Heavenly Palace. The dark gold decorated hall was vast and empty. The Heavenly Palace guards standing beneath the pillars, spaced far apart, resembled silent sculptures. The sound of footsteps echoed within, filling the space with an aura of majesty, solemnity, and reverence.
Upon entering the hall, Hong Fei immediately caught sight of Odin seated imposingly upon the throne, his single eye surveying all. One hand rested on the arm of the throne, the other gripped the divine spear, Gungnir.
Hong Fei wasn't particularly interested in the old man Odin, so his gaze was instantly drawn to Gungnir. Gungnir, also known as the Eternal Spear, Odin's personal weapon, forged from a branch of the World Tree. Its entire body gleamed gold.
Legend held that one of the Eternal Spear's great characteristics was that 'once thrown, it would always hit its target,' making it a divine spear that never missed. Furthermore, 'Gungnir' meant 'to pierce,' thus it was also said it could penetrate anything it struck, after which it would return to its Master's hand.
This spear had once accompanied Odin in his conquests across the Nine Realms, a powerful assistant in establishing his status as the ruler of the Nine Realms. After Odin ceased his campaigns, Gungnir, like him, fell into quietude, transforming instead into a symbol of the All-Father's power and rule over Asgard.
Regardless of the veracity of the two aforementioned legends, the fact that Odin had used it for so long and it had long been nourished by his divine power meant it was undoubtedly a superb spear.
Even though he was only viewing it from a distance, as Hong Fei observed the straight, sturdy shaft and the patterns and strange characters etched upon its surface, a peculiar impulse instantly arose within him. He had a bold idea. Odin wouldn't last much longer.
In the original storyline, during the events of the Dark Elves' invasion, he was sent by Loki, who had faked his Death and returned, to a retirement home on Earth. Loki then masqueraded as Odin, briefly occupying the throne of Asgard until the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok, when Thor discovered the truth. By that point, Odin had already blended in on Earth, living like an ordinary old man.
From this plot, it could be inferred that Odin's mental state was bound to deteriorate soon, and Frigga's Death would serve as the catalyst. When his mind reached a certain level of confusion, that would be the time for Hong Fei to 'borrow' Gungnir from him. Frigga wouldn't die, but that didn't prevent Hong Fei from making them think she was dead. Clang!
Odin lightly lifted Gungnir and set it down again, causing a clear, metallic clang to resonate through the hall. Master Hong craved it even more. 'Mortal.' Odin's tone was filled with the authority of a superior and the arrogance of a god-king. Out of respect for Gungnir, Hong Fei raised no objection to this form of address. He compliantly lowered his head slightly.
Seeing this, a look of satisfaction appeared on Odin's face. He then asked, 'Thor tells me you are friends?' Hong Fei glanced at Thor, who grinned widely. 'That's right, we are indeed friends.' Odin's single eye was full of scrutiny. He examined Hong Fei carefully before finally nodding slightly. 'Your strength qualifies you to be Thor's friend.' However, Thor expressed dissatisfaction with this.
He took a step forward and declared loudly, 'Father, I did not become his friend because of his strength.' But Odin paid him no heed. He continued speaking to Hong Fei. 'I know of you. The people of Midgard call you a king. Do you believe you have the capability to bear the responsibility and glory of a 'king'?' This question could be seen as a challenge or a test.
Hong Fei replied with full confidence, 'I believe I can. Moreover, I can always do better than anyone imagines.' Truth be told, he couldn't care less what others thought—nor did he need to. But when dealing with elderly figures, particularly high-ranking traditionalists, some thoughts were better left unspoken.
These old-timers tended to be as stubborn as mules. On non-essential matters, it was wisest to let them have their say. Besides, when someone showed you courtesy, they usually wanted something in return. The reverse held true as well.
Odin seemed even more pleased with Hong Fei's answer.
"You smell of Kamar-Taj," he observed.
Hong Fei dipped his head respectfully.
"Indeed, Great All-Father. I've just come from there."
"Are you one of their number?"
"No, I merely hold a modest position."
"Elaborate."
"Head Combat Instructor of Kamar-Taj. My duty involves evaluating and refining every sorcerer's combat techniques."
Odin's eyebrow twitched.
"The Sorcerer Supreme invited you?"
"She did."
The confirmation visibly increased Odin's satisfaction. He turned abruptly to his son.
"Thor!"
"Father?"
"You should learn from him."
Odin jabbed a finger toward Hong Fei.
Thor blinked, then burst into laughter.
"Father, you forget—Hong and I already had quite the battle. He's skilled, no doubt, but still no match for me."
Pride crept into his expression despite himself.
Odin's voice turned frosty.
"Do you imagine others cannot improve? What you lack isn't merely strength."
Before Thor could protest, the All-Father addressed Hong Fei again.
"Given your earlier aid to my son, I'll grant you one reasonable request."
Shouldn't it be three, traditionally? Hong Fei kept his face neutral.
"Great All-Father, when I helped Thor, I didn't know his identity. I expected no reward then, nor do I seek one now. To preserve the purity of our friendship, I'd prefer not to make any request."
Thor spun toward him before Odin could respond.
"Nonsense! You helped me—compensation's only proper. It's Asgardian tradition! This won't affect our friendship one bit—"
"Ahem!"
The throne's resonant cough cut him off. Thor snapped his mouth shut. Odin leveled a glacial stare at his son before continuing, "Mortal, your strength and manners impress me. But Thor is Thor, and I am I. He's my son; I'm his father. This offer comes from a parent—it has nothing to do with the God of Thunder beside you."
Thor shot his father an innocent look. Odin's words were masterful—polite yet firm, making clear Hong Fei couldn't refuse without insulting the All-Father himself. Did he really think Hong Fei could leave Asgard without complying?
Even if framed as separate from Thor, with both present, any request would neatly dissolve debts between them. A clever ploy. Hong Fei had only one thought: Perfect.
He disliked owing favors or being owed—both bred complications. Clean, unambiguous relationships suited him best. Besides, he'd never planned to leave Asgard empty-handed.
Under the dual scrutiny of Odin and Thor, Hong Fei feigned deep contemplation, brow furrowing dramatically. After a lengthy pause, he sighed.
"Very well... shall I make one, then?"
Odin gave a slight nod.
Thor laughed. "No problem, go ahead!"
Hong Fei smiled humbly at Odin. "Your Majesty, I've heard Asgard possesses a unique metal—one capable of storing energy while maintaining excellent conductive properties?"
Odin nodded immediately.
"Correct. Uru metal. Even in Asgard, it's exceptionally rare. How much do you require?"
Hong Fei shook his head.
"Your Majesty, I understand Uru's scarcity and wouldn't presume to make demands. But I do possess something of comparable value. Would Asgard have any interest in Vibranium?"
"Vibranium?"
Odin's eyes flickered with recognition.
"Earth's unique metal. It's decent quality, though for gods, its utility falls short of Uru's."
This made sense—divine weapons required more than mere hardness. They needed to channel godly power perfectly, like Lady Sif's sword. Hong Fei pressed his advantage.
"I understand completely. That's why I propose exchanging twice the quantity of Vibranium for your Uru."
When Odin remained silent, Hong Fei added, "Vibranium's properties make it ideal for armor. Combined with Uru—whether alloyed or layered—the results could surpass expectations. And with Nidavellir's dwarves being the universe's finest smiths, they'd maximize both materials' potential."
A thoughtful gleam entered Odin's eye. Thor glanced down at his own armor. After a pause, the Allfather spoke.
"Agreed. But this exchange satisfies no request. Since you've made none, I'll propose one: If you forge weapons with this Uru, I'll bless the finished equipment myself."
Hong Fei's face brightened. He bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Odin gave a regal nod.
"Furthermore, should you lack a suitable smith, Thor can escort you to Nidavellir. Those dwarves truly are masters of their craft."
"My gratitude!"
With a dismissive wave from Odin, Thor and Hong Fei took their leave. Outside the hall, Thor clapped Hong Fei's shoulder.
"What weapon do you plan to make? I could raid Father's vault for additional materials."
"No need. Between Vibranium, Uru, and the Allfather's blessing, I'll have more than enough."
Back in the throne room, Odin nodded approvingly. Hong Fei had given him no reason for displeasure. Though their meeting had been brief, the mortal's calculated diplomacy had secured both his initial objectives. Only one prize remained—the spear in Odin's grip, which he clung to even while seated. Yet Hong Fei felt the distance between himself and Gungnir had narrowed considerably.