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*****
At this moment, a vast number of Frost Giants had gathered here, toiling to rebuild their palace. Amidst the swirling snow, they worked alongside tamed Frost Beasts, hauling massive blocks of stone with grim determination.
Feny, remaining invisible, watched this scene from the sky and couldn't help but sigh softly.
The original strength of the Frost Giants had undoubtedly been among the top tier of the Nine Realms; otherwise, they would never have become the arch-enemies of Asgard. Even Odin's eye had been struck out by them in the past. Yet now, they appeared almost wretched.
However, his sympathy was fleeting. Feny harbored no real goodwill toward the Frost Giants. After all, they had once invaded Earth, intent on plunging humanity back into a literal Ice Age. If not for Asgard's intervention at the time, there was no telling what state Earth would be in today.
Descending from the sky, Feny did not deactivate his invisibility. Instead, he prepared to scout the situation quietly. Although Laufey was dead, the current activity suggested they might have already appointed a new ruler. He decided it was prudent to gather intelligence before making a move.
Moving stealthily among the Frost Giants, Feny utilized the translator he had obtained in Asgard to listen in on their conversations. Based on the information gathered along the way, he piece together that the Frost Giants were currently led by a triumvirate.
The most prominent figure was Farbauti, a Frost Giantess and Laufey's wife. The other two were her sons, Helblindi and Byleistr. Together, these three held sway over the entire Frost Giant race.
Learning this news left Feny profoundly shocked. His thoughts immediately flew to Loki; he wondered what Loki would think if he ever discovered their existence.
Feny suspected Loki would likely react with even greater loathing and a desire to destroy Jotunheim. Loki despised the Frost Giant race and hated his own heritage; at his core, he still viewed himself as an Asgardian, the son of Odin and the God of Mischief. Moreover, he had been the one abandoned all those years ago.
Pushing thoughts of Loki aside, Feny followed the trail of information and slipped into the partially reconstructed palace. The three leaders resided here, and it was they who had summoned nearly all the giants to the site, explaining why Feny had only encountered Frost Beasts on his way there.
Even for a new royal residence, the palace was crude. Furthermore, because Frost Giants disliked light and heat, the entire area was shrouded in gloom, making Feny's infiltration exceptionally difficult.
"We should have allied with Karnilla from the start to resist Asgard!"
"Silence, Byleistr!"
Just as Feny was beginning to feel disoriented while navigating the passages, several arguing voices drifted to his ears. Following the sound, he discovered a large stone chamber.
"Look at the subjects outside! Do you think there are enough of them left for you to start a war?"
The heavy stone door was not fully closed, allowing the sound to leak out. Feny approached the gap—which was quite wide for someone of his stature—and peered inside.
The chamber had several large windows, so it wasn't as dark as the corridors. This allowed Feny to clearly see the figures engaged in the heated debate.
While most Frost Giants looked identical to Feny, these three were distinct. First was their size; they were significantly larger than the average giant, truly living up to their name. Second was their equipment. The giants outside were dressed simply, and the soldiers' armor was old and covered only the most vital areas. In contrast, the gear worn by these three was far more refined. Given the names he had overheard, Feny had a strong suspicion about their identities.
However, as Feny prepared to slip through the gap to eavesdrop further, a wave of freezing energy suddenly surged from his feet and began to crawl up his body the moment he stepped into the room. It was clearly a magical alarm or security measure designed specifically to detect intruders.
"Who goes there!?"
Caught off guard, Feny didn't have time to overthink. He instantly activated his "Breathing Technique." Although the solar energy here was extremely scarce, it was fortunately enough to trigger Flame Mode.
"A Fire Giant!?"
Seeing Feny's figure suddenly manifest, wreathed in roaring flames, the three giants in the room froze in shock.
If the Frost Giants and Asgardians still had reasons for hatred tempered by the possibility of reconciliation, the relationship between Frost Giants and Fire Giants was one of pure, elemental antagonism. Frost Giants thrived in cold, damp environments; heat and fire were not only repulsive to them but acted as a literal debuff and a source of agony. The reverse was true for the Fire Giants.
Both races were extremely dependent on their respective environments. While they knew of each other, it was incredibly rare for them to ever cross paths. Finding a "Fire Giant" in the heart of their own territory was as shocking as finding Odin dancing with Gungnir.
However, their initial shock at Feny's flaming appearance soon faded into confusion as they observed him more closely. He didn't quite look like the Fire Giants they remembered.
"Who are you?"
Because of the "Incursio" armor, they didn't immediately peg Feny as a human or an Asgardian. With so many strange races in the universe, no one could claim to know them all.
Once Flame Mode was active, the freezing sensation at his feet vanished. Feny breathed a sigh of relief as he faced their interrogation. He looked up at the three towering Frost Giants surrounding him, weighing his next move.
Meanwhile, in Asgard.
Heimdall's gaze pierced through countless star systems, focusing on Feny, who had just been discovered by the Frost Giants.
Feny's suspicion had been correct: Odin did not want Feny in Jotunheim, but he didn't want to restrict his freedom either. Consequently, he had secretly instructed Heimdall to teleport Feny as far as possible from any settlements. He hadn't expected Feny to find the giants' gathering place regardless.
"He has met with the Frost Giant leaders," Heimdall reported to Odin through their mental link.
Odin frowned upon hearing the news. After a moment of thought, he gave his instructions: "I see. Observe him for now. Do not interfere."
Privately, the All-Father wondered what Feny's ultimate goal in Jotunheim could possibly be.
Back in the stone chamber, Feny felt a bit helpless. He hadn't expected to be discovered so quickly; it seemed he really wasn't cut out for scouting work. Looking at the three wary, hostile figures before him, he sighed and gave a polite wave.
"Hello there!"
(End of Chapter)