Chapter Sixteen: The Eyes of an Eagle, the Ears of a Wolf, the Speed of a Leopard, the Strength of a Bear

“He possesses the eyes of an eagle, the ears of a wolf, the speed of a leopard, and the strength of a bear! He is extraordinary, a superhuman who fights tirelessly against evil to safeguard peace and tranquility—he is Chief Brestar…” Yang Xin’s voice was rich and resonant; if only accompanied by the theme from ‘Wildlife’, it would have been perfection.

As he spoke, Yang Xin handed the police badge to Eagle Eye. Eagle Eye accepted it curiously, fastened it to his chest, and silently savored the power emanating from the insignia.

The eagle’s eyes gave him vision that reached farther and became sharper than ever before;
The wolf’s ears made his hearing astonishingly clear—he could discern the heartbeat of those around him, even the distant whisper of sand and gravel;
Leopard’s speed was manifest not in running, but in the swift draw and release of arrows, hands so quick they left afterimages;
Bear’s strength was demonstrated as he snapped a specially forged alloy arrow shaft as if it were a twig.

“Can anyone wear this badge? Is it only by wearing it that one gains such extraordinary powers?” Eagle Eye’s question was sharp, and practical.

If anyone could wear Brestar’s badge and instantly acquire superhuman abilities, Eagle Eye’s position would be precarious.

“The moment you put on this badge, it bonds with your soul, becoming unique to you—no one else can use it,” Yang Xin explained, removing Chief Brestar’s badge from Eagle Eye and handing it to Coulson. Coulson tried it on, shook his head, and indicated that he felt no unusual power.

“As for your second question, I believe you have already experienced it firsthand. This badge is merely the seed of power; now that it is rooted in your body and soul, your task is to keep using your abilities and nurture that seed until it grows into a towering tree. For now, only by wearing the badge can you fully unleash its power. Once you surpass the force of a single eagle, wolf, leopard, and bear, you’ll no longer need the badge to use your abilities.”

“There’s a way to break through these limits?”

“Yes. The treasures I’ve given you are all unique, and each can grow. Eagle Eye’s limits are the power of nine eagles, nine wolves, nine leopards, and nine bears—nine being the ultimate number. I eagerly await the day you reach that pinnacle.” Yang Xin patted Eagle Eye’s shoulder.

“I will not fail you,” Eagle Eye replied, standing tall.

As Yang Xin touched Eagle Eye, the skill draw succeeded. The ability Yang Xin gained: Precision.

Whether firing arrows, guns, or throwing knives, any attack requiring aim was now vastly improved, accuracy nearly reaching absolute perfection.

A remarkably useful skill! After all, no matter how powerful your attack, it’s useless if you can’t hit your target.

With Eagle Eye equipped with the badge, Yang Xin proceeded toward the heart of the town, where Thor’s Hammer—Mjolnir—was located.

Yang Xin tried to lift Mjolnir, and as expected, it wouldn’t budge. He attempted to communicate with the Treasure Distribution System to see if it could forcibly lift the hammer; surprisingly, the system replied that it could.

Yang Xin considered it, but refrained from using force to lift Mjolnir. Such an act would not be trading fate with treasures, but stealing fate, and forcibly taking the hammer would disrupt the story, leading events into the unknown—a risk Yang Xin was unwilling to take.

So, the remaining task was simply to wait.

“What are you waiting for?” Natasha asked curiously. Ever since Yang Xin told her on the helicopter that she possessed rare and noble qualities, Natasha had adopted a slightly distant attitude, speaking with him in a reserved manner, no longer playfully clinging as before.

Yang Xin understood this distance as a mark of respect—a respect based on equality. The alluring woman had transformed into the girl-next-door.

“I’m waiting for a rainy night.”

“Why must it be a rainy night?” Natasha pressed, intrigued.

“Because on that night, the prince from Asgard—Thor, the God of Thunder—will arrive, stepping through the rain,” Yang Xin replied, his poetic inspiration on full display.

“And will the sky be filled with lightning?” Natasha laughed, her smile radiant.

“A sky full of lightning? Perhaps there will be some, but not an abundance. And it’s not only Thor—the God of Thunder—who will descend to earth. Another deity will also arrive,” Yang Xin continued dramatically.

“There’s another god besides Thor?”

“Yes, another god: Loki, Thor’s brother—the God of Mischief.”

“Why do they come to Earth so often?” Natasha furrowed her brow.

“What do you think Midgard—Earth, as the Asgardians call it—is to them?” Without waiting for Natasha’s reply, Yang Xin went on, “Earth is nothing more than their backyard.”

As he spoke, Yang Xin drew the World Tree and the star map of the Nine Realms on the ground, showing Earth at the very center. “That’s why Earth is called the ‘Middle Garden’—‘Midgard’ is simply a transliteration.”

“Do you know why Thor’s hammer fell to Earth?” Yang Xin suddenly asked with a mischievous tone.

“Why?!” Natasha’s eyes sparkled, ablaze with gossip.

It seemed that no matter what kind of woman she was, gossip was irresistible… Yang Xin sighed and called over Coulson, Hill, Melinda, and Eagle Eye, recounting the entire saga of the Asgardian prince’s downfall.

“You mean Thor has lost his divine power?” Natasha asked, her eyes darting as she pondered something.

“Yes.”

“You mean Loki is plotting to seize the throne? I always thought these gods were noble, but they’re no better than politicians,” Hill snorted in disdain.

“They’re worse than politicians—at least politicians have real skill. But the Asgardians of the Norse pantheon, their methods are so crude. Loki calls himself the God of Mischief, but with his performance, he’s barely at a schoolboy’s level—some cunning, but no true wisdom. To sit firmly on the throne, wit is not enough; Director Nick could outmaneuver Loki by miles.” Coulson shook his head, concerned for the intelligence of the Asgardians.

“Don’t even mention Loki. Odin, who supposedly traded an eye to the World Tree for wisdom, isn’t much better. Anyone with sense can see that Thor’s fall to Earth is a test for him, but not a single muscle-bound Asgardian can grasp it. It’s tragic, truly tragic… If Odin had even half the skill of our egg-headed director, Asgardians would have conquered countless realms by now. Instead, they’re just spinning in circles in the Nine Realms,” Yang Xin remarked bluntly.

Truthfully, the intelligence of the Asgardians is worrying. In China, even a middle school student who has read ‘Three Kingdoms’ would outshine these muscle-bound gods in strategy. Despite their advanced civilization, their intrigues and lifestyle remain medieval.

Yang Xin waited for that rainy night. The rain eventually came, but before darkness fell, two unexpected figures appeared in the town and stood before Yang Xin.