This was the plan that Lin Rui had been contemplating in his mind for a long time, but he had kept it to himself and had not implemented it. However, with the establishment of the Earth Federation, Lin Rui finally had the confidence to put this plan into action.
Of course, the initiation of this plan also depended on the fact that Lin Rui and his allies, along with Earth’s growing strength.
If Lin Rui’s power had remained at the level it was a few months ago, he would not have been able to kickstart this plan. After all, if he couldn’t control the Space Stone within the Magic Cube effectively, Earth might have suffered heavy losses when the Chitauri army arrived.
Utilizing the Magic Cube to its full potential required an increase in Lin Rui’s own power; it was a prerequisite.
Upon deciding to initiate this seemingly insane plan, Lin Rui didn’t first consult with Tony or Captain Rogers; instead, he sought out Loki and began discussing it with him.
After all, Loki was the only protagonist for this plan, with the other supporting role being Thor, the brawny Asgardian. If Loki was unwilling, there would be no way to set the plan in motion.
After explaining the entire plan to Loki, he asked Lin Rui about his trust in him, but Loki didn’t offer any suggestions for the plan. At least, from Lin Rui’s perspective, Loki’s attitude so far had been favorable.
Despite Loki often conflicting with Thor in Asgard, and even getting himself exiled and vying for the seemingly inconsequential Asgardian throne, everything Loki did was simply an attempt to gain attention and recognition from King Odin and his brother Thor.
Loki’s affection for Asgard wasn’t any less than Thor’s; he was willing to do whatever it took for Asgard.
Furthermore, with Loki’s intelligence and cunning, he naturally understood why Lin Rui had chosen him as the protagonist for the entire plan. As the second prince of Asgard, who had a strained relationship with the elder prince and possessed the bloodline of the Frost Giants, Loki had once attempted to dethrone Thor.
If he were to turn against Thor and engage in a full-fledged conflict when Thor was about to ascend the throne, ultimately leading to Loki’s exile in the cosmos, it would be a reasonable scenario.
During the conflict between Thor and Loki, due to Thor’s alliance with Earth, which resulted in Earth’s support, Loki’s rapid defeat was mainly because of Earth’s involvement. Thus, Loki’s resentment towards Earth was easily understandable.
So, apart from Loki, Lin Rui couldn’t think of anyone else from Earth and Asgard who could handle the role. After all, besides the God of Mischief, who else could maintain composure while acting in front of such a terrifying presence as Thanos?
“So, can you handle this role as the protagonist? Not just engaging in trivial mischief in Asgard and Midgard but rather, teasing the most powerful being on the universal stage!” Lin Rui asked seriously, his gaze fixed on Loki.
With a deep breath, Loki had already risen from the bench by the time Lin Rui finished speaking. Bathing in the warm afternoon sunlight, Loki slowly extended his arms, embracing the warmth of Earth.
“Yes! What’s mischief in Asgard and Midgard compared to this? To perform on the grand stage of the universe! This play, I shall perform!”
Whether it was the encouragement from Lin Rui’s final words or Loki’s resolution after his period of contemplation and hesitation, when his tall figure blocked the sunlight shining on Lin Rui, he suddenly proclaimed his determination like a declaration before a battle.
At this moment, the image of Loki standing before Lin Rui seemed to undergo a profound change. The once cunning and deceitful Loki, self-centered and selfish, now appeared to possess qualities quite similar to Thor’s—a willingness to sacrifice and fearlessness.
Watching Loki rise to his feet and shout in triumph, Lin Rui silently breathed a sigh of relief. If Loki had genuinely refused to cooperate with Lin Rui in this plan, there would have been nothing Lin Rui could do.
As Loki had said, apart from him, there truly was no one else on Earth and Asgard who could fulfill the role of the protagonist in this scheme.
Loki’s triumphant shout naturally attracted the attention of other park visitors, but they only glanced briefly in their direction. With the global situation undergoing significant changes, a handsome man shouting in the park didn’t manage to draw much attention.
After his triumphant shout, Loki sat back down after a few seconds, but there was a significant change in the aura he radiated. Certainly, this change was seen as positive from Lin Rui’s perspective.
“So, what about the other supporting roles? Do you think they can cooperate and perform well in this play?” Lin Rui asked, shifting his focus to the broader picture.
Once he had settled back into his seat, Loki turned his head to look at Lin Rui and asked a question. In Loki’s view, this plan was daring enough, and while he bore all the risks, the quality of the entire performance could be affected if the supporting roles didn’t cooperate well. After all, Thanos was not easily fooled.
“Well, you can rest assured about Earth; we’ll all cooperate smoothly. But what about Asgard? Do you think we should tell Thor the entire plan?” Upon hearing Loki’s question, Lin Rui nodded in confirmation about Earth’s cooperation, and then he asked back.
Lin Rui had doubts about Thor’s acting skills and whether he should fully inform him, so he wanted to gauge Loki’s opinion.
“Him? Forget it, let him remain in the dark. Perhaps, in his eyes, I’m just someone who can do anything for the throne.” In response to Lin Rui’s question, Loki frowned slightly as he answered.
Loki didn’t believe that Thor would be able to act convincingly in their scheme, so it was better to keep him in the dark. This way, when faced with Loki’s coup, Thor would most likely take action. When the climax of the play arrived, Loki could simply jump from the Bifrost.
Of course, while Thor could be kept in the dark, the same couldn’t be done with King Odin. Without Odin’s support, the play wouldn’t be able to proceed.
However, with Loki agreeing to take on the role of the protagonist, Lin Rui was quite certain that Odin wouldn’t pose a problem. Perhaps, after the Dormammu incident, he had truly fallen into a deep slumber.
“Very well, you can start preparing once you return. Since this is a grand play set on the stage of the entire universe, we can’t afford to overlook any details.” After confirming that Thor wouldn’t be informed of the plan, Lin Rui officially set the plan in motion.
“Don’t worry, these are the things I excel at.”
With that, Loki vanished right in front of Lin Rui, leaving him sitting alone on the park bench, quietly exhaling a breath of relief.
…
Support me on Patreon for extra chapters