Asgard. The World Tree was as grand and luxuriant as ever. Thick steam rose from the hot springs below, while the distant snow-capped mountains gleamed magnificently in the morning light. Strange sank into the pleasantly hot spring water and let out a satisfied sigh.
Schiller was neatly arranging the fruit on a platter before eating them one by one from left to right. Loki held a glass of wine, drinking as he gazed at the distant skyline. Nick finally returned from the restroom with a bath towel wrapped around his waist, bent over by the pool, and tested the water with his hand.
"What are you dawdling for?" Strange said impatiently. "If it's too hot for you, go over there. Stop getting in the way here."
"Our Speaker is getting more and more temperamental." Nick laughed as he stepped into the pool, hissing from the heat and constantly splashing water over himself.
Loki narrowed his eyes, opened the one closer to Nick, gave him a sidelong glance, and said, "We've been busy in space all this time, while you've been enjoying yourself."
"My work comes later," Nick said. "You'd better show me some respect. My performance will matter when it comes time to negotiate prices."
"I never thought we'd actually get money from the Three Great Empires." Loki sounded rather wistful. "We robbed them plenty before, but this time they're paying willingly. It really does feel good."
"Selling the land is only the first step." Schiller speared a piece of cantaloupe and tossed it into his mouth. "We want to move the political center onto our territory and bring it under our control. The Three Great Empires want to use this opportunity to infiltrate the Nine Realms too. There's plenty of fighting ahead."
"Has the location been decided?" Strange asked.