"The person you're going to pick up has a special status, so you must maintain respect. If you irritate him—although I don't think you'll be in danger—you will definitely suffer. In short, don't do anything unnecessary. And that guy isn't an ordinary person, so don't be too shocked when you see him arrive."
Phil Coulson's earlier words echoed in the minds of the two suited men at the same time.
A streak of lightning flashed across the far sky, drawing nearer and descending directly toward their location.
"Are you waiting for me?" Harry dropped from the air and landed in front of them.
"Yes, sir. The director asked us to bring you to him," one of the agents said.
Even though they were used to dealing with abnormal events, the way Harry arrived still startled them for a moment, but they quickly resumed their professional composure.
"Then let's go."
Harry got into the car first, and under the agents' lead, was driven toward the temporary base built around the crater left by Thor's hammer.
...
A simple research zone had been constructed around the pit created by Mjolnir's impact. Dozens of scientists were busily circling the mysterious hammer.
"How is it? Still no results?" Phil Coulson asked, already showing signs of impatience.
They had been here for two days, yet the scientists still had nothing substantial to report.
"Sorry, sir. We've tried every method, but we can't move the hammer, and we can't collect a sample from it. Based on current analysis, the hammer is… completely inert. Of course, I don't actually believe that," a scientist in a white coat said, shaking his head.
"Oh…" Coulson sighed helplessly.
At that moment, an agent hurried in and leaned toward Coulson, whispering a few words.
"All right, continue the experiment," Coulson instructed the scientists. Then he nodded to the agent who had spoken to him and followed him out.
Outside, Coulson's face broke into a warm smile.
"Mr. Osborne, thank you for coming to assist with our operation."
"I'm just interested in what's here," Harry said with a light chuckle as he shook Coulson's hand.
Harry swept the entire facility with his eyes, letting his mental power spread out over everything. But nothing unusual showed itself. Even though he knew the hammer was here, his mental sense could only detect a hammer-shaped object buried in the center. His magnetic field couldn't latch onto it at all.
"Huh?" Harry frowned slightly. He had suddenly felt a sharp gaze on him—so sharp it made him uncomfortable.
He followed the source upward. High on the structure, a stern man in a combat uniform unlike the others was staring at him with a completely emotionless expression. Yet that gaze felt as if it could pierce straight through him.
"Hm?" Coulson followed Harry's line of sight—and saw Hawkeye, Clint Barton.
"Hey! Barton, come down," Coulson called, waving with a smile.
Hawkeye didn't respond verbally. He simply nodded, hooked a rope, and slid down quickly.
"Mr. Osborne, this is our Level Six SHIELD agent, Clint Barton. Barton—Mr. Osborne," Coulson introduced.
"I've heard the name Hawkeye before," Harry said with a polite smile. He didn't extend a hand; judging from Barton's expression, the man hardly seemed like someone who liked shaking hands.
"Mm."
Barton nodded once, giving only a short grunt, completing the introduction.
"Hehe, Mr. Osborne, let's go see what you're interested in."
Noticing the awkward air, Coulson immediately ushered Harry forward.
"Okay."
Harry remembered the hammer waiting ahead and followed Coulson inside.
Even though the facility was simple, it was meticulously secured. The path wound in several sharp turns, with guards stationed at each bend—far more than what had appeared in the movie.
"I checked a lot of information before coming. I heard people saying a satellite fell from the sky?" Harry asked as they walked.
"Just a cover story," Coulson replied. "Certain things must remain confidential. Our job is to prevent public panic."
"Oh."
Harry nodded. He understood SHIELD's methods. He didn't think of it as deceiving the public. In fact, this kind of secretive protection was exactly why SHIELD could quietly shield humanity for so long.
Entering the central tent, Harry saw it—buried deep in the earth.
The hammer had a wooden handle, and the head was made of some unknown material. But it wasn't metal. Before stepping inside, Harry had already tried using his magnetic field to interact with it—but the hammer gave him no response. He suspected it was some kind of stone. Intricate runic patterns covered its surface, carrying a mysterious pressure that stirred something instinctive in anyone who looked at it.
"This is it. We've confirmed it fell from the sky," Coulson said.
"At the same time, there was an aurora phenomenon nearby. In addition, this hammer is very strange—no one can lift it, not even using a truck with ton-class towing power."
"Let me try it."
Finally seeing the target, Harry tightened his fists, staring eagerly at the hammer resting in the pit.
"Of course."
Coulson smiled and stepped back, gesturing for Harry to proceed.
He didn't think Harry would succeed where dozens had failed—but if Harry could lift it, their entire investigation would shift instantly.
Harry rolled up his sleeves, stepped forward, and wrapped his hand around Mjolnir's handle.
As expected, no system prompt appeared.
"Odin really is an old fox."
---
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