When he was at a loss, Thor suddenly noticed something strange. The mission was focused on preventing Stark's death. After all, the Mandarin incident was not of great importance. Iron Man's retirement was not a real departure— even if Thor did not intervene, Tony would eventually return. This link seemed almost dispensable. Why then did the system include it in the mission line?
Moreover, the rewards of missions were usually proportional to their difficulty. What was the secret of Extremis that made it worthy of hell-level difficulty?
Perhaps this was a hint: to complete the mission, he would need to start with the Mandarin incident. It was impossible to wait more than ten years for the plot to begin— the problem had to be solved at the root. There were two key figures in the rise of this storyline: Aldrich Killian, the man behind the Mandarin, and Maya Hansen, the botanist and creator of Extremis.
At this time, Killian was still only a fan of Tony, and finding him would not be easy. But Maya Hansen was already a well-known botanist, and she had probably begun her research on Extremis around now.
So, Thor enlisted the help of S.H.I.E.L.D. to locate Maya Hansen.
The scheduled meeting with Stark had been rejected anyway, so it wasn't too much to ask them to help him find someone instead.
On a beach in Hawaii, Maya Hansen, who was on vacation, looked in surprise at the man who had suddenly appeared in front of her.
"Sorry… I don't have an appointment." She clearly assumed Thor was someone trying to strike up a conversation. Although she wasn't entirely wrong.
She had a vision— one that, if successful, could greatly advance all of humanity. But her research was still in its infancy, plagued with problems, and without proper funding no one believed her wild idea could work. She had come here to relax, not to think about work— or men. Still, Thor's appearance was undeniably striking.
"I know you didn't want an appointment," Thor said with a smile, "because your mind is still in your laboratory. Am I right, Miss Maya Hansen?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You know me? You… know about my experiment?"
"Of course. Although your vision may seem unrealistic to many, in fact you're heading in the right direction." Thor's expression turned serious. "But your research faces great resistance, and no one believes you. Many people look at the world through a narrow hole. They spend their lives trying to make that hole just a little wider, to learn more. But when they realize the hole could be far bigger than they ever imagined, they reject the possibility entirely."
Maya Hansen's eyes lit up. She smiled in surprise. "I suddenly feel like you didn't just research my background to hit on me."
Thor smirked. "No— I'm here to invest in you. And maybe pick you up along the way!"
(Comrade Big Shit, I hold grudges. If you dare to stand me up, I'll cut off your little romance before it even begins!)
"Hahaha…" Maya laughed, not taking him too seriously. "Well, if what you're saying is true, I wouldn't mind at all."
She didn't quite believe this young man, who looked about her own age, had the resources to fund her research. But if he did, it was an opportunity she couldn't afford to miss.
"Good, then it's settled." Thor looked around to make sure no one was nearby. "I'll arrange sufficient funds, the most advanced materials, and the most knowledgeable assistants for you," he said in a low voice. "But as I told you, this hole is bigger than you imagine. Much of your common sense, even your worldview, will be overturned. If you truly want to take this step… then follow me."
Maya Hansen hesitated, but the spark of curiosity in her eyes grew stronger. She followed him toward a more secluded spot.
Thor gently took her hand, narrowed his eyes, and sparks of lightning crackled beneath his feet. The next moment, they soared into the sky.