What had he been thinking about before?
Asgard's new king… something like that.
Laufey furrowed his brow. His mood was far from peaceful — as though some inexplicable emotion was preventing him from continuing to sit here.
Even with the woman's power on their side — could they truly defeat Asgard?
Though Thor had been exiled, and the new king had no reputation in the old world… after all, he was Odin's son. Was there no hidden strength the new king might be concealing?
Before falling into his slumber, had Odin left behind any means to foil their war?
With Odin's wisdom, he surely foresaw that after his slumber, Asgard — now bereft of both Odin and Thor — would face the certainty of war.
Even with the woman's power assisting them — could they truly seize the Casket of Ancient Winters and kill Odin?
The more he thought, the more cold dread crept into Laufey's heart.
He felt that everything they were planning had already been anticipated by Odin. If they truly followed through as originally intended — using the passage to Odin's vault to launch a direct assault on Asgard — they would only be walking into a trap.
War is never fought by strength alone!
There is also strategy!
Odin had conquered Laufey and Jotunheim not just through overwhelming power — his cunning was indispensable. In the end, he had stolen their most precious treasure, the Casket of Ancient Winters.
All to suppress their strength. To crush Jotunheim's desire to resist Asgard!
So — what was to be done?
Laufey's mind raced.
The first priority was the battlefield itself. It absolutely could not be Asgard!
If Odin had anticipated the war, he would certainly have made preparations within Asgard's walls. That new king might even be able to draw upon Asgard's power to crush them in a single stroke.
Jotunheim?
He had no desire to see his homeland ravaged by war.
Unless there was simply no other choice.
Beyond Asgard and Jotunheim, was there any other battlefield available?
A name surfaced in Laufey's mind as he ran through the Nine Realms one by one.
Midgard!
Yes — Midgard!
The world where Thor had been exiled. The weakest of the Nine Realms.
It was the ideal battlefield. With Thor present on Midgard, and the life there as leverage — if Jotunheim launched a war against Midgard, Asgard could never stand by and do nothing.
Even if the new king cared nothing for Thor's life, even if he secretly wished to see them kill Thor — Midgard was, after all, territory under Asgard's dominion. They could never permit Jotunheim to wage war upon it unchallenged.
Laufey's eyes brightened. He believed he had devised an excellent strategy.
Without Odin at Asgard, and without whatever secret preparations they had prepared — how could they possibly withstand Jotunheim, strengthened by victory over death itself?
In his crimson pupils, the eerie green flames burned ever more fiercely. Already influenced, Laufey could no longer think rationally — nor could he perceive the flaws in his own reasoning.
Why must Odin's schemes be confined to Asgard?
Why had he overlooked Odin's weapon, Gungnir?
Was Midgard truly devoid of anyone worth his attention?
Laufey rose to his feet. The excitement within him made it impossible to sit any longer. He was eager to set his plan in motion.
Time passed.
Baixuan's figure materialized in the void, sitting upon the throne that should have belonged to Laufey, watching with quiet amusement as Laufey departed.
"This mission has become far more interesting because of our involvement."
In truth, this was the first time Baixuan had considered a group member's problems so thoroughly and provided comprehensive assistance.
He hadn't expected the script they had crafted together to become so compelling.
What was most remarkable was the collision of ideas with the likes of Aizen and Ying Zi'nian — raising a single question seemed to elicit exactly what the other was thinking, naturally expanding and improving the script.
Could it be that they were the same kind of people?
Heh.
"Without needing to rely on the Bifrost, you crossed space to reach Jotunheim. Your power exceeds what I imagined."
At Baixuan's side, Gungnir in hand, Loki materialized with quiet deliberation.
He regarded Baixuan with no small amount of admiration.
Though he had read Baixuan's ability descriptions in the chat group, the account was so outlandish that Loki had only believed a fraction of it.
But looking at the reality — the other's strength seemed rather more considerable than he'd assumed.
"After all, space is also part of nature."
Baixuan smiled faintly.
"As for you — Odin's bloodline has brought you considerable rewards."
"Hela's death force, Thor's thunder authority — both are potentials rich with power."
"But in my view, your strength surpasses them both."
Lies!
The power Loki awakened upon merging with Odin's bloodline.
The power to turn the false into the real.
He and Baixuan had arrived at Jotunheim together — but it was Loki who concealed them from Laufey's sight.
Loki had deceived Laufey's eyes.
"Who wouldn't, being the God of Lies?"
Loki shrugged as if resigned, but the smile at the corner of his lips told a different story. He was quite pleased with the ability he had awakened.
Power, after all, matters most when it fits the wielder.
As the God of Lies, he had awakened the power of lies. Wasn't that only natural?
He also believed that this power, in his hands, could surpass that of Hela, Goddess of Death, and even his foolish brother Thor.
"Let us go."
"The original script has begun. Now, we simply await the passage of time."
"Besides — you have already been noticed."
Baixuan cast a glance toward a certain point in the void, speaking calmly.
"He won't care about any of this."
Loki naturally understood to whom Baixuan referred.
"Heimdall."
"BANG!"
The radiant light of the Bifrost tore through the void, carrying Loki and Baixuan away. Strangely, all of Jotunheim acted as though nothing had happened — as if they had seen nothing at all.
When Baixuan and Loki returned to Asgard, the first thing they saw was Heimdall's complex, confused gaze.
He cared nothing for what Baixuan and Loki had done — only that it posed no threat to Odin.
What troubled him was the nature of these people's connection to Loki, and why they had involved themselves in this war.
And why Loki placed such absolute trust in them.
"Do not entertain extraneous thoughts, Heimdall."
"You only need to watch quietly."
Loki glanced at Heimdall, speaking coolly.
He was, after all, a warrior loyal to Asgard and to Odin. Though Heimdall had done a few things that worked against Loki's interests, given that these people had already been reduced to supporting roles in their script — he magnanimously forgave Heimdall.
He would not demand an accounting until after the war concluded.
What a gracious king he was, treating a minister who held only loyalty to the old king with such patience.
———
Please give me Power Stones!
Support me on Patreon @ patreon(dot)com/SorenEclipse
Read 15 Chapters Ahead on Patreon!