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Arthur spoke earnestly, though the corner of his eye kept drifting toward Star-Lord and Gamora.
Drax, frankly, could be disregarded; his way of thinking didn't exactly follow conventional logic.
Groot? Even less so. Trying to understand his thought process was like interpreting abstract art in the middle of a space battle.
Rocket was still asleep, recently removed from Arthur's Disassembler space.
Steve had mentioned earlier that Rocket would need at least another hour of recovery time.
That hour had already passed in real-world terms, but inside the Disassembler space, where time stood still, the clock had only just begun ticking.
Of Star-Lord's crew, only he and Gamora were really capable of processing this kind of high-level conversation.
Star-Lord had the edge, being from Earth. But Gamora was a true product of the stars. Arthur wasn't sure how she'd respond to him basically handing over alien tech acquisition responsibilities to Tony and Banner for analysis.
Turned out… neither reacted at all. There was not even a flicker of surprise in their expressions.
Throughout the entire meeting, they'd kept that same neutral expression, mostly because, to be honest, they hadn't really grasped the core of what was being discussed.
Now, though, Arthur's latest comments should've been more straightforward. Yet even then, their expressions didn't change. If anything, they seemed almost disinterested.
Arthur let out a quiet laugh at himself. Maybe he was being too suspicious, assuming too much from too little.
Still, it was a necessary kind of caution.
Knowledge changed everything. And if his team stayed stagnant while others evolved, they'd be helpless when Thanos came knocking.
Sure, Ronan was currently en route to deliver a "gift package"… but would Thanos really go down that easily?
That was highly unlikely. Even Arthur, for all his strategic foresight, wasn't betting the farm on it. He was hoping, but he wasn't naive.
Maybe it was the constant side-eyes that finally made Star-Lord and Gamora feel awkward.
Star-Lord fidgeted, then finally spoke. "If you're looking for more tech-based intel, I might be able to pull some strings. Get you something."
"Same here," Gamora added, nodding. "Every civilization has its secrets, but once they start deploying military hardware, it's only a matter of time before someone reverse-engineers it. Core systems are protected, sure, but surface-level tech leaks all the time. Especially during wartime."
That was the truth of it.
Once weapons are in the field, they're exposed. No force in the galaxy is invincible. When captured, even the most advanced tech could be dissected, understood, and, eventually, replicated.
It wasn't rare. It was the rule of galactic warfare.
Arthur beamed. "That's more than I hoped for. Thank you."
Tony and Banner exchanged looks and gave Arthur a slight nod, confirming their willingness to carry the mission forward.
The conversation moved on to more logistical concerns: when to head back, what needed to be wrapped up on Xandar, who was staying, who was going.
Just as they were wrapping up, an Xandarian envoy arrived with an invitation.
Nova Prime was hosting a formal banquet.
The banquet was high-end, about as classy as it got on Xandar. Arthur and the others changed into traditional Xandarian attire before attending.
The fashion was minimalist but refined. Clean lines, soft hues, and a sense of orderly precision that practically screamed law and order.
The structured lines sewn into the fabric symbolized the Xandarian reverence for rules, structure, and unity.
When Arthur and his crew entered the hall, the room burst into applause.
Arthur, however, didn't exactly bask in it. Leaning toward Tony, he muttered under his breath, "When you get a minute, wipe every bit of footage from tonight's banquet."
Tony nodded slightly. "I'll scan the system first. Still getting familiar with Xandarian tech protocols, so no promises just yet."
"Welcome, our heroes!"
Nova Prime, dressed in her full military regalia, greeted them with full ceremony.
Arthur offered a respectful smile. "We're honored to be here."
After the official welcome wrapped up, the atmosphere eased. The formalities faded, and everyone broke off to mingle.
Star-Lord, in true fashion, dove headfirst into the festivities, like a kid set loose in a candy store. Although his behavior didn't exactly fit the tone of a formal banquet, given his major contributions during the battle, the leadership of Xandar chose to look the other way.
Steve and a few others kept to themselves, maintaining a cautious distance from the political crowd.
Tony, on the other hand, was right in his element. This kind of event was second nature to him. After a few rounds of casual conversation, he had already picked up on several key details.
As the discussions flowed, Tony blended in effortlessly, like a Stark at a shareholder meeting.
Natasha, meanwhile, was the embodiment of quiet elegance. With a glass of red in hand, she found a low-key seat and offered polite, measured smiles, just enough to keep most people at arm's length.
Elsewhere, upon the second level of the hall, Arthur sat across from Nova Prime in a quiet alcove, deep in conversation.
"This victory… it truly was extraordinary," Nova Prime said, swirling the wine in her glass as she studied Arthur. "Earlier, you mentioned wanting to form an alliance. Now that things have settled, I think it's time you explain exactly what kind of alliance you have in mind."
Arthur was a bit surprised. He had planned to steer the discussion in that direction himself, but he hadn't expected Nova Prime to be so straightforward.
He smiled slightly. "The universe has never been a peaceful place. Powerful entities, cosmic-level threats, are always seeking to dominate or devour entire civilizations. And when a true overlord sets their sights on you… Well, there may be no defense."
Nova Prime narrowed her eyes. "Xandar fears no enemy."
Arthur let out a quiet sigh. "I believe that's what you want to believe. But do you truly believe it?"
His question cut sharply.
Nova Prime paused, the edges of her expression tightening, then softened into a reluctant smile.
Even someone like Ronan, with only a single fleet, had posed a serious threat to them. And in the greater cosmos, Ronan wasn't even close to the top of the food chain.
If beings stronger than him chose to act with ill intent, Xandar, powerful as it was, would stand little chance.
Still, Nova Prime composed herself and shook her head. "I don't believe that anyone in a relatively stable galactic order would willingly start a war. The cost would be too great."
She locked eyes with Arthur. "But you… You give me a different kind of feeling. A subtle sense of danger."
Arthur laughed softly. "Then I suppose I owe you an apology."
"No… that's not what I meant," Nova Prime said, her gaze never wavering. "What I want to know is the same as before: What exactly are you trying to do?"
Arthur leaned back, giving the question some thought.
"I want to…" He paused, then smiled faintly. "I want to build an environment where safety is absolute… and then, just live a quiet, honest life."