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After Nova Prime Irani Rael and the others departed to process the weapons order, only Rhomann Dey remained to accompany Aidan.
"You're a Centurion of the Nova Corps, correct?" Aidan asked curiously as they walked down the corridor.
"Yes, is something wrong?" Rhomann looked puzzled.
"Aren't you still fighting the Kree Empire? Won't following me around interfere with your duties?" Aidan glanced back at the direction Nova Prime had gone—her obvious busyness suggested the situation was tense.
"Haha, no. There are very few large-scale interstellar fleet engagements right now." Rhomann shook his head with a smile. "The military isn't particularly busy with combat. Most effort currently focuses on diplomatic negotiations."
"Both sides try to avoid fighting when possible," he explained.
"No wonder you're buying individual combat weapons instead of ship-to-ship armaments," Aidan nodded knowingly. Skirmishes and special operations, not planetary bombardment.
"The weapons you've created are excellent, especially the Time Bomb. It can reduce casualties on both sides significantly." The Time Bomb was perfect for capturing enemies alive. After battles, prisoners could be exchanged for captured comrades. Large numbers of captives could also be ransomed for substantial resources.
"Actually, this Time Bomb isn't particularly impressive. It only slows time. If I could make time stand still completely, that would be decent," Aidan shook his head in dissatisfaction.
"Uh... I think it's pretty good as is," Rhomann said. Making time stand still completely seemed a bit outrageous.
"Have you heard of the Dark Elves? From Svartalfheim, one of the Nine Realms?" Aidan asked casually.
"Dark Elves?" Rhomann paused, then memory surfaced. "I know of them. The terrifying race that wanted to return the universe to eternal darkness. But they were stopped by Asgard, weren't they?"
"Though that was long ago. I only know what elders mentioned in history lessons."
"They possessed the Aether—the Reality Stone—and created a Black Hole Grenade based on the Aether's properties. Very powerful weapon. But now the Dark Elf remnants are hiding somewhere in the universe, location unknown."
"A Black Hole Grenade? Such a thing actually exists?" Rhomann sounded genuinely surprised.
"Of course. I saw records in Asgard's library. Just generalizations though—no detailed manufacturing process," Aidan shook his head regretfully.
"I'll wait for you to research it, then," Rhomann joked.
After departing Nova Corps headquarters, they took transport to the capital's central commercial district.
"Let's look at available properties first."
They entered a vast hall—a centralized Real Estate Exchange. Holographic displays surrounded them, with intelligent robots and staff chatting with customers of various species.
After Rhomann and Aidan entered, a middle-aged woman wearing Xandarian civil servant uniform hurried over from the reception platform.
"Corpsman Dey, do you need assistance?" she asked with a smile.
"Fanny, show us storefront listings. Are there vacancies in the central area?" Rhomann responded.
"Let me check..." Fanny produced a transparent computer panel, projecting a phantom hologram of the city's buildings into the air between them.
"Currently two vacancies in the central area. One is a restaurant on Nova Street in the east sector, now available for sublease." She enlarged a red building in the projection.
Aidan examined it. From the outside, it resembled a fast-food establishment—silver-white body with floor-to-ceiling windows. The area wasn't particularly large.
Fanny explained details. "Most streets here are where Nova Corps members gather and live. If Mr. Dey wants to rent it, we can offer the standard 50% Corps member discount!"
Rhomann pointed to Aidan. "I'm helping this customer buy a storefront, not renting for myself."
"Oh, sorry. Then this storefront isn't for sale—lease only. I can introduce another option?" Fanny glanced at Aidan in surprise, having assumed the human was merely Rhomann's assistant. However, anyone personally escorted by a Centurion obviously held significance.
"Fine. Doesn't need to be exact central residential area," Aidan nodded.
"There's a laboratory complex for sale here. Location is excellent—situated in Xandar Central Exchange Square, but the price..." Fanny didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
"How much?" Aidan asked, curious.
"At least 30 million Units!" Fanny clicked on a square metal building at the holographic square's edge.
After zooming in, the structure resembled an enlarged train station entrance from Earth—a quarter-circle arc, but several times larger.
"This was originally a Taledo merchant's residence, but after departing on an expedition over a hundred years ago, he never returned. Now that the statute of limitations has passed, the property was repossessed by the state and hasn't been publicly announced for sale yet." She continued zooming to show various details.
The building was obsidian black with sleek white lines running through it. But what stood out were numerous strange, insect-like creatures attached to exterior walls. Their bodies were lion-sized with branching spider-like limbs. Carapaces were black and white with beautiful smooth lines reflecting light.
"These creatures are called Colt Bugs. They were the previous owner's pets. If you don't like them, you can sell them or have them removed," Fanny explained.
Aidan watched with interest. Examining the illustrated close-range pictures, he could see their faces didn't look as alien as Earth insects. Their eyes weren't compound eyes but two large, watery eyes that looked surprisingly endearing. Fortunately not creatures with excessive eyes or mandibles.
"Do these come with the house?"
"Yes."
"Excellent. I'll take it. Whatever the cost," Aidan nodded, deciding immediately.
"Aren't you going to examine other options?" Fanny was stunned. Thirty million Units wasn't trivial—a billion Units could basically purchase a small uninhabited planet.
"Just this one!" This location was central to Xandar with high traffic and information flow. Trading materials would be far more convenient here.
The building could be divided functionally: front as weapons exhibition area, rear as laboratory. For heavy manufacturing, he needed to open pocket-dimension space for the factory asteroid obtained from the Precursors.
"Alright, please follow me." Fanny recovered and walked toward the elevator with professional grace.
Aidan followed closely.
After taking the elevator from the lobby, Fanny brought them to a quiet upper-floor office. Inside sat an alien whose head resembled a hammerhead shark.
"Mr. Volt, someone wants to purchase the Central Square property. You need to finalize pricing."
The shark-man's side-mounted eyes looked at Aidan and Rhomann.
"Corpsman Dey? You're buying property?" He sounded surprised seeing Rhomann.
"No, it's my guest here."
Mr. Volt's gaze shifted to Aidan, reassessing. "The Central Square laboratory complex. Excellent choice. Given location and size, I can offer it for 28 million Units. Final price."
"Acceptable," Aidan said simply. He had over 60 million coming from the weapons deposit alone. The property was worth the investment.
"Wonderful. I'll prepare the contracts immediately."