Seeing that his attempt had failed, Loki smoothly interjected.
"Brother." He said gently, "The other party is a guest. You can't just do whatever you like."
"If he wants to spar with you, that would be acceptable."
Thor's eyes lit up instantly, as though a new path had opened before him.
"That's a good idea!" He said cheerfully. "I'll go talk to him."
"….????" For a brief moment, Garfield, Loki, Frigga and even Angela were all speechless.
Amenadiel already said no, Garfield thought. What exactly do you plan to say that will change his mind?
Fortunately, Thor at least retained some sense of propriety.
Garfield cleared his throat and offered a final reminder.
"Thor." He said carefully, "He doesn't want to fight you. What are you going to say to him"
" At this point, you might as well hand him your hammer."
"…That's true," Thor said thoughtfully.
Garfield almost choked. By the stars, Thor, when Father distracted you, did he take half your brain with him?
'Simple' no longer begins to cover it.
Frigga, meanwhile, felt a familiar heaviness settle in her chest.
Odin had made many arrangements over the years. Whether they would succeed… only time would tell.
She reached out and gently stroked Thor's head.
"Thor." She said softly, "Don't cause trouble."
"Amenadiel is a guest. Our relationship with Silver City has only recently stabilized. We cannot act on impulse."
"Yes, Mother," Thor replied at once.
The most obedient moments of Thor's life were always reserved for Frigga, just as Loki's respect for her was far deeper than his complicated feelings toward Odin.
Maternal love was terrifyingly powerful.
Perhaps that was why Loki felt no real attachment to the Frost Giants, even after learning of his origins. Identity was not determined by blood alone.
For over a thousand years, Loki had believed himself Asgardian and so he was.
Odin, too, had changed. What began as a political adoption slowly became genuine affection.
Sometimes, Loki was even treated better than Thor, a quiet compensation for a debt Odin knew he could never fully repay.
The debt was simple…
First, Loki had been taken for impure reasons.
Second, the throne of Asgard was never meant for him.
Garfield glanced at Loki.
I can't tell you yet, he thought. Not now. Not until the story reaches that point, decades from here.
Angela remained silent throughout.
Her identity had not yet been exposed, and as a top-tier assassin, disguise was second nature. Patience was her foundation.
She sat calmly, attempting to blend into the scene.
It was… difficult.
Sitting among gods felt unnatural. It would have been easier to follow a muscular warrior than to sit quietly with a cat.
Worse still, Loki's eyes kept flicking toward her, never resting.
So this is the God of Mischief, Angela thought grimly. Troublesome.
If she wanted to truly understand Asgard, Loki would be her greatest obstacle.
As for Frigga, the queen seemed genuinely fond of her. Angela noted it, but felt nothing.
As an assassin, attachment was a luxury she had long discarded, sentiment would not sway her.
And then there was the orange cat.
Angela didn't know what to make of him.
His feline eyes carried a disturbing mix of vulgarity and wisdom… like someone who had already seen through everything.
For a fleeting moment, she had the strange sensation that he looked at her the way the King of Silver City and the Angel Queen might.
As if nothing about her was hidden at all.
Angela felt a chill run down her spine. That orange cat was dangerous.
Compared to him, Loki barely mattered.
In her mind, Angela quietly pulled out an invisible notebook and made a decisive mark beside a single name.
Garfield… Priority Obstacle
Garfield, of course, had no idea he had just been listed.
He was busy pondering a much more important matter, how to improve relations within the Odinson family and, incidentally, how to get himself permanently blacklisted by the angelic factions of the Ten Realms.
He cleared his throat and spoke casually.
"Mother, don't you think this little angel looks rather similar to you? Why not take her in, make her a goddaughter or something?"
"…!??" Frigga froze… then her eyes lit up.
Garfield had handed her a perfect excuse.
Neither Loki nor Thor knew Angela's true identity. Thor didn't care in the slightest, as long as his mother was happy, nothing else mattered.
Loki, however, immediately grew alert.
He already knew Garfield was no benevolent mascot. This cat never acted without calculation.
Loki stepped forward smoothly.
"This young lady is a guest of Silver City." He said calmly. "If Mother wishes to acknowledge her as family, it would be proper to inform the rulers of Silver City first."
"That would also mark a meaningful step toward formalizing relations between Asgard and Silver City."
His words were layered and unmistakably political, raising a simple matter to the level of cosmic diplomacy, hoping to bury it in procedures and buy time.
To his surprise, Frigga nodded in agreement.
"What Loki says is reasonable." She said gently. "I was a bit hasty. My dear, we shall wait until Amenadiel, the eldest son of Silver City, arrives."
Angela almost smiled. Perfect.
She restrained herself, though inside she practically kissed Frigga in gratitude.
Once recognized properly, entering Asgard in the future would be effortless, no more sneaking in through shadows.
And as for assassinating Odin? There would be plenty of opportunities.
Angela nodded obediently. "Okay."
Thor watched the entire exchange in a daze.
Loki, meanwhile, maintained a pleasant smile while mentally hurling a thousand curses at Garfield.
You foul cat.
Ever since you arrived, all you've done is stir chaos.
I sensed something wrong about this woman at first glance, and you're over here encouraging Mother to adopt her? Why are you enjoying this so much?!
Loki's gaze sharpened.
Garfield, however, remained utterly calm.
Relax, he thought. The truth will come out eventually.
When that happens, Angela, Odin, Frigga and even that stubborn fool in Silver City will all thank me.
If Angela truly went off the rails, Odin and Frigga wouldn't hesitate to reduce Silver City to ruins.
Still, Garfield had underestimated one thing.
From Angela's disappearance the previous night, to Frigga summoning her in the morning, to Garfield openly bringing her into Asgard, by the time Amenadiel learned of her presence, his father had already spoken to him.
The time for a special mission had arrived.
Amenadiel adjusted his attire, composed himself, and stepped forward.
Facing the guards at the gate, he spoke with solemn clarity.
"Please inform the All-Father that Amenadiel of Silver City seeks an audience on behalf of my father."
The guards stiffened instantly.
Two titles were spoken, each weighty enough on its own. Together, they demanded absolute respect.
Without delay, messengers hurried to Odin.
When Odin received the news, he was not surprised. Soon after, the two met within Odin's private chamber.
And with that, the true game between Asgard and Silver City quietly began.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream