The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics

"Beg me?"

The dwarf king, Eitri, laughed as if he had heard the funniest joke. His beard, soaked with liquor, trembled incessantly. Perhaps due to his drunkenness, he couldn't even hold onto his tankard, which fell to the ground and shattered with a crash.

Loki subtly sidestepped to avoid the splashing liquor.

"The little princess of Asgard actually has a day to beg me? This is big news, hahaha!"

After a while, seemingly having laughed enough, Eitri wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, still chuckling as he asked,

"Alright, alright, tell me, what do you want me to forge for you? This is the only area where you'd ever need to ask me for help, isn't it? Are your daggers not working well anymore?"

"That's not it," Loki shook her head. "I just want you to help me create some things to prank Thor with."

"Prank the God of Thunder? That's a good idea," Eitri rested his hands on the armrests, looking excited.

"Quick, quick, tell me all about it!"

Loki revealed a sly smile, but anyone who knew her well could tell that there was no amusement in her eyes, and none of her characteristic trickery was visible.

"That's not urgent, Uncle Eitri..." Loki snapped her fingers, and a cloud of green smoke rose from the ground, forming a vortex. When the smoke dissipated, a half-person-sized wine jar stood beside them.

"A small token, not much, but proper etiquette is essential when asking for favors. This is Asgardian wine; I remember Uncle Eitri, you've always craved a taste."

"Oh!" Eitri's eyes widened like copper bells. "Quick, quick, little princess, just give me this treasure, and I'll forge you another Gungnir, let alone prank Thor."

Loki didn't speak, her hand hovering over the wine jar. After a moment of hesitation, she used magic to send the jar to Eitri's hands.

Eitri caught the wine jar just as it floated in front of him, slapped away the mud seal, and then tilted his head back, gulping down large mouthfuls.

Watching Eitri drink heartily, a trace of guilt flashed in Loki's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a resolute determination. She quietly waited for Eitri to finish drinking.

"Ha!" Eitri drank half the wine in the jar in one go. He wiped his mouth and asked curiously,

"This isn't like you, little princess. You've never been so rule-abiding before. Today, you not only gave me the reward first but are even standing there obediently waiting for me to finish drinking. How strange."

As soon as he said this, Eitri felt a dizziness in his head. He figured it was the alcohol taking effect, especially since he had already drunk quite a bit before this jar, and he knew that Asgardian wine was very strong.

Eitri shook his head, trying to clear his mind. After all, he couldn't neglect his duties after receiving someone's gift. If he passed out like this, he'd probably be out for three or four days.

But shaking his head only made Eitri feel dizzier. Even Loki in front of him seemed to multiply into three or four, which was definitely not right.

"What... is happening?" Eitri clutched his head, feeling a dizzying sensation, and eventually collapsed onto the throne.

Loki walked to the front of the throne and murmured softly, "I'm sorry, Uncle Eitri..."

...

"Boom!"

The colorful light screen dissipated, and Loki returned to Asgard once again. Standing before the Rainbow Bridge, as always, was Heimdall.

"Back so soon?" Heimdall marveled. "I thought you'd stay there for three or four days."

"Uncle Eitri got drunk again," Loki wore a helpless expression. "You know, Heimdall, once dwarves get drunk, not even lightning can wake them, especially Uncle Eitri; he's incredibly tough. I had no choice but to come back first."

Heimdall deeply agreed. The dwarves were indeed skilled artisans, but their personalities and attitudes were not good. They were all eccentric individuals. Those who stayed in Asgard were already the most agreeable with outsiders.

"Well, it seems your prank will be canceled this time," Heimdall intended to comfort Loki, but the latter hurried past him, not giving him a chance to continue.

"Let's talk next time, Heimdall. I have some things to do."

After speaking, without waiting for Heimdall's reply, she transformed into a cloud of green smoke and disappeared without a trace.

Heimdall looked surprised. Although Loki was mischievous in the past, she was still a good girl. Her manners were taught by Frigga, and she rarely acted so impolitely.

'Maybe she really has something to do?' Heimdall could only comfort himself.

The scene changed, and Loki had once again arrived before the doors of Odin's vault. From going to the dungeon to see Laufey to going to Nidavellir to find the dwarf king, quite a bit of time had passed.

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It was now evening in Asgard, so the palace was much quieter than during the day, especially around Odin's vault. Because of its special nature, Odin's vault was rarely guarded.

Because there were too many protective spells set up in Odin's vault. Not to mention the two rows of statues around the corridor leading to Odin's vault, which were all magical puppets. If anyone tried to break into the vault, these puppets would be activated.

Loki didn't need to worry about these puppets because she was the princess of Asgard. No one cared where she appeared in the palace, so she wouldn't trigger the puppets' attacks.

For her, the only difficulty was the door to Odin's vault, and that problem could be solved today.

The obvious key to Odin's vault was only held by Odin himself. However, Odin's vault also needed to be maintained regularly, and when it was maintained, the vault door needed to be opened. You couldn't expect Odin to be present every time.

So, the secret second key was in the hands of the dwarf king. Every time Odin's vault was repaired, the dwarf king, the creator, would be present, both to open the vault door and to carry out the repairs. After all, he built it, so no one knew better than him how to repair it.

Some people thought this would leave a loophole, but in fact, it wouldn't, because the protective spells in the palace wouldn't allow outsiders to wander around inside. Dwarves were among the outsiders.

To enter the palace, one had to have the consent of Odin, the king of the gods. Anyone entering the palace without his approval was an intruder. Once someone invaded, a bunch of protective spells would be triggered. At that point, not only would they not be able to open the vault, but whether they could survive would be a question.

It could be said that Odin had taken all precautions, even against the dwarves who were on good terms with Asgard. However, he never imagined that his own family would one day betray him.

Loki touched the vault door in front of her with a complicated expression. She sighed softly and finally made up her mind, using her fingers to draw on the door.