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*****
The following morning, Fini awoke in a massive bed several meters wide. His head throbbed with a dull ache from the excessive drinking the night before, but fortunately, he had his Sumire Hara Fried Chicken Rolls. After eating a few, the hangover cleared, and he felt restored.
With the help of a maid—an experience he found incredibly awkward to endure—Fini finished his morning ablutions and went to pay his respects to Frigga.
"How was the banquet last night?"
Frigga looked at Fini, noting his healthy complexion, and offered a word of praise: "I heard you managed to drink every single Asgardian warrior under the table by yourself. Something like that hasn't happened in centuries; the entire palace is talking about you!"
"Uh..."
Fini hadn't expected to make a name for himself in Asgard quite like this. He scratched his head in embarrassment and explained, "I used a few tricks. I didn't actually out-drink them fairly."
"That is impressive in its own right," Frigga chuckled. Seeing Fini's discomfort, she didn't linger on the topic and pivoted to business. "In Asgard, we generally rely on the Bifrost, so we rarely have a need for star charts. Consequently, the versions we have in the palace archives are many years out of date."
"A few days ago, we dispatched scouts into the cosmos to collect the latest and most detailed star charts for you. They should return within a week at most."
"Are they very precious?" Fini asked.
"Not exactly precious, it's just that few people sell them as standalone items," Frigga explained. "They are usually built directly into the navigation systems of starships."
Fini flashed a smile that practically screamed "poverty." If he had the money, he wouldn't have bothered having Tony build a spaceship; buying a ready-made one would have been much simpler.
Unfortunately, while he was considered wealthy on Earth, in the grander scale of the universe, he wasn't just broke—he was destitute. As for exchanging Earth currency, considering Earth was a place even Ravagers didn't bother raiding, Fini highly doubted there were any "USD to Galactic Credit" kiosks in space. Nor could he think of any treasures he possessed that would fetch a high price on the cosmic market.
After thanking Frigga once more, Fini planned to spend the waiting period exploring Asgard. Once Thor and the star charts returned, he would use the Bifrost to travel to the other realms and lock in his coordinates.
As the Queen of Asgard, Frigga had a demanding schedule, so she departed after a short chat. However, perhaps sensing Fini's financial woes, she arranged for someone to deliver funds to him shortly after she left.
Asgard utilized two types of currency: Credits, which were accepted throughout the universe, and Asgardian Gold Coins, which were primarily used for internal trade.
Frigga had provided Fini with the latter. Though it was only a small pouch, the value was immense. These coins were forged from metal unique to Asgard using the specialized craftsmanship of the Dwarves, making them virtually impossible to counterfeit. These gold coins effectively put an end to Fini's half-serious thought of setting up a street stall to earn some cash.
With time to kill, Fini wasn't in a rush to buy souvenirs. Instead, with Frigga's permission, he headed straight for the Great Library of Asgard.
Asgard wasn't just a technological civilization; they possessed a unique magical heritage. Fini had long been curious about these spells, so researching them was his top priority. Equipped with a translator provided by the maids, he entered the library.
He knew Asgard wouldn't leave their most sacred or powerful grimoires out in the open, but he was really just looking for a general understanding rather than a deep, dedicated study.
Fini spent the entire day immersed in the library, even skipping lunch to delve into the mechanics of Asgardian magic.
"By the gods, Asgard has so many fascinating places, and yet you chose the most boring one."
In the evening, Sif and the Warriors Three found Fini still engrossed in his reading. They all wore expressions of sheer disbelief.
"Hmm?" Fini raised an eyebrow, closed his book, and stretched his limbs. "I actually find it quite interesting here."
Volstagg looked at the magic tome in Fini's hand with visible distaste. "I always thought that besides Loki, no one actually liked this stuff."
At the mention of Loki, Fandral suddenly remembered something. He turned to Fini and said, "That's right! You're the one who beat Loki into that sorry state, aren't you?"
"Good job!" Fandral gave him a thumbs up. Hogun and Volstagg nodded in grim approval. It was clear they still hadn't forgiven Loki for his betrayal.
Fini didn't feel like dwelling on the Loki topic. Looking at the four of them, he asked, "What are you all doing here?"
"Right, I almost forgot! Move it, the banquet is about to start. As the guest of honor, you can't be absent!" Volstagg reached out with a pair of greasy, massive hands to grab Fini.
"Hold on!" Fini dodged the grasp with a quick flash of movement, asking in surprise, "A banquet? Didn't we just have one yesterday?"
"A major celebration like this usually lasts for three days," Sif explained, noting his confusion.
"I see..."
Fini stood dazed for a moment, unsure of what to say. He could only manage a wry smile as he set down the magic book and followed them to the feast.
Upon arriving, he noticed the crowd was even larger than the night before. Furthermore, a segment of the warriors was glaring at him with predatory intent, their faces full of provocation.
This baffled Fini. He had spent the entire day in the library; he couldn't have possibly offended anyone. However, as soon as the festivities kicked off, the reason became clear: they were all there to challenge him to a drink.
While he had drunk a multitude of people under the table the previous night, it hadn't intimidated the Asgardians. Instead, it had ignited their competitive spirits. Even those who had passed out the night before were back, eager for "vengeance."
"I go first!"
"No, I was here first! Besides, look how fast you collapsed yesterday. Don't embarrass yourself again today!"
"What? You dare call me an embarrassment? I'll show you my capacity right now!"
"Bring it!"
Because there were so many challengers, they actually ended up bickering amongst themselves and started drinking against each other first. Fini watched from the sidelines, find the scene quite amusing.
Seeing the situation, Fini didn't say much. He simply activated his "Invincible Mode" and began sweeping through the hall. Though it was a bit of a waste of fine ale, they were the ones who had provoked him first.
Time flew by, and three days passed since Fini arrived in Asgard. During this time, he spent his days researching magic in the library and his nights at the banquets. It was a productive routine.
After the third day, the celebrations finally concluded. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, Thor returned. He looked slightly disheveled but bore the aura of a victor.
And thus, to his dread, Fini received yet another banquet invitation.
Upon his return, Thor quickly learned of Fini's presence. After changing his clothes, he went straight to the library to find him.
"What are you doing here?"
Seeing Fini, Thor's emotions were undeniably complicated.
On one hand, he respected Fini's immense power. On the other, he remembered Fini using a hammer to threaten him into "surrendering," not to mention those fried chicken rolls that were as hauntingly unforgettable as Jane.
But most of all, he was still frustrated about Fini beating Loki within an inch of his life. Although he'd reflected on it and could understand Fini's perspective, it still left a bit of a
(End of Chapter)