# Chapter 250: Knowhere
It is said that this head-shaped Planet is the wreckage of a legendary Celestial's corpse, later discovered by The Collector Tivan, becoming one of his collection items.
Thanks to Tivan's collection quirk, many Ravagers and space mercenaries like to come to this Planet to take on missions, hoping to bring some self-proclaimed unique collection items to Tivan.
After all, The Collector is known for being generous.
Although most of what he receives is junk that Tivan doesn't care for, to others, these things are extremely valuable. Many merchants initially bought the things Tivan didn't want here, and gradually a market formed.
As time passed, this area of Knowhere also became the largest Black Market in the Southern Galaxy.
"The Collector's reputation is quite well-known throughout the Milky Way Galaxy. Legend says he's a member of the Elders of the Universe. Although I've never quite figured out what kind of Organization the Elders of the Universe are, very few people dare to cause trouble here!
We're entering the Urban Area now. There won't be desperate characters like the Gululu Tribe here."
This is the Urban Area. Large Spaceships are either docked at the Spaceport outside Knowhere or parked outside the city.
So, the vehicles in the Urban Area are generally flying skiffs or small Spaceships for transportation within the Planet.
Star-Lord, leading a group of Card Soldiers, took a rented flying skiff into the largest street in the Urban Area.
Star-Lord and thirteen Card Soldiers flew at low altitude along the street filled with aircraft. The chaotic street was full of "Aliens" of various shapes and appearances! Humanoid mechanical lifeforms made entirely of mechanical parts, looking like an advanced version of Iron Soldiers, with massive shoulder cannons on their backs flashing with energy glow. As they passed by,
one of these mechanical lifeforms seemed curious, its mechanical eye flashing red light as it scanned the silver briefcases carried by a few Card Soldiers.
Its actions made the Card Soldiers instinctively become wary, placing their hands on their waists. However, this mechanical lifeform only glanced at them before stepping onto a flying skiff with heavy steps and leaving.
"Hey, relax. This is Black Market Street. No one dares to cause trouble here. That's a Hatta Tribe member. They are one of the few mechanical lifeforms discovered in the Milky Way Galaxy so far. Their entire body is weapons, and they are very difficult to provoke!"
Star-Lord noticed the Card Soldiers' wary stance and explained, "Hatta Tribe members usually come to Black Market Street to modify their mechanical bodies. They generally don't get into conflicts with others!"
The flying skiffs and small Spaceships shuttling through this Black Market Street, and the "people" constantly disembarking, were truly eye-opening for these Card Soldiers.
In less than ten minutes, Hugh Veda saw a being resembling the Thing, whose body seemed built from rocks, and a Hippo Man wearing armor and looking like a hippopotamus. Of course, there were also many Aliens like them, completely covered in battlegear, their appearances hidden. However, most Aliens on Black Market Street looked similar to humans, with only subtle differences in skin color and build, or perhaps the issue of having a few more or fewer organs.
Some had antennae like insect feelers on their heads, some had an extra eye on their forehead compared to Earthlings, and some had two more arms than Earthlings. But overall, most were humanoid creatures. Hugh Veda's gaze suddenly sharpened. A small single-person Spaceship landed at a Shop Entrance by the Roadside. From the aircraft stepped a Predator wearing half-shoulder battlegear, with "dreadlocks" on its head, and wearing a breathing mask.
An acquaintance. Hugh Veda had seen this Alien race before. There was a specimen in Boss Tang's Hive Laboratory.
"Don't look at him. That's a Warrior of the Predator Tribe. They value hunting. Staring at them will be seen as a provocation. They often challenge provocateurs to duels. They are a very troublesome race!"
Star-Lord followed Hugh Veda's gaze and noticed the Predator entering a Shop. At the same time, he said strangely:
"But these Predators usually play their hunting game on Desolate Planets. It's rare to see them here. It's really strange to see them here—"
"How much further is it to the Shop you mentioned?" Hugh Veda looked at the small Spaceship belonging to the Predator parked at the Entrance and didn't say much, but the AI system in his battlegear recorded every moment since arriving on this Planet.
This data would be compiled into the Tang Group's database upon returning to Earth.
"Just ahead. Trust my judgment. I've dealt with Elder Mandel many times. On the entire Black Market Street, he's the most fair businessman. Also, his channel is very wide, he can even get the Nova Empire's latest warship..."
Star-Lord boasted as he led Hugh Veda and the others into a roadside Shop.
This Shop looked no different from the other storefronts on this street. They were all built from the unique stone material of Knowhere, painted gray on the outside. Except for the Shop's sign, which seemed to be made from a piece of Spaceship armor, it looked completely unremarkable.
Of course, this is Black Market Street. The goods in the hands of people doing business here, or rather, the things they want to buy, are often not legal. They also wouldn't go to overly ostentatious Shops.
"Hey! Elder Mandel, how are you doing?"
Star-Lord skillfully pushed open the Gate and entered the Shop. Two energy guns outside the door immediately pointed at him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Elder Mandel, it's me, Star-Lord!"
It seemed to be a familiar voice, as the intelligent mechanical arms then retracted the energy guns they held.
"Star-Lord, you're back again?"
A voice came from inside the Shop. Star-Lord waved, leading Hugh Veda into the Shop, while the other Card Soldiers waited at the Entrance.
This Shop looked unremarkable from the Outside, but the Space inside was very large, about thirty to forty paces wide. The walls on both sides were hung with various models of energy guns, mechanical arms, Spaceship mechanical parts, and some electronic devices that looked extremely high-tech.
Hugh Veda accompanied Star-Lord as they walked further into the Shop and soon saw the "Elder Mandel" Star-Lord mentioned, a rhinoceros man who looked very old.
Literally, this Black Market dealer named Elder Mandel was an Alien with a head similar to an Earth rhinoceros, wearing a pair of cylindrical glasses on his nose, and was holding something resembling a welding torch, repairing the electronic components of an energy gun.
"Long time no see, Elder Mandel!"
"Long time?!" Elder Mandel looked up in surprise, not understanding what madness had possessed him. He had just left two days ago and suddenly returned. However, Elder Mandel looked at Hugh Veda beside Star-Lord.
He understood. It seemed Star-Lord had found another big client.
Their cooperation was not the first or second time. Elder Mandel seemed to nod with "understanding": "Long time no see, Star-Lord, kid. Everyone's been saying you got a big deal!"
Star-Lord took a pack of chewing gum from his pocket, popped a piece into his mouth, chewed, and gestured with his hands: "It's indeed a big business, otherwise I wouldn't have come to you, Elder Mandel. You always bragged to me that you could get the Nova Empire's latest warship. Is that true?"
"Forget the Nova Empire's latest warship, as long as you can provide enough money, even if you want Ronan the Accuser's flagship, I can find a method to get it!" The old rhinoceros man took off his glasses, revealing a pair of squinting eyes. Although he was talking to Star-Lord, his eyes were looking at Hugh Veda.
"This kind of energy crystal! What's the price?"
Hugh Veda directly extended his hand, opening his fist. In his palm, was an energy crystal the size of a mahjong tile, flashing with blue light.
It was none other than the energy crystal condensed by Boss Tang using the Space Stone.
"Huh? Hiss! This purity of energy crystal!"
Under Star-Lord's smug gaze nearby, Elder Mandel carefully took the energy crystal from Hugh Veda's hand and examined it closely.
He then took out an instrument from a nearby cabinet, placed the energy crystal on it for testing, and looking at the value displayed on the instrument, Elder Mandel's small squinting eyes instantly widened in surprise.
"No, how is this possible? Even the energy crystal stone made by the Kree from collecting dark matter has a purity of only a little over eighty percent. The purity of this crystal stone is actually over ninety..."
Elder Mandel seemed somewhat disbelieving, repeatedly switching between several testing instruments for repeated tests before finally inhaling sharply and saying.
"The Guest wants to sell this crystal stone. What would you like to exchange for it, Galactic Credits or..."
"Spaceships, the best Spaceships, and a complete set of civilization technology data!" Hugh Veda stated his requirement.
Elder Mandel picked up the energy crystal stone and shook his head, saying, "The purity of this energy crystal is very high and has some value, but this single piece is not worth a higher Spaceship!"
"Who told you we only brought one piece, Elder Mandel? I told you this is a big business!" Star-Lord said smugly, "Ten each of the Kree and Nova Empire's latest warships, and also find us a batch of Tier 2 civilization technology data, the kind that's a complete system!"
Elder Mandel looked at Star-Lord's nouveau riche expression and said, "Star-Lord, kid, this will require a huge sum of money!"
A minute later, Elder Mandel looked at the opened silver briefcases placed before him, which were neatly stacked with energy crystals the size of mahjong tiles.
Looking at these energy crystals, Elder Mandel had a momentary thought of directly calling the guards to eliminate Star-Lord and his group and claim all these high-purity energy crystals for himself.
However, a single sentence from Star-Lord instantly sobered Elder Mandel up.
"Elder Mandel, this is just the beginning. My current Employer is a Cosmic Hegemon level Big Boss. The business will be endless in the future!"
Star-Lord didn't understand Boss Tang's strength, but that didn't stop him from bluffing.
As soon as he said that, it actually scared Elder Mandel. Cosmic Hegemon? In the Milky Way Galaxy, there are only a few people who can be called Cosmic Hegemons. The most famous among them is Thanos.
Could it be that Star-Lord had defected to Thanos? But even if it wasn't Thanos, he definitely couldn't provoke a force capable of extracting energy crystals of this purity.
Elder Mandel had been doing business in Knowhere for so many years and had his own set of survival rules. Upon determining that the group Star-Lord brought was not to be provoked, he decisively reverted to being a proper businessman. "Tier 2 civilization technology data is easy to get. I have a complete set on hand, which is the Gululu Tribe's complete Spaceship manufacturing technology, complete energy shield, and ship cannon technology. However, the Spaceships will take some time..."
"Gululu Tribe's technology data? That's commonplace junk. Do you have anything better, at least a civilization with complete FTL technology or artificial wormhole technology!"
Star-Lord heard Elder Mandel's words and looked disgusted. The Gululu Tribe were doing worse than the Chitauri. Their technology was worthless.
"Star-Lord, kid, FTL technology? You're really daring to think that. That's technology that higher Tier 2 civilizations can barely master. And artificial wormhole technology? Currently, in the Milky Way Galaxy, only higher civilizations like the Kree and Nova Empire have the core data for that. I don't have that here!"
"How long will the Spaceships take? We'll take the Gululu Tribe's technology. Also, how much other civilization technology system do you have? We want it all!"
When Hugh Veda said this, he felt the small pouch hanging below his neck, near the Jack of Spades gold plate. That was one of the Five Yin Pouches specially refined by the Boss, besides those for the few Leaders and Boss's wives. The energy crystals packed inside were Hugh Veda's confidence.
"As for the Spaceships, it will take at least thirty Knowhere day-night cycles. After all, getting some 'battle damaged' Spaceships from the two great empires also takes some time!"
"However, I do have some complete Spaceship manufacturing technology system readily available. I can sell it to you first!"
Elder Mandel smiled slyly, his rhinoceros horn concealing the cunning in his small eyes. Selling intelligence and knowledge was his favorite business. Intelligence often had a time limit, but knowledge could be sold repeatedly.
"The things are correct!" After Star-Lord finished inspecting the technology data in the storage device Elder Mandel produced, Hugh Veda waved his hand. The Card Soldiers left behind six cases of energy crystal stones.
This was the price for the data and part of the deposit for the Spaceships.
As for whether Elder Mandel would run off with the money, Hugh Veda said he wasn't worried about that issue. On the energy crystal stone that was tested, there was a Tracking Talisman Spell personally drawn by the Boss.
When the old rhinoceros man was testing the crystal stone, the Tracking Talisman had already locked onto him. "If you really want FTL technology or artificial wormhole technology, Star-Lord, kid, you can try your luck with The Collector!"
The deal concluded, Elder Mandel personally escorted this group of big clients to the Entrance. Before leaving, Elder Mandel suggested to Star-Lord.
"The Collector Tivan? Forget it. We don't have anything he wants!" Hearing Elder Mandel's words, Star-Lord refused without thinking.
Leaving Elder Mandel's Shop,
Hugh Veda couldn't help but be curious: "The Collector Tivan, the owner of this Planet, does he have FTL technology? Can't we exchange energy crystal stones for it?"
Star-Lord looked left and right like a thief, confirming that no one was eavesdropping on their conversation, before whispering, "Tivan is a very picky Collector, or rather, he has a collection quirk. His Collection Vault only collects unique things. Yes, he is very generous, but he has a difficult personality.
There was once a Vagol Mercenary, the last survivor of his race, who came to Knowhere to find The Collector for a job, but ended up becoming Tivan's collection item! There was also a Half-Dragon Person, a descendant of a legendary dragon-like star beast. The Collector said he had the sharpest horn with the largest curvature in the entire Universe and was very valuable for collection, so he locked him up in the Collection Vault! If it's not necessary, I think we shouldn't provoke him. Completing Boss Tang's mission is more important!"
Star-Lord's last sentence persuaded Hugh Veda. The group prepared to leave Black Market Street and take a Spaceship to the next location, Sakaar in the Tayu System, several light-years away from Knowhere.
That is a war zone, and also the largest gladiator arena and slave market in the Universe.
Since they bought Spaceships, they would also need a batch of technical talent who could pilot, repair, and manufacture Spaceships.
Furthermore, the ruler of Sakaar is said to be The Collector Tivan's brother.
Just as Star-Lord and his group left Black Market Street and were preparing to take a flying skiff to the Spaceship docking area, they encountered an "acquaintance" head-on! "It's you! Didn't I just hand you over to Tivan? You escaped!"
The tall Predator held a transparent culture dish in his hand, containing a half-meter-tall Alien egg. Seeing Star-Lord, the Predator was somewhat surprised and immediately extended his sharp wrist blades.
*Click, click!*
The dozen or so Card Soldiers following Star-Lord simultaneously raised the energy guns in their hands. The thick energy guns looked somewhat like Earth's toy water guns, but the alien metal material felt particularly substantial, and the energy shockwave condensed at the muzzle clearly had great lethality.
These energy guns were all purchased from Elder Mandel's Shop. Star-Lord had four hanging from his waist. Purchased with public funds, these energy guns were the latest models. Their force might not be the greatest, but the ones on Star-Lord's waist were definitely the most expensive kind.
Star-Lord understood the Predator's words through his universal translator. He didn't want to provoke this warlike race. He spread his hands towards the Predator, "Hey, did you mistake me for someone else? We just arrived at Knowhere!"
The Predator just glanced at Star-Lord and said in a gravelly voice, "The Collector's commission is complete. Whether you escaped from his Collection Vault is none of my business!"
After speaking, the Predator boarded his Spaceship with the culture dish containing the Alien egg, leaving Star-Lord bewildered.
"Boom!"
Just as the Predator Ship piloted by the Predator ascended into the sky and was about to break through Knowhere's low orbit, a massive energy shockwave descended from the sky, directly blasting the Predator Ship into shattered pieces.
Giant wormholes opened up in the Outer Space around Knowhere, like windows.
Black, massive, strangely shaped, but heavily armed warships suddenly appeared in the sky above Knowhere amidst the flashing glow of jump wormholes.
The moment they jumped out of the jump window, the moment these warships reached their predetermined position, they didn't even issue the most basic declaration of war before dropping black cruise missiles onto Knowhere.
Amidst bursts of firelight, those black, four-sided missiles were launched one after another from the Kree warships' weapon launch ports.
In the blink of an eye, the pirate ships docked outside Knowhere met with catastrophe.
Clusters of burning raging fire lit up in the starlight of deep space, the force of the explosions was immense.
After hitting the first locked-on Spaceship, the explosive energy and concussive blast of the sympathetic detonation often engulfed the surrounding Spaceships that were flying too densely.
"It's Kree warships! The black one is Ronan the Accuser's flagship! How could he appear in Knowhere? My goodness, is he planning to go to war with The Collector?"
The commotion in the sky quickly attracted the attention of many people in Knowhere.
Some immediately piloted their Spaceships, wanting to escape, but the Spaceships were often blasted apart mercilessly by the Kree warships blockading Outer Space the moment they ascended.
Meanwhile, in The Collector's enviable Collection Vault, The Collector Tivan was carefully admiring the Orb he held in his hand.
The Collector is an existence standing at the top of the Pyramid in the entire Marvel Universe.
He and his Brother, Grandmaster, are both members of the Elders of the Universe, beings who are born and will perish with the Marvel Universe itself.
His endless lifespan allowed him to turn collection into a little quirk, just like his Brother Grandmaster enjoys holding gladiator tournaments.
"The Infinity Stones are the most valuable treasures in this Universe, filled with secrets and strength. As far as I know, many people, many influences are searching for them."
As The Collector played with the Orb, seemingly able to see the Power Stone within it, his left hand brushed over a crystal coffin-like coffin beside him.
Inside the coffin was a guy who looked exactly like Star-Lord, with the same greasy face and bulging belly.
The Collector's finger slid across the collection coffin holding Star-Lord.
"For me, the Universe's unique Infinity Stones are excellent collection items. I like them very much, but these things represent trouble. The Little Titan behind them is Death. I never like to find trouble for myself."
Under Star-Lord's uneasy gaze, The Collector sighed. He said:
"Oh, yes, mortals like you naturally wouldn't know about the existence of the Five Great Cosmic Entities. They are true Multiversal Deities! They are the cornerstone of the entire Universe!"
"Muffled sounds—" Star-Lord, wearing a spherical mouth restraint, struggled, trying to speak.
Thanos had an even more powerful existence behind him, and he needed to take this information back.
It wasn't that he hadn't dealt with The Collector before, but in his world, The Collector had no real ability. The Collector in this Universe was simply a pervert.
In his Universe, perhaps because of the bloodline left by his Father, he, a Half-Deity Half-Human, luckily survived Thanos's Finger Snap.
He came to this Universe through this quantum channel, wanting to search for the Infinity Stones and take them back to his Universe to save his world and his lover.
However, this Universe seemed somewhat different from his memory. In this Timeline, he in this Universe not only didn't get the Orb but didn't even know those companions.
There was no method. He could only go to the Planet in his memory himself to find the Orb containing the Power Stone. Unexpectedly, as soon as he got the Orb, he encountered a Predator, and a guy who was a Predator Elder.
Star-Lord thought about how he hadn't lasted even three seconds under that Predator Elder before being captured, and he immediately felt despair.
"Information is the most valuable thing, like a key. If you want to open the Gate to a new world, how can you do it without a key?"
Speaking of this, The Collector chuckled lightly. He said with a playful tone, "You carry information from another Universe on your body. As long as I find the key point, I can open the Gate leading to another Universe..."
An attendant beside him handed over a strange pair of glasses, very similar to those used by jewelry appraisers for appraisal.
The Collector put the black glasses on his face. "Click."
With a light sound, the frames in front of The Collector's eyes rotated open like a camera lens.
As it kept focusing, he clearly saw the energy lines winding around Star-Lord's body.
The truth hidden beneath the radiant streamer, that glow shining like Stars, the energy not seen by mortal eyes, the energy not perceived by them.
That was the universal force, the primal power belonging to another Universe.
This, this was exactly what he was interested in. Star-Lord was the most valuable thing The Collector had obtained in these past few thousand years.
A hint of surprise flashed in Tivan's eyes.
The Collector reached out and tapped on an instrument on the Workbench.
The next moment, a holographic projection appeared beside him. Those projections flashed with pictures from various eras and Star Zones. Some were of war, some were secret meetings, and more were of destruction.
In purple or dark red halos, Planets fell apart just like that.
The Collector's voice, accompanied by the flickering projections, echoed in his Residence. Like the best tour guide, he explained in a gentle tone, "You want to obtain the Power Stone, but first, you haven't figured out what the Power Stone is. At the beginning of the Universe, well, I mean the beginning of most Universes, the origin of all things was an explosion. In the eternal darkness, the first light shone, and then the primordial power of the Universe was filled into every corner by the explosion."
"Like blowing up a balloon, it began to expand. Most of the power turned into various stellar entities, but some would evolve into more unique things under special circumstances."
The Collector raised a finger. At the fingertip of his white glove, six irregularly shaped raw stones emitting a unique radiance quickly rotated and jumped, attracting Star-Lord's gaze.
The Collector said:
"Why are they called Infinity Stones? Because each of them represents an attribute of the Stars, or rather, rules. They are the manifestation of great strength on the material plane."
"Space, Time, Reality, Mind, Power, and Soul, the foundation that makes up all things."
"Obtain one, and you master one; Obtain all, and you control infinity!"
Tivan clenched his fingers. He looked at Star-Lord and said, "This isn't an exaggerated description by literary figures, young man. In reality, no amount of words can describe their power, and the more powerful they are, the more dangerous they are."
The Collector flicked his finger. "The Infinity Stones represent the primal power belonging to this Universe. Even if you could obtain this Power Stone and take it back to your Universe, it would be useless. The primal power of one Universe, unless you can completely fuse with it. Remember, rules only exist within a Universe. The conflict between the different rules of two Universes means what you take back is just a stone, unless the two Universes are of the same origin, two sides of the same coin. However, with you here, I can locate your Universe through the energy on your body!"
Star-Lord's eyes widened instantly, his eye sockets filled with bloodshot redness.
"Muffled sounds——"
Star-Lord struggled desperately.
(End of chapter)