A dreamless night, deep and restful sleep.
By the ti Lothar awoke the next morning, stirred by his internal clock, the sun was already high in the sky.
"Good morning, Lord Lothar," ca Woz's greeting from the wristband almost imdiately.
Knock knock knock.
The sudden knock on the door made Lothar's muscles tense instinctively.
"Co in."
"Good morning, Mr. Lothar. Zora has already prepared your breakfast," said the woman in a form-fitting blue professional outfit, her crimson wavy hair cascading casually over her shoulders. With flawless poise and decorum, she bowed slightly to greet him.
"Mm."
His muscles gradually relaxed. After washing up, Lothar stepped out and took his seat at the dining table. The orange tabby cat that had been prowling around the living room followed suit and hopped up beside him.
"These dishes are Gafa specialties, they—" Zora, erging from the kitchen with a tray of steaming ats, froze in shock.
The adorable orange cat from last night had morphed into a voracious beast, jaws agape and black tentacles lashing out like a storm, vacuuming up the sparse offerings on the table. Not to be outdone, Lothar, dressed in a loose black combat suit, attacked the food with such speed that afterimages of his hands lingered in the air, fighting to snatch morsels back from his own pet.
"This is all there is?"
With both gluttons in full force, the carefully prepared breakfast was annihilated in re monts.
Finding the taste surprisingly satisfying, Lothar shot a glance at Zora, who was still holding a tray of at. She took the hint and quickly placed it down. "Please wait a mont, I'll bring more imdiately!"
Trying to stay composed despite her shock at their monstrous appetites, Zora hurried back to the kitchen to start hauling in more food.
As a VIP of the Cosmic Auction House, Lothar was not only given luxurious accommodations, but also exclusive kitchen staff. Knowing his background, Zora had prepared not just local Gafa delicacies but also renowned dishes from across the Centaurian galaxy.
"You eat this."
Noticing the sweat beading on Zora's brow as she served dish after dish, Lothar conjured an energy pellet in his right hand and offered it to the Flerken.
The creature sniffed it, then promptly ceased its frenzied feasting. It retracted its tendrils, gently took the pellet with its paws, and nibbled at it with delicate, satisfied licks—its tail wagging contentedly behind it.
Now free from its ravenous companion, Lothar could finally enjoy the al alone.
Three hours later, Zora was utterly exhausted—eyes glazed over and legs barely supporting her. Not from fear or awe... just from carrying dishes nonstop.
How can he eat so much?
Was Thanos like this too?
Is everyone from the Centaurian galaxy this ravenous?
As she slumped against the wall, Zora's thoughts ran wild while Lothar, fully satisfied, turned his attention elsewhere.
"Woz, report."
Now sated, Lothar had no interest in whatever nonsense was occupying Zora's mind.
"Lord Lothar, during Woz's surveillance last night, there were three concealed energy fluctuations at Ego's estate."
"Two of them were particularly intense."
Three energy signature graphs appeared on a bright blue holographic display. This was data collected by Woz per Lothar's instructions the night before—to monitor the energy activity surrounding Ego's location.
"Any intel on that woman, Jennifer?"
Lothar slid his fingers across the screen thoughtfully.
"Jennifer is a mber of the Tuskari people—a slave caste under the Gafa regi..."
Detailed files on the red-dressed woman from last night, including all related data, unfolded before Lothar's eyes.
Though born into servitude, she possessed a fierce, unyielding spirit.
She led her own militia in defiance of Gafa's iron rule, fighting to liberate her people from bondage.
So she's one of the rebel leaders?
Lothar stroked his chin, eyes narrowing in contemplation.
He had Woz gather data on Gafa even before his arrival.
Thirty million years ago, two races inhabited this planet: the Gafa and the Tuskari.
With superior strength, the Tuskari launched repeated invasions into Gafa territory, enslaving the captured Gafa to toil and ta the land.
But when the Gafa were on the brink of extinction, their king encountered a being known only as the Collector, and obtained an artifact capable of drastically enhancing personal and racial power.
With that, the Gafa turned the tide and subjugated the Tuskari, enslaving them in turn—an arrangent that persisted unbroken for thirty million years.
From that legacy, the modern resistance was born.
This army was composed entirely of Tuskari who refused to accept their enslaved status and fought to reclaim their freedom.
They survived against all odds for millennia, keeping the fla of rebellion alive.
"Woz, does the Gafa governnt know Jennifer's in the capital?"
Lothar suddenly thought of an alternative to acquiring the chanical components—without having to participate in the auction.
"Judging from their actions, they don't," Woz replied dutifully. "They deployed triple the usual forces last night to suppress rebel activity near the desert outskirts, not within the capital."
"Can you establish contact with the Gafa King, Woz?"
"Apologies, Lord Lothar. Woz is unable to access encrypted royal communication systems. However, Woz recomnds using Miss Zora as an interdiary."
"The owner of the Cosmic Auction House... is the Gafa King himself."
Lothar looked up, his gaze locking onto Zora, who was now tidying the room.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Zora raised her head—only to et Lothar's piercing stare.
Ten minutes later, Lothar followed Zora into the towering Gafa Control Center.
And there, he t the man who had subjugated the Tuskari people for 30 million years—
King Rodus of Gafa.
Tall and imposing, clad head to toe in violet armor.
Long sky-blue hair swept casually over his shoulders, with streaks of silver beginning to show at the temples. A bold, cross-shaped scar marked the center of his handso right cheek.
"My King," Zora knelt, visibly nervous.
This was how she had been trained since childhood.
"Son of Thanos," Rodus rose from his throne and descended the steps with deliberate grace.
"The auction has yet to begin. According to our house policy, you are not permitted to view or claim any items in advance."
"I'm not here for an auction, King Gafa." Lothar crossed his arms confidently, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips—an aura of certainty that made even Rodus raise an intrigued brow.
"Oh?"
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