She Was Taking a Bath

"The Nova Corps was Xandar’s military force. It initially consisted only of Xandar’s space militia and exploration agencies. Later, it developed into a five-hundred-man force ranging from watchmen to centurions, including the leader of the centurions—the Nova Centurion Prime."

"Later still, as its numbers expanded further and its military technology grew more advanced, it was renamed the Xandar Military Interstellar Corps, also known as the Nova Corps. That title has remained in use to this day."

"The Nova Corps possessed formidable combat power. Even after fighting the renowned Kree Empire for thousands of years, it had never fallen behind."

"Its major achievements included…"

Xandar, capital city, a certain scenic hotel.

Beckett, who had openly rented a room, sat on a soft sofa with his feet resting on a transparent glass coffee table, looking up at the holographic screen floating in the air.

Woz had already compiled the Nova Corps’ glorious achievements since its founding, allowing him to gain a deeper understanding of the army’s past strength and splendor.

Hmm, and Hela.

"Click."

The Other carefully placed a refreshing drink on the coffee table. The faint sound pulled Beckett out of his thoughts.

"Forcing our way into Nova Corps headquarters is absolutely not an option. We have no army at hand right now. Besides, if we clash with the people at Nova Corps headquarters, it will be nearly impossible for us to obtain what Jack Jones wants."

After all, the Nova Corps possessed weapons powerful enough to destroy a planet in a single strike.

Thirsty, Hela directly drained the drink The Other had prepared for Beckett under his hesitant gaze.

"Pfft!"

The instant it entered her mouth, the bitter taste numbed Hela’s throat.

"What is this stuff?!"

"Your Highness Hela, this is Qian tea specially prepared by Lord Thanos for His Highness Beckett. It can clear internal heat, sharpen the mind, and provide other benefits to the human body."

"…"

Watching Beckett calmly drink the so-called Qian tea that she could not even swallow a sip of, Hela fell silent.

"I’m going to take a bath. I’ll be back soon."

After a long while, Hela lowered her head and glanced at the stubborn tea stains on her clothes. Disgust flashed in her eyes. She set the things she had bought on the coffee table, then walked into the shower room without looking back.

"Woz, who is still at Nova Corps headquarters?"

Ignoring Hela’s fussiness, Beckett sipped the bitter Qian tea and asked.

His mind was exceptionally clear at that moment.

"His Highness Beckett, based on the available intelligence, one-third of the Nova Corps’ senior officers remain at headquarters and have not gone out to fight. However, the good news is that Nova Prime, Xandar’s current leader, is not on Xandar. She has departed for Planet Hala to negotiate with the Kree Empire."

"A state with no leader?"

"No. According to circulating reports, before leaving Xandar, the current Nova Prime had already prepared for a transfer of leadership and designated the next Nova Prime."

As Woz explained, a beautiful woman wearing Xandar’s blue uniform and sporting short, chin-length blonde hair appeared in Beckett’s pupils.

Woz added a note beside her: Next Nova Prime.

If the current Nova Prime failed to return from the Kree Empire, then this designated successor would ascend to the pinnacle of power on Xandar and become the next Nova Prime.

"Where is she now?"

Beckett narrowed his eyes as a bold idea gradually surfaced in his mind.

"Please wait, His Highness Beckett. Woz is attempting to crack Xandar’s planetary database."

"Beep beep, beep beep…"

The moment Woz finished speaking, the bag Hela had placed on the coffee table suddenly emitted an unusually noisy sound.

Frowning, Beckett reached out and opened the bag. A beam of light, accompanied by dense magical energy, instantly condensed into a figure before him—Asgard’s queen, Frigga.

"Beckett? Where is Hela?"

Frigga had not expected Beckett to answer the call, and surprise was difficult to hide in her eyes.

"She’s taking a bath."

Beckett drank the refreshing Qian tea and pointed toward the shower room.

"…"

"Looks like I asked at the wrong time. Stay safe…" Sighing inwardly, Frigga shut off the communication with a complicated expression.

Beckett: "???"

"Search complete, His Highness Beckett."

"Woz cannot fully control Xandar’s planetary database, but based on the available information, it has located the designated successor to Nova Prime, Nova Prime."

"She is currently living in the heavily guarded Nova Manor, waiting for the results of the current Nova Prime’s negotiations with the Kree Empire."

As he spoke, a set of coordinates appeared on Woz’s holographic screen.

"Woz is formulating a stealth route for you."

Knowing Beckett inside and out, Woz did not even need to be told before it consciously began devising an infiltration plan.

Although Beckett definitely would not listen, making an infiltration plan was its dignity. It could not neglect that.

Whoosh!

"His Highness Becke—"

Before The Other could finish, Beckett had already vanished.

"His Highness Beckett, wait for me!"

Gripping his scepter, The Other barely managed to keep up with Beckett’s speed as he too left the scenic hotel room.

The orange cat, exhausted from jumping around the spacious room, landed on the coffee table while chasing a rolling ball. Twitching its nose, it followed the scent to where The Other had been standing, lowered its head, and stuck out its tongue to lick the bitter drink in The Other’s cup…

"Meow!"

Its orange fur instantly stood on end, and then, with a plop, it rolled to the floor and began writhing around…

Nova Manor.

The residence of Nova Prime, the next Nova Prime, was guarded with exceptional strictness.

Even so, Roman Day still felt an inexplicable unease in his heart.

An unease even he could not explain.

Nova Prime, Xandar’s current supreme commander, had departed for the Kree Empire five days ago. News returned every day, so that should not have been the cause of his unease.

"Why exactly?"

"Could the people in prison be about to cause trouble?"

Or perhaps…

Roman Day instinctively looked up at the sky, and a figure wreathed in golden flames entered his sight.

That was?!

Roman Day’s pupils suddenly contracted, and his face, already showing the first signs of plumpness, became incomparably grave.

"Enemy attack!!!"

However, it was already too late.

Massive energy blasts rained down like raindrops. The protective shield above Nova Manor shattered in an instant beneath the impact of that figure surging with golden flames, and dense explosions immediately enveloped the skies over the entire Nova Manor!

"Where is Nova Prime?"

A blond, blue-eyed figure slowly emerged from the smoke and dust. He looked down upon Roman Day, who collapsed alongside corpses littering the ground. His godlike appearance made Roman Day’s pupils shrink sharply!

"Who are you?!"

"Celebrate!"

"The great Son of Titan, the revered Lord of Chitauri Prime, His Highness Beckett!"

"At this very moment…"

The Other, clutching the Mind Stone scepter and barely keeping pace with Beckett, landed amid the ruins. His body staggered, then he simply went with the momentum and slid onto his knees, raising both hands as he recited Beckett’s hymn before the surviving members of the dirt-covered Nova Corps Nova Manor security team!

Brilliant!

The Other silently gave his clever self a thumbs-up.

Nova Prime was the name of the Nova Prime in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

Roman Day was the chubby middle-aged man who returned Star-Lord’s repaired ship to him~

Of course, they were still young and inexperienced during this period~