Before Heimdall's treatment, Su Ming naturally hadn't been idle. He examined Heimdall's physical condition and naturally learned about the similarities between the Asgardian gods and human physiology.
Since excessive blood loss could cause unconsciousness, it indicated that Asgardians possessed internal organs and nervous systems remarkably similar to humans.
Tickling, then, was a method of interfering with sensitive nerves. By externally stimulating the cutaneous branches of the intercostal or brachial nerves, it could make the upper limbs feel as if struck by electricity, rendering them powerless.
This was an instinctual bodily reaction; no amount of physical or magical resistance could counter it.
According to some bored experiment from his previous life, statistics showed that 90% of people were ticklish, making it nearly universal.
Though everyone's ticklish spots varied, it was merely a matter of the ribs, soles of the feet, or other areas.
While Stranglehold was harassing Odin, Su Ming placed his hand on the Gungnir spear. The moment Odin let his guard down, the weapon would be Su Ming's.
Su Ming didn't want to waste too much time with Odin; he needed to stop Zemo.
The current Zemo had only drunk from the fountain, gaining runic knowledge. But if he learned to interpret the world through runes, he would know more and more.
However, this "more" had its limits.
All the so-called "infinite power," "boundless knowledge," or "supreme divine abilities" of any pantheon were just empty boasts.
If that knowledge was truly boundless, wouldn't Odin have long since broken free of the Multiverse? Why was he still playing around in the Nine Realms, this tiny patch of land?
Thus, Su Ming had no intention of drinking from the Wisdom Fountain. For one, he looked down on it.
When faced with problems, he could first recall past intelligence, combine it with practical investigation, and if that failed, he could always ask Ancient One or Vishanti. Drinking that dirty water was unnecessary.
On the other hand, whether it was Odin's eye or Zemo's face, those were the prices of their contracts—irreversible and unhealable.
On a conceptual level, both Odin and Zemo had lost something, and the world would not allow them to regain it.
Asgard had always boasted that Odin was an all-powerful god, omniscient and omnipotent.
This had its benefits, at least fostering a sense of honor and pride for the entire race.
But it also produced someone like Thor, an arrogant prince, puffed up like a village bully.
Thor was like someone who pointed at the Nine Realms every day, telling his clever younger brother, "This fishpond is contracted by Asgard. Want to catch fish? We catch fish. Want to grab toads? We grab toads."
Thor and the Warriors Three ran wild in the cornfields, enjoying the village's finest rice, gazing at the stars atop piles of potatoes, proudly defiant.
But Loki, who had read books, saw his brother and his cronies' antics as nothing but idiocy.
Why not go to town and see the world?
But Thor wouldn't go. Before joining the Avengers, Thor's range of activity was always confined to the Nine Realms.
Even the nearby Xandar or the Collector's Knowhere—Thor had never been there.
Why go? Was anywhere better than home? Why not steal some fruit grown by the elves instead?
Partly because he wanted to see Thor and his crew make fools of themselves, Loki tagged along, occasionally stirring up trouble in secret, which was quite amusing.
When Odin was young, he didn't see anything wrong with this. But as Ragnarok loomed closer, though he didn't fear death, Thor's behavior left him uneasy.
That's why, in the future, Thor would be cast down to Earth.
Looking at the white-haired, bearded Odin, Su Ming sighed. In a way, Odin was far better than Zeus next door.
At least Odin could admit his mistakes and had a sense of responsibility.
He'd made errors in his youth, but in his later years, he could be considered a wise ruler—just with limited vision and a bit too much napping.
This issue needed to be viewed in the context of the Marvel world.
Compared to the Kree's Supreme Intelligence or the golden High Priest of the Sovereign, Odin was far more humane.
Su Ming's wandering thoughts lasted only a moment; his mind was capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously, and his work proceeded in an orderly fashion.
But in the next second, he didn't manage to seize the spear—Odin's eye opened.
It was too ticklish; he woke up.
Odin was slightly dazed, as he saw another version of himself trying to take Gungnir from his hand.
A hallucination?
But Odin's Sleep wasn't ordinary slumber; he could hear the conversations around him.
Odin quickly recalled Su Ming's actions, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Stranglehold stiffened, then slowly, gradually, flowed back into Su Ming's body.
Su Ming and Odin, two one-eyed men, locked gazes, and the atmosphere grew silent, broken only by the crackling of the firewood in the hearth.
"…" Odin remained silent, staring at Su Ming as if he were an alien.
After all that commotion, it wasn't enough—now he was trying to steal his weapon. That was too much; Odin couldn't sleep anymore.
Su Ming was also thinking. Odin clearly knew what he'd done—his shifting expressions gave it away. The mustache on Odin's face twitched as if he were about to erupt.
Su Ming let go of Gungnir and smoothly shifted his hand to Odin's arm, giving it a squeeze.
"Muscles a bit stiff, huh? Is the pressure okay?"
"…"
"Alright, I was just here to give you a massage. Rest well, okay?"
With that, Su Ming turned to leave.
But Odin wasn't like Hela, who lacked experience dealing with people. With a swing of his spear, he blocked Su Ming's path.
"Young human, we need to talk."
Su Ming smiled slightly. Plan successful.
While searching for Zemo, he needed someone to guard against the Serpent. That someone could only be Odin. Instead of making a formal request for Odin's help, it was better to create an "accidental" encounter.
If Odin hadn't woken up, Su Ming would have taken the spear and gone to play an empty-city ruse against the Serpent—no loss there.
But if Odin woke up, he'd pin the Serpent's issue on him, deal with Zemo first, and come back to help Odin later.
Su Ming turned around, pushing the spear away from his chest. "Of course, I came here to negotiate terms."
"Speak," Odin said, slowly rising from the bed and sitting on its edge, planting Gungnir on the floor. He always admired warriors. "But don't use my face to talk to me."
Stranglehold receded, revealing Su Ming's face. Odin looked at him and showed a sudden realization.
"So it's you."
"Your Majesty, the God-King, knows me?"
"The Norns once spoke of you, and the World Tree brought news of you," Odin answered frankly, letting out a sigh.
Fighting was out of the question. This was Ancient One's man, and his presence here might be at her behest.
The man before him was calm, unshaken even when caught red-handed, surely possessing some trump card—likely immortality or super-regeneration.
Odin had just seen the symbiote's display. A symbiote that had evolved emotions was not something easily destroyed.
"That makes things easier. Let me tell you what's been going on."
So Su Ming recounted the events, naturally omitting some of his own actions, as the focus now was Zemo and the Serpent.
The story was long, and Su Ming spoke quickly, leaving his mouth dry.
He bent down to pick up a flagon, shook it to confirm it was full, and poured it into his mouth.
But when he lowered his head after finishing the flagon, he found Odin gone.
"???"
Upon closer inspection, he saw Odin lying back on the bed, even covered with the beast pelt, gripping Gungnir tightly.
It was as if nothing had changed since he first entered the room. The hearth's fire still burned brightly, as if time had rewound.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? The Serpent is your brother—aren't you going to deal with him? The seal needs your intervention."
Odin was asleep again, and deeply so.
Su Ming rubbed his face with both hands. Was Odin's attitude one of indifference?
Whether it was toward Su Ming or the Serpent, he was washing his hands of it.
Truly an old fox, huh?
Odin had seen through him somehow, realizing Su Ming's protective stance toward Asgard, and simply let go.
It was as if he were saying, "As long as Asgard's fine, I'm sleeping. Don't bother me."
Perhaps for an ordinary king, they wouldn't do this. But for Odin, who periodically entered slumber, letting go had become a habit.
Handing things over to Su Ming, though, was bizarre.
In truth, Odin was only handing things over to Ancient One. In the brief moment he sat up, he'd weighed everything.
If the Serpent wants to destroy the Nine Realms, well, Midgard is one of them. You handle it.
"Tch, fine, we have a deal. If someone else tries to steal your weapon, you'd better catch them." Su Ming tossed the flagon aside, exasperated. The old ginger was indeed the spiciest.
Even Hela panicked at the mention of the Serpent, but Odin remained unruffled, even going back to sleep against all logic.
"Zzz…"
Odin began to snore.
"Sigh, family disputes never end. That's probably another price of the Wisdom Fountain, isn't it? The overly wise are always lonely."
Su Ming casually patted Odin's chest, the golden armor clanging, and told him about Thor's recent antics.
A tear rolled down Odin's wrinkled, aged face.
"Hey, why are you crying? Face it. Ragnarok is just the whole family biting the dust, right? You adopted Loki as a backup plan for the future, didn't you? A non-blood relative as Asgard's ace in the hole."
Odin didn't respond, still playing dead.
"Then I'll lay out my terms for dealing with the Serpent. If you don't answer, I'll take it as agreement."
"…"
"First, the Valkyries—I'm taking them all. You need to revive them and grant them freedom. Your wife's agreement with me must also be fully honored."
"…"
"Second, I'll come to Asgard for vacations now and then, maybe bring a few people to hang out, and I might borrow your identity. You can't hold it against me."
"…"
"Third, I'll order the abolition of Vanaheim's enslavement. At least stop treating them as slaves. What era is this? Playing feudal monarchy doesn't require slaves. The relationship between productivity and production relations, the development of a market economy—I won't bore you with details. Just know it's a win-win."
As Su Ming spoke, he pulled a stack of papers from his bag and began drafting a document. Odin was supposed to be an omniscient god; he should understand Chinese, right?
Making a deal with Odin called for a contract for security.
Once signed, he'd send it via the Bifrost to Kamar-Taj, have Ancient One get Vishanti to witness it, and Odin wouldn't be able to back out.
"That's about it. Come on, put your handprint on it."
But Odin's ten fingers gripped Gungnir tightly, impossible to pry open.