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Chapter 20 - chapter 20 : the trick

Roman led Loki onto his ship, the Serpent's Kiss. Loki's eyes widened, taking in the vessel's sleek lines and advanced technology. He was astonished. He moved from console to console, his fingers tracing the smooth surfaces, his gaze lingering on the intricate displays. The radar system, the sophisticated defense and offense capabilities, the weather manipulation technology—each detail was a testament to human ingenuity.

"How…?" Loki exclaimed, his voice a mixture of awe and disbelief. "This ship… built by mere mortals? Not by a god, not by a Deacon? A vessel surpassing even the legendary Noah's Ark in its capabilities? The Serpent's Kiss? It's... truly impressive, Captain Roman."

Roman chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You flatter me, my lord. It's nothing extraordinary. The algorithms aren't that difficult to master."

Loki raised an eyebrow. "Not difficult? Perhaps not for you, but in this world, such knowledge of algorithms, such programming skill… it's considered a godly gift! It's beyond the reach of most."

Roman smiled, a hint of wistful nostalgia in his eyes. Internally, he mused on the difference between this world's perception of programming and his own experience as a former Google software engineer. In his world, coding was a common skill, albeit a challenging one. Here, however, it was practically magic. "Well, having been a lead coder at Google in my previous life gave me a significant head start," Roman said, "but even so, the algorithms themselves are not inherently difficult. It's the application and the integration that's truly challenging." He paused, "But in this world, yes, such knowledge is indeed rare."As days melted into nights aboard the Serpent's Kiss, a curious transformation occurred within Loki. The initial amusement and skepticism he'd felt towards Roman and his crew gradually gave way to something deeper—a sense of belonging. He found himself drawn to their easy camaraderie, their genuine affection for one another. This wasn't just a crew; it was a family.

Loki observed the dynamic between Roman and Fujitora, a bond that transcended mere professional respect. He saw the easy banter, the unspoken understanding, the unwavering loyalty—the unmistakable mark of brotherhood. Fujitora, the elder statesman, and Roman, the spirited leader, complemented each other perfectly. Their relationship, Loki realized, was built on mutual respect, shared dreams, and a deep affection that went beyond mere kinship. They were brothers in arms, protectors, and confidants.

Loki understood then. This wasn't just a band of adventurers; it was a family forged in shared ambition, united by dreams that stretched beyond the confines of their world. It was a family of those who dared to chase their aspirations with unwavering loyalty and fierce determination; a family that made him feel, for the first time in a very long time, like he truly belonged.After many shared adventures and countless moments of laughter and camaraderie, Loki finally spoke, his voice filled with a newfound sincerity. "Captain Roman," he began, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, "I swear my loyalty to you. No need for formalities. Just call me Loki… or, if it suits you, 'younger brother Loki.'"

Roman chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement and pride. "So, you've finally decided to make your bed here, eh? Then consider yourself officially bestowed with the position of... well, not exactly 'King of Asgard,' but something far more valuable. You're a member of this crew, and to me, that makes you more valuable than all of Asgard combined."

A flicker of skepticism crossed Loki's face. "You intend to reclaim Asgard for me? That would be quite the stunning display of power, wouldn't it?"

Roman chuckled again, shaking his head. "No, it won't be about might, Loki. It'll be about cunning. We'll go to Thor and Odin and propose a bet. A simple bet, with far-reaching consequences. A bet they won't be able to refuse." He produced a pouch containing one hundred gold coins, his expression filled with quiet confidence. "Let's go. Let's pay a visit to the palace." With a wink, he set off, Loki trailing behind him, a mixture of apprehension and excitement bubbling within him.The Serpent's Kiss, with its crew of unlikely heroes, arrived at the gates of Asgard's palace. Loki, Roman, and the rest of the crew stood before Odin, a palpable tension hanging in the air. Roman, ever the strategist, addressed Odin directly. "All-Father Odin," he began, his voice calm and confident, "I understand you possess unparalleled knowledge, gained at the cost of your eye. There is a myth, a claim that no mortal can toss one hundred coins simultaneously, and have them all land tails-up."

Odin, intrigued, raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. Such a feat is considered impossible. I myself have stated as much. Why do you ask?"

Roman smiled. "Because I intend to prove you wrong, All-Father. If I succeed, I request two wishes, for myself. If I fail… I offer Loki to you as your servant. His life, forfeit."

Odin, clearly surprised by the audacity of the wager, considered this for a moment. The potential cost – losing a powerful god – was significant. However, the confidence in Roman's demeanor was unsettling. Finally, he nodded. "Agreed. Let us see this… impossible feat."

The tension ratcheted up as Roman produced the one hundred coins. Odin, the All-Father, held his breath. The fate of Loki, and the pride of Odin, hung in the balance.The tension in the Asgardian palace was thick enough to cut with a sword. Roman, with a confident smirk, laid down an additional condition: "All-Father Odin, before we begin, you and all Asgardians must swear a magical oath, bound by the heavens themselves. Break this oath, and face consequences far worse than death." He explained the unbreakable nature of the oath, a magical contract that would bind them to their word, ensuring absolute compliance.

Odin, initially hesitant, saw the strategic brilliance in Roman's gambit. It was a high-stakes game, but the potential reward—complete compliance from even the most powerful beings in Asgard—was too tempting to refuse. He agreed. Thor, and every Asgardian present, swore the sacred oath. The terms were clear: if Roman won, each Asgardian would grant him two wishes; if he lost, Loki would become Odin's servant.

Roman, with a flourish, produced his pouch. He didn't toss the coins. Instead, he calmly placed each coin, one by one, tails-up, onto the ground. One hundred coins, meticulously arranged. A collective gasp rippled through the assembled Asgardians. Odin's face was a mask of stunned disbelief. He hadn't specified how the coins had to land tails-up, only that they must.

Odin, defeated but bound by his oath, conceded. Roman, with a triumphant smile, stated his first wish: "My first wish is that none of my subsequent wishes can be denied." Odin, seething in frustrated silence, knew he'd been outmaneuvered. Roman's second wish was even more audacious: "I wish for unlimited wishes."

The implications were immediately clear to Loki and Odin. Roman now held unlimited power over Asgard, able to command anything he desired, his wishes fulfilled without question. The Asgardians were bound by their oath, their fury simmering beneath a surface of forced compliance. They had been completely outwitted by Roman's cunning, a mortal who had surpassed even the Allfather in a game of wits.Odin's face was a mask of barely controlled rage. His red-tinged anger was palpable, radiating outwards, felt by every Asgardian present. They murmured amongst themselves, their frustration a unified hum of disbelief and resentment. "How can a mere mortal be so clever?" Odin muttered, his voice low and dangerous. His gaze snapped to Thor, his son, a silent accusation hanging in the air. The weight of his disappointment was heavy, a palpable shift in the atmosphere as he considered his son's role in this humiliating defeat. "This is unfair! This is not fair! What does he have? What kind of power surpasses even a Deacon?"

Roman, unfazed by the Allfather's fury, and seemingly oblivious to the tension between father and son, simply smiled. "It's nothing particularly powerful, All-Father," he said, his voice calm and steady. "It's simply… divine common sense. Something you, with all your power and knowledge, seem to lack." His words, though seemingly humble, were a devastating blow to Odin's pride, a stark reminder of his defeat at the hands of a mortal who possessed something far more valuable than brute force or magical prowess: the ability to think strategically and exploit every loophole. The unspoken blame directed at Thor hung heavy in the air, adding another layer to the already tense atmosphere of the Asgardian throne room.Odin's rage exploded. He seized Thor by the head, his grip like iron, and hurled him against a nearby tree. The impact was brutal, the sound echoing through the silent throne room. Odin's face was contorted with fury, his voice a guttural roar. "We are slaves? To a mortal? What is your first wish, Roman? Let us hear it!"

Roman, ever calm, addressed the newly subjugated Asgardians. "My first wish... is to make Loki the new king of Asgard. He is the only member of my crew I trust to rule justly and wisely. However, I will add a condition. When Loki is present in Asgard, he alone shall rule. In his absence, Odin, you retain your authority. A fair compromise, wouldn't you say?"

His words hung in the air, a surprising twist to the expected outcome. Odin, stunned into silence, could only stare at Roman, his anger replaced by a dawning understanding. The mortal had not only won the game but had also cleverly secured a position of power that bypassed his own subjugation. The humiliating defeat was now coupled with a new, unexpected reality. The power he held was conditional, dependent on the presence of a mischievous god he had once imprisoned. The humiliation was complete.

As Loki and the crew of the Serpent's Kiss departed, leaving Odin alone in his humiliated state, Loki paused at the threshold. He turned, a mischievous glint in his eye, and extended his middle finger towards the Allfather. "Before I go, Father," he called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I wanted to say hello to my idiot father, the one who said 'yes' to my captain's incredibly clever—and divinely inspired—scheme." With that final, defiant gesture, Loki vanished, leaving Odin to stew in his bitter defeat, the stinging insult echoing in the silent throne room.

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