"Yondu Udonta, I want to make a deal with you."
High Priestess Ayesha's voice was lofty and commanding. This was Contraxia, still under the domain of the Sovereign civilization. No mercenary dared cross the Sovereign, not even the Ravagers.
Yondu glanced at her with curiosity. He hadn't expected her to approach him directly.
"Peter Quill of the Guardians of the Galaxy stole our batteries. As long as you bring him back, I will give you sufficient compensation."
Quill?
Yondu froze. At last, news of that kid. He had originally planned to refuse outright—after all, even if he couldn't afford to offend the Sovereign, he could always run. But now, since they had information about Quill, it was worth considering. Whether he'd bring the boy back… that depended on his mood.
"There's another one. I want you to capture him for me, and I'll pay you three times Quill's reward!"
Ayesha waved, and a holographic projection flickered into existence.
A yellow jumpsuit, red gloves, white cape, shiny bald head, and that deadpan wooden expression. Yondu recognized him at once.
Saitama!
He blinked, staring at Ayesha as if she'd lost her mind.
"His name is Saitama. My fleet gathered this information. He is a wanted criminal of the Sovereign. If you can kill him or bring him back, the reward will be yours."
Yondu chuckled, his lips curling into a smirk. "Heh… this guy doesn't look simple. And you want me to risk my neck for a little pocket change? What if he wipes out my entire crew?"
Feigning ignorance, Yondu sneered deliberately.
Ayesha faltered. She hadn't expected even these filthy mercenaries to be so shrewd, and she felt an awkward twinge of being exposed.
"At least pay me ten times Quill's bounty. The Guardians aren't the problem—this bald guy is. I heard he's very strong. To make sure I don't take a loss, I'll need half the payment up front."
Yondu grinned slyly.
Ayesha's lips twitched. What a greedy demand! Yet after rewatching the footage of Saitama obliterating her fleet with a single punch, she had to admit this "hairless ape" was terrifying. Even the Ravagers might fail against him. But money meant nothing to the Sovereign; mercenaries, however, always lacked it. She believed she could bury Saitama with enough wealth.
"Twice the advance," Ayesha replied coldly.
"Five times," Yondu shot back with a chuckle. "Surely the noble Sovereign don't quibble over scraps? Of course, if you'd rather, you can try hiring another Ravager clan—I'll just undercut their price."
His grin widened.
Ayesha's jaw clenched. As High Priestess, she was not used to haggling. Yet his flattery—"noble Sovereign"—forced her chin higher in pride. To argue over a few credits in such a filthy place with these stinking mercenaries would disgrace her station even more.
"Very well. You have one month."
She nodded haughtily, signaling for golden-clad soldiers to deliver the payment.
Five times Quill's bounty.
"The Sovereign's money is damn easy to earn," Yondu muttered, grinning ear to ear. All his earlier bitterness seemed to vanish.
——
On Ego's planet.
As its master, Ego finally coaxed the group into accepting him. Night had fallen, and they gathered around a campfire.
"After your mother died, I hired Yondu to bring you to me. But he never did. He raised you himself. I don't know why."
Ego's expression was warm and fatherly, his gaze fixed on Quill.
Yet his eyes flicked often toward Saitama. That odd young man radiated a pressure even Ego, a Celestial, found disquieting. Still, tonight was about Quill, the cornerstone of his grand plan. Saitama could sit there chewing roasted meat for now.
Words flowed smoothly. Ego had lived for countless years and knew how to speak persuasively. It didn't take long before Quill's resistance softened.
The truth seemed clear enough:
"I am your long-lost father."
"Where do you live?"
Saitama asked suddenly, mid-bite of barbecue.
"Oh! I almost forgot introductions. Even in this backwater, I have a proper home. Tonight, you'll stay there. All of you. Even that triangle-faced raccoon."
Ego laughed heartily.
"You'll see a place no one else has ever witnessed. Let me show you."
He rose, wandered to a tree to relieve himself, and prepared to lead them toward his abode.
Gamora eyed him cautiously. Quill remained doubtful—"Maybe he's a Ravager, a liar!"
But Gamora was more pragmatic. Stranded on a desolate planet with a wrecked ship, their situation was dire. Even if Ego was a fraud, his offer was better than starving in the wilderness.
While the two debated, Drax cracked crude jokes with Mantis.
Saitama yawned, rubbing his drowsy eyes. "So… we're sleeping here tonight? That old guy said he's got a house. Why don't we just stay there?"
Quill and Gamora exchanged glances. Then it dawned on them.
Right… they had Saitama.
What was there to fear?
Even if Ego was a liar or a monster, with Saitama around, what threat could matter?
"Fine. We'll come to your place."
Quill made the final call. For safety, only he, Gamora, and Saitama went with Ego. Drax, Groot, Nebula, and Rocket stayed behind.
"We'll be back soon—assuming it's not a trap."
Quill waved, Saitama trailing lazily behind with Gamora as they followed Ego toward his ship.
(End of Chapter)
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