41: Guardian of the Nine Realms

A few days later, above the main hall of Asgard, in Asgard.

Laufey knelt in the main hall, his limbs in shackles, his eyes staring blankly at the ground.

In front of him, Odin sat at the highest point of the main hall, looking down at him.

"King of the Frost Giants, Laufey, you have violated the laws of peace in the Nine Realms, intending to destroy the Earth. Now you are sentenced to serve in Asgard until you die. Notice to all the Frost Giants. This is a decision made for the peace of the Nine Realms!"

Laufey knelt in a daze and didn't say much.

Soldiers soon surrounded him, pulling him down. This was just a formality; Laufey would never escape and would be punished.

After Laufey was taken away, everyone's attention turned to Rhodes.

Hela also observed Rhodes from the sidelines, her usually cold face showing a faint smile as she looked at him.

"Lord~" Odin called out.

Rhodes stood up and approached Odin under the expectant gazes of everyone.

"As the temporary head of the army in this battle, I took it upon myself to resolve the matter of Laufey's rebellion. I also quelled the riot led by Apocalypse in the Earth. I've made significant contributions. Now, you are specially appointed as the guardian of the nine realms, responsible for monitoring and protecting the nine realms alongside Hela."

Exclamations erupted from the crowd. Becoming a guardian of the nine realms was a prestigious position, nearly second only to Odin's own. Rhodes had been elevated from a mere guard to the guardian of the nine realms.

Odin felt a mixture of emotions as he looked at Rhodes now. He couldn't fully gauge Rhodes' strength. Even Odin's absolute power couldn't harm Rhodes, and there seemed to have been no intense battle against Laufey. With such strength, Rhodes might soon outgrow the role of a guardian and move on to a higher position within the nine realms.

Rhodes, however, remained unfazed by the official position he was granted. To him, Odin wasn't a boss, and no one held authority over him.

Despite his genetic connection to Superman Silver, Rhodes understood the importance of subtlety and strategy. He was a man from ancient China, and he recognized the value of prudence and tact, especially in a vast and potentially infinite universe. Rhodes knew that flaunting his strength excessively would attract unnecessary trouble and ultimately make him restless.

Rhodes nodded and said, "Thank you, King Odin."

He planned to accumulate power, take time to recharge, and then decide on his future steps while staying in Asgard.

"Present the Guardian of the Nine Realms with the divine weapon!" Odin commanded, and his attendants handed Rhodes a long spear.

The spear was blood-red, its sharp spearhead glinting, and it bore an engraved coiled snake pattern.

The weapon emitted a faint magical aura, clearly indicating its exceptional nature.

Rhodes accepted the spear and gave it a few test swings. The movements of the spear left a red trail in the air, creating an arc of light that dazzled those present.

With the magic weapon in his hand, Rhodes appeared as the quintessential hero.

The crowd applauded and chanted, "Rhodes! Rhodes! Rhodes!"

Hela joined in the applause and approached Rhodes.

"Congratulations. This is a spear crafted specifically for you by the finest artisan in the Nine Realms, under the guidance of my father, the king. I heard from Sig that your marksmanship is exceptional. This spear is said to be able to pierce through anything. Holding it, you've found your true purpose."

Rhodes smiled faintly and replied, "Your praise is too kind. It was just fortunate timing that resolved the situation."

Hela laughed in response, "You're already a guardian of the Nine Realms, yet you're still hiding your strength."

She playfully patted Rhodes' shoulder, a rare display of girlish charm.

Rhodes was momentarily taken aback by this uncharacteristic behavior from Hela. He watched as she quickly regained her composure and turned away, concealing her momentary lapse.

Rhodes couldn't help but smile as he watched Hela retreat with a hint of shyness.

...

"My lord, is this residence to your satisfaction?" Several craftsmen stood respectfully next to Rhodes.

As the guardian of the Nine Realms, Rhodes was entitled to his own dwelling. He had personally designed his residence based on his preferences.

Looking at the grand house before him, Rhodes nodded in approval. "Yes, is the study room spacious enough?"

"It's quite spacious! Please come this way." The craftsmen led Rhodes to the study.

A row of rooms awaited him. Rhodes had specifically requested a sizable study that could house a collection of books from across the universe.

Given the impossibility of constructing such a vast space, the craftsmen had ingeniously created a quantum reading room for Rhodes. It could access electronically-recorded books from the Nine Realms for consultation.

Some unrecoverable tomes were painstakingly located by the craftsmen and placed in a dedicated chamber for ancient texts.

Rhodes was pleased to see the shelves lined with rare and ancient books gathered from the Nine Realms.

"Is this satisfactory, my lord?"

"No issues. Continue gathering ancient texts. Any books that Asgard's quantum technology cannot record, I want to acquire!"

The craftsmen nodded and left promptly.

Rhodes focused on his study, picking up the first book from the shelf and settling into a seat with optimal lighting.

Meanwhile, Hela arrived at Rhodes' courtyard. Eager to see his new residence, she had come to visit.

After searching around the front courtyard and finding no sign of Rhodes, she knocked on the door to Rhodes' hall, but received no response.

After pondering for a while, she sighed and mumbled, "This bookworm is probably engrossed in studying!"

With a wry smile, Hela headed toward Rhodes' study.

Rhodes possessed super memory and intelligence, enabling him to grasp the contents of books at a glance, thanks to his evolved faculties.

Rhodes had become a walking repository of knowledge, absorbing the universe's information effortlessly.

The study door was ajar, and Hela stood at the entrance, observing Rhodes as he read.

For a while, Rhodes remained unaware of her presence, his focus entirely on the book. In Asgard, he didn't need to be vigilant at all times.

Hela chose not to interrupt him, silently watching Rhodes' profile as he read.

Eventually, Rhodes noticed her presence and put down the book. "Hela?"

Hela glanced at the maids delivering books to Rhodes. They greeted her respectfully as "Master Hela."

Rhodes looked at Hela expectantly. "Did you need something?"

Hela scrutinized the maids with a subtle coldness in her gaze. These maids had been assigned by Odin to attend to Rhodes and ensure his comfort.

They were originally Valkyrie warriors, their angelic appearance and feathered adornments lending them an air of holiness and beauty.