars outward, throwing it near Neptune. The environment on Mars is somewhat better than Neptune, allowing for the construction of another Star Port.
Yet some people think it's better not to destroy the natural environment of the Solar System, considering this "one dragging eight" natural wonder is not often seen, and it's such an even balance, isn't it also a beautiful scene?
Shiller thinks it's unnecessary to destroy Mars; they can completely reference the method used in the universe where Arrogant resides. The current Mars is useless, so why not just switch it for another?
Let the current one stay on its orbit, and when a nice planet is discovered in the cosmos, drag it over to be the new Mars. Just like Krypton has already become the new Mercury of the Solar System.
If Asgard is willing, being Mars for a couple of days isn't impossible; they just need to pay attention, as the God Clan should avoid jumping and hitting the Magical Defense Network, then it'll be troublesome if it gets broken.
Thor remains ambivalent to Shiller's proposal, but he must stop the information because he knows since there has been no war, those God Clan members who are bored to death would definitely support the proposal with both hands and feet. Last time when Earth came over, they hadn't watched enough; if there's a legitimate reason to go to the Solar System this time, wouldn't they agree enthusiastically?
As for Asgard being able to run, Thor hasn't even considered it. Lacking motivation, just let God Clan drag it over; if not, go to Vanaheim to find a few Pegasi, they should be able to drag it.
Thor is unwilling to let Asgard travel to the Solar System mainly due to interstellar perception. Once the interstellar council is constructed, many will definitely head to the Solar System for tourism. Knowing these two planets are sitting together, probably no one would dare to come over. It's not that they wouldn't have deterrence power on their own, but Thor can't imagine what kind of divine personage would dare to tour a nuclear arsenal.
Thor and Loki soon left. Then Strange came over; sitting down, he ordered a big glass of icy beer. Once he got it, he gulped it down, saying, "For heaven's sake, I've had enough of those pretentious scientists! A little to the left, a little to the right, I spent so much effort adjusting it, and they still say they think the original position is best. Isn't that the one God made, wouldn't it be good?!"
"You went to help adjust the orbit too?"
"What's helping? I'm the one doing the adjustment!" Strange sighed, saying, "Magneto has to take care of his kids. If he brings those little demons to the scene, it would create chaos. I thought it would be better just to handle it myself, but those scientists are each more difficult than the last, insisting my adjustments weren't precise enough, pestering me to move it back and forth, it's frustrating!"
"This is a big deal; a little difference is not acceptable." Shiller shook his head and said, "But you don't have to do it alone; aren't there other mages?"
"At least I am a doctor who received modern higher education and understand the importance of precision. Other mages can't even tolerate them." Strange said.
"And, don't say I was muddling it; actually, it's not necessary to be that precise." Strange shook his head and said, "The cosmos has a certain auto-repair function; even if it's slightly off, the planet will adjust its orbit by itself."
"Really?" Shiller was somewhat skeptical.
Strange nodded and said, "I know the scientists would say it's not okay because these things can be completely calculated. But the truth isn't like that; in addition to physical orbits, there are mystical trajectories that won't deviate too much."
"What if we replace one of the planets?"
"The planet itself isn't very important; it's more about the concept," Strange explained, "Actually, the material planet doesn't matter as long as the mystic concept remains. Furthermore, these concepts can't affect higher powers; it's not a big issue."
"Are you going to the Court the day after tomorrow?"
"I am the Councilman; do you think I should go? Do you think Thor will go?"
"He shouldn't go; after all, if he goes, the Emperors of the other Three Great Empires would have to go too."
"How do you know they won't go?"
"I don't know about others, but the Emperor of the Skrull Empire definitely won't be able to go."
Strange slightly widened his eyes and said, "How do you know he definitely can't go? You wouldn't have…" Strange gestured around his neck.
Shiller rolled his eyes and said, "I'm not so insane as to assassinate the Emperor of the Three Great Empires."
"It's hard to say."
"Don't you want Thor to go?"
"No, it's just that if he goes, I won't wear a suit, I'll wear the Supreme Magician's battle robes, otherwise I'm afraid I won't be able to beat him."
"He's not as excited as you think; he just warned Loki that you wouldn't be a good choice of partner."
Strange paused for a moment, sighed slightly, and said, "He's right."
"I didn't expect you to say that."
"In so many multiverses, there's almost none where I'm happily married with a perfect family, which already says a lot."
Shiller neither agreed nor disagreed, he simply said, "In a certain way, we are alike. It's never just one accident that shaped who we are now. Whether that accident that caused my High Tower to collapse or your hand injury happened or not, we would still be the way we are."
"On the surface, you seem to have more ease, less fatigue, changed in many ways, but in essence, you are still you, and no one can change that, just like you can't change me."
Strange was a bit puzzled, not knowing why Shiller suddenly lamented, but he nodded and said, "I know my personality might be deemed quirky, but I'm not a patient, nor do I need some epiphany-like change, right?"
"Maybe, but perhaps those counterparts you meet aren't truly you. If one day you see your own posture through someone much like yourself, maybe you'll want to change."
These words made alarm bells ring loudly in Strange's mind, but for most people around Shiller, these alarms become background noise and serve no purpose. After all, even if you hear them, you don't know what's going on, and even if you do know, it's hard to change, so you might as well not hear.
Soon, the day of the trial arrived. Interestingly, Loki's defense lawyer was Matt. It's well known that although Matt is a just Night Devil, there's no lawyer in America who isn't a litigation expert. Matt's ability to sustain his law practice and even have a steady stream of cases speaks to his high litigation skills.
"Why am I dressed like this?" Loki adjusted her dress, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. She was wearing a very artistic white long dress, her straightened, sleek black hair draped behind her, making her look ethereal.
"This can emphasize your image as a victim and garner sympathy from the jury." Matt clearly understood the craft. He said, "Once you're on, you don't need to do anything, just maintain one expression."
"What expression?"
"Crying, but not fully crying."
Loki asked with some confusion, "What do you mean by not fully crying?"
"It means you can have tears, but it's best not to let them fall. Tears will show you're very aggrieved, but not having them fall ensures we don't provoke the Supreme Magician and His Majesty the God King into smashing the court before we win."
Loki helplessly pressed his forehead and said, "My brother won't come, and I have nothing with the Supreme Magician."
"Got it, got it," Matt dismissed it lightly, "Plus, whatever they ask, don't answer directly. I know you have excuses, but... Kanas, that old bald eagle, is my old adversary, and he's very skilled at asking trap questions..."
"Wait," Loki interrupted, "How do you know a Skrull lawyer?"
"What Skrull lawyer? Kanas is human. This guy is a notorious litigation expert, used to work for Kingpin, and lord knows how many enemies he's toppled. He also helped Roxsen Corporation win a defamation case, absolutely impossible to deal with. If it weren't for your brother coming to me personally, I wouldn't have taken this job…"
"How can you so easily yield to evil?"
"Get it straight, we're the evil ones!"
Accompanied by the judge's command, both plaintiff and defendant came on stage. Loki followed Matt's advice, sat down, and silently began his tearful performance.
Everyone's attention was focused on Strange.
Strange sat rigidly. He thought he could suppress the rumors like this, but ended up overhearing the new secretary from the PR department whispering to her colleague, "See, I told you, he's definitely secretly married. Look at our Councilman; he's putting on quite the performance…"
Strange almost regretted not wearing his battle robes today.
The trial soon commenced, yet the process was exceptionally dull and tedious, filled with endless repeats: you recite yours, then I recite mine. Finally, the debate began. The opposing lawyer slapped the table and began fervently accusing Loki of his misdeeds. Matt retorted without backing down, engaging in a dramatic verbal duel.
The two quarreled for over four hours, both holding fast to their reasoning. Though Loki himself wasn't sure what his rationale was—listening to the accusations, he found them quite reasonable—Matt managed to rebut every single point. Evidently, raising children really is expensive.
After a long and arduous argument, the jury and judge were about to announce the final verdict when, suddenly, there was a loud "Wow" and then a "Crash" as the court's glass shattered. A massive beast charged into the courtroom, swallowing the judge and jury whole in one gulp.
Immediately, Helen shouted to Loki, "Mom! Run!"
Strange was stunned by this sudden upheaval, and when he overheard the secretaries running past him whispering, "Isn't that the illegitimate child?" the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally sank.