"Odin, you look rather weak," Lucas said calmly.
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone present changed expression.
It was obvious—those words bordered on outright disrespect toward Odin.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, Odin did not grow angry. Instead, he nodded and admitted plainly, "That is correct. I am very weak right now."
"I am old—approaching the limit of my lifespan. The energy within my body has also begun to spiral out of control."
There was unmistakable fatigue in Odin's voice.
He was already nearing the upper age limit of Asgardians, still sustaining that woman's seal, and had been repeatedly provoked by his two sons.
The fact that he could hold on until now was solely due to his astonishing willpower.
Hearing this, everyone's expression darkened.
Asgardians typically lived around five thousand years, and Odin was already close to that threshold.
With Asgard lacking a proper successor, Odin's sudden death would be nothing short of a catastrophe.
Lucas shook his head. "Odin, I might doubt others, but not you."
"Even if you're nearing the end of your lifespan, as the strongest of the Aesir, your constitution alone should allow you to live longer than ordinary Asgardians."
"The only reason you'd reach this state before five thousand years is if your body is bearing another tremendous burden."
Odin remained silent—but that silence was itself an admission.
"It's Hela, isn't it?" Lucas said suddenly.
At those words, Frigga and Heimdall's expressions shifted subtly, while the others looked utterly confused.
"Mother… who is Hela?" Loki asked quietly.
Frigga glanced at him and said gravely, "She is your sister."
…What?
Loki froze, completely dumbfounded.
"Then, Odin, let's make a deal," Lucas proposed.
"I can help you resolve the issue with Hela, allowing you to restore balance to your energy as soon as possible."
"Moreover, through other means, I can extend your life by several hundred years."
Odin's expression grew unreadable. His remaining eye gleamed with deep contemplation.
Lucas, unhurried, added another weight to the scales.
"You don't seriously believe Thor, at his current level, can face Thanos, do you?"
Odin's grip on Gungnir trembled slightly.
After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice. "Very well. I accept your terms."
"The artifacts will only be given to you after you fulfill our agreement," he continued.
"I will not risk letting them fall into Hela's hands."
Standing up, Odin added, "When you are ready, inform me. I will personally take you there."
With that, he turned and left the hall through a passage behind the throne.
---
Inside the Palace hall, Thor stared in astonishment at Lucas—who was calmly eating.
Loki, his hands bound, leaned against a wall, staring at the ceiling in deep thought, paying no attention to them at all.
Even the bold Warriors Three and Lady Sif looked utterly stunned.
Lucas had already finished food meant for thirty people.
Despite the many questions swirling in his mind, Thor couldn't help but marvel at Lucas's appetite.
Asgardians had bodies roughly three times denser than humans, while beings like Thor or Odin were easily five times denser or more.
Otherwise, they could not contain the ever-growing power within them—which naturally meant their appetites were enormous.
Thirty Asgardian portions were nearly equivalent to a hundred human meals.
And Asgardian food was vastly richer in energy and nutrition than anything on Earth—closer to two hundred human meals by comparison.
Lucas, however, had been starving.
After all, while passing through the Ancient One's golden portals, his body had undergone further transformation from the power of the Tesseract.
"That's enough. No need to bring more," Lucas said, stopping the servants.
He still picked up a plate piled with roasted beast legs, then looked at the anxious Thor.
"Go on. Ask whatever you want."
"Is my father really close to dying?" Thor asked immediately.
"If nothing changes, your father has about five years left," Lucas replied after a brief calculation.
"Then if we defeat Hela, my father's life can be extended?" Thor pressed.
"Not exactly," Lucas said, tearing into the roasted meat.
"It will reduce the burden he's carrying."
"Hela's strength far surpasses yours. Even your father had to expend great effort to seal her away."
"Maintaining that seal requires a constant supply of massive energy. Otherwise, how do you think your father could've been successfully ambushed by an unfilial son?"
As he said this, Lucas glanced toward Loki, whose expression subtly changed.
"An unfilial son… ambush?" Thor froze, then instantly glared at Loki.
"Once this is over, I'll deal with you properly!"
Turning back, Thor asked urgently, "Then what you said in the hall—about extending my father's life—was that a lie?"
"No," Lucas replied while chewing.
"The energy I have can help stabilize the chaotic energy in your father's body, and it also has restorative properties."
"Additionally, my subordinates on Earth have developed special cellular agents that should help him as well."
Thor's eyes lit up. "Then hurry and treat my father!"
Lucas rolled his eyes.
"The only benefit Asgard has given me so far is letting me eat this meal—and now you want me to work like a beast of burden?"
"I helped first. I didn't come here begging."
Thor panicked. "Lucas! If you help heal my father, then from today on, you're my brother—my true brother!"
Not far away, Loki rolled his eyes and sighed inwardly.
'Odin above… my simple-minded older brother…'
Lucas crushed the bones, swallowed, and said, "Fine. Since you put it that way, I'll do it—for your sake."
"Great!" Thor exclaimed, instantly overjoyed.
"May I ask something?" Sif finally spoke.
"Who exactly is Hela… and how strong is she?"
Lucas paused and looked at her.
"She was once the strongest being in Asgard besides the Allfather."
"The first wielder of Mjolnir. The one who single-handedly wiped out the Valkyrie army."
"She is Odin's firstborn, a goddess who left a terrifying legacy across the Nine Realms and beyond thousands of years ago."
"Put another way—at least one-third of Odin's fearsome reputation among the Nine Realms belongs to her."
Thor barely reacted. His thoughts were entirely focused on his father.
With that, Lucas left the hall together with Thor, heading straight for Odin's palace.
Behind them, the Warriors Three and Lady Sif remained frozen in shock.
_____
T/N:
For readers who would like early access, my Patreon is available for just $4 per month. You'll unlock 90+ advance chapters and help support ongoing works.
🔗 patreon.com/user?u=79514336
You may also search Translator-Sama directly on Patreon.
Your support is sincerely appreciated