Kree and Skrulls

After sorting through the items at hand, Russell called the so-called black market merchant and brought Natasha to the company’s headquarters on Kontraxia.

Teptun Interstellar Trade Company!

Located in the heart of Entertainment Street, it had receptionists, sales staff, department managers, and logistics personnel, and occupied an entire standalone building. It was hard to imagine that this legitimate-looking company actually dealt in contraband.

"Mr. Jason, it’s a pleasure to serve you. I heard you’re planning to purchase a large quantity of scarce materials?"

The alien receiving Russell was extremely enthusiastic. He wore a crisp suit and a smile, his skin entirely fiery red. It was impossible to tell what species he was, but he looked remarkably like a demon from Earth mythology.

The only thing that could be confirmed was that he was not the company owner, merely a sales employee.

"Yes, this is my order." Russell took a sheet of paper from his chest, placed it on the table, and slid it over.

The salesman smiled as he unfolded the paper, but the longer he looked, the more his smile faded. "Mr. Jason, are you sure you want this… this much? I don’t mean anything by it. I just want to confirm it with you again, considering the quantity of this order…"

"I’ve already confirmed the order. The numbers are correct." Russell wrapped an arm around Natasha’s slender waist, wearing the arrogant expression of a nouveau riche. "If you can’t make the decision, have your superior come negotiate with me. I only have one thing to say: as long as the goods are good, money isn’t a problem!"

Russell had greatly exaggerated the figures on the order in order to meet the person in charge of the company. To be honest, he had no money, but he had Overlord Aura. Back then, Jason, Natasha, and Bucky had all willingly served him because of his extraordinary charisma. He believed this company’s person in charge would make the same choice.

The salesman wiped away his sweat. "Rest assured, our company has an excellent reputation in the industry and first-rate capabilities. We can fulfill your order, but it will take some time."

"How long?" Russell frowned. An ordinary salesman dared make the decision himself? This company was impressive!

"I’ll need to verify it before I can give you an exact timeframe."

Russell nodded and produced a test tube as if by magic. Inside was a dull gray metal ore. "This is an unknown metal I obtained by chance. I heard it’s worth a fortune. Take it for appraisal. If the price is right, I can sell it to your company."

The metal ore was Vibranium, the most valuable item Russell possessed aside from the powerful items issued by the system.

Vibranium was one of the hardest metals in the Marvel universe, second only to Adamantium in alloy hardness. Due to its ability to absorb kinetic energy, its defensive capabilities ranked first.

It was not only precious on Earth, but also an extremely rare metal throughout the universe. Russell believed that bringing this out would definitely draw out the person in charge of the company.

The salesman had no idea that the ore before him was Vibranium. After accepting it, he called someone to take it away, then began discussing the specific price of the order with Russell.

Not long after, the door was pushed open and four bodyguards escorted a man inside. Natasha and Russell were both stunned upon seeing him. It was not because his appearance was unpleasant, but because he had blond hair and blue eyes and looked exactly like an Earthling.

"Boss! Why are you here?" The salesman froze for a moment before hurriedly rising and giving up his seat.

"I’ll personally receive these two distinguished guests. You may leave!" Teptun, the company owner, waved the salesman out of the room. His four bodyguards left as well.

"Without my orders, no one is allowed inside." Teptun gave a quiet instruction, then tightly shut the door and entered the code to lock it completely.

Only after doing this did he put on a businessman’s smile and stride toward Russell. "Hello, Mr. Jason, Ms. Pamela! It’s our first meeting. I’m Teptun, the person in charge here."

"Hello, President Teptun." The real target had arrived. Russell gave Natasha a look, and she silently moved behind him, kneading his shoulders like a masseuse.

"Don’t call me that. Just call me Teptun." Teptun took in Natasha’s actions without changing expression and smiled. "Your arrival has surprised me greatly. Where are you two from?"

Russell answered casually, "A backward little place. What about you?"

"I am Kree, a Kree far from home." Teptun repeated the word Kree once more.

"Kree…"

Russell pursed his lips. In the Marvel universe, the Kree were an alien race with advanced science and technology, while the Kree Empire was recognized as one of the three great empires of the Marvel universe.

Not all Kree had blue skin like Ronan. Many had lighter skin tones, such as pink, and some even looked exactly like Earthlings. Teptun belonged to the latter group of pale-skinned Kree.

The two sides fell into an eerie silence. After a while, Teptun broke it. "Mr. Jason, is this your first time on Kontraxia?"

"Yes!"

"The metal you brought is extremely valuable. Forgive my presumptuousness, but I would like to purchase more of it. Do you still have any in stock?" Teptun asked in a lowered voice.

"No. That’s all there is."

"That truly is a pity…" Teptun shook his head, sounding slightly disappointed.

At that moment, something sudden happened. The chair beneath Russell abruptly sprang out with restraints, locking down his hands, chest, and abdomen.

"Don’t move, ma’am."

Teptun abruptly rose from his seat and pulled a remote device from his clothes. He sneered, "If I press this button, he’ll be killed on the spot by high-voltage electricity. I’m sure you don’t want to see that happen."

Though Teptun was speaking to Natasha, he was watching Russell. His earlier observations had led him to conclude that Russell held more authority between the two.

"You’re saying this is an Electric Chair?" Russell’s expression turned strange. "Then your luck is really terrible. Natasha, grab him. Alive."

Teptun frowned tightly and was about to say something when a black blur flashed before his eyes. A sharp pain exploded in his chest, and he flew uncontrollably into the wall.

"Since you’re seeking death, don’t blame me for being ruthless." Teptun let out a muffled grunt, his eyes gleaming viciously as he pressed the remote in his hand.

Crackle!

To Teptun’s astonishment, Electric Arc flickered over Russell’s body. The Electric Chair hissed and smoked, and while Russell was unharmed, the chair itself shut down from overload.

The sprung restraints malfunctioned, and Russell rose to his feet completely unharmed. "Teptun, if it was only because of the metal, there was no need to kill anyone. What do you want?"

"I want your… lives."

Teptun sneered as two daggers slid from his sleeves. Gripping one in each hand, he took two steps, leaped forward, and stabbed fiercely at Natasha, who stood in his way.

Due to the high-gravity environment of Hala, the Kree homeworld, Kree were all extremely strong. But that could not make up for the gap between him and Natasha. After barely a dozen exchanges, Natasha had him on the defensive. Ten moves later, she kicked him flying and sent him crashing to the floor.

"You really are Kree. Did you come for me?"

Teptun climbed to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. As he spoke, his body and appearance began to change. In the span of a single breath, he had transformed into Natasha.

From her face to her clothing, even the tiniest details were flawlessly replicated, so much so that Natasha almost thought she was looking into a mirror.

"Skrull!"

Russell’s eyes widened. The Skrulls were a highly advanced alien civilization, and like the Kree Empire, they were one of the three great empires of the Marvel universe.

Not only did the Skrulls possess advanced technology, they also had a special shapeshifting ability. As long as they wished, they could transform into any target and imitate that target’s superpowers and fighting techniques. They could even copy memories, which was why they were also called the counterfeit race.

Russell suddenly understood. He immediately grasped the reason behind "Teptun’s" strange behavior.

The Kree and Skrulls had been at war for years. The Kree Teptun had come to Kontraxia and become a black market merchant. Then a Skrull had attacked him, transformed into his appearance, and taken over the company without anyone noticing.

This showed that the Kree Teptun’s identity was far from simple. He must have come to Kontraxia under some kind of order!

Russell grinned. He had only just entered the universe and had already gotten involved in the open and secret struggles between two great empires. He hated trouble more than anything.

Bang! Bang! Clang! Clang!

The two Natashas grappled together. Their strength was equal, and their fighting techniques differed little, making it impossible to determine a winner.

The Skrull transformed into Natasha silently cursed his misfortune. Two Kree had suddenly appeared, and he had assumed his identity was exposed. But Natasha’s memories said that the two came from Earth and had nothing to do with the Kree Empire.

He did not have time to consider where Earth was. Russell’s strength in those memories terrified him. His abilities were only average among Skrulls, and he could not copy Russell’s powers. He had to find a way to escape quickly.

Crackle!

Electric Arc struck. The Skrull transformed into Natasha spewed black smoke, rolled his eyes, and collapsed unconscious on the floor.

His shapeshifting ability was flawless. Even Russell could not tell the two apart, but the real Natasha had a Soul Contract planted by Russell, something he could not imitate.

Natasha: "…"

Seeing herself electrocuted to medium-rare, even knowing it was a fake gave her an indescribably strange feeling.

"BOSS, this guy is a Skrull?"

Remembering the description of Skrulls from the basic cosmic knowledge earlier, killing intent rose in Natasha’s heart. She had once been an agent and knew the importance of intelligence. This alien absolutely could not be allowed to live.

"That’s right. This guy is very useful."

Russell did not think as much as Natasha did. He began attempting Enslavement on the Skrull. The other party’s identity and the conflict between the two cosmic empires had nothing to do with him. What he wanted was the person known as "Teptun."

The first Enslavement attempt failed…

Crackle!

The second Enslavement attempt failed…

Crackle!

The third attempt…

Natasha watched from the side, cold sweat covering her forehead. Was this how she had gone through it back then?