"We're here—this is the place."
Thor pushed open the towering doors of Odin's vault; inside, the dazzling array made one's eyes spin, all manner of treasures neatly displayed.
Most of them Ye Li only glanced at before skipping past as he gradually walked deeper in.
After looking for a while.
The ones that caught his attention the most were————
A glove set upon a high dais, an ice casket exuding chill, and a cluster of roaring flames....
The glove was clearly the Infinity Gauntlet meant for embedding the Infinity Stones, with a few fake gems set into it.
He already had a bracelet, so the glove was of no use and he passed on it.
As for the coffer and the flames, they were naturally the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Eternal Flame, respectively.
Ye Li took both of these.
It wasn't that these two were all that useful to him, just that they were the best of a short bunch.
In fact, nothing in the entire vault was of great use to him; he wasn't taking them for his own use anyway.
He was done picking those two items.
But the third one left Ye Li a bit torn....
In the end.
He simply chose a piece of sheepskin parchment.
On this sheepskin parchment, all of Asgard's recorded magic could be displayed; at least it was more useful than the other things.
…..
Tap tap...
With flame in one hand and ice in the other, Ye Li walked out of the vault in an extremely cool pose.
Thor raised a brow at the sight. "All set? You've got a good eye—those two are the treasures of the Frost Giants and the Fire Giants."
"There actually wasn't much worth choosing." Ye Li pressed his hands together and stowed the two items away.
"You're kidding—this is Odin's vault."
Thor just assumed Ye Li was playing humble after getting a good deal, and invited him, "The banquet's about to start. Sif already took Matilda and the others over; let's hurry and head there too."
"Then let me have a taste of Asgard's fine wine and delicacies."
Ye Li smiled.
Since Odin's family was so hospitable, it was only right to reciprocate.
If Asgard really ran into trouble in the future... like Ragnarok or something, he could also consider lending a hand.
…..
"Come on, drink! Fandral, how can your tolerance be this low?"
Bearded Volstagg tipped his cup toward Hogun's direction. "Look, even Hogun drinks more than you!"
"Vulgar!" Fandral couldn't be bothered with him and continued to wrap an arm around a palace maid, flirting with what he thought was witty humor.
Ye Li, for his part, was tasting some unusual foods not found on Earth; they were quite good.
As for his female companions....
In fact, he hadn't brought many down from the ship—only Jane, Susan, Alita, and Matilda accompanied him.
The rest... were too exhausted... and would need at least a few days' rest, so they could only miss this trip to Asgard.
Jane and Susan both studied cosmology; the more they talked, the more absorbed they became, gradually leaving Ye Li aside as they dove into heated academic discussion....
As for the two little lasses Alita and Matilda, there was even less to say—they were already playing to their hearts' content ————
"Check out mine!!"
With the alcohol rising to her head, Alita's synthetic face even flushed; she actually hopped right up onto a banquet table.
She flicked a finger and a tuft of blue flame flared up; she gestured to an Asgardian Goddess, "Try that courtly little trick from before—see if you can douse it!"
"Alright~"
The Goddess clearly liked children; smiling, she performed the same courtly trick again—a small water spell, really.
Sss~
Water of course can't douse plasma flame; it evaporated completely the moment it hit.
"Eheh~"
Tipsy Alita grinned smugly. "I'm still the best!"
"Yes, yes~"
The spell-casting Goddess said kindly, "Alita is the best~"
Even a few hearty Asgardian fellows seated by the banquet table chimed in with cheers ————
"Alita!"
"Alita!"
From their amused expressions it was clear they were humoring the little girl.
Matilda curled her lip, took an Asgardian candy like a lollipop and popped it into her mouth, muttering, "Mm... Alita is so childish..."
Precocious as she was, she had no interest in this childish showboating.
Clang~en————!
Just then, a heavy thump drew everyone's attention.
Thor, already somewhat drunk, set his beloved hammer on the table and looked around with a grin.
"Everyone, time for the traditional segment of the banquet!! Come try and see who can lift this hammer!!"
With neither Odin nor Frigga attending, he let loose, crowing at the Asgardian gods.
Of course.
He didn't forget to point at Ye Li and give a look, hinting, "Buddy, do me a favor."
Ye Li got the hint and, amused, nodded without speaking.
If the scene of Hela crushing the hammer were still to happen, Thor probably wouldn't be smiling.....
"You too, Matilda."
Thor also remembered the girl eating candy.
This lass had, inexplicably, been able to lift Mjolnir as well.....
"Huh? Why are you calling me?"
Matilda didn't quite catch Hammer Bro's meaning so fast; instead, she stood up, a bit excited. "You want me to pick up meow-meow?"
Ye Li caught her with one hand. "No one asked you to hold it. Sit quietly over here and watch with me."
"Oh."
Matilda obediently sat back down. "If big brother says watch, then I'll watch."
Thor secretly gave Ye Li a thumbs-up!
And with Matilda not making mischief.
The Asgardian men went up one by one, all returning without success.
Even though Thor had done this often at banquets, the warriors still loved it; after all, it was just for fun—no one really thought they could lift it.
If some Asgardian actually lifted Mjolnir, that might be a big deal....
…..
"See? This isn't something just anyone can lift!"
Watching his hammer remain completely motionless after being tried again and again, Thor was beaming with pride; even the frustration of having it snatched away and used to smack him around by Ye Li back then felt much eased.
"Is it really that formidable?"
Just then.
Alita came over, flexed her mechanical arm, and said, "Make way! Make way! Let me try~"
Seeing this, Ye Li's interest was piqued and he focused in.
He wanted to see what mechanism governed Mjolnir... and whether Alita—whose body was almost entirely mechanical—could lift it....
"Alita's going up?"
Matilda rose on tiptoe to look, but there were too many onlookers and Asgardians were tall—she couldn't see a thing.
"Big brother..." She immediately blinked at Ye Li for help.
Seeing her adorable look, Ye Li smiled helplessly. "Sit on my shoulders to watch..."
"Yay~!"
Delighted, Matilda climbed onto his shoulders. "Li is the best~!"
The half-grown girl's pert bottom pressed onto Ye Li's back shoulder; her two pale slender legs hung down his front, lightly clasping his neck~
The fine skin of her thighs brushed at his neck again and again, cool and smooth to the touch, carrying a maiden's faint fragrance—it truly set one a little adrift....