NOVEL NEXT Chapter 212: Controlled
"Four billion. You agreed with Gamora—if we brought you this item, you'd pay up. Remember?"
Blake spoke to the Collector with a smile that resembled coaxing a child.
"But... this isn't the item!"
The Collector replied with a pitiful expression.
"Are you sure?"
Blake asked skeptically, casually shooting a burst of flames at a metal chair in the distance. Under the extreme heat of over ten thousand degrees, the chair made of metal evaporated almost instantly.
*Gulp!*
The Collector did something he would never have imagined himself doing before—he audibly swallowed hard.
"Karina! Karina! Where the hell are you? Hurry and pay this great gentleman!"
Faced with his life hanging by a thread, the usually composed and domineering Collector suddenly adopted the demeanor of a panicked commoner.
The pink-skinned woman who had escorted Blake and his companions inside froze for a moment, glanced at the Collector, then gave Blake a long, deep look. Finally, she hurried off into a nearby room.
Since the device on the desk outside had been smashed, Karina returned quickly with another device belonging to the Collector and began making the transaction with practiced ease.
The Collector often dealt with a variety of items, and Karina, it seemed, was well-versed in handling such matters. Within seconds, the transaction was complete.
Blake glanced at the balance displayed on his device and nodded in satisfaction. He detached his device and casually tossed it to Rocket.
"Rocket, you can distribute the money to everyone now."
With a cheer, Rocket caught the small wrist device.
"You know something? I like you, buddy. I swear, it's not just about the money—I like your style. Plus, I hate that pompous old jerk."
In the original movie, while the Guardians of the Galaxy weren't outright villains, they were far from being law-abiding citizens.
Rocket and Star-Lord, in particular, were free-spirited and hated being confined. A man like the Collector, who imprisoned intelligent beings in cages, was someone they would've dealt with long ago if they'd had the strength.
Now, Blake had not only taught the old scoundrel a lesson but also brought them a massive payday. Was there anything better than this?
The only one who didn't seem thrilled was Gamora. Originally, her plan had been to sell the Power Stone, take the money, and hide in some remote corner of the universe with the secret of the Soul Stone, avoiding Thanos forever. She also wanted to prevent him from collecting all six stones and wiping out half the universe's population.
Now, while the money was secured, something about Blake made her uneasy. Compared to Thanos, he felt even more dangerous.
At least Thanos couldn't hide three Infinity Stones within his body.
Though wary, Gamora still joined in distributing the money. Watching Star-Lord finish dividing the shares, she quickly approached Rocket, showing her account details while keeping a vigilant eye on Blake.
Four billion—an astronomical figure for most, but for someone like the Collector, who had operated in the universe for countless years, it was an unpleasant but not significant loss.
Though intrigued by Blake's identity, the Collector had no intention of provoking someone like him. It was precisely this sense of self-preservation that had allowed him to thrive in a universe teeming with powerful beings.
"Oh, great one, as godlike as you are, our transaction is complete. Is there anything else you would like to request?"
The Collector, having regained his composure, bowed deeply to Blake, presenting a professional demeanor.
But inside, he was screaming: *Leave! Just leave already, you terrifying freak!*
"The deal is indeed complete. Request? Not quite. There's just one more matter to settle," Blake replied, his smile growing even brighter.
The Collector's heart skipped a beat. That same smile had cost him forty billion earlier, with just a worthless piece of metal. Now, with Blake looking even happier...
Though panicking inside, the Collector kept up his servile act. "Please, just say the word. If it's within my power, I'll do everything I can to resolve it."
"Hahaha! I like your attitude!" Blake laughed heartily.
"Now, let's talk about compensation. See that dog over there?" Blake pointed toward the space dog displayed in a glass case near the door, his expression turning sorrowful.
"That dog was part of my family when I was a child. Do you see it? For God's sake, my whole family treated it like one of us, and then it disappeared, only for me to find it locked up here. Do you know how much my family has missed it all these years?"
Blake even wiped away two nonexistent tears, sighing deeply with a face full of grief and indignation.
"So, tell me, how do you plan to resolve this?"
---
The Tivan Group was a massive corporate entity spanning multiple galaxies. Thanks to the Collector's centuries of operations, its reach extended to nearly every advanced civilization in the known universe.
In addition, the Tivan Group secretly controlled numerous underdeveloped planets still in agricultural or early industrial stages. On these worlds, the group's representatives were worshiped as gods, manipulating their civilizations and resources in exchange for paltry benefits.
If Blake could seize control of the Tivan Group, he would gain a force comparable to the three great empires of the universe, amassing wealth, resources, and a vast intelligence network.
After some bargaining, a mix of threats and intimidation, Blake not only coerced the Collector into handing over everything he owned but also implanted a tracking device in his body. Blake warned him that if he ever left the celestial skull's range, Blake would hunt him down anywhere in the universe.
To secure his control, Blake even brought over a dozen experienced Widows from Earth to take over management of the Tivan Group, ensuring they could quickly establish control.
Once everything was meticulously arranged, Blake used a ship to release the intelligent beings unjustly imprisoned by the Collector, sending them back to their rightful homes.
Finally, Blake let out a long sigh of relief and summoned Star-Lord and Gamora, who had yet to leave.
"I know your story," Blake said, looking at Gamora. "You want to escape Thanos' grasp. I can help you, but you must stay here and help me manage this place."
The Widows, though capable, lacked experience in dealing with intergalactic affairs. Rocket and Star-Lord were far too unreliable, making Gamora the ideal choice.
"That's impossible. I must leave. No one can resist my father. I have to get as far away as possible," Gamora replied without hesitation.
Though she had witnessed Blake's power, Thanos was an unshakable force in her mind, and she didn't trust Blake enough to risk staying.
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