Noah blinked.
For a moment, he wasn't sure he'd heard correctly.
Then he looked at Odin again-the All-Father of Asgard, ruler of the Nine Realms, the god who had ruled for millennia-and realized the old fox was completely serious.
"...So you are asking me to cheat," Noah said slowly.
Odin chuckled, the sound deep and tired, carrying the weight of countless years.
"Call it what you like," Odin replied calmly. "A nudge. A favor from an old man who does not wish to see his sons die."
Noah exhaled through his nose and rubbed his temple.
"Your Majesty, do you realize how absurd this sounds?" he said helplessly. "You're asking an outsider to secretly help your son win a fight you've publicly declared a family matter."
Odin spread his hands.
"Precisely why it must be done quietly."
"...You really have no shame left, do you?"
"I ruled gods, giants, elves, and monsters for thousands of years," Odin said serenely. "Shame was one of the first things I set aside."
Noah stared at him for a few seconds, then laughed.
A short, resigned laugh.
"I swear, every god I meet eventually asks me to do something illegal, immoral, or politically explosive."
"And yet," Odin said mildly, "you are still alive."
"Barely."
Noah straightened, his expression turning serious.
"All right," he said. "Let's be clear about something first. I won't directly intervene. No open attacks. No obvious spells. No time reversal, no spatial imprisonment, no domain suppression."
Odin nodded.
"That would humiliate Asgard."
"And me," Noah added. "More importantly, it would undermine Thor. If he wins, it has to look like his victory."
"Agreed."
"But," Noah continued, tapping his finger lightly in the air, "subtle interference is another matter."
Odin's single visible eye gleamed.
"Such as?"
Noah thought for a moment.
"Hela draws power from Asgard itself," he said. "From the land, the throne, the legacy you built. That's why she's so strong there."
"Yes," Odin admitted. "That is her greatest advantage."
"And also her weakness," Noah replied. "If her connection is... disrupted. Just a little. Just long enough."
Odin frowned slightly.
"You mean-"
"I mean," Noah said calmly, "that Asgard is not only yours. It's also anchored to multiple realms. Ley lines, dimensional overlaps, divine authority fields-call them what you want."
He lifted a hand.
"If, hypothetically, those anchors were momentarily destabilized-nothing catastrophic, nothing permanent-Hela's strength would fluctuate."
Odin went silent.
That kind of interference wasn't destructive.
It wasn't an attack.
It was... environmental adjustment.
A god fighting on uneven ground.
"How long?" Odin asked quietly.
"No more than a heartbeat," Noah replied. "Any longer and even Thor would feel it. The Power Stone might react violently."
"And can you do this... invisibly?"
Noah smiled.
"I'm a Sorcerer Supreme with spatial and temporal authority," he said lightly. "If I can't cheat quietly, I should resign."
Odin laughed again, louder this time.
"Very well," he said. "If the boy falters, tilt the scales. Just enough."
Noah nodded.
"Understood."
Then he paused.
"There's something else."
Odin raised an eyebrow.
"Hela isn't stupid," Noah continued. "If she senses external interference-even vaguely-she'll change tactics immediately. That woman adapts fast."
"I know," Odin said grimly.
"So," Noah said, "if I intervene, it can only be once. One chance. After that, we let the dice fall."
Odin closed his eye for a moment.
"When did you become so cautious?"
"When I realized that gods tend to explode when plans go wrong," Noah replied dryly.
Odin smiled.
"Then do what you must."
The Mirror Dimension rippled.
With a soft fracture of space, the reflections shattered, and the Great Hall returned.
Hermione was still standing beside the Ancient One, listening attentively to something she was saying, while Thor and Loki stood a short distance away, both tense.
Fat Thor leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, silent.
Noah stepped back into the hall as if nothing had happened.
Hermione glanced at him immediately.
"Well?" she asked softly.
He gave her a faint smile.
"I got permission."
"For?"
Noah leaned in and whispered, "To cheat."
Hermione blinked.
Then, to Noah's surprise, she smiled.
"Good," she said. "I was worried you'd try to play fair."
Noah laughed quietly.
Across the hall, Odin rose slowly from the throne.
"The coronation will proceed," the All-Father announced.
"And afterward... Asgard's past will be settled."
High above, storm clouds gathered.
And somewhere in the depths of Asgard, Hela smiled-unaware that the scales of fate had already shifted, just slightly.
Just enough.