Chapter 254: Allen Tries to Buy a Spaceship from the Collector
"What!?"
Allen exploded with rage. "You dare charge me!? What's your name? Who do you think you are!?"
Faced with Allen's overbearing posture, the blue-skinned alien shrank back fearfully, protesting, "That's just the going rate for a universal translator. I'm Yondu Udonta—I've always done honest business!"
Yondu!
None other than Star-Lord's discount father.
Allen widened his eyes and studied Yondu's face. He didn't look old at all—he looked just like a young blue-skinned man.
…
[Character]: Allen (5/10)
[Class]: Lv0 Warrior
[Skills]
Weapon Mastery: Instantly proficient with any melee weapon.
Edge of War Lv1: Adds a blade aura to extend attack range; increases range by 10% per level.
[Time]: Year 1355, Knowhere
[Requirement]: Reach Class Lv120 to return to original timeline.
…
"Over six hundred years ago this time… I'm going further and further back. What next—prehistoric times?"
Upon seeing the time indicator on his status screen, Allen immediately understood why Yondu looked so young.
Yondu tried to sneak away from the alley. This guy clearly wasn't normal, and he'd just lost twelve energy credits on the translator.
"Yo, Yondu. Ever thought about going into business with me?"
Allen threw an arm around his shoulder with a cheerful grin. "We're talking big business."
"You got a spaceship?" Yondu asked.
"…"
Allen had just gotten his universal translator from Yondu—of course he didn't have a ship. Still, he replied confidently, "I'll just buy one."
"Buy one?" Pfft—
Yondu couldn't help but snort. "My life's dream is to buy a spaceship and form my own Ravager crew. I ran away from home three years ago, and I still can't afford a ship boiler."
"You're really down bad, huh."
Allen patted him on the shoulder and said reassuringly, "Yondu, stick with me and you'll have everything."
Dude, I was mocking you. Why are you comforting me instead...?
Yondu's face twitched awkwardly. "I've got no problem tagging along, but you need to get a ship first. Otherwise, we part ways right here."
"Yondu, from now on, you're one of mine. Our team—Galaxy Security Patrol for Equality, Mutual Aid, Environmental Protection, and Endangered Species Preservation—officially launches today. Short name: Guardians of the Galaxy."
"…Aren't you a little overzealous?"
Yondu was dumbfounded. Keeping galactic peace, sure—but endangered species too? Has he ever even asked how the endangered species feel about this?
Allen replied with utter confidence, "Kid, you're too young. The more labels we carry, the more support we get. We're going full-on politically correct."
Hiss…
A flicker of fear passed through Yondu's eyes. He was now completely convinced—this guy was insane.
"Fine, I'll take you to buy a spaceship," Yondu agreed hurriedly. "But let's be clear—I'm just your guide. Once we're there, I'm waiting at the door."
"No problem, brave little Yondu."
The two chatted as they walked, and Allen gradually got a grasp of the situation in Knowhere.
Two main factions ruled the place: Ravager crews and freelance bounty hunters.
"Yondu, why haven't you joined the Ravagers?"
Allen had noticed that whenever the word "Ravager" came up, Yondu's eyes lit with longing.
"They don't take rookies. I still need a few more years of seasoning," Yondu sighed.
Allen puffed up with pride. "You're now a founding member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Won't be long before our name rings across the stars."
Yondu rolled his eyes silently. If it were that easy, Ravagers would've taken over already. Why else would they still be stuck in Knowhere getting squeezed dry by the Collector?
Bounty hunters mostly consisted of rookies, outcasts, or survivors of doomed teams who formed temporary groups to complete contracts.
If you had a spaceship, you were already among the well-off minority of bounty hunters.
The Galactic Collection Hall!
Yondu pointed to a building. "Here in Knowhere, all spaceship sales, purchases, and repairs must go through the Collector. Private transactions are strictly forbidden."
"Wait here for my signal."
Allen strode confidently into the Collection Hall.
A maid with a collar around her neck quickly approached. "Sir, how can I help you?"
"I want to buy a spaceship," Allen said bluntly.
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
The maid contacted the Collector through her collar.
Allen meanwhile browsed the various display cases, which held all sorts of bizarre and rare lifeforms and objects. The more unique and hard to find, the more the Collector was willing to pay to add it to his collection.
For example, the pink-skinned maid before him—her species was endangered, and their numbers were critically low.
"Welcome, my friend."
An old man with white hair and eyebrows walked out. He wore a full leather outfit and a shoulder mantle made from some exotic beast's pelt. His sharp eyes scrutinized Allen carefully.
"Give me a planet-buster," Allen said casually. "The kind that can destroy a star with a single shot."
"No such thing," the Collector replied coolly, still sizing him up. "Star-destroying warships—none of the three galactic empires can produce one."
More precisely, it wasn't that they couldn't—they just wouldn't.
A weapon with such destructive power would have to be colossal. In the vastness of space, it'd be an easy target. Plus, fueling such a beast would require something on the scale of an Infinity Stone.
"What would you recommend then?"
Allen had never seen a spaceship in his life—he had no concept of what a planet-buster really meant.
"That depends on your capabilities," the Collector said frankly. "How much are you planning to spend?"
"I'm broke."
"...You're broke?"
The Collector's expression turned icy the moment he heard that.
As the overlord of Knowhere, he wasn't someone you could joke around with. Otherwise, how could he maintain authority over the Ravagers and bounty hunters in his territory?
"I've got some valuable items to trade."
Before the Collector could get angry, Allen began rummaging through his belongings.
Clang!
He pulled out a pig-slaughtering knife from under his armpit. The blade gleamed fiercely—it was clearly no ordinary kitchen tool.
"Not interested."
The Collector shook his head. Clearly beneath his standards. Unless it was a divine weapon, it had no value as a collectible.
"You've got a sharp eye. But I've got more."
Allen reached down his pants and pulled out a glowing green ring, setting it on the table.
A Sinestro Corps Ring—different from a Green Lantern Ring, and a weapon in its own right.
"Interesting."
The Collector didn't pick it up immediately—he had a cleanliness obsession—but his keen eyes instantly saw that this ring was no ordinary trinket.
"That's still not enough?"
Allen dug into his back pocket and pulled out another item—the Redemption Blade.
"Also known as the Tetanus Blade," he added with a smug grin.
This time, the Collector's eyes were locked onto the weapon.
It was something even he couldn't fully see through—as though it radiated a mysterious redemptive power.
"Name your price. I want it."