Violent Negotiations (Part 1): Spy Siren

Lorelei not only wanted to obtain the method Asgardians used to manipulate the Bifrost through Himinbjorg, but also the results of Asgardian mages' research into the Bifrost. These were among the deepest secrets hidden by the Asgardian royal family; even Kamar-Taj's library contained little information about the Bifrost. It could be said that Asgard's current status had been built entirely upon research that allowed armies to be deployed over vast distances without delay—Asgard itself produced few precious natural resources, and the Asgardian royal family had continuously plundered the resources of extraterrestrial colonies through the Bifrost, creating Alfheim's all-encompassing abundance and prosperous economy.

It was much like Vikings sailing out in longships to raid, except Asgard possessed a powerful and wise royal family capable of seizing opportunities to turn plundered supplies into armaments and technology rather than squandering them at feast after feast. Hela had never understood Odin's intentions. The All-Father's so-called peaceful development was merely a desperate measure, a mask to be discarded when the time was right. After the rapid expansion of its military, Asgard needed prolonged plunder and recuperation, relying on the Asgardians' low birth rate to slowly restore the populations and societies of Alfheim and Vanaheim. Blind expansion would only overwhelm Alfheim's already meager natural resources and industrial capacity.

How Borr and Odin had conquered the Nine Realms in the past was how Salomon would do so in the future.

The Sorcerer Supreme believed her disciple could do better than she or Odin, replacing the Asgardian royal family and becoming the new All-Father. The Venerable One had also given Salomon a secret document concerning the World Tree, the ultimate means by which he would use the World Tree—this cosmic system and magical entity—after his plan succeeded. According to the Venerable One herself, this plan had been formulated