Become Kingpin and build a hero mercenary company.

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This model of quantifying, analyzing, and managing all variables made Heimdall, accustomed to the unbridled nature of Asgard, the natural growth of Vanaheim, and even the savage expansion of Jotunheim, feel an instinctive sense of alienation and wariness. It didn't seem like an organization driven by life and emotion; it was more like a super machine coldly operating with the instruction of "order" as its goal.

He reported these observations, along with his indescribable unease, to Odin, the king of the gods, once again.

Odin's single eye gazed into the void, as if piercing through the endless starry sky and directly seeing the skyscraper on Earth. Gungnir, the spear of eternity, shone faintly in his hand.

“An order based on 'computation' and 'rules'…” Odin’s deep voice echoed in the magnificent palace, “Abandoning the will of the gods, the glory of heroes, and even the fluctuations of individual emotions, purely pursuing efficiency and controllability… Heimdall, have you ever seen a similar rudimentary civilization in the long history of the Nine Realms?”

Heimdall paused for a moment, then answered truthfully: "No, Fathers. Whether it is the elegance of the Light Elves, the perseverance of the Dwarven Craftsmen, or the deathly rule of Hela in the Underworld, the source of their power has never strayed from the realm of 'life' and 'will'. And the core of this 'Association' in Midgard is more like a... inanimate 'logic'. That Fisk is less a ruler than the highest-ranking executor of this 'logic'."

“The logic of non-living things…” Odin repeated the phrase, a complex light flashing in his single eye. “Perhaps this is the path that the mortals of Midgard have forged on their own after losing the direct guidance of the gods? A path… attempting to define the rules of the world's operation with mortal wisdom that rivals or even surpasses divine authority?”

He recalled his youthful days conquering the Nine Realms, a clash of power and will, a hymn of glory and sacrifice. The future vision presented by this "Association" before him was cold and efficient, yet it seemed... to have eliminated all uncontrollable weaknesses of "humanity" (or rather, "divinity").

“Continue to observe, Heimdall,” Odin finally ordered, his tone grave. “Do not interfere, but be sure to record every key milestone in the development of this ‘sample of order.’ I have a feeling that it may represent more than just the future of Midgard; perhaps… it will also have unpredictable effects on the inherent balance of the Nine Realms.”

“And Loki…” Heimdall asked. He could see Loki’s somewhat frustrated yet tireless “research” state within the Association.

Odin's face revealed an almost imperceptible expression, a mixture of helplessness and a certain expectation: "Let him stay there. In that place where everything is measured by 'rules,' perhaps his overly active mind can receive some... unique tempering. Let's see what he can learn from this mortal order, or what kind of 'variables' he can bring to it."

Meanwhile, in Jotunheim, Laufey, the Frost Giant King, learned through some clandestine channels that an organization had emerged in Midgard, gathering a large number of powerful individuals whose leader wielded strange powers. He scoffed at this.

“The ants of Midgard, no matter how many gather, are still ants.” Laufey sat on his frozen throne, his voice like an ancient, chilling wind. “That petty ‘order’ is utterly vulnerable before absolute power.” He was more concerned with news of the long-lost Casket of Ice and how to exact revenge on Asgard. The Hero Association? Merely an insignificant backdrop in his grand revenge plot.

In other realms, such as Vanaheim and Alfheim, while some sensed the changes in Midgard, most adopted a wait-and-see attitude. After all, Midgard had been protected (or rather, ignored) for most of its long history in the Nine Realms, and its internal changes were not yet enough to truly attract the attention of these ancient races.

Only Asgard, with Heimdall's all-seeing eye and Odin's foresight, truly realized the potentially subversive potential of this organization called the "Heroes' Association" and the cold "order" it represented.

Kingpin was fully aware of the gaze emanating from the divine realm. Records of "higher-dimensional observations" continued to appear in the system logs. He didn't care; in fact, he was pleased.

“Being observed means being valued,” he told Wesley. “Asgard’s attitude can serve as a touchstone for our concept of order. Let them see, let them evaluate. One day, they will understand that some rules have nothing to do with divine power or bloodline, but only with efficiency and results.”

He ordered the development of the "Armor of Order" to be accelerated, while also instructing the "Center for Research on Eccentric Phenomena" to strengthen its research on the origins of energy and the levels of rules. He knew that for the Association's order to gain a foothold on a broader stage in the future, it needed to possess the corresponding power and knowledge system.

Loki, the god of mischief at the heart of the "sample," continues to adapt and learn. He temporarily reins in his mischievous impulses and begins to study the association's structure, processes, and even its dry technical manuals like a true scholar. He discovers that the deeper he delves, the more he senses the terrifying, powerful logic behind this system, a logic that excludes all chance and emotion.

He began to ponder: if it was impossible to break these rules from the outside, was it possible... to use the rules themselves from the inside to accomplish something interesting? For example, could he exploit vulnerabilities in the mission system to legally cause trouble for Thor? Or, could he leverage information asymmetry to act as an "indispensable" intermediary between the Association and Asgard?

His eyes gleamed with calculation once more, but this time, there was less playfulness and more seriousness. He realized that within this "prison of order" built by mortals, he might find a completely new way of power and existence, different from that of Asgard.

The gazes of the Nine Realms, whether overt or covert, are focused on this. The Hero Association, this model of "order" born in the mortal realm, is unknowingly becoming a key piece in stirring up a grander scheme. And the line between player and piece is sometimes not so clear.

Chapter 116: Thor Arrives! An Assessment Report on the "Humanoid Catastrophe"

Asgard's attention and Loki's "social research" continued, but the Hero Association headquarters received an uninvited guest with an even more...bold style. Without warning or prior notice, on a clear afternoon, accompanied by the faint rumble of thunder in the distance and a rainbow-like pillar of light tearing through the clouds (its size was deliberately kept small), a blond, muscular man crashed into the plaza in front of the headquarters building as if hurled by a catapult, creating a shockwave and spiderweb-like cracks.

He was dressed in simple Asgardian civilian clothes, his red cloak fluttering behind him, and he gripped a short-handled warhammer that looked unassuming yet possessed terrifying power. He tossed his long golden hair, surveyed the technologically advanced buildings around him, and his booming voice carried a hint of curiosity and undeniable authority:

"This is the Hero Association of Midgard? I am Thor Odinson, the Thunder God of Asgard! I've heard that heroes gather here to uphold order, so I've come to pay my respects!"

The security personnel at the entrance were on high alert, and the alarm sounded silently. Soon, Kingpin, Wesley, and Peter Parker, Max Dillon, and others who had run out to see what was going on, all appeared in the square. Even Loki, whose movements were restricted, saw this scene through his room's window, his face showing an extremely complex expression—a mixture of helplessness at "that big oaf really did come" and a hint of anticipation for a good show.

“Thor Odinson,” Kingpin’s gaze swept calmly over Thor and the Mjolnir hammer in his hand that had triggered a high alert from the system, “trespassing on the Association’s territory without permission. Asgardian etiquette, it seems, is as lacking as your brother’s.”

Upon hearing this, Thor was not angry at all. Instead, he laughed loudly, his voice booming: "Hahaha! Good! Direct! More to my liking than those roundabout guys in Asgard! You are Kingpin? Is my brother Loki with you? He hasn't caused you too much trouble, has he?" As he spoke, he naturally exuded a kingly aura, completely different from Loki's sinister and cunning nature.

[Target Analysis: Life Form - High-Density Divine Energy Aggregate. Energy Level: Extremely High (Continuously Fluctuating, Peak Value Unpredictable). Associated Artifact: Mjolnir (Rule-Level Energy Constraint and Release Mechanism Detected). Threat Level: Extremely High (Strategic).] The system's cold notification sounded in Kingpin's mind.

“Loki is a guest at the Association, engaging in ‘cultural exchange’,” Kingpin replied without changing his expression. “As for you, Thor, if you wish to visit the Association in your personal capacity, you are welcome. But if you wish to do anything as ‘Thor,’ you will need to abide by the rules here.”

"Rules?" Thor raised an eyebrow, weighing the hammer in his hand. "I, Thor, always act with integrity! I've come here for three reasons: first, to see if Loki is behaving himself; second, out of curiosity about what kind of organization could keep my cunning brother in line (at least that's what Heimdall says); and third..." A glint of belligerence flashed in his eyes, "I've heard that this place is full of powerful individuals, and I'm itching to find someone worthy to spar with!"

As soon as he finished speaking, seemingly to prove his strength, or perhaps just out of habit, he casually tossed Thor's hammer upwards.

With that seemingly effortless toss, the lights in the entire association headquarters plaza suddenly dimmed, all electronic device screens instantly flickered with static, and a strong smell of ozone filled the air, as if invisible lightning was gathering! A powerful electromagnetic pulse and energy disturbance spread out from the hammer!

"Whoa!" Peter screamed, feeling his spider-sense being pricked by a needle.

The electrical current around Max instantly became chaotic and almost went out of control.

Even Otto, who was observing from a building in the distance, had his mechanical tentacles' sensors generate a series of error codes.

Kingpin frowned slightly, and an invisible "force field of order" instantly expanded from him, enveloping Thor and the surrounding area. Within the force field, the violent energy disturbances and electromagnetic pulses were greatly weakened and smoothed out, as if hitting an invisible wall, and the flickering lights and equipment gradually returned to normal.

Thor caught the falling hammer and looked at Kingpin in surprise: "Oh? Interesting! You can actually calm the natural power fluctuations emanating from Mjolnir?" His gaze toward Kingpin became more serious.

"Thor!" Loki's voice came from above. He stood at the window with a "I don't know this idiot" expression on his face. "Put away your hammer! This isn't a training ground for you to run wild!"

Thor looked up, saw Loki, and grinned: "Ha! Little brother, you really are here! You look great!" He completely ignored the disdain in Loki's words.

Kingpin watched this scene and made his decision. Allowing Thor, a "humanoid walking scourge," to roam freely in headquarters was clearly unwise, but directly expelling him might also trigger unnecessary conflict.

“Saul Odinson,” Kingpin began, his voice steady, “since you want to ‘spar’ and learn about the Association, I can give you a chance. Undergo the Association’s ‘ability assessment’ so we can have an objective understanding of your strength. After that, we’ll discuss whether you stay or leave.”

"Ability assessment?" Thor's interest was piqued. "Like what you do for those mortal heroes? Fine! Bring on the test! Let me see your Midgardian standards!"

The assessment was conducted in a high-security underground testing ground. For security reasons, Kingpin was personally in charge, Banner and Otto monitored remotely, Flint Sandman and Max Electro were on standby (mainly to protect equipment and personnel if necessary), and Peter and Loki (who were specially permitted to observe) watched from a secure room.

Test 1: Basic energy output.

Thor stood in the center of the field and, as instructed, released a "weak" bolt of lightning toward a specially designed energy-absorbing target in the distance.

Thor nodded, raised his hammer, and seemingly casually drew down a tiny arc of electricity.

"boom!!!"

The target was instantly engulfed by blinding lightning. Even after being weakened by multiple layers, the roar and intense light of the explosion still shook the entire test field. Data showed that the peak energy of this "weak" lightning bolt exceeded the full-force attack of most A-level heroes recorded by the association.

Otto cursed from the monitoring room, "Damn it! The control is practically zero!"

Banner quickly recorded the data: "Extremely high energy purity, possessing strong 'divine' characteristics and rule-based attributes..."

The second test: physical strength and defense.

Thor needs to strike a specially designed force field generator that can absorb and measure the impact force.

This time Thor was a little more serious. He didn't use the hammer; he simply punched the force field generator.

"Bang——!!!"

With a muffled thud, the readings on the force field generator instantly spiked, the entire device emitted a groan of strain, and its internal structure was clearly damaged. Thor himself, however, remained completely still, his breathing unchanged.

Flint looked at the off-the-charts numbers and silently estimated that even his crystallized sand shield probably wouldn't withstand more than a few punches.

The third test item: special abilities and environmental adaptability.

The test site simulated extreme environments—ultra-high temperatures, ultra-low temperatures, strong acid corrosion, vacuum…

Thor stood there, a faint layer of lightning naturally flowing around him, isolating him from all the harsh environmental influences. He even yawned: "Is it over? This is a bit boring."

The last item was added temporarily by Kingpin: resistance to the "Order Field".

Kingpin once again deployed his force field, enveloping Thor. This time, the suppressive power of the force field was several times stronger than before.

Thor finally felt some pressure; his movements became noticeably slower, and the lightning around him dimmed considerably. However, he was not completely suppressed. Instead, his competitive spirit was aroused. With a low roar, his divine power surged, and lightning crackled around Mjolnir, subtly creating a conflict with the field of order, causing subtle, unstable ripples at the edge of the field.

[Warning: The order field has been impacted by high-intensity regular energy, and its stability has decreased by 3%.] System notification.

The test is over. Thor dusted off imaginary dust, beaming with pride: "How was it? Does my strength meet your standards?"

In the monitoring room, Otto, Banner, and the others looked at the compiled data report and fell silent.

Energy output: SS level (peak value cannot be accurately measured, possessing destructive potential).

Physical Strength/Defense: S-rank (upper limit unknown)

Environmental adaptability: Level S (nearly immune to most known natural environmental influences)

Rule Resistance: A+ (Able to effectively resist rule-level suppressive forces)

Control accuracy: Class C (extremely coarse, with serious energy waste)

Overall potential assessment: SS level (extremely dangerous, highly unstable)

Banner adjusted his glasses and concluded, "Based on the data, Mr. Saul Odinson is a... walking strategic disaster source. His power is undeniable, but his control is far from meeting our standardized requirements."

Kingpin looked at the report, then glanced at Thor in the center of the arena, who had a "I'm awesome, aren't I?" look on his face, and he already had a plan in mind.

“Thor,” Kingpin said, stepping out of the control room and into the testing range, “the Association recognizes your strength. But your control does not conform to the Association’s operating standards.”

Thor frowned: "Rules? Power is power, why so many constraints!"

“It’s necessary here,” Kingpin said firmly. “If you want to stay, experience the ‘order’ of mortals, and even participate in some ‘interesting’ missions as a member of the association in the future, then you need to learn how to control your power, at least to the point where it doesn’t affect the normal operation of the association or the safety of the surrounding environment.”

Thor looked at Kingpin, then at the sophisticated (and expensive) instruments and equipment around him, and recalled how he had almost destroyed the testing range earlier. A rare hint of embarrassment crossed his face. He did crave battle and adventure, but he was also curious about this "interesting" place his brother had mentioned.

“Learning to control?” Thor stroked his chin. “Sounds… like a challenge. Alright! I, Thor Odinson, will stay and see what mysteries lie in your mortal order! And,” he grinned, glancing towards the safe room, “keep an eye on my troublesome brother too!”

Loki, inside the safe room, rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Idiot."

Thus, Thor, with his straightforward and brutal approach and a shocking assessment report, temporarily took up residence at the Hero Association in a capacity akin to a "specially appointed disaster-level consultant (to be assessed)." Everyone understood that the headquarters' future days would likely involve not only guarding against Loki's schemes, but also constantly being wary of Thor accidentally blowing the roof off.

Kingpin watched Thor being led away by Wesley to arrange accommodations, then issued a new instruction to the system: "Establish a special research project on 'Control of Asgardian Divine Biological Power,' with a higher priority. In addition, immediately initiate the lightning protection and structural reinforcement project for the headquarters building."

Chapter 117: The Clash of Divine Power and Technology in Everyday Life

Saul became very interested in the vending machines in the restaurant that required swiping a card (points) to purchase food. He copied the others and stuck the temporary ID card Wesley had given him onto the sensor area.

"Beep—Insufficient permissions, points balance: 0."

Thor frowned, thinking the machine was broken. He picked up Thor's hammer and gently tapped the vending machine's metal casing with the hammerhead to see if there was a problem with the connection.

"Sizzle—Bang!"

A dazzling spark erupted from the point of contact between the hammer and the machine. The screen of the unfortunate vending machine instantly went black, and a crackling sound of a short circuit came from inside, along with a faint smell of burning. The machine was completely paralyzed, and the various food and drinks inside, heated by the sudden release of the weak current, emitted a strange odor mixed with burnt plastic and spoiled food.

Thor: "...?" He held his hammer, looking innocently at the smoking machine. "A Midgard creation, so fragile?"

The heroes and students dining nearby stared in disbelief. Peter Parker nearly spat out the milk he had just drunk, and Max Dillon's electrical currents surged erratically due to resonance. The logistics staff responsible for maintaining order in the restaurant turned pale and frantically cut off the power, beginning to assess the damage.

The news quickly reached Kingpin. Looking at the bewildered Thor and the smoking vending machine on the monitor, he expressionlessly told Wesley, "Add the losses to the Asgardian diplomatic budget. Also, assign Thor Odinson a 'life assistant' to explain and assist him in using the headquarters' infrastructure until he can...operate it independently and safely."

Thus, an unlucky but mentally resilient logistics staff member was assigned as Thor's temporary guide, and the first item on his to-do list was: "Ensure that Lord Thor maintains a safe distance from all electronic devices and precision instruments when not in combat."

The next day, Thor became interested in the headquarters' internal transportation system. He refused to take the "slow" elevators and tried to imitate Spider-Man, swinging Thor's hammer and using centrifugal force to "swing and fly" through the headquarters' intricate corridors and atriums.

The result can be imagined.

On his first attempt, he miscalculated the force and angle. The hammer, carrying him like a cannonball, crashed through the three-layer reinforced glass curtain wall, leaving a large human-shaped hole in the headquarters' exterior wall. Covered in glass shards and caught in the biting high-altitude wind, he swung back in a sorry state.

The second time, he successfully swung around the inner hall, but the violent airflow generated by swinging the hammer was like detonating multiple air bombs in the enclosed space. Signs hanging in the corridor were blown away, several hovering pallets transporting supplies were overturned, documents and papers flew everywhere like snowflakes, and several lighter mutant students were almost blown away.

"Whoa! Grab me!" A girl who could float screamed as she was swept up by the air current, but luckily Colossus Piotr, who was passing by, grabbed her ankle and pulled her down.

Otto stared at the chaotic corridor on the monitor in the lab, his mechanical tentacles trembling with rage: "That barbarian! Does he think this is Asgard's training ground?! All my sensor readings have been disrupted by his airflow!"

Ultimately, Thor's indoor swinging plan was forcibly halted after Flint Sandman constructed a temporary "air buffer wall" with crystallized sand and Kingpin personally intervened, using an order field to forcibly "smooth out" the turbulent airflow. He was "suggested" to use "safe" modes of transportation, such as... walking, when moving within headquarters.

Thor was quite dissatisfied with this, muttering, "Flying is the right of the gods..." but under Kingpin's calm yet unquestionable gaze, he temporarily compromised.

Besides causing destruction, Saul also became interested in the association's "work." He observed a routine mission targeting street bank robbers. Saul yawned as he watched the heroes in charge of the operation carefully use non-lethal weapons, precisely control the combat area, and even divert manpower to evacuate crowds and protect property.

"Too much trouble!" Thor complained to Peter, who was watching alongside him. "If I were to take action, one hammer blow would be as powerful as thunder, and all the thugs would be instantly reduced to ashes. How satisfying that would be!"

Peter's lips twitched: "Brother, if that's the case, the bank and the vault will probably be destroyed as well, and the citizens and police inside will also suffer... We're maintaining order, not carrying out demolitions."

Thor dismissed it: "A few losses are nothing! Efficiency is the key!"

Loki, who happened to be passing by, overheard these words and let out an undisguised sneer: "Ah, my dear brother, with your brain the size of a walnut, you really can't understand what 'detailed operation' and 'strategic thinking' are. No wonder Father always says you're only fit to be a vanguard general, not a ruler."

Thor glared at him: "Loki! Do you want to taste Mjolnir?!"

“Rude.” Loki rolled his eyes gracefully, turned and floated away, leaving Thor sulking on the spot.

However, Thor is not without merit. When his raging power is channeled in the right direction, its destructive force is astonishing. In a simulated combat training exercise, the Association needed to test the ultimate defensive capabilities of a new type of energy shield. Flint Sandman constructed the strongest crystallized sand shield, and Max Electro provided continuous energy reinforcement, but the shield still teetered on the brink of collapse under the simulated "Dragon-level energy shock."

Thor, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn't stand it any longer and strode forward: "Make way! Let the professionals handle this!"

He raised Thor's hammer, summoning real lightning (limited to a very small area), and a thick bolt of lightning, condensed to the extreme, struck the shield fiercely!

"boom--!!!"

The shield trembled violently, its light surging to its peak, yet it stubbornly withstood the attack! Data shows that the instantaneous energy intensity of this strike far exceeded that of the previous simulated attacks!

Although the shield generator emitted smoke due to overload after the test and required major repairs, valuable extreme data was indeed collected. Otto, grumbling as he recorded the damage, had to admit, "This barbarian's power... is indeed formidable."

Banner, holding the data report, approached Kingpin: "Chairman, while Thor's power is difficult to control, its purity and intensity are unparalleled. If we can find a way to 'refin' guide his power, or use it as a 'strategic deterrent' and 'weapon of attack' in specific situations, it would be of immense value."

Kingpin looked at the report, then glanced at Thor, who was smug about helping out on the training field, and a plan formed in his mind.

"Notify the R&D department to launch the 'High-Level Individual Power Guidance and Collaborative Application' research project. The focus should be on how to safely and controllably integrate Thor's divine power into the Association's tactical system." He paused, then added, "Also, find him some 'proper tasks.' For example, regularly send him to remote areas to assist in artificial rainmaking, or to abandoned mines to safely detonate those sluggish explosives using lightning. Let him use his excess energy on beneficial purposes."

Thus, Thor's daily life at the Hero Association gradually became more "fulfilling." He would still occasionally break things because he couldn't control his strength, and he still found the rules of mortals too numerous and cumbersome, but he also began to slowly appreciate the refined results achieved under this "order," results that could not be accomplished by brute force alone. He even began to feel a sense of accomplishment in occasionally using lightning to help farmers bring rain to parched land, or in precisely splitting open a dangerous abandoned facility?

Loki observed Thor's transformation with a cold eye, his heart filled with mixed emotions. His brother, the reckless brute who only knew how to fight and drink, seemed to be subtly influenced within this mortal organization. This made him feel uneasy, and perhaps even a little... jealous?