Marvel: The Alchemist Just Wants a Peaceful Life

To put it simply, in Sherlock's view, these places of confinement were less like prison cells and more like displays of different races.

In these rows of 'cells' that resembled pet showrooms, Sherlock almost immediately pinpointed which one was Loki's room.

Indeed, Loki's room was the only one in the entire exhibition hall that was pitch black, as if it were shrouded in an invisible black mist. Most importantly, because of Loki's identity, the prison guards or bodyguards could not say much to Loki and could only let him be.

But Sherlock didn't care about any of that. After the prison guards removed the high-energy ray wall outside the cell, Sherlock pressed his hand directly onto the black mist that seemed to be a physical barrier, and the next second, alchemy was activated.

Sherlock managed to tear a large hole in the black mist that Loki had created to obscure the view.

Sherlock waved to the guard behind him, then carried his things into the dark cave. The guard didn't say anything, just scratched his head, and turned to leave.

To Sherlock's surprise, Loki in the black mist was not as chaotic and disorganized as he had imagined. On the contrary, everything was in good order and even had a touch of elegance.

Loki used magic to isolate himself from the outside world and built himself a magnificent palace in this small prison cell!

A magnificent velvet-curtained four-poster bed, a classic armchair with leg rests, perfectly placed table lamps, and even a burning fireplace!

Under Loki's masterful illusion magic, Sherlock couldn't even distinguish what was real and what was fake.

Most importantly, when Sherlock came in, Loki was sitting on a single sofa reading a book on Tang Dynasty history, looking nothing like a criminal, but rather like a highly educated professor.

As Sherlock walked in carrying his things, Loki didn't even look up. Instead, he flipped through the book in his hand and spoke to Sherlock.

"What, are you here to reap the rewards of your prank? I'm sorry, you're a little late. If you had arrived a few days earlier, you might have actually seen me break down."

Sherlock was completely unfazed by Loki's somewhat sarcastic remarks. He simply smiled and walked towards Loki, casually using alchemy to create a sofa and table opposite Loki before speaking to him.

"A prank that can even fool the god of pranks and tricks... it seems I really am a genius at pranks!"

While teasing Loki, Sherlock plopped down on the sofa he had created, casually placing snacks and beer on the table before turning to Loki and asking him with a smile.

"Still reading Tang Dynasty history? What, still obsessed with those 800 people? Want to have a battle with Odin or Thor on the Rainbow Bridge?"

Upon hearing Sherlock's words, Loki closed his book, looked at Sherlock, glanced down at the dishes and drinks on the table, and then shook his head at Sherlock.

"I've already taken them all, and the result is obvious: I lost! Even though I didn't have Erfeng's 800 men at the time."

Hearing Loki's words, Sherlock looked at Loki opposite him with some surprise. To be able to call him by the nickname "Second Phoenix" clearly showed that Loki had really studied the history of the Tang Dynasty very seriously.

However, Loki ignored Sherlock's surprise and opened a bottle of beer. While eating the snacks Sherlock had brought, he drank the beer and said to Sherlock.

"Or rather, even if I had 800 men, I might not have been able to defeat Odin and Thor on the Rainbow Bridge back then! Although the Second Phoenix only had 800 men at the time, its prestige in the army was unparalleled, and it conquered almost the entire vast territory."

Whether in the imperial court or the army, Erfeng was the heart of the people, which led to her victory in the Xuanwu Gate duel. I am far inferior to her.”

If Sherlock was merely somewhat surprised by Loki before, he is now utterly shocked by him.

Sherlock never expected that what he had only used to satisfy his own wicked sense of humor to fool Loki would now be seen through by Loki to reveal its true meaning. In fact, the fact that Loki was able to seriously read through a piece of history from another planet surprised Sherlock immensely.

Seeing Sherlock's dumbfounded expression, Loki's lips curled into a smug and mocking smile. He looked at Sherlock and asked him a question.

"What, are you so surprised that I can read books?"

Faced with Loki's 'questioning', Sherlock shook his head, but then nodded very formally.

Seeing Sherlock's reaction, Loki was not surprised at all. After all, whether in Asgard or on Earth, Loki always appeared arrogant and power-hungry.

It's hard to imagine that someone like this would actually sit down and seriously read a dry and boring history book, especially one about an alien country that has no connection to his home planet.

Of course, Loki didn't bother to defend himself. He simply shook the bottle in his hand before speaking to Sherlock with a pointed remark.

"What I have plenty of right now is time, esteemed Alchemist Sherlock. Now tell me, what is the purpose of your coming to Asgard? Don't tell me it's just to see me make a fool of myself."

Faced with Loki's question, Sherlock completely abandoned the idea of ​​lecturing Loki. Instead, he relaxed and leaned back on the sofa. With a flick of his wrist, the Tesseract appeared in Sherlock's hand.

"The first reason I came here was naturally to get compensation for your invasion of Earth, which is this thing. Secondly, I was asked by your mother to come and persuade you. But now it seems that you are doing much better than your mother imagined, even better than your brother Thor."

At least you learned to think after the Battle of New York, while your brother remains an illiterate brute.

At this point, Sherlock paused, then continued speaking to Loki with a half-smile on his face.

"Aside from that, I have some good news to tell you. Your brother, because of his so-called love, voluntarily accepted Odin's exile. Congratulations, Loki, you are now the sole heir to Asgard."

Starting tomorrow, you will be released from prison and follow Odin to participate in the governance of Asgard, managing the Nine Realms. Odin will personally teach you how to become a qualified 'king'!

Chapter 311 Sherlock's Provocation

Just as Sherlock had predicted, Loki, who had learned to think and was well-versed in Tang history, was not excited by this matter. On the contrary, after hearing Sherlock's words, Loki was like an enraged viper, his eyes narrowed as he stared at Sherlock sitting opposite him with a half-smile.

"I refuse! Even if I am a loser now, I will not accept such a humiliating act of charity! I do not need Saul's self-sacrificing charity!"

Perhaps because he had read about the Tang Dynasty, Loki's words actually made Sherlock feel a bit of the anger of a king being offended, and even a hint of danger.

Sherlock, completely unconcerned about Loki's display of fangs, even clapped for Loki before speaking to him.

"Very impressive aura. When you hone that viperous aura into that of a lion, Loki, I guarantee you will definitely ascend the throne you've always dreamed of."

And don't flatter yourself. Saul's voluntary exile was not a sacrifice, nor was it for you. It was just a 'competition'.

I persuaded Odin to give you and Thor a fair and just 'competition,' allowing Thor to pursue his 'love,' and you to obtain the 'power' you both dream of."

At this point, Sherlock paused slightly, his ambiguous smile deepening as he continued, staring at Loki, whose breathing was becoming slightly rapid.

"But I'm curious, Loki. After you've obtained the 'power' you've always dreamed of, only to suddenly discover that power isn't as glamorous as it seems, and that it represents 'responsibility' and 'compromise' behind it, will you still be as obsessed with that throne as you are today?"

After saying this, Sherlock stopped talking, stood up, and walked towards the cave entrance he had come from. When he was almost at the entrance, Sherlock stopped and continued speaking in an aria-like tone.

"Politics and power, these twins are inseparable, just like you and Thor, so fascinating! Loki, I look forward to your performance. Tomorrow morning, Odin will be waiting for you in the Great Hall."

After saying that, Sherlock left Loki's cell without the slightest hesitation, leaving Loki alone in the room with his eyes flickering as if he were struggling with something.

After taking a deep breath, Loki finally calmed himself down. His eyes were filled with unwavering determination, but he said nothing and just stared silently at the spot where Sherlock had left.

After ending the conversation, Sherlock didn't think about Loki anymore and went to his room on his own.

Just as Sherlock said before, politics brings power, and behind power lies responsibility and compromise. Sherlock simply cannot understand why Loki is so fascinated by such a complex thing.

Or perhaps what Loki truly craved was never power, but rather Odin's approval?

"This feels like a damn 8 PM family soap opera!"

Thinking of this, Sherlock couldn't help but sigh, completely unaware that in a dark corner of the corridor he was passing through, a figure was hidden in the darkness until Sherlock left, after which the two slowly walked into the light.

It was none other than Frigga.

Looking in the direction Sherlock left, Frigga remained silent for a while before turning to look towards the dungeon and letting out a helpless sigh.

"Loki, I hope you and Thor can both grow stronger. Odin and I don't have much time left."

After saying that, Frigga turned around and disappeared back into the darkness, and the entire corridor fell silent.

Frigga's appearance did not attract Sherlock's attention, or rather, even if Sherlock did notice her, he wouldn't care at all. At this moment, Sherlock's mind was almost entirely occupied with the Tesseract and the Space Stone inside.

After resolving Loki's problem, Sherlock promptly found a quiet guest room and began studying the Tesseract and the Space Stone inside.

While Sherlock remained silent, the entire upper class of Asgard was in an uproar because of his actions.

And it all started with the morning meeting between Odin and the ministers of Asgard the following day.

When the ministers arrived at the main hall for the morning meeting, they saw Loki, who should have been imprisoned in the dungeon, standing quietly behind Odin, who was expressionless. Odin, on the other hand, seemed to be completely oblivious to Loki and continued to hold the morning meeting with the ministers as usual.

Just from that, one can imagine how strange the expressions on the ministers' faces must have been.

But this was just the beginning. After the morning meeting, Odin took Loki to his office without saying a word, and even arranged a small table for Loki in his office.

Under the unspoken gaze of the chief minister, Odin would review each document and letter, then casually hand them to Loki, who would then organize them and return them to the chief minister.

Even at lunchtime, which should have been the most relaxing time, Odin had lunch with Loki and the presidents of the major merchant guilds of Asgard, and they even reached a number of agreements during the banquet.

In the afternoon, I was so busy that I barely had time to rest all day.

After three full days, Loki's illusions about the throne had basically shattered.

In Loki's original mind, the king's power was supreme, everything in Asgard should operate according to the king's will, and even everything the king enjoyed should be the best and supreme, and no one could challenge the king's majesty.

However, Loki witnessed Odin exchanging resources for profits with those damned merchants during a luncheon with the guild leader, and then redistributing those profits at the morning meeting.

Compared to those who benefited from the system, Odin, or rather the Asgardian royal family, gained very little.

This situation left Loki somewhat incredulous, but recalling the life of the so-called greatest emperor of Earth that he had witnessed in the prison cell, Loki had no choice but to accept the reality before him.

Clearly, behind the king's control of endless resources and power lies a set of responsibilities and rules unique to him; no king in this world can truly do whatever he wants.

Having realized this, Loki began to look at this 'father' who he once thought ignored him with a different eye.

If Loki's previous pranks and actions were all aimed at gaining Odin's approval and attracting his attention, then Loki can now understand Odin a little better.

If I were as busy as Odin, I probably wouldn't have time to pay attention to my children either.

Of course, while he understood, Loki still harbored resentment. However, what happened next gradually dissipated Loki's resentment, and he even began to feel a slight aversion to the so-called capital.

Chapter 312 The Secret of the Infinity Stones

On the fourth day, Odin actually relinquished his power, leaving Loki to make all the decisions, from the morning meetings and document processing to the luncheon arrangements, while Odin merely observed or offered advice and decisions at key points.

This situation flattered Loki, but it also caused further turmoil within the upper echelons of Asgard.

Everyone knows that Thor was the rightful heir to Asgard, but now that Thor is missing and Odin has taken Loki to the forefront, anyone would have to think twice.

Throughout history, the struggle for the throne among the imperial family has caused tremendous changes within the upper echelons of society. It is like a gamble: those who bet on it rise step by step, while those who bet on it can only retire gracefully and pray that the new king will not purge them and their families.

The same situation applies to Asgard. Loki is not without talent, but many of his ideas and proposals cannot be implemented because of the indecisiveness of his ministers.

This made Loki increasingly irritable. Odin saw everything but never got involved, while Loki's actions impressed Odin.

In the past, Loki would have launched a grand and elaborate campaign of revenge against those ministers, making sure everyone knew he was the one who had retaliated against them.

This time, although Loki still retaliated with a prank, he did so in complete secrecy. Compared to before, this time it seemed more like a venting of anger. The next day, he would still sit at the negotiating table with a smile and negotiate with the other party.

This alone was enough for Odin to see Loki's progress. Odin couldn't help but wonder how Thor would have handled the situation. He would probably have gone to Loki's house with his hammer and used force to persuade him!

This caused Odin's myriad thoughts to turn into a helpless sigh; the personalities of his two sons were giving him a real headache.

As for Loki, he seems to have realized his shortcomings. In Asgard, a place that reveres strength, his past reputation, along with his identity as a sorcerer, are obstacles to his path to the throne.

This reality gave Loki a headache, but he had no solution. In the end, Odin stepped forward and gave Loki and the Asgardian leadership a peaceful solution.

It's very simple. In a few days, Asgard's grandest festival will be held. Odin has entrusted Loki with all matters related to the festival, while he himself will step forward again to stabilize the situation in Asgard.

The ministers were also required not to make things difficult for Loki during the festival and to fully cooperate with him. However, after the festival, they could come to the palace to report their dissatisfaction.

For Loki, this was both a test and an opportunity.

On the one hand, it can be used to assess Loki's coordination and cooperation with the upper echelons of Asgard, and whether the distribution of various benefits generated during the festival can satisfy all the ministers.