Ch. 292 The Sudden Appearance of Thor

Although Russell didn't know why Thanos deliberately provoked a war between Asgard and Vanaheimr, his instincts told him that Thanos wasn't doing this on a whim.

While Thanos might be mad, he wasn't the type to act without reason. Or rather, anyone who had made a name for themselves in the universe couldn't be a fool.

Shortly after reading Ebony Maw's memories, Russell completed the replication of Ebony Maw's telekinesis ability.

"Free Reward: Telekinesis; Status: Activated; Activation Effect: Gain the ability to freely manipulate inanimate objects!"

As soon as Russell had successfully copied Ebony Maw's superpower using the King's Serum, the system displayed information visible only to him.

Activating a free reward after replicating Ebony Maw's superpower wasn't surprising to Russell. Free rewards were a new feature the system had introduced because of the symbiote's ability to copy other superpowers.

Apart from naming the copied abilities as free rewards, the system didn't require anything else from him.

After glancing briefly at the system information that had automatically appeared, Russell decisively closed the system interface.

He then gestured with his right hand, causing Ebony Maw, who stood some distance away, to come closer.

At this moment, Ebony Maw wasn't aware that Russell had already copied his superpower, let alone that Russell had just extracted his memories.

Approaching Russell uncontrollably, Ebony Maw remained silent, observing Russell.

Though he hadn't recognized Russell yet, as the "strategist" among the Black Order, he had a clear idea of what was about to happen.

Seeing the expression on Ebony Maw's face that seemed to say, "I already know what you're going to do," Russell didn't disappoint him. He took control of the white tendrils residing within Ebony Maw's body and decisively disrupted his brain and heart.

After killing Ebony Maw, Russell released the white tendrils.

Subsequently, he cast a flame spell toward Ebony Maw's body.

For safety reasons, he felt it was better not to leave Ebony Maw's corpse intact.

The orange-red magical flames burned fiercely on Ebony Maw's body.

Before long, Ebony Maw's body turned into black ashes.

After dealing with Ebony Maw's remains, Russell redirected his attention to Windrest Fortress lord and the others who were still dodging lightning.

Seeing them in a sorry state as they avoided the silver-white lightning raining down from the sky, Russell put away the Sword of Athena, which he held in his left hand.

Then, in the presence of Windrest Fortress lord and the others, he cast a teleportation spell, paying no heed to their gaze.

Within a second or two, a glittering golden teleportation gate took shape.

Once the teleportation gate was formed, Russell provided the final burst of divine power to the thunderclouds above the Windrest Fortress lord's manor.

He then converted all the divine power within the thunderclouds into lightning, simultaneously unleashing hundreds of large and small silver-white lightning bolts.

The densely packed lightning simultaneously descended upon the relatively small garden, wreaking havoc on everything within it like a doomsday catastrophe.

After completing his final attack, Russell didn't look back and stepped into the teleportation gate, vanishing from the view of Windrest Fortress lord and the others.

Russell didn't immediately leave Windrest Fortress territory but used the teleportation gate to return to his lodgings.

Back at his lodgings, he first dispelled the magical disguises on himself and then cast several anti-divination and anti-prophecy spells.

After confirming that Windrest Fortress lord couldn't trace his whereabouts through magical divination or precognition, he calmly left the unremarkable little inn.

Although this inn was quite comfortable for ordinary Vanir, Russell, who was accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle, had no intention of spending the night here.

Rather than sleeping alone in this place, he preferred returning to "Liliane's Whisper" and sharing a bed with a few intimate companions.

Although he had only tasted the tenderness of Vanir once, it had to be said that the flavor of Vanir was really good.

After leaving the inn, he didn't hesitate at all and headed towards "Liliane's Whisper" at a leisurely pace.

Returning to "Liliane's Whisper," he, just like yesterday, selected three companions with different styles but attractive figures and appearances.

Then, with these three companions in his arms, he made his way to the second-floor rooms.

For Windrest Fortress lord and the others, tonight would be a sleepless night.

But for Russell, tonight would be a decadent night.

Although the attack on Windrest Fortress lord's mansion tonight had caused quite a stir in the city, no one would have thought that Russell, the instigator, didn't leave Windrest Fortress immediately. Instead, he decided to stay at the most famous tavern in the city, "Liliane's Whisper."

The most dangerous place is also the safest place!

Russell didn't leave Windrest Fortress immediately for another important reason: he wasn't worried at all that the Windrest Fortress lord and the others would pose a threat to him.

Even if Windrest Fortress lord managed to dispel the anti-divination and anti-prophecy magic on him, he still wouldn't need to worry about his safety.

However, by that time, he might not be able to continue staying in Windrest Fortress to experience the local culture of Vanaheimr.

...

The next day at noon.

After spending a decadent and comfortable night at "Liliane's Whisper," Russell had lunch at the tavern.

Then, he left the tavern in a leisurely manner and began his third day of sightseeing.

As soon as he stepped out of "Liliane's Whisper," he noticed that the atmosphere on the streets was completely different from yesterday.

Fully armed city guards were conducting high-frequency patrols, and pedestrians were occasionally stopped and questioned by the city guards.

Seeing this scene, Russell furrowed his brows slightly.

Although he wasn't concerned that these city guards would pose a threat to him, their frequent patrols were affecting his enthusiasm for sightseeing.

It seemed that because he dressed and looked like a noble's son, he was unlikely to be considered the assassin who infiltrated the lord's mansion last night. Alternatively, it could be because he looked completely different from the assassin last night.

When he was consuming and experiencing the local culture of Windrest Fortress, he hadn't been questioned by any city guards.

Time passed little by little.

Just when Russell thought that today would be an ordinary day, he suddenly saw a figure that shouldn't be in Windrest Fortress.

How did he come here?

The figure that appeared in Russell's line of sight was none other than Thor.

At this moment, Thor was wearing a gray cloak and had tied up his flowing golden hair. He was silently following an ordinary-looking Vanir.

Upon seeing Thor's figure, Russell thought for a few seconds.

Then, without looking back, he followed them.

Although he didn't know why Thor had come to Windrest Fortress at this time, it was clear that Thor wasn't here to find him.

While Thor and Vanir were quite cautious, they occasionally stopped and looked back to check if anyone with ill intentions was following them.

Very cautious!

However, all these anti-tailing techniques were useless in front of Russell, a former ace assassin.

Russell didn't appear in their field of vision, didn't use magic, but instead activated the enhanced vision's abilities to observe them from a distance.

Although Thor didn't use magic, he was still an awakened deity with divine power. If Russell had tried to track him magically, he might have noticed something.

Using his Kryptonian physiology-granted enhanced vision to follow them was completely safe.

After following Thor for a while within the city, Russell "watched" as they entered a mansion that didn't look particularly luxurious.

Russell didn't immediately follow them inside but entered a nearby tavern, where he silently observed the situation inside the mansion using his enhanced vision.

He initially thought that Thor had come to Windrest Fortress to meet with the spies inside the lord's mansion. However, he had underestimated Thor.

After waiting in the tavern for a few minutes, a carriage arrived at the mansion's entrance.

Subsequently, a familiar figure got off the carriage.

Huh...

When he saw this figure, he was momentarily stunned.

The person who got off the carriage was none other than the noble lady who appeared to be Windrest Fortress's lord's daughter.

Seeing this noble lady who had a preference for female companions, Russell couldn't help but recall the scenes from the previous two encounters with her.

Based on the situations two days ago and last night, this noble lady seemed to be the one representing Windrest Fortress's lord and Gamora's group in their contacts.

And now, the noble lady who appeared to be Windrest Fortress's lord's daughter had come to the mansion that Thor had just entered.

What was going on?

Risk mitigation?

Or perhaps playing both sides to take advantage of the situation?

With limited intelligence on hand, Russell couldn't make an accurate judgment yet.

After pondering for a while, he decided to go and see for himself.

Although Thor hadn't informed him in advance, he believed that Thor wouldn't mind him coming over at this point.

After all, they were on the same boat now.

Without further ado, after leaving a few gold coins on the table, Russell left the tavern without looking back.

It didn't take much effort for him to infiltrate the mansion where Thor and the noble lady were.

Before entering the study where Thor and the noble lady were, he heard their voices.

"I didn't arrange last night's assassination. I merely had him deliver a message to your father."

As soon as Thor finished speaking, the noble lady's voice chimed in.

"A message to my father? He almost killed my father!"

"I don't care who he is. If you want to continue our cooperation, you must hand him over to me!"

The noble lady's tone was filled with murderous intent.

Although Russell couldn't see her current expression, he could roughly imagine what she looked like.

"No way!"

"Regardless of whether he's my subordinate or not, I won't betray my own people!"

Thor refused without hesitation.

After hearing Thor's response, the noble lady fell silent.

Russell had originally intended to go directly to the study and find out what they were up to.

But now, he stopped in his tracks and cast an invisibility spell on himself, staying outside the window.

Eavesdropping on someone's conversation might not be a good thing, but it depended on the timing.

In the current situation, Russell didn't mind being a listener, especially when the conversation inside was directly related to him.

"Do you really refuse to hand him over?"

The noble lady spoke again.

"You certainly aren't irreplaceable to us, but without me, your father's position as lord wouldn't be so secure."

"Don't forget, it was you who actively sought cooperation with us in the first place."

Thor's tone also became more serious.

After another silence in the study, Russell dispelled the invisibility spell on himself and walked directly to the door.

Then, he gently knocked on the door and entered.

"If you want to know my name, you can just ask me."

After entering the study, Russell said calmly.

"It's you?"

Although the current Russell looked completely different from the assassin last night, and his aura was completely different, the noble lady standing next to Thor immediately recognized him.

It was impossible not to recognize him, especially when he had made it so obvious.

"When did you arrive?"

Seeing Russell enter, Thor frowned slightly and asked quietly.

"Not too long ago."

Russell answered Thor's question first and then approached the noble lady. He continued, "My name is Russell Bradley. May I know how to address the lady?"

As the daughter of Windrest Fortress's lord, the noble lady didn't answer his question but looked at him with a hostile expression.

After scrutinizing Russell for a few seconds, she made an unwise move.

Her slender and delicate right hand brushed past her golden belt.

Then, she drew a delicate and sharp dagger from her belt and swiftly thrust it at Russell's throat.

In terms of combat skills, her skills weren't bad. At the very least, she was much stronger than the mansion guards.

But for Russell, her skills didn't even meet the passing grade.

Russell didn't move when the dagger was about to strike his throat.

Thud!

A muffled thud echoed in the study.

The noble lady, dressed in a gorgeous gown, immediately showed a pained expression as she was sent flying, crashing heavily into the wall of the study.

This girl was a bit foolish!

After sending the noble lady, who had tried to take his life, flying, Russell mentally labeled her as not very intelligent.

He only moved when she was about to fall to the ground in a sorry state.

"Your strike was too heavy."

Thor, who had come to help the noble lady after she was sent flying, had a somewhat helpless expression as he said to Russell.

"I was already holding back."

Russell replied nonchalantly.