"If you ask me, you should just give up. There's no way you can get me out of here with the Accuser Corps surrounding us."
Outside the warship, Astra took a deep drag of an H91 star specialty, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he stretched and loosened his muscles. He glanced at the robotic cat installing the self-destruct program on the warship and shook his head.
No one could escape the Kree Empire's iron grip—not even Lothar, the son of Thanos. The only exception would be if Thanos himself intervened, but that would mean the Black Quadrant officially declaring war on the Kree Empire.
Would the entire Black Quadrant and the Kree Empire really engage in an intergalactic war just because of him?
Astra knew better than to think he was that important. He was well aware of his own worth. The secrets he carried might hold some value to Thanos, but they were nowhere near enough to warrant a full-scale war against the Kree Empire.
The risk-to-reward ratio simply didn't add up. The Kree weren't some pushover faction that Thanos could crush on a whim.
"Shut your mouth, scruffy beard. Don't lump Prince Lothar in with the worthless fools you've encountered before." The Other, Lothar's loyal subordinate, shot Astra a menacing glare. The radiant glow of the scepter in his hand dimmed slightly compared to before.
"Data purge complete. Self-destruct program concealed. Would you like to activate the cloaking function now?"
"Activate it."
With a press of his palm against the holographic screen, Lothar granted the necessary authorization. Woz instantly transformed into a silver-white bracelet and wrapped itself around Lothar's right wrist. The massive warship before them slowly faded from view. Lothar made no effort to erase the traces of its crash landing.
"Move."
Without a second thought, Lothar abandoned the small battleship that had accompanied him through countless campaigns. His cold gaze shifted toward the ruined city in the distance. Raising his hand, he activated the holographic interface on his bracelet and began charting a course.
He needed a new warship—or, at the very least, a vessel capable of spatial jumps.
Unfamiliar with this territory and unwilling to waste time, Lothar set his sights on one of the seven overlords ruling this sector—interstellar pirate Diana.
As one of the most powerful figures on Planet N52, Diana, with her pirate origins, was almost certain to have access to a ship capable of interstellar travel.
"Woz is currently plotting a course for you..."
"Insufficient road data..."
Unfortunately, Woz was unable to generate an exact route this time. The information on Planet N52 stored in Ebony Maw's database was sparse at best. The fact that the database even contained details on the Seven Overlords was a testament to Ebony Maw's thoroughness.
"Lord Lothar, Woz needs access to N52's information network to obtain the latest route data."
The loading screen continued to spin without progress. Lacking the necessary data, Woz marked a potential location—a place where it could acquire the information it needed: the Information Tower.
The Information Tower was a landmark on Planet N52, serving as the central hub for data exchange among the Seven Overlords. Each overlord's domain housed one, and rumor had it that they were all crafted by none other than Batman, one of the Seven Overlords himself. If they could infiltrate the tower, Woz would be able to access all the data they required, including the precise locations of the Seven Overlords.
Woz had already pinpointed the tower's location and charted a route. The Other, gripping his scepter and carrying the Casket of Ancient Winters on his back, hurried after Lothar. Astra, taking a swig from a small bottle of Blue Dream liquor, let out a satisfied burp and leisurely followed behind.
Since escape wasn't an option, he might as well enjoy the journey. Astra had always had a laid-back attitude.
"So this city isn't just a wasteland after all..."
As Lothar stepped into the city, The Other observed the bustling entertainment district lining the streets with curiosity. Under the hazy neon glow, female extraterrestrials showcased their unique charms, hoping to empty the pockets of passing outlaws.
Anyone walking by could receive their enticing invitations.
The Other hesitated, uncertain if they were on the right path. However, after glancing at Lothar—who remained utterly indifferent to his surroundings—he swallowed his doubts and followed. Unlike The Other's unease, Astra, a veteran of such establishments, felt completely at home.
His scruffy beard, wild muscles, and fierce demeanor made him look like a prime target for the business-minded locals.
"I'm telling you, back in my prime on L77..."
Just as Astra was about to launch into a grand tale of past glories, Lothar stopped in his tracks. The cold stare he shot at Astra immediately cut him off mid-sentence.
"Ahem. I'll just hang out by the door. Not going in. Not going in."
Astra coughed twice, though his expression showed no embarrassment whatsoever.
"You three, this must be your first time on Planet N52, right?" A seasoned hostess strutted up to Lothar, flaunting her voluptuous figure with practiced ease.
Having spent years in this trade, she didn't even flinch at the sight of The Other's grotesque visage.
"If it's your first time, why not come inside for a little fun? No charge."
"Really?!" Astra's eyes widened in surprise. The exotic woman before them had black hair, golden eyes, pale skin, and a fluffy tail swaying behind her.
"I can't speak for other places, but here, I can vouch for it." She patted her chest confidently. "And if you need, we also offer a three-day guide service to help you integrate into this free, open, and chaotic planet."
"Of course, the guide isn't free. We have to make a living, after all. But trust me—if you hire us, you won't regret it."
The woman's smile widened. She loved customers like Lothar—ones who still relied on maps to navigate. And judging by his silver armor, which practically screamed high-quality craftsmanship, this was shaping up to be a lucrative business opportunity.
"You know this planet well?"
"Of course. I've lived here for forty years."
"Where is Diana?"
"What?" The woman blinked, caught off guard.
"You're looking for me?"
Could it be that after 130 years, her enemies had finally tracked her down?
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