Marvel: What If Thanos Adopted A Saiyan?
Chapter 201 - 202: She’s in the Shower

Chapter 201: Chapter 202: She’s in the Shower

"The Nova Corps is the military force under the jurisdiction of Xandar. Originally, it was formed from the planet’s space militia and exploration bureau. Over time, it evolved into a regiment of 500 soldiers, ranging from caretakers to centurions, led by the commanding officer known as the Nova Centurion Prime."

"Later, as the military expanded and their warfare technology advanced, the corps was restructured and officially renamed the Xandarian Interstellar Legion, still commonly referred to as the Nova Corps to this day."

"The Nova Corps boasts formidable combat strength, having stood its ground against the Kree Empire, one of the most powerful civilizations in the cosmos, for over a thousand years without falling behind."

"Their major military accomplishments include..."

Xandar, Capital City, One of the Scenic Resort Hotels.

Lothar had booked a room in plain sight and now sat comfortably on a soft couch, his feet propped up on a glass coffee table, eyes fixed on the light screen suspended in midair.

Woz had already compiled a comprehensive report on the Nova Corps’ glorious history since its founding. Lothar now understood, far better than he did back in the day, just how powerful and storied this army was.

And then there was Hela.

Plink.

The Other gingerly placed a steaming beverage on the table in front of Lothar. The soft sound snapped him out of his deep thoughts.

"Storming Nova Corps headquarters by force is out of the question," Lothar said calmly. "We don’t have a standing army at our disposal. And if we pick a fight with their leadership, we’ll never get our hands on the thing Jack Jones is after."

After all, the Nova Corps possessed weapons capable of annihilating entire planets in a single strike.

Parched, Hela ignored The Other’s hesitant gaze and downed the drink meant for Lothar in one gulp.

Pfft!

The instant it hit her tongue, the bitter taste numbed her throat.

"What the hell is this?!"

"Lady Hela," The Other explained respectfully, "this is a special blend prepared by Lord Thanos specifically for Prince Lothar. It purifies internal heat and refreshes the mind. Quite beneficial to the body."

"..."

Watching Lothar sip the "tea" without so much as a blink, let alone a grimace, Hela fell into stunned silence.

"I’m going to shower. I’ll be back soon."

She glanced at the tea stain on her outfit with clear distaste. After placing her bags on the table, she turned and headed for the bathroom without another word.

"Woz, who’s still stationed at Nova Corps headquarters?"

Ignoring Hela’s dramatics, Lothar sipped the bitter tea and asked with sharp clarity.

His mind had never been clearer.

"Prince Lothar, based on the latest intel, roughly one-third of the Nova Corps’ high command remains at headquarters. However, there’s good news, Xandar’s current leader, Queen Nova, is not on the planet. She departed for Hala to negotiate with the Kree Empire."

"A headless state of command, then?"

"Not quite. According to available intel, before she left, the reigning Queen Nova ensured the chain of command would continue seamlessly. She named her successor, the next Queen Nova."

As Woz spoke, a holographic image shimmered into view in Lothar’s eyes: a striking woman in a navy-blue Nova Corps uniform, her golden bob-cut hair framing a sharp yet composed expression.

Woz added a note: Designated Successor, Queen Nova.

Should the current Queen fail to return from Kree space, this woman would ascend the throne of Xandar and become the new Queen Nova.

"Where is she now?" Lothar asked, his eyes narrowing as a bold plan began to take shape in his mind.

"Please wait a moment, Prince Lothar. Woz is attempting to breach Xandar’s planetary database."

Beep-beep, beep-beep...

Just as Woz finished speaking, a bag Hela had left on the table began emitting an annoyingly loud sound.

Lothar frowned, reached in, and a beam of light surged upward with a wave of magical energy, forming the image of a woman, Queen Frigga of Asgard.

"Lothar? Where’s Hela?"

Frigga looked surprised to see Lothar answering instead.

"She’s in the shower," Lothar said, pointing toward the bathroom, still sipping his god-awful tea.

"..."

"I suppose this isn’t the best time. Be careful..." Frigga sighed softly and ended the call with a complicated expression.

Lothar: "???"

"Scan complete, Prince Lothar," Woz reported.

"Woz was unable to fully penetrate the Xandarian database, but we managed to locate the Queen Nova successor, Nova Prime. She’s currently residing in the heavily guarded Nova Estate, awaiting the results of the Kree negotiations."

As Woz spoke, coordinates lit up on the screen.

"Woz is now drafting a stealth infiltration route."

Knowing Lothar wouldn’t bother with the plan, Woz still went ahead and began constructing it, his pride wouldn’t allow otherwise.

Whoosh!

"Prince Lothar—!"

Before The Other could even finish his sentence, Lothar vanished into the air.

"Wait for me, Prince Lothar!"

Gripping his scepter, The Other scrambled to keep up and rushed out of the hotel room behind him.

Meanwhile, the orange tabby cat that had been bouncing around the spacious room finally wore itself out chasing a ball. It leapt onto the coffee table, sniffed curiously where The Other had been sitting, then bent its head to lick from his cup of bitter tea...

Meow!

Its fur stood on end like it had been shocked, and with a loud thump, it rolled off the table in agony, writhing on the floor.

...

Nova Estate.

The designated residence of Nova Prime, the next Queen Nova. Security was tight, absurdly so.

Yet even with those measures, Rhomann Dey couldn’t shake a nagging sense of unease.

He couldn’t say why.

It had been five days since the current Queen Nova departed for the Kree Empire. She sent daily updates, so that couldn’t be it.

"Why am I on edge...?"

"Could someone from the prison be plotting something?"

Or maybe...

Rhomann Dey instinctively looked up to the sky, just in time to see a golden aura streaking across the clouds.

What the—?!

His pupils contracted sharply. The usual softness of his face vanished, replaced by hardened resolve.

"Enemy attack!!!"

But it was already too late.

Massive energy blasts rained down like a meteor shower. The estate’s shield shattered under the overwhelming golden surge, and thunderous detonations blanketed the sky above Nova Estate!

"Where is Nova Prime?"

From within the smoke, a tall figure with golden hair and piercing green eyes emerged, his gaze fell like judgment upon the collapsed figure of Rhomann Dey, surrounded by corpses, like a god descending from the heavens.

"Who are you?!"

"Rejoice!"

"You stand in the presence of the great Titan’s son, the exalted Lord of Chitauri, Champion of the Sakaaran Arena, His Highness, Lothar!"

"At this very moment..."

Clutching the Mind Stone scepter and staggering slightly from the rapid descent, The Other finally landed in the ruins. Seeing the surviving guards, he seized the moment and dropped to one knee in dramatic flair, arms raised high, bellowing Lothar’s praise like an ancient herald.

Magnificent!

Internally, The Other gave himself a proud thumbs-up.

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