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The exchange of information was already enough. Now, only one question remained: 'What exactly was Arthur going to do next?'
Once that was settled, Tony and the others would be told to stand by. The situation on Earth couldn't be dealt with right now. As long as this "rotten ball" was handled, everything would be over, so there was no need to rush back.
The splendor of the universe unfolded, brilliant lights stretching across the vast expanse. The spaceship raced forward at an extraordinary speed.
Arthur leaned back in the pilot's chair, hands folded behind his head as he watched the star chart progress displayed on the monitor.
"You're sure they need help right now?" T'Challa's voice came from beside him. He was looking at Arthur, and at some point, his gaze had begun to carry a hint of reverence.
"Mm." Arthur nodded, but didn't say much more. What needed to be explained had already been said.
During the talk with Tony and the others, Arthur explained that the reason for their brief departure was to search for Rocket. At that very moment, Rocket and Groot were in danger.
Truthfully, there wasn't a shred of evidence to prove this. Normally, no one should have believed him. But Tony and the others hadn't doubted a word, and even T'Challa had begun to grow accustomed to it.
Because Arthur had never once been wrong.
"Actually, I think the manpower we already have should be enough." T'Challa sat down in the co-pilot's seat, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.
Arthur chuckled. "You're right. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't even need Tony and the others to come… But too many experiences have taught me one thing."
"What's that?"
"If you can solve something with three parts of your strength, and instead use ten… then everything becomes much simpler and easier."
Arthur continued, "I once faced an enemy. He was very powerful. I fought him alone, but he still managed to escape. Later, I gathered reinforcements… and though he was badly injured at the time, he still had enough strength to fight. But when we moved together, he didn't even manage any effective resistance before he was captured."
T'Challa grew thoughtful at that.
"I believe… even heroes shouldn't try to play the lone hero," Arthur said. "In the same situation, one person faces danger. Two people face some danger. Three people face no danger. Four people… and it's the enemy who's in danger! If I were alone, I'd have no choice but to take risks. But I'm not. So why shouldn't I make sure the other side is the one feeling the danger?"
T'Challa blinked. "While I don't think going it alone is something worth bragging about, your way of thinking… probably isn't the mainstream."
"Most of the mainstream is already dead," Arthur laughed. "Even superheroes will form alliances when faced with greater threats… T'Challa, maybe you can't fully agree with me, but I have to say this: if you can't even protect yourself, then how can you claim to protect others?"
T'Challa was silent for a long while before finally saying, "I agree with your philosophy. You're right."
With that, he turned away, still holding his coffee.
Arthur smiled faintly, eyes fixed on the progress of the star map. He let out a quiet breath. He had never been especially fearless. But even long ago, when he first arrived in this world, he'd never lacked the courage to risk his life.
Over time, however, the hot-blooded impulse to throw himself headlong into danger had faded into the background. Now he preferred to act with greater certainty.
Even when facing sudden and unexpected situations, he wanted to keep the outcome firmly within his grasp.
Because, somewhere along the way, he had ceased to be alone. He now had companions. Shared ideals and goals had bound them together. And Arthur believed it was his duty to think things through as carefully as possible, for everyone's lives.
Of course, that included his own.
At some point, the sense of being an outsider in this world had grown faint, replaced by a deeper and deeper connection to it.
The people he loved, the people he admired, the people he trusted, so many were gathered around him, giving him enough courage and the motivation to keep moving forward!
Now, here he was in this world, doing what he was meant to do!
Closing his eyes, Arthur's lips curved into a faint smile. "Could this be… the price of growth?"
…
…
When Arthur opened his eyes again, a massive, battered, and rather menacing-looking spaceship had already appeared on the monitor.
"About half an hour more, and we'll be within range."
Arthur activated the cloaking system, dimmed the thruster glow to its lowest, and summoned T'Challa, asking him to suit up for battle and be ready at any moment. He wasn't entirely sure which point in time this was, but if possible, he hoped Yondu's situation hadn't yet reached its worst!
If Yondu's loyal men hadn't already been slaughtered by the traitors, then Yondu would be able to provide far more support!
In truth, part of the reason Arthur was determined to come here, gather all the manpower, and face Ego together… was because of Yondu.
Originally, in this battle, the man had died.
Arthur didn't want to welcome the same tragic ending.
So rather than letting him rush blindly into the fight and get himself killed, it was better to locate him ahead of time, rescue him, and then conduct a coordinated battle according to strategy.
T'Challa was already geared up. Watching that colossal behemoth looming closer and closer in the vastness of space, he asked: "How should I deal with those traitors you mentioned?"
"Show no mercy." Arthur replied: "Honestly, I should've brought Venom along. Those guys would've made a decent meal."
Half an hour slipped by in a blink. It was hard to say what exactly was happening aboard Yondu's ship right now, but at least no one had detected Arthur's vessel.
Maneuvering his ship, Arthur brought it directly beneath the massive Ravager ship, hugging the underside of its deck, and released the Eye of Horus.
After a couple of sweeps, he had already located them!
In the central hall of the ship, a circle of people were kneeling on the ground, bound tightly, while in the very middle stood a chair. Yondu sat slumped in it, his spirit visibly battered and weak.
Seeing this, Arthur couldn't help but let out a genuine laugh before turning to T'Challa.
T'Challa casually pulled out a syringe.
"I heard this stuff doesn't hurt."
"More or less." Arthur replied. "Camp Lehigh's latest anesthetic, supposedly they named it 'No Pain.' Well… at least it's gentler than my fists."