Ever since Odin began preaching about ruling the Nine Realms with kindness, he had become far more reasonable—or so everyone in Asgard believed.
To them, Odin was a wise and benevolent ruler.
But Hela didn't see it that way.
Because she had seen Odin at war.
She had witnessed his cruelty and ruthlessness firsthand.
He had led his armies across countless battlefields, conquering one kingdom after another.
Odin, in battle, was never a man of reason. He ruled through violence, crushed resistance with brute force, and silenced all opposition.
In Hela's mind, it was impossible for that Odin to sign such an unequal contract.
No matter how she looked at it, this contract was nothing but a scam.
It granted Luo Bai the right to directly manage Asgard and even allowed him to draw upon Asgard's power whenever he pleased.
Would Odin really agree to such a condition?
At first, Hela had doubted the authenticity of the agreement.
But the unmistakable aura of Asgard's divine power lingered on the parchment.
This was proof.
Odin had, without a doubt, signed this contract himself.
Hela narrowed her eyes in curiosity.
"Who are you?" she asked, her tone sharp. "Why would Odin be willing to sign such a contract with you?"
Luo Bai calmly retrieved the contract and replied, "Didn't I tell you already? My name is Luo Bai… and I am the Sorcerer Supreme."
Sorcerer Supreme?
Hela had heard of that title before.
The Ancient One.
Back before she was sealed away, the Sorcerer Supreme on Earth was a woman known as the Ancient One.
It was said that the Sorcerer Supreme resided in a place called Kamar-Taj.
But back then, Odin and Kamar-Taj had very little connection.
So how had things changed?
How had the Sorcerer Supreme not only gained Odin's attention but managed to secure such an unbalanced deal?
Hela frowned.
But even as confusion lingered in her mind, she quickly dismissed it.
"It doesn't concern me," she said coldly. "Odin won't live much longer anyway. When I take the throne of Asgard, I won't acknowledge this contract."
A flicker of disdain crossed her face.
No matter what Odin had agreed to, she had no intention of honoring it.
Still…
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
"As a God-King, he's becoming more and more useless," Hela muttered. "It's about time he gave up that position."
She smirked.
Her confidence in returning to Asgard was evident in her expression.
However, Luo Bai's eyes narrowed slightly at her words.
"Are you saying Asgard intends to break the contract?" he asked.
Hela chuckled, tilting her head slightly.
"This is your agreement with Odin," she said lazily. "What does it have to do with me?"
Luo Bai's voice turned serious.
"But you are from Asgard. You are Odin's daughter."
At that, Hela's expression darkened.
"Odin may fear you," she said, her voice low, "but I do not. A mage from Kamar-Taj? Hmph."
She scoffed, dismissing him with a glance.
From her tone, it was clear that she looked down on the mages of Kamar-Taj.
Luo Bai found this intriguing.
"You seem to have little respect for Kamar-Taj's sorcerers," he noted.
"Of course," Hela said with a smirk. "Before I was sealed away, I came across some of your so-called wizards. They were nothing special. The only one who was remotely decent was that woman—the Ancient One."
Luo Bai couldn't deny that.
Aside from the Ancient One, Kamar-Taj's overall strength had always been relatively weak.
However—
"That's because you don't understand Kamar-Taj as it is today," Luo Bai said. "And more importantly, you don't understand me."
Hela chuckled.
"Then I'll understand soon enough," she said. "When I return to Asgard and reclaim my power… Asgard, Midgard—everything you just mentioned—and the entire universe… I will understand it all."
Her emerald eyes shone with unwavering determination.
Hela was Asgardian. Her power was drawn from Asgard itself.
Once she returned home, her strength would surge far beyond its current state.
The only reason she was still conversing with Luo Bai instead of killing him was simple—her power hadn't fully recovered yet.
But once she stepped foot in Asgard again, everything would change.
Right now, she was still sealed away by Odin.
Right now, she couldn't touch Luo Bai.
But later?
Hela's lips curled into a cold smile.
"What was your name again?" she mused. "Luo Bai… was it?"
She leaned forward slightly, her voice carrying a promise.
"I'll remember you."
"And when I get out… I will come for you."
Her tone was casual, but the killing intent hidden within was unmistakable.
Luo Bai understood.
There was no room for negotiation between them.
A sigh escaped his lips.
"So, in other words…" he muttered, "there's nothing left to discuss?"
Hela remained silent.
Her attitude made it clear—she had no interest in further conversation.
She would wait until she was free.
Luo Bai closed his eyes for a brief moment, then exhaled.
"Very well," he said, his tone light. "Since you're so eager to return to Asgard… I'll send you back myself."
A knowing smile played on his lips.
"I'd love to see… whether you can rule the Nine Realms and defeat me once you're back."
Before Hela could react—
A golden portal opened behind her.
The next second—
She vanished.
Luo Bai had sent her directly to Asgard.
And, of course, he followed right after.
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall of Asgard…
Odin was furious.
His two sons stood before him, enduring his wrath.
After returning from Kamar-Taj, Odin's frustration had only grown stronger.
Why…
Why were his sons so much weaker than outsiders?
In a fit of anger, he had decided to lecture Thor first.
So he had sent someone to find him.
But to his irritation—
The messengers had searched all of Asgard…
And Thor was nowhere to be found.
Odin was puzzled…
How could Thor, a man of his size, simply disappear?
Frustrated, Odin decided to search for him himself.
And then…
He found Thor.
In the dungeon.
At that moment, what Odin saw left him speechless.
Thor—the mighty God of Thunder—was being toyed with by Loki.
Loki lay leisurely on the dungeon floor, casually opening portals one after another.
And his brother—Thor, the future King of Asgard—was stumbling helplessly between them, caught in an endless loop.
Loki was playing with him.
Odin's veins nearly burst.
No.
No, no, no.
Are my sons cursed?!
He was old.
He had spent all his years fighting and negotiating for the survival of Asgard.
And yet, his sons—his heirs—
One was teasing his older brother.
The other was getting teased by his younger brother.
Seriously?!
"You are the God of Thunder! The future King of Asgard!" Odin wanted to scream.
And yet, a mere portal trick could trap him like this?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Finally, Odin had enough.
He didn't care about his dignity as the All-Father anymore.
With a loud SMACK, he slapped each of his sons across the head.
Then, without another word, he dragged both of them to the Great Hall of Asgard.
And now…
Thor and Loki remained kneeling before him.
Still kneeling.
Odin sat upon his throne, his face dark and brooding.
He had not spoken a single word since bringing them here.
At first, Thor had been angry.
He had tried to argue, furious that Loki had learned magic from Luo Bai and was now using it against him.
But after being thoroughly scolded by Odin, he had fallen silent.
Now, the Great Hall was dead quiet.
The three of them sat in complete silence.
And then—
Hela appeared.
The moment Odin saw her, his expression twisted.
No.
No, no, no.
Why is Hela here?!
This isn't right!
She shouldn't be here.
Not yet.
He was still in Asgard! The seal should not have broken!
But then—
Odin's gaze shifted.
And the moment he saw Luo Bai step forward…
He understood everything.
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