Having this kind of automatic maintenance robot would make things much more convenient for Ethan once it was built.
First of all, the Prinz Eugen would no longer need frequent trips to the shipyard for maintenance and repairs. These nanobots could ensure the hull's integrity on a microscopic level. Even if the bottom of the ship was infested with various organisms, they could be cleaned away through nanoscopic maintenance.
Combined with the reactor power source used on the Prinz Eugen, and Ethan's ability to travel between multiple dimensions to replenish needed supplies, he could potentially keep the Prinz Eugen sailing the seas indefinitely, without needing to return to Unsinkable Island.
Ever since he learned the "complete picture" of that world, he had countless doubts about the organization known as the Guild and had already mentally labeled it as untrustworthy. Staying away from the island where the Guild's influence was entrenched would help prevent them from discovering his secrets.
After hearing Ethan's explanation, Tony also understood how significant these maintenance robots were to Ethan. He patted his chest and promised he could complete the design quickly, begin manufacturing once they returned to Earth, and ensure that the first batch of maintenance robots would report to the Prinz Eugen as soon as she relaunched.
"I believe you can do it."
The biggest challenge for building these maintenance robots was mature nanotechnology, and now that they had acquired it, the rest was relatively easy. Tony already had several designs in mind. If he had the right tools, he could test and verify the best option on the spot.
"Thor, what are your plans next?"
Thor traveling with Ethan and the others wasn't just to act as a tour guide and part-time ATM. He had his own matters to attend to, but he had postponed them to help Ethan and the others finish their business first.
According to his plan, once he obtained his target item, he still needed to return to Earth, so he could continue traveling with Ethan and the others for the time being.
He didn't hide this and simply told Ethan directly.
"I need to go to Nidavellir. Mjolnir has been destroyed, and I need a new weapon. There, I can forge one that suits me best."
The dwarf kingdom of Nidavellir was a very special place. Some people even thought it was just a mythical realm.
This kingdom was under the protection of Asgard, and many of Asgard's top-tier weapons and equipment came from there. The dwarves were renowned for their exceptional forging skills.
Ethan wasn't surprised that Thor needed to go to Nidavellir. What surprised him was Thor saying he would go to Earth afterward.
"Earth?"
"Yes. There's a matter I must personally deal with."
"On Earth?"
Tony couldn't figure out what kind of issue would require Thor to personally go to Earth. Considering Asgardian civilization had left many traces on Earth long ago, it wasn't completely out of the question.
What was strange was that Thor had stayed on Earth for so long earlier, yet hadn't mentioned this problem before?
When Ethan connected Thor's plan to first go to Nidavellir and then return to Earth, he instantly understood what this so-called "problem" was.
"No wonder you need to go to Nidavellir to forge a new weapon first."
Ethan covered his face, feeling that Hela, the one who had already been completely derailed in this version of the Marvel Universe, was about to have a rough time.
Based on what he knew about Odin's condition, the Allfather likely didn't have much time left. He clearly intended to make final arrangements before his passing.
For example, asking Ethan to help Thor awaken his true power as the God of Thunder.
Sending Thor to Nidavellir to forge a new weapon, which would likely end up being Stormbreaker, and then bringing that weapon back to Earth to deal with Hela.
Hela, who had been banished and sealed in another dimension by Odin's magic, would be freed after his death and return to this universe.
Her reappearance on Earth could happen under two possibilities.
First, she might return at the location where Odin died or where his divine power dissipated.
Second, regardless of where Odin died or undid the seal, she might be forced to return to a fixed location in this universe.
In the original films, both explanations seemed plausible. But in Ethan's current world, the situation appeared to be the second scenario.
Of course, there was also another possibility. In the original plot, Hela said that the longer she stayed in Asgard, the stronger she became. Perhaps Odin deliberately had Thor confront Hela on Earth in order to weaken her power.
However… facing Hela, freshly awakened and not even near Asgard yet, armed with Stormbreaker, a weapon capable of severely injuring Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet in one strike—just waiting for her like a hunter lying in ambush...
That scene must be something else. Just thinking about it made Ethan feel bad for Hela.
"Is this Hela some adopted daughter Odin picked up? Or maybe a bonus from some ancient practice?"
After all, it was someone else's family matter, and Hela's personality wasn't exactly likable. Ethan had no sympathy for her. No matter how badly she got beaten, he'd just enjoy the show.
On the other hand, Nidavellir...
Ethan rubbed his chin. The Cloths he had been planning still hadn't been forged.
He hadn't stopped practicing forging all these years, but he still felt his skills weren't good enough to create equipment at that level.
More importantly, in the ocean world, he didn't have the resources or tools necessary to forge high-end equipment. He could barely manage basic gear, but creating equipment that looked impressive yet offered no actual combat value would just be a waste of materials.
Nidavellir was a different story. Those forging maniacs even used stars as furnaces. The gear they crafted was not only durable and powerful but also often had incredible special abilities.
No matter how he looked at it, if Ethan truly wanted to make Cloths that matched the original versions, asking the dwarves for help was the best option. At least in the Marvel universe, they were the top craftsmen.
Aside from that, he had an even bolder idea.
Ethan wasn't a stingy person. He was thinking—what level would Thor and Loki's combat power reach if he forged a set of Cloths for each of them, paired with Stormbreaker and the Casket of Ancient Winters?
If that still wasn't enough, Ethan even considered giving each of them an Infinity Stone.
Since returning to the Marvel universe this time, he had been pondering this problem.
This world had already gone completely off-track because of him, deviating further and further from the original timeline.
He didn't think there was anything wrong with that.
Earth hadn't experienced the Chitauri invasion or the Dark Elves' sudden assault. Though there were still plenty of problems on Earth, they were internal human conflicts, mostly within controllable limits. Ordinary people still lived their daily lives.
Although Tony Stark had sparked the "superhero" era on Earth, since there was no Chitauri-led Battle of New York, the superhero era hadn't truly peaked.
Captain America's awakening was still only known to a few. This first American superhero was more like a guinea pig, undergoing countless tests and studies, rather than being deployed by S.H.I.E.L.D. as a frontline fighter.
Ethan didn't see anything wrong with this. Even triggering the Hydra situation wouldn't affect ordinary people.
The only individual who could truly endanger Earth and the universe was Thanos.
"Since Earth has remained peaceful, why not keep it that way?"
Once that idea took root, it was hard to ignore.
To deal with Thanos, the Infinity Stones were an unavoidable problem. Since he couldn't avoid them, he'd just face the problem head-on.
Based on Ethan's usual approach, once he decided to tackle the Thanos issue, his next step would naturally be figuring out how to maximize his side's chances of victory while minimizing Thanos's strength.
The solution was simple: don't let Thanos get the Infinity Stones.
A Thanos without the Stones was still powerful, but not unbeatable. That wasn't an exaggeration—the Avengers in the original timeline thought the same and acted accordingly.
Ethan's idea was just a little more extreme.
The Infinity Stones were powerful tools that could significantly boost the strength of a "qualified" user. And Ethan had no shortage of candidates who met that qualification.
Setting others aside, Thor and Loki were already suitable.
Loki had previous experience using the Mind Stone, and after undergoing training, his power had improved greatly. With more practice, using the Mind Stone skillfully would be no problem.
Ethan himself could use the Space Stone. That went without saying.
He was also considering letting Tony use the Reality Stone. When he started teaching Tony magic, part of the reason was to prepare for this.
As for Thor? With his ability to withstand stellar energy with just his physical body, he was more than suited to use the Power Stone.
The Soul Stone was harder to acquire and could be excluded for now. Even so, they already had four Infinity Stones, plus Doctor Strange in the future who would be able to wield the Eye of Agamotto.
Yet Ethan still wasn't satisfied. He preferred to max out the odds of success. He was even considering going to Nidavellir and asking the Dwarf King to forge a full set of Gold Cloths so that everyone could have one.
If Thanos didn't act, that was fine. But if he did, he'd be facing a lineup of golden-armored, gem-wielding warriors, all ready to pummel him. Ethan wanted to see how he'd snap his fingers then.
Just as Ethan was getting carried away with these thoughts, he forced himself to focus on more practical matters. If he really wanted to make that fantasy a reality, the first step was getting his hands on the Power Stone.
And just as he was thinking about how to obtain it, the key person connected to that Stone happened to walk past him.
(To be continued.)
***
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