We moved to Morag, landed the ship near the temple containing the Orb, and then untied Quill.
"Got it? Don't do anything stupid. Just go into the temple and get the Orb."
"You're not coming?"
"I'll guard the ship. I don't trust you."
"Geez... no trust after coming all this way. Fine."
Quill grumbled and left the ship. I had my reasons. There was no need to unnecessarily expose my information to Ronan's n, whom Quill would et. Besides, I trusted Quill to handle it himself.
After a short wait, I heard the sounds of a fight between Quill and Ronan's n.
Bang! Bang!
-Damn! Start the engines!!
When Quill called, I imdiately started the Milano's engines and prepared for takeoff. Quill rushed aboard and shouted,
"Go!"
"Okay."
As I lifted off, I saw Ronan's n aiming a cannon at us. I perford evasive maneuvers to avoid their fire and quickly left Morag.
"Phew~ that was close. Good flying."
"Just part of the job. So, did you get the Orb?"
"Yeah."
Quill showed the Orb.
"Success."
"This is easy. We seem to work well together. Want to keep working with ? I'm planning to go independent from the Ravagers. I'll need a team."
Quill tried to recruit . I didn't answer imdiately.
"I'll think about it. So, where do we sell the Orb?"
"Let's go to Xandar. Yondu has a broker there."
"But aren't you wanted by the Nova Corps?"
"Don't worry. I have a way in. But since I'm doing the legwork, the split is 60/40."
"Geez, fine."
I was worried Quill might try to betray , but he didn't. He seed genuinely interested in as a teammate. He just played 80s hits and humd along as we traveled to Xandar.
"You're from Earth?"
"Huh? You know Earth?"
"Yeah. I visit sotis. But Earthlings haven't reached space yet. How did you end up here?"
Quill told his story. In short, after his mother died of cancer, he was abducted by aliens who had co to Earth. Those aliens were the Ravager crew of Yondu. He grew up with them and eventually joined.
"Well, looking back, I would have had to live with my grandpa in the country after my mom died. Maybe it was for the best."
"I see."
"So where are you from?"
"I'm..."
Just then, the communicator on the table buzzed. Yondu was calling. Quill looked at it and said,
"Ignore it."
But he had to answer. If he didn't, Yondu might not put a bounty on Quill. So I hacked the Milano and triggered a collision alarm.
BEEP BEEP BEEP - Collision warning! Collision warning!
"A teor!"
I perford evasive maneuvers while using telekinesis to knock the communicator off the table, connecting the call.
"Oh no!"
-Quill!!
"Uh... hey, Yondu."
The call connected, and Yondu's angry face appeared on the screen. I quickly ducked out of sight.
-Why are you on Morag, but the Orb and you aren't?
"I'm just saving you the trouble."
-Where are you!? Kid!
"Sorry, can't say."
-I worked hard to set this up! And you're going to steal it?
"What's a few phone calls?"
-We're Ravagers! We have a code!
"I know. 'Steal from everyone.'"
-That's not the point! I'm going to find you and...
Quill just hung up. I looked at him, and he said,
"Don't worry. It'll be fine."
He turned the music back on and started humming again. Quill was half right and half wrong. Because while I would be fine, Quill was about to have a lot of trouble.
We arrived near Xandar. Quill took the controls and steered us through a supply route, not the main traffic lanes. He landed the Milano in a strange hangar.
"Impressive. I didn't know about this route."
"I'm a famous Ravager, you know. 'Star-Lord'."
Quill was bragging, but he wasn't famous at all. The people of Xandar called him 'Star Prince'.
"You go sell the Orb to the broker. I'll buy supplies and food."
"Good! et you back at the Milano."
We split up. As Quill suggested, I quickly bought supplies and stored them on the Milano. We should be set for long-distance travel.
After preparing the Milano, I went out to check if the future Guardians of the Galaxy mbers were eting up. I heard a commotion and saw Quill, Gamora, Rocket, and Groot being arrested. Good, things seed to be progressing like the original.
Sigh... Finally, things are back on track.
I thought the Guardians would form well in prison.
Thank goodness. Now, should I put the Power Stone back in the Orb?
But on second thought, I didn't need to go through that trouble. The Guardians were ford, so the Orb didn't matter anymore.
Still, if there was nothing inside, they might find it suspicious. So I decided to put sothing in. I took a Coronatite ore I had from Konosuba, shaped it to the size of the Power Stone, and infused it with as much energy as possible. It now contained enough energy for two Explosions.
I followed the arrested Quill using [Stealth] and waited at the Nova Corps' prison satellite's property storage area. When Quill's belongings arrived, I found the Orb and put the Coronatite energy orb inside.
This way, people will know the Orb didn't contain the Power Stone. No need to steal it back from Xandar later.
It should be fine since no one had actually seen the Power Stone; they only suspected. Then I returned to Xandar. I wanted to buy so machinery. But there was a problem. Quill's ship, the Milano, was still in Xandar.
"Ah... damn."
Probably because we entered illegally, the Milano wasn't impounded. The problem was that the Guardians wouldn't have a ship to escape the prison.
"Can't be helped. I'll just have to bring it to them."
I put the Milano in my inventory. Then I went shopping. I decided to buy a large transport ship as a gift for Asgard. The transport ship was cheaper than the luxury ship I bought before.
Even after spending all that, I still had plenty of Units. The vibranium sale and gambling winnings were substantial. After shopping, I took the large transport ship to Asgard. It had a hyperdrive, so the trip was short.
I had contacted Asgard in advance to avoid misunderstandings. Under their guidance, I landed the transport ship and t Odin.
"Welco. What's with the ship?"
"I bought it in case the Bifrost is ever damaged again, so Asgard isn't stranded."
"Oh~ is that so? Thank you. I've considered it myself, but I've been too busy to act. You've taken a load off my mind."
Odin seed genuinely grateful.
"How is Thor doing on Midgard?"
"He's healthy. But he broke up with Jane recently. He's having a hard ti."
Odin thought for a mont, then said,
"Hmm... Jin, would you walk with ?"
"Of course."
Odin and I walked around the palace grounds. Then he began to speak. I understood why he wanted to talk.
"Over the long years, I've loved many won. But the difference in lifespan was a great suffering. I don't dislike Jane. I just don't want my son to suffer when he loses his lover."
My prediction was correct. Odin wanted to spare Thor the pain of losing a lover due to his long lifespan. It must have been hard for him to talk about.
"I see. So that was your reason."
"Yes. I wish Thor would choose his partner from among the Asgardians. You're close to him. I hope you can help."
"I understand your concern, but I can't help in matters of love."
Odin looked disappointed.
"I suppose so..."
"May I speak freely, Your Majesty?"
"Go ahead."
"Were the mories you had with your past loves not precious?"
Odin thought for a mont, then said,
"Sigh... you're right. They were all precious mories... I was trying to take away my son's precious mories. But understand, I also wish for my son to settle down and rule peacefully as a father."
"I understand."
We returned to the palace.
"I'm always in your debt. Is there anything you desire?"
"No. Asgard is my teacher and friend. I don't do things for reward."
"Thank you. Very well. But if you ever need help, please let know."
"Thank you."
After eting with Odin, I visited Frigga and Wanda. Frigga was ntoring Wanda.
"Oh~ Jin, it's been a while. It's not ti for Wanda to return yet. What brings you here?"
"Nice to see you, Queen Frigga. I had so business in Asgard."
"I see. Wanda, let's take a break."
"Yes, Master."
We talked about magic training and Thor on Earth.
"I see. He broke up with Jane. I didn't raise my son to be so spineless. It's a sha."
"It doesn't seem completely over. They still have feelings for each other. Rember when Dr. Cho first arrived..."
I told Queen Frigga the story. She found it very amusing.
"The situation seems to be progressing amusingly."
"Your Majesty, this is a secret. Thor might get mad if he finds out I told you."
"I understand. I enjoyed talking with you, Jin."
After finishing our conversation, I said goodbye. Finally, I visited Loki. He was in his cell, reading a book.
"The Berserker is back."
"Yeah. How are you?"
"The sa."
"Does Thor visit?"
"No. He's probably forgotten I'm here."
"I see. I'll tell him. That his little brother misses him."
Loki frowned and said,
"Tell him I'm going to escape soon and co for his head!"
Still the tsundere. I had the guard bring Loki so food and snacks. Then I returned to Earth.
At the Avengers base, I saw Tony and Banner whispering about sothing. I joined them.
"Oh~ Jin, perfect timing. I found so Hydra tech in the S.H.I.E.L.D. files. It could scan a brain and turn it into an AI. I'm thinking of trying it."
This is...
He must be talking about the technology used to turn Zola into data. Despite everything, Tony was determined to create Ultron.
"We already have JARVIS. Why do we need another AI?"
"I want to create an AI that can think more humanly, not just follow orders."
"What if it sees us as enemies?"
"Don't be ridiculous. That only happens in movies. And with aliens invading, I think we need a solid defense."
Tony was mistaken. This was a fictional universe. And that 'movie' thing was about to happen.
"And this..."
Tony decided to postpone the AI research for now and showed a blueprint. It was a project called the Iron Legion: robotic drones to support the mbers and control crowds.
"I'd like to mass-produce these. What do you think?"
"Oh~ that's a good idea. Iron Man is popular, so if used right, it could be great."
Tony's face brightened.
"Right? That's why I need your help to mass-produce them."
"Will JARVIS control them?"
"Yeah."
If used right, the drones shouldn't be a problem.
"I see. Is 100 enough?"
"Wow~ that's Jin for you. But that's too many. Let's start with 30. I'll pay for them."
"Let's make 40. I'll fund 20. 20 for the base, 20 for Avengers Tower. How's that?"
"Good!"
Tony and I shook hands. I had a reason for this support. I planned to make them unhackable. If Ultron was created, he wouldn't be able to control them. I went to Gundam Island and modified the blueprints.
I significantly enhanced their anti-hacking capabilities, set their command authority to Tony, JARVIS, and Minerva, and began production. Minerva was an AI created with future technology, so hacking it was virtually impossible. With this second layer of defense, even Ultron shouldn't be able to hack the drones.
I left production to the androids Lara and Lulu. Then I moved to the Nova Corps prison satellite. It was almost ti for the Guardians of the Galaxy team to escape.
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