When Arthur emerged from the Treasure Vault, his face was beaming with satisfaction.
This expression remained until he saw Thor. Though he tried to suppress it, he couldn't help but wear it.
Thor was taken aback by Arthur's expression. "You didn't just empty the Treasure Vault, did you? That childlike glee, as if you'd stolen candy, is rare to see on your face."
"That's just because we haven't spent much time together. Trust me, I used to wear this expression all the time. It usually meant I was in a relatively happy mood... You don't need to worry about your Treasure Vault. I wouldn't touch anything I don't need."
Arthur reassured Thor.
For some reason, Thor felt completely uncomforted.
Arthur shook his head, suppressing the urge to immediately visit the Treasure Vault. The two of them proceeded directly to the Bifrost.
Their next destination was Niðavellir, the Dwarven realm among the Nine Realms.
Arthur had heard much about this place but had never been there. He had always been curious about what Dwarves truly looked like.
In comics, Dwarves were depicted as genuinely short, while in movies, they were tall and imposing, dwarfing both the Asgardian gods and humans.
It was always better to uncover the truth yourself, so Arthur asked Thor.
With Heimdall's gesture, the Bifrost's light surged forth. The two stepped into the rainbow-hued bridge, and in the next instant, they vanished into the kaleidoscopic brilliance!
...
In the instant the light vanished, an intense heat washed over them.
They found themselves on a vast platform where a group of small giants stood in perfect formation, awaiting the arrival of Asgard's king!
This was precisely why Arthur had insisted Thor accompany him. Having never met these Dwarves before, he feared a conflict might erupt without Thor's introduction and mediation.
In terms of combat prowess, Arthur wasn't overly concerned. After all, the Dwarves were genuine tech geeks. They loved crafting equipment and had mastered the art, but it was clear they weren't skilled warriors. Otherwise, they wouldn't need Asgard's protection.
Now, the first mystery was solved: these guys were tall!
Arthur glanced at Thor, who remained composed, and whispered, "Where are they short?"
"How would I know?" Thor rolled his eyes and strode forward. The Dwarves on the other side advanced as well, their leader saying, "I expected your father, but it seems Prince Thor has arrived instead."
"Eitri, it's been too long," Thor said, his smile as broad as a 200-kilogram flower. He gave the Dwarf King, Eitri, a brief hug.
After exchanging a few casual words, the Dwarf King turned his gaze to Arthur, puzzled. "He doesn't seem to be Asgardian. Who is this?"
"My friend Arthur..." Thor trailed off, then turned to Arthur. "What's his full name again?"
"...You're not my real friend!!!" Arthur's face darkened. As a friend, was this really okay? Did he think their friendship was unbreakable?
Seeing Eitri's expression shift, Thor quickly added, "Believe me, he's my friend, and he's the God of War of Asgard! Though he wasn't born in Asgard, but on Earth as a human, his combat prowess has earned not only my respect but even my father's admiration!"
A flicker of surprise flashed in Eitri's eyes. "Indeed, I can sense the aura of Allfather Odin emanating from you."
Arthur recalled the 'gift' Odin had once bestowed upon him and smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Eitri."
"Hahaha!"
Eitri let out a hearty laugh before asking, "So, esteemed guests, what brings you to Niðavellir? Or perhaps you're here to commission a suitable weapon for this newly appointed God of War?"
Arthur's eyes lit up. "Why didn't I think of that?"
Thor, dazed, asked, "You didn't come here for that?"
"Why would you assume that's my purpose?" Arthur replied, slightly exasperated.
"...In this universe, everyone wants a weapon forged by Dwarven hands!"
Thor brandished Mjolnir. "That's why I didn't even consider any other reason for your visit."
Arthur's true purpose in coming here was, of course, to acquire more weapons, not for his own use, but to disassemble.
But at this moment, after Eitri's words, Arthur realized he had never actually possessed a dedicated, reliable weapon.
Pistols, sniper rifles, submachine guns, he simply pulled them from his disassembly space at random. They were all ordinary models, their immense power primarily due to skill enhancements.
For melee combat, he mostly relied on Asgard's two-handed greatsword.
While its power was undeniable, it usually broke after only one or two uses, unable to withstand Arthur's violent energy surges or fully unleash his true potential.
A truly exceptional weapon could elevate a person's combat effectiveness by several tiers!
Realizing this, Arthur immediately said, "I'll leave the matter of crafting a weapon to you."
Crafting weapons was one thing, but Arthur couldn't forget his original purpose. He realized this trip was about looting and pillaging. He needed to take what he could and acquire some suitable weapons.
Eitri, oblivious to the impending chaos, laughed heartily. "Of course! Leave it to me. What kind of weapons do you usually prefer? I'll forge them myself!"
Arthur counted on his fingers. "A two-handed greatsword. If you have any war blades, I'll need one of those too. For firearms, I'll need at least a pistol and a sniper rifle. The main thing is they need to be able to withstand my strength. Otherwise, they'll break after just two days, which would be quite embarrassing. So, let's go with a pistol, shotgun, submachine gun, sniper rifle, greatsword, and war blade, one of each. Oh, and can you craft defensive gear? I have a max-level, full-health 'baby' here. Can you make a pet suit for it?"
Eitri's smile gradually faded as Arthur spoke, finally turning into a near-desperate tone as he turned to Thor. "Are you here to wipe out my entire clan?"
(End Of This Chapter)
This work is finished; you can read all the advanced chapters on my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GGS6395