The hall was silent. Odin looked at Rimuru, who had been looking at him with a calm expression but had only casually made two simple requests after much hesitation. He felt a mix of emotions.
He had prepared himself for exorbitant offers, demands for Asgard treasures, and even the division of power over the Nine Realms. He had weighed the various astronomical rewards in his mind and even considered the worst possible outcome.
So this little guy, whose fate was tied to Asgard's survival, spent all that time agonizing over this?
First, browse the treasure vault and pick out items randomly. I'm determined to take the unused Tesseract, and then I'll go to Nidavellir to have the Dwarf King craft equipment for me.
A distinctly strange look flashed across Odin's eyes as he silently grumbled to himself.
This kid... is he plotting something bad?
Seeing Odin's hesitant and suspicious expression, Rimuru immediately offered comforting words, his tone sincere and gentle.
"God-King, rest assured. Thor and I, his beloved family, friends, and brothers, are absolutely reliable."
"These treasures of yours are a waste to keep locked away in a dark compartment gathering dust. Taking them out and making the most of them is the right thing to do."
"Even if, hypothetically, something unexpected happens and the situation in Asgard spirals out of control, I can immediately evacuate all the citizens of Asgard and ensure their safety."
"You wouldn't want your kingdom, which you've protected for millennia, and the treasures you've accumulated over countless years, to all turn to ashes in the flames of Ragnarok, would you?"
That's the logic; every sentence is correct.
Odin felt inexplicably uneasy listening to this. Something about these words sounded strange, subtly conveying a sense of "I'm guaranteed to profit, you won't lose, and I'll cover for you if things go wrong," which made him inexplicably uneasy.
But now that things have come to this, he has no way out.
After a long silence, Odin slowly nodded, finalizing the deal.
"Very well, I approve your deal."
His voice was steady, carrying the weariness and entrustment of countless ages, and his eyes were full of concern for the people of the Asgard.
"If Asgard truly cannot be saved, I hope that you will do everything in your power to protect Asgard people."
No one knew his eldest daughter's character better than him.
Hela, the first goddess of war in Asgard, wields the power of death in the underworld, and possesses a primal and frenzied warlike nature deep within her.
Odin in his youth was ruthless enough to conquer all sides and fight across the Nine Realms, but Hela was even more extreme and obsessive than him.
Death arises when people suffer disasters and chaos, and when life withers.
But Hela is different; without death, she would create death herself.
Others might go on a killing spree because they're in a bad mood, but she only finds joy in seeing corpses strewn everywhere and war raging across the land.
He's definitely a top-tier war maniac and a killing machine.
Thor is immature, impulsive, and lacks combat power. No one in the Asgard army can stop her. Once she is fully unsealed and released into the world, the entire Asgard will be slaughtered.
Odin gave the seemingly carefree and lazy boy a deep look, his eyes revealing a hint of entrustment and expectation.
"Little one, Hela's ferocity far exceeds your imagination. I hope you... can really withstand her madness."
Rimuru nodded and solemnly assured him.
"Rest assured, King of Gods, I will certainly protect the people of Asgard, and I will do my best to protect this great kingdom of Asgard."
Thor had been holding back for so long and was almost internally injured, could no longer suppress the overwhelming doubts in his heart when he heard the two finally finish their business.
Who is Hela?
Father's daughter?
My own older sister?
Why has no one ever told me anything for thousands of years?
His head was pounding with questions, and he took a half-step forward, ready to bombard everyone with them.
Frigga, who was standing beside him, reacted quickly, covering his mouth with her hand and gently pulling him, dragging the bewildered and confused Thor out of the hall.
Some ancient taboos of the Asgard and royal scandals are fine for outsiders to hear, but they must never be discussed in detail in front of the parties involved.
Since the secret can no longer be kept, Thor will have to know the truth sooner or later. However, family scandals should not be aired in public, and there is absolutely no reason to recount the old grudges of the royal family in front of distinguished guests.
Thor struggled and whimpered, his face full of grievance, but the Queen gently yet forcefully carried him away, disappearing instantly at the entrance of the main hall.
Watching the two figures depart, the empty temple finally became completely quiet.
Odin composed himself and gave a solemn order to the guards beside the palace.
" Rimuru is the most distinguished guest in Asgard. Issue the order to immediately prepare a grand banquet to warmly welcome this guest from afar."
Upon hearing Rimuru instinctively raised his hand to decline.
I was secretly thinking to myself that this was unnecessary and too much of a waste. I was getting Tesseract, exploring the treasure vault, and even trying to steal equipment from the dwarves. I felt a little embarrassed about all the eating and taking.
Before she could even utter a word, a group of exquisitely dressed, graceful, and stunningly beautiful Asgard maidens, dressed in magnificent Asgard robes, gracefully walked in from outside the hall.
With fair skin, beautiful features, slender figure, and a long, flowing gold gauze dress, she possessed gentle and dignified eyes and an ethereal and otherworldly aura.
Rimuru's gaze swept over them, and he was practically drooling. He changed his tune with absurd speed, without the slightest hesitation.
"That would be so embarrassing."
He coughed lightly, adopted a casual and indifferent demeanor, and added a sentence in a serious tone.
"But it's alright. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If I were to refuse the God-King's hospitality, it would seem rather impolite."
Since you're so kind as to accept, I'll gladly attend the banquet!
The entire Asgard was unbelievably bright tonight; the entire palace was practically bathed in golden light.
Odin opened all the highest-level banquet halls in the Asgard, and specially held a super-large banquet for Rimuru.
Honestly, this kind of prestige is something that ordinary Asgardian would never have the chance to experience even once in their lifetime.
The table was laden with the finest delicacies from the Nine Realms, as well as divine wine that had been stored for over a thousand years.
Almost all of the high-ranking members of the Asgard were present, but Rimuru didn't recognize most of them.
All the gods sat in neat rows.
No one dared to make a sound, and everyone's eyes instinctively fell on Rimuru.
Those in the know understand perfectly well that this banquet is anything but simple.
Asgard is a place that values strength above all else; no matter how famous someone is, if they lack ability, no one will pay them any attention.
Odin's willingness to host such a grand reception for a foreigner clearly demonstrates his attitude.
To put it simply, it's to tell everyone in the Asgard that Rimuru is truly strong and deserves our respect.
Actually, Odin had several ulterior motives; it wasn't just a simple invitation to dinner.
He had three very practical considerations behind hosting this grand banquet.
The first point is to become a familiar face and gain public recognition.
After all, Rimuru was an outsider, and most of the Asgard had only heard scattered rumors about him.
People are still somewhat unfamiliar with him and haven't truly accepted him from the bottom of their hearts.
Odin wanted to use this public feast to let everyone see him for themselves.
First, let the people get to know and accept Rimuru, then many things will be easier to carry out later and won't seem abrupt.
Then comes the second point, which is also what Odin is most concerned about: paving the way for Ragnarok.
Odin, having lived for so many years, had long seen through the destiny of the Asgard; the calamity of Ragnarok was unavoidable.
He knew very well that when it came to the final moment, he would most likely not be able to hold on and would have to withdraw.
What will happen to Asgard after he leaves? Someone has to protect it.
Odin knew Thor all too well; he knew his son's level better than anyone else.
Thor is a capable and brave fighter; he can easily defend against ordinary warfare.
But faced with a cataclysmic disaster like Ragnarok, he truly couldn't withstand it.
Too naive and lacking in comprehensive consideration, they cannot bear the life and death of the entire Asgard.
If all hopes are pinned on Thor, Asgard will most likely be wiped out.
That's why Odin elevated Rimuru's status in advance, to give everyone a heads-up.
When the catastrophe comes and the Asgard collapses, no one will object to Rimuru standing up.
It's like arranging a future protector for all Asgardians in advance.
The third point is to give Rimuru a formal title and solidify his legitimacy.
Asgard has many rules and a strict hierarchy, with a particular emphasis on legitimacy.
Rimuru doesn't have Asgard blood, and he's not even Asgardians, so his claim to the throne is somewhat illegitimate.
But the fact that the God-King personally hosted a banquet in public to honor him is tantamount to official certification.
From this day forward, it is entirely reasonable and legal for Rimuru remain in Asgard and Asgard.
Even if some old nobles want to find fault in the future, they won't be able to find a single flaw.
As for Rimuru, who was sitting at the table, he already knew exactly what was going on. Looking at this grand scene, he silently and frantically complained in his mind.
Good heavens, this isn't eating, it's Odin frantically giving himself buffs!
On the other side, Odin looked at the calm and composed Rimuru and finally came to terms with it.
He truly doesn't care at all who will rule Asgard in the future.
Will Rimuru overtake Thor and rule Asgard? It doesn't matter, there's really no need to worry about it.
With Ragnarok approaching and the world on the brink of extinction, worrying about the succession to the throne is utterly pointless.
Thor's current strength is completely insufficient to protect this land and its people.
If we continue to rigidly adhere to the orthodox bloodline, we will only end up being completely wiped out. Rather than letting Asgard perish along with its destiny, it would be better to have a stronger leader take charge.
As long as Asgard can continue and its people can survive, it doesn't matter who the guardian is. After the cataclysm ends, it's uncertain whether Asgard can be preserved.
There's no time to dwell on whether a prince will ascend the throne or an outsider will take power.
Simply put, Odin's bottom line right now is very simple: as long as he can live and survive, everything else is negotiable.
Looking at Thor and Rimuru surrounded by the crowd, Odin, based on his many years of experience, believed that Rimuru was not an irredeemable villain, at least much better than his daughter who led Asgard into war.