Marvel: What If Thanos Adopted A Saiyan?-Chapter 195 - 196: Rejection, Temptation, and an Offer Too Good to Refuse

Chapter 195: Chapter 196: Rejection, Temptation, and an Offer Too Good to Refuse

"I hope... you truly understand where you went wrong."

Seated imposingly upon his throne, Thanos gazed after the retreating figure of his adopted son, his heart sighing in silence.

He didn’t believe that this single experience would be enough to completely erase the pride etched into Lothar’s very bones. He could only hope it would at least help his son understand the eternal truth: "There is always someone stronger, and the skies above stretch endlessly."

Power inevitably breeds arrogance, an arrogance that, left unchecked, can become intolerable. Thanos hoped his son would come to grasp this principle.

Once Lothar’s silhouette had fully vanished from the gates of the fortress, Thanos waved his hand, summoning a luminous screen. The majestic tapestry of the cosmos immediately reflected in his eyes.

There, marked with the sigil of the Time Stone, was Midgard.

Nearby, shining with the symbol of the Space Stone, floated Asgard.

Including the Mind Stone and Reality Stone already in his possession, Thanos now knew the exact whereabouts of four out of the six Infinity Stones. The only ones whose locations remained elusive were the Soul Stone and the Power Stone.

The Space Stone was currently held by Odin. Without absolute certainty of victory against the King of Asgard, Thanos wasn’t going to risk a premature confrontation.

The Time Stone was in the hands of Agamotto, and the same principle applied.

Who knew what those two might do in the midst of battle, perhaps even hide the stones or fling them into the farthest corners of the universe in search of a worthy successor. At present, Odin and Agamotto were beings of power comparable to his own. If either one of them resolved to sequester the stones, there was little Thanos could do to stop them.

Thus, rather than risking everything in a clash that could end in mutual ruin, Thanos chose patience. Let the stones rest safely in Odin and Agamotto’s hands... until the time came to claim them all at once.

"The Power Stone... According to Lothar, it was held by the Grand Sage of Gafa. But he’s already dead, and Gafa has become a dead star, devoid of any trace of the Power Stone."

"As for the Soul Stone... I’ve got no leads."

Thanos tapped and traced across the display, deep in thought.

Compared to the utterly untraceable Soul Stone, pursuing the Power Stone seemed like a more practical next step.

"Ebony Maw, send word. Dispatch a contingent of our forces to radiate outward from Gafa’s location. I want a planet-by-planet search, comprehensive and methodical."

"If any energy resembling an Infinity Stone isotope is detected, report to me immediately."

After pondering a while longer, Thanos waved his hand, erasing the Soul Stone’s marker from the display and sent the order to Ebony Maw, stationed near Gafa.

"Hmm? Odin?"

Just as he finished issuing his command, Thanos noticed a comms icon blinking in the lower-right corner of the screen. Upon opening it, he saw that it was a communication request, from Odin.

"Is this about Lothar and Hela?" Thanos instinctively thought of the... forceful kiss his son had bestowed upon Asgard’s most radiant flower.

"What is it, Odin?"

He accepted the call. Odin’s holographic form materialized before him, seated with solemn dignity on his throne, the Spear of Heaven in hand.

"We need to talk, Thanos."

"About what, specifically?"

"Hela and Lothar."

Odin went straight to the point. There was no need for pretense between two ancient warlords who had ruled the cosmos for eons.

He was here to lay his cards on the table.

"All this over a kiss?"

Thanos laced his fingers together, leaning into his icy throne. His face betrayed no emotion.

"Not entirely," Odin replied firmly. "I’m leaving."

"I’m going to challenge the Celestials."

Even across the vast gulf of star systems, Thanos could sense the blazing intent radiating from Odin’s Spear of Heaven as he made that declaration.

"Before I go... I have a question for you."

"I want to know, does your son truly care for my daughter?" freēnovelkiss.com

"Because if they do care for one another, then perhaps... we could arrange a wedding for them."

"A grand wedding."

Thanos narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing.

"You sound unsure of your own fate, Odin."

"You know what the Celestials are, Thanos," Odin replied without flinching.

Yes, he was fully prepared not to return from this challenge. And that was precisely why he wanted to ensure Frigga and Hela had a future beyond Asgard.

In this turbulent galaxy, Thanos’ Black Quadrant was the safest haven he could find for them.

"I refuse."

To accept the potential burden of Asgard for the sake of a single woman, that was not Thanos’ way.

If Lothar truly cared for Hela, he would save her himself when the reckoning came for Asgard.

"Are you certain you won’t reconsider, Thanos?"

Odin, clearly prepared for this refusal, slowly drew a shimmering azure cube from his robes.

"What if I told you... the Space Stone is Hela’s dowry?"

"I’ll leave it with Agamotto. If I do not return in time for the wedding... then Agamotto will hand it over to you."

"So, Thanos... what do you say?"

Odin smiled warmly, revealing a bargaining chip too tempting to refuse.

Thanos said nothing for a long moment. Then, slowly, he shut his eyes, resting his hands on the frozen armrests of his throne.

When he opened them again, he uttered a single word:

"Deal."

...

Black Quadrant, Lothar’s Private Quarters, Dining Hall.

An orange Flerken with a crisp white bib sat atop a custom-built chair crafted by the ever-handy Gaitz. Its tiny paws clutched a knife and fork, rhythmically tapping on the table, all while letting out a series of agitated meows.

The mountain of delicacies on the table was vanishing at a visible pace.

Restricted by Lothar’s command not to use its race’s devouring ability, the poor Flerken could only watch helplessly as Lothar shoveled food into his mouth at an inhuman pace, while it nibbled away like a tortoise.

"Meow! Meow! Meow-meow-meow!!"

[Flerken-speak: This isn’t fair!]

"Ah! Lord Thanos!"

The Other, who had just sneakily filched two pieces of meat from the Flerken’s bowl, froze mid-chuckle upon seeing the towering purple figure in the doorway. He immediately stood and bowed in panic.

"Father?"

Lothar looked up, bits of meat still clinging to the corners of his mouth. His expression showed only confusion.

"What brings you here, Father?"

"Just one question, Lothar."

Thanos reached down and gently stroked the now-tamed Flerken, which had gone docile the moment he arrived, then turned his gaze toward Lothar with a faint smile.

"A question?"

"Lothar, tell me..."

"Do you like Hela?"

As Thanos casually played with the Flerken’s soft head, a piece of food suddenly sprayed toward him.

PFFT!

COUGH! COUGH COUGH—!!!

Choking violently on his drink, Lothar snatched a napkin from Gaitz and frantically wiped down the mess soaking into his battle gear.

"Why are you asking that too, Father?"

"Why would I like her?"

"She’s someone I defeated."

Once his clothes were properly wiped down, Lothar raised his head and met Thanos’ calm gaze.

"Yes, a defeated opponent."

Expression composed, gaze unwavering, his words rang with certainty.

"How could I possibly like someone I’ve beaten?"

...

Asgard, Throne Room.

Far across the cosmos, in the golden palace of Asgard, Hela was voicing her stance, loud and clear, upon hearing her mother mention the idea of an arranged marriage.

"Absolutely not!"

"Mother, I will never marry him!"

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