There was no grand welcome ceremony, no festive music, no lively banquet. Just a long, heavy silence.
Thus began the tense negotiations between Earth and Asgard.
"Loki's crimes cannot be denied," Odin declared. He had recovered his full majesty as the King of Asgard, though his tone was more measured than the previous night. "He must be judged under the laws of Asgard. However... Asgard acknowledges the innocent lives lost or injured on Earth. We are willing to offer reparations."
He paused, eyes sharp beneath his golden helm.
"Tell us, Earthlings. What is it that you want?"
The giant oval-shaped table was flanked on both sides by over sixty representatives. Odin sat at the head. Joseph and his party sat to his right. On Odin's left were Asgard's most influential figures—a mix of grey-haired elders and elite warriors from the Nine Realms. Among them were Asgard's famed young warriors and the towering figure of the dwarf king, Grant King.
Despite the name, the dwarf king stood over five meters tall, his burly frame making him impossible to miss among the seated gods.
Many of them had eyes fixed on Joseph. Not kindly.
Yet their lack of surprise suggested one thing: Odin had already prepped them. Whether out of fear of the Sorcerer Supreme or a desire to compensate Earth, they were at least willing to talk.
So long as Joseph's conditions weren't too outrageous.
"It's quite simple," Joseph began smoothly. Without delay, he laid out his demands.
"First, Uru metal. A precious resource of Asgard."
"Second, access to a designated number of dwarf craftsmen."
"Third, authorization for the Second World Company to promote and sell the 'Oasis District' across the Nine Realms."
"Fourth, a formal exchange agreement between Earth and Asgard on both magical and technological fronts. This includes mutual visits by exchange teams."
"Fifth, permission to purchase a set number of Asgardian airships—fully armed."
"Sixth, effective immediately: the Bifrost may not appear anywhere on Earth without formal notice and prior permission."
"Seventh..."
Joseph wasn't finished, but his list already shook the room.
He spoke with the tone of an experienced diplomat, seemingly accustomed to demanding a fortune and negotiating it down. But the halls of Asgard were not Earthly boardrooms.
The instant he mentioned the first condition, the room erupted.
"Impossible!"
"This is madness!"
"Earthlings, your greed knows no bounds!"
"This is an insult to the honor of Asgard!"
Some stood, fists clenched. The tension thickened with the scent of war.
Even Thor was dumbfounded, staring at Joseph in disbelief. No wonder Nick Fury treated this man with such caution.
Joseph had come to Asgard like a victor, not a petitioner.
Thor turned instinctively toward Evelyn Shaw, who sat with calm composure. The SHIELD agent, sent as an official observer, showed no sign of protest. Nor did the Invisible Woman or the Human Torch flanking her.
Thor furrowed his brow. Then realization dawned.
SHIELD doesn't fully understand Asgard. They don't grasp the weight of these demands.
Take Uru metal, for instance. The material that made Mjolnir. It wasn't just rare—it was vital. Capable of holding, amplifying, and reflecting magic and energy, Uru was the foundation of Asgardian military dominance.
Even Thor couldn't count how many battles he'd survived by channeling Mjolnir's energy-absorbing powers. Weapons made from Uru were reserved for elite warriors, and only the legendary dwarven artisans could forge them.
Joseph was asking for both.
What was he planning? Anyone with half a mind could guess.
Those two conditions alone crossed a red line.
Then came the third condition—allowing Earth to introduce Oasis virtual reality to the Nine Realms.
It sounded innocuous. A shared entertainment system. But it would open channels of cultural influence, something the Nine Realms had never experienced from Earth.
The fourth? An exchange of magical and technological knowledge. That was a diplomatic minefield, yet potentially beneficial.
The fifth? Acquiring Asgardian airships. Ludicrous. Yet Thor had to admit, if only a handful were sold, and if Earth couldn't reverse-engineer their technology anytime soon, it was manageable.
Three of the seven conditions, Thor thought, were... negotiable.
But the sixth—restrictions on Bifrost travel? That was nearly an insult. Asking Asgard to request permission to visit Midgard? It would mean Asgard acknowledging Earth's sovereignty.
It was practically a declaration of independence.
And Joseph hadn't even reached his seventh point.
If this were Odin of old, he would have summoned the Spear of Eternity then and there.
Odin's face darkened.
He abruptly interrupted Joseph. "On Earth, there's a saying: 'insatiable greed.' You are its very embodiment."
The room fell silent.
"Gold," Odin continued with a sneer. "That is your highest currency, yes? Asgard has it in abundance. Enough to make all of you the wealthiest of your kind. But the rest of these demands... are nothing more than delusions."
The gathered gods burst into laughter. Odin's tone suggested gold was more than enough. That Asgard was generously offering riches for something as insignificant as Earth.
They were throwing gold at beggars.
Joseph, however, smiled calmly.
"Gold?"
His tone was amused, almost pitying. "You're offering worthless glitter in place of true power."
Odin's expression stiffened.
"God-King Odin," Joseph said evenly, "if you believe tossing a few shiny pebbles at us is the height of diplomacy, I fear we are wasting each other's time."
Odin's eyes flared.
"Don't tell me these are your actual terms."
"They are." Joseph met his gaze without flinching. "And not just for Loki's release."
He paused, letting his next words land like hammer blows.
"These are also the terms for an alliance... between Earth and Asgard."
Gasps echoed around the hall.
An alliance? Earth and Asgard?
Did this mortal actually believe Asgard needed Earth's help?
Worse—did he think Earth was the one granting the favor?
The laughter returned, louder, bordering on hysterical.
Grant King nearly choked on his drink. "He wants to allow us to form an alliance?"
The ministers looked at each other in shock and mockery.
But Joseph didn't back down.
"You think the Nine Realms will forever bend to your will," Joseph said coldly. "But a storm is coming. One that even Asgard will not weather alone."
The room simmered.
"You need Earth. You just don't know it yet."
With that, Joseph folded his arms and leaned back.
The ball was in Odin's court.
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