Marvel: What If Thanos Adopted A Saiyan?-Chapter 204 - 205: Why Two Great Imperial Legions Turned to Banditry

"Yes, the Collector."

Jack Jones closed his eyes as he reinserted the fully reassembled purple orb into the socket on the diamond-shaped bracelet on his left wrist, following Lothar’s lead.

"He hails from a mysterious species that has existed since the birth of this universe, immortal and obsessed with gathering all manner of rare and peculiar artifacts scattered throughout the cosmos."

"As far as I know, the detailed map leading to the location of the Soul Stone was obtained by the Collector years ago."

"But for some reason, there’s never been any news of him actually acquiring the Soul Stone."

After the base of the most notorious gang in the galaxy was overrun by the Nova Corps, Jack Jones narrowly escaped death and became a cosmic vagabond. In his desperation, he once sought out the Collector, hoping to acquire an artifact powerful enough to restore his strength and exact vengeance.

Unfortunately, he was turned away.

Because he had nothing of value to offer that could interest the Collector.

Even the map to the Soul Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones, was dangled in front of Jack as a trade item, a cruel tease.

His heart had raced with desire, but in the end, he had no choice but to walk away empty-handed.

Ah...

The surge of returning power forced Jack to open his eyes. His physique, once deceptively bloated, now radiated raw strength.

Put simply: he no longer looked overweight, he looked powerful.

"If I remember correctly, the Collector should currently be on Planet Gafa, where the Cosmic Auction House is located. He’s been holed up there for a long time now."

With his strength restored, Jack’s voice carried new confidence.

With a flick of his wrist, six data chips flew into Lothar’s hand.

"These are what the daughter of Odin wanted. We’re square now."

Gafa, huh...

Casually pocketing the six chips into Woz’s bracelet storage, Lothar turned on his heel, ready to leave.

The Ego he had encountered on Gafa was the most formidable enemy he had faced to date. Although he had exacted revenge on Sakaar in a brutal, eye-for-an-eye confrontation, the impact Ego left on him had not been forgotten.

"Woz, can you locate the Collector?"

"Prince Lothar, Woz cannot pinpoint his exact location, but I can provide information about the Collector’s base of operations."

"According to our updated database, his base is located in a place known as Knowhere."

"Knowhere?"

"Yes, Knowhere."

A translucent display floated before Lothar’s right eye, filled with data on Knowhere.

"Knowhere’s location has long remained a mystery in the cosmos. Records indicate it’s actually the decapitated head of a fallen Celestial. Because of this, it’s nearly impossible for ordinary beings to locate it."

"But you’re different."

"Back on Sakaar, Miss Jennifer gifted you the Cosmic Switch, forged from divine remains. It’s capable of resonating with the unique energy of Knowhere."

"Woz can triangulate Knowhere’s exact position using those energy ripples."

Woz’s response was acceptable, at the very least, Lothar wasn’t going in blind anymore.

"In that case, begin."

Toying with the Cosmic Switch Vanessa left him, Lothar pressed the button at its top.

A ripple of bizarre energy burst out from him, rapidly expanding across Xandar, then further, into the universe itself.

"These are what you wanted."

...

As Rhomann Dey, the Nova Corps’ acting commander, paced like an ant on a hot stove, Lothar finally emerged within view.

Smack!

Catching the six data chips tossed his way, Hela unceremoniously flung the woman in her grip toward Lothar like a sack of used laundry.

"You really weren’t afraid she’d die, were you?" Lothar immediately spotted the glaring five-finger bruise on Nova Prime’s throat.

He lifted the dazed, doll-eyed woman by one arm and floated slowly toward the panicked Rhomann Dey.

Lifting her higher, he let go.

The woman, expressionless and limp, dropped like a stone.

Rhomann Dey lunged forward just in time to catch the battered Nova Prime, finally returning her to the embrace of the Nova Corps.

"It’s time."

Lothar didn’t spare a glance for the nervous, pudgy heir to the Nova Queen’s throne. With a snap of his fingers, he signaled the next move.

The crisp sound echoed straight into everyone’s hearts.

Three seconds later, a small orange figure clambered onto Lothar’s shoulder.

It stuck out its pink tongue, clearly still groggy from the bitter concoction it had recently consumed.

Woz piloted Lothar’s ship, marked with the symbol [L], in with dramatic flair from the sky. It rumbled to a halt in front of him.

The gust stirred Hela’s jet-black hair, and the ship’s flamboyant design made the Asgardian Goddess of Death secretly vow to craft something even cooler once she got home.

It wasn’t like she lacked the tech, after all, she’d traded for it from Lothar. Asgard’s engineers were already working overtime to reverse-engineer it.

"You still ride a horse?"

The snide comment ringing in her ears made Hela’s face darken.

What’s wrong with riding a horse?!

Cardio training on the go, nothing wrong with that!

Snatching up the chips, she turned and left without hesitation.

Big deal. So what if he had a ship?

...

"Are we ready?"

"Word from Xandar is that Thanos’ son is about to leave."

Beyond Xandar’s orbit, in the cold expanse of space.

Rocco, a Supreme Accuser of the Kree Empire, held his warhammer tightly, his face a mask of stern resolve as he checked in with his unit.

"All ready, Rocco. The moment Lothar steps beyond Xandar’s protection zone, we’ll unleash hell."

"Good. Remember, no one can know who we are."

"Right now, we’re not elite troops of the Kree Empire. We’re the scattered remnants of the galaxy’s most feared crime syndicate."

Rocco wore the gang’s signature uniform, the very same one the group had worn before being eradicated by the Nova Corps.

"Relax. We’ve run this play a hundred times. We know the drill."

Lothar... you will pay for what you did.

After cutting the comm line, Rocco gazed silently at the shimmering sphere of Xandar. He closed his eyes.

All he could see was the funeral back on Hala, his homeworld, the funeral of his father.

Gripping the warhammer he’d inherited from one of his father’s comrades, Rocco struggled to calm the fury boiling within him.

Father, watch me. I’ll avenge you with my own hands.

...

Elsewhere in the cosmos, a fleet nearly equal in size to the Kree armada was also lying in wait.

"General, I—"

"How many times have I told you? Don’t call me ’General’! It’s Master Seven!"

"We’re supposed to be remnants of the galaxy’s biggest gang, here to get revenge on Xandar!"

The Skrull officer barked at his subordinate, who had been foolish enough to forget the script.

"Eyes open!"

"The moment we spot that bastard Lothar, the one who cost the Empire dearly, we hit him. Hit him hard. No holding back!"

Just remembering the day Thanos personally came knocking to extort their resources made Master Seven’s heart ache.

And now the culprit, Lothar, had landed in their lap.

Of course they were going to strike, covertly.

No self-respecting Skrull would let this opportunity pass!

That’s why he had ordered his men to shapeshift into the likeness of the old cosmic crime syndicate, setting the stage for a perfect "revenge" mission.

As long as they didn’t blow their cover, no one would ever know who was really behind it.

"Master Seven! Target in sight! Target in sight!"

Before he could even relish his scheme, a subordinate’s voice cried out.

On screen, Lothar’s flashy ship had entered view, followed closely by a majestic, winged celestial steed.

"FIRE!!!"

"FIRE!!!"

"FIRE!!!!"

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