Xandar

At the edge of the Solar System, Rocket and the other two had already left. Meanwhile, the battlefield had basically been cleaned up, but the wrangling over the spoils had yet to end. It was said that Earth was practically about to start fighting over them.

Who wouldn’t want an intact capital ship?

"Compared to my Blood God, those capital ships are junk."

Bert Wang shook his head, sensed Kamar-Taj’s projection, and asked, "Any discoveries in London?"

The projection replied, "No. It should be because the time hasn’t come yet."

Bert Wang asked again, "When will the Celestial Convergence truly begin?"

"The exact day can’t be calculated, but it should be around two and a half months from now, in June."

The projection said, "If you want to go to Xandar, go ahead. You can come back anytime anyway, and I’ll be keeping watch."

"I mainly don’t want the Ravagers and bounty hunters getting involved in the Celestial Convergence."

Bert Wang said, "Two and a half months should be enough time. Keep a close eye on things."

The projection nodded. "All right."

After ending the call with the projection, Bert Wang summoned Tony and Steve and said, "There’s a very powerful planet in the galaxy called Xandar. I plan to take the Space Stone there."

Tony was puzzled. "We’ve already defeated the Ravagers. Why are you still leaving?"

"On one hand, it’s to avoid an endless stream of trouble."

Bert Wang said, "On the other hand, it’s to do business."

Tony and Steve were both stunned. "Do business?"

"Yes, business. I’m going to earn enough money to buy back the low- and mid-level technology Earth lacks."

Bert Wang nodded and said, "That way, Earth can enter the interstellar age as quickly as possible."

Tony and Steve’s eyes lit up. Tony said, "Bert, I have to say, you really are a genius. But have you figured out what business you’ll do? Aliens probably won’t be interested in Earth’s things, right?"

Steve added, "And anything they might be interested in, we definitely wouldn’t sell."

"Don’t worry. I’ve already thought of a business with guaranteed profits."

Bert Wang kept them in suspense, then continued, "In short, I’ll leave first. You two guard the edge of the Solar System. Once the Ravagers thin out, move most of the forces back to Earth. If nothing unexpected happens, the Celestial Convergence will truly begin in June."

"No wonder you were in such a hurry to settle this, Bert."

Tony suddenly understood. "No problem. With all the spoils we captured, we have enough strength to handle two fronts at once."

Steve sighed. "Don’t mention the spoils again. Coulson has lost more than half his hair over dividing them up."

"You’ve got some nerve saying that. That was supposed to be your job, wasn’t it?"

Tony mocked. Bert Wang smiled and said, "Oh, right. I’m taking the Blood God with me. If I’m doing business, I can’t go alone. I need some style."

"Of course."

Tony thoroughly agreed. People respected clothes before they respected people; it was the same everywhere. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about having the countries and major corporations send some professionals along with you? It would add to the prestige, and they could better understand the universe."

Bert Wang said, "Sure, but I only want beautiful women, and they can’t be too old."

"Damn."

Tony and Steve both looked at him with contempt. You just wanted to use this chance to pick up girls, didn’t you?

Xandar’s starport was the busiest in the Milky Way Galaxy, with countless spacecraft coming and going every day. But on this day, the starport was under lockdown. A large number of spindle-shaped fighters surrounded a capital ship hundreds of meters long.

Inside the capital ship, Bert Wang sat in the command room with a row of beautiful human women behind him, looking immensely imposing. Across from him stood Centurion Lindy of the Nova Corps.

"This ship is a Kree ship, not the registered Earth ship you claimed it to be."

Wearing a Nova uniform, looking just like a human, and appearing quite arrogant, Centurion Lindy questioned Bert Wang. "As far as I know, Earthlings do not have the ability to manufacture spacecraft."

"Centurion."

Bert Wang first nodded in greeting, then said, "Earthlings indeed lack the ability to manufacture spacecraft, but Earthlings do have the ability to capture them. I took this ship from Korath the Pursuer."

"You defeated Korath the Pursuer?"

Lindy sneered. "Do you know that I have fought him before, and the result was a draw?"

"He doesn’t, because I haven’t told him yet."

Korath stepped forward and said, "Centurion Lindy, this is my master, the powerful Earthling, Blood God Bert Wang."

"Korath!"

Lindy was deeply shocked. "Aren’t you Ronan’s follower?"

"Ronan isn’t worthy of my loyalty."

Korath said fervently, "The Blood God is my master."

"Korath, you’re a wanted criminal. How do I know whether you’re acting?"

Lindy said coldly, "I don’t believe an Earthling is qualified to be your master."

"First of all, he isn’t a wanted criminal."

Bert Wang said, "According to the ceasefire agreement between your Nova Corps and the Kree Empire, all actions during the previous war are exempt from prosecution. Therefore, he isn’t wanted."

Korath added, "That’s right. I’m innocent."

Lindy said, "We have not pardoned Ronan. He is a war-crazed lunatic."

"Korath no longer belongs to Ronan."

Bert Wang said.

Naturally, Lindy would not believe so easily. She said, "That requires an investigation."

"You can investigate as slowly as you like."

Bert Wang smiled, then said, "Second, Earthlings aren’t as weak as you think. Not only can I subdue Korath, I can also follow the network signal straight into your office."

Lindy snorted. "If you have that ability, then you’re very welcome to visit my office."

"Then I’ll gladly accept."

Bert Wang smiled faintly and directly appeared inside Lindy’s office. Then, both of them froze.

Bert Wang looked at the table full of snacks and the pair of bare feet. He could not help rubbing his nose. Lindy’s arrogant image instantly collapsed in his mind.

Lindy was stunned at first, then shut off the communication in embarrassment and fury before hurriedly putting on her shoes.

Then, keeping a straight face, Lindy said, "It’s perfectly normal not to wear shoes in an office when there’s no one else around, right?"

Bert Wang nodded. "Right."

Lindy asked again, "Work is demanding, so it’s perfectly normal to keep some snacks in the office to fill my stomach, right?"

Bert Wang nodded again. "Also right. Aside from being a little messy, it’s fine."

"Faced with an unidentified person who barged into my office without warning, it would also be perfectly normal for me to shoot him dead on the spot, right?"

Lindy asked once more, her gaze rather dangerous.

Bert Wang sat down on the sofa, beckoned over a bag of snacks, and said with a smile, "Right. The problem is, I didn’t barge in without warning. You invited me."

Lindy had no response, because she really had invited him. She snorted coldly. "Who gave you permission to eat my snacks?"

"I did."

Bert Wang smiled. Before Lindy could fly into a rage, he asked, "Do you want to know why I was able to suddenly appear here?"

Lindy was immediately distracted. "Why?"

Bert Wang said, "Because the Space Stone is on me."

Lindy abruptly stood up and asked in shock, "That rumor was true? The Space Stone really was on Earth?"

Bert Wang said, "Yes, the Space Stone was indeed on Earth before."

"Before?"

Lindy glanced at Bert Wang and asked, "Do you want to donate the Space Stone to the Nova Corps? Or are you trying to shift the disaster onto Xandar?"

"Earth is capable of protecting the Space Stone. There is no need to donate it to anyone."

Bert Wang said, "Besides, I came to Xandar to do business, not to shift any disaster."

Lindy sneered. "As far as I know, you Earthlings can’t even leave your own planet."

Bert Wang released a holographic projection and said, "When the Ravagers came, they thought the same thing you did. Then they all became corpses."

Looking at the wreckage of capital ships in the holographic projection, Lindy asked in disbelief, "You defeated the Ravagers?"

"Yes. We destroyed two capital ships and captured three."

Bert Wang nodded. He swallowed a pastry-like snack and said, "Centurion Lindy, I came specifically to do business. I mean no harm. I’ll deal with the Space Stone’s troubles myself."

Lindy fell silent for a moment, then asked, "What business do you intend to do on Xandar?"

"Delivery business."

Bert Wang smiled. "Earth Express."

"Delivery?"

Lindy looked as if he had to be joking. A group of Earthlings had come all the way to Xandar to deliver packages? Lindy said, "Sorry, but on Xandar, we use drones for deliveries."

"I deliver across planets."

Bert Wang drew a portal with one hand. On the other side was his warehouse. He took out a box of premium chocolate and said, "This is chocolate, an Earth specialty. Give it a try."

Lindy asked in shock, "Earth specialty chocolate? Don’t tell me that’s Earth on the other side?"

"That’s right. The other side is Earth, my hometown."

Bert Wang closed the portal and smiled. "As long as I’ve been somewhere before, I can open a portal to that place. Even crossing planets is no problem. Centurion, what do you think of my business? Does it have potential?"

"This business will make you the richest person on Xandar."

Lindy said, "Provided you can protect the Space Stone on you."

Bert Wang smiled faintly and said with calm confidence, "Of course I can protect it. Forget mere Ravagers—even if your Nova Corps tried to take it, I could still protect it."

Lindy stared at Bert Wang without speaking. Bert Wang met her gaze without yielding. After a moment, Lindy said, "I’ll issue you a pass. The Nova Corps will guarantee your safety on Xandar, but once you leave Xandar, everything is your own responsibility."

"No problem. By the way, are there any preferential policies?"

Bert Wang smiled. "My Earth Express will soon become one of Xandar’s leading companies and a major taxpayer."

"Talk about that after you manage to live that long."

Lindy snorted. "All right, sir. You may leave now."

Bert Wang stood and asked, "One last question. May I treat you to dinner?"

"Treat me to dinner?"

Lindy was stunned, then said, "Wait—"

"Wait until I survive. No problem. I’ll choose a restaurant and wait for you then."

Bert Wang nodded. "Oh, and by the way, you put your shoes on the wrong feet."

Lindy flew into a rage from embarrassment and grabbed a bag of snacks, hurling it at Bert Wang. After catching it, Bert Wang smiled at her and vanished instantly. "Damn it!"

Lindy gritted her teeth. A moment later, she came to her senses, her face full of shock. When had she agreed to have dinner with him?

On the Blood God, the returning Bert Wang said to Korath, "Korath, go handle the paperwork."

"Yes, Blood God."

Korath nodded and took several people to handle the procedures. After thinking for a moment, Bert Wang said to Crystal, "Crystal, take a group of people and use the identification documents issued by the Nova Corps to visit the major planets."

Crystal was puzzled. "Visit them?"

"Yes. I’ll place my blood within you. Wherever you go will be the same as me going there."

Bert Wang said, "Rent a warehouse on those planets. Make it large. All future deliveries will be sent to those warehouses."

Crystal nodded. "I understand. Once we get the identification documents, we’ll set out immediately."

"Be careful. If anything happens, just call for the Blood God to save you. I’ll go over and help immediately."

Bert Wang said. Crystal said gratefully, "Thank you, Blood God."

After settling that matter, Bert Wang picked up the alien communicator and contacted Lilith. "Have you acquired the movie copyrights I asked for?"

"I’ve already obtained the rights to around half of the classic films."

Lilith said, "I’m still negotiating for the rest. There shouldn’t be any problems."

Bert Wang was a little surprised. "That fast?"

"I acquired several of the companies."

Lilith said expressionlessly, "Unfortunately, there are antitrust laws. Otherwise, I would have acquired all of them."

Bert Wang nodded in satisfaction. "Well done."

Lilith asked, "Blood God, are you planning to show these classic movies to aliens?"

"Yes, to let them learn about Earth and prepare for the future interstellar age."

Bert Wang smiled. "We might even make a little money. Of course, it won’t be that simple. Many movies will need to be remade."

Lilith asked, "And then you can use the opportunity to pick up girls, right?"

Bert Wang said angrily, "Am I that kind of person?"

"Yes."

Lilith answered with absolute certainty. Bert Wang laughed heartily. "You really do understand me. Remember to find a few directors for me."

Lilith nodded. "All right."

I wonder whether Earth movies can become popular on Xandar?

Bert Wang thought. If not, then I’ll just have to hit on Earth celebrities. But if they can, that’ll be fun.

"Hello, we’re Earth Express. If you need anything delivered, please come find us."

In Xandar’s capital, a group of beautiful Earth women in miniskirts handed out flyers to passersby. The Xandarians were quite surprised. Did anyone still use such an outdated advertising method these days?

"Delivery? Let me see."

A Xandarian took a flyer and glanced at it, nearly scared to death. "Five hundred thousand just to send one package? Why don’t you just rob people? Five hundred thousand is enough to buy a small spacecraft."

"Our boss says robbery doesn’t make as much money as deliveries."

The Earth beauty said with a bright smile, "Sir, Earth Express guarantees cross-planet delivery within ten seconds."

The Xandarian scoffed. "Cross-planet delivery within ten seconds? How is that possible? This is obviously false advertising. I’m reporting you to the Nova Corps."

"It’s possible, because our boss has the Space Stone… You don’t know what the Space Stone is? That’s fine. Let me explain it to you in detail."

After hearing the Earth beauty’s detailed explanation, the Xandarian stood dumbfounded. He repeatedly shook his head. "Even if it’s true, I still can’t afford to send anything."

The Earth beauty was not bothered in the slightest. "That’s all right. I believe you’ll definitely be able to afford it in the future."

"What wonderful service."

The Xandarian sighed, then left without looking back. He had no choice—he really could not afford it.

The Earth beauty did not mind. She had said so much only to publicize the Space Stone. Earth Express’s real customers were the wealthy, major corporations, and the military.