Androda Galaxy, Xandar, capital of the Nova Empire.
Unlike the backward Earth civilisation, Xandar is a super-civilization with highly developed science and technology and even has a particular reputation across the vast universe.
The current level of human civilisation has just stepped out of Earth to explore the universe’s initial stage, roughly equivalent to a newborn baby among the many cosmic civilisations.
As for Earth...
Sorry, it’s virtually unheard of.
Unless you change how you ntion it, like calling it Midgard, Xandar would realise and acknowledge that it’s one of the worlds ruled by Asgard.
As a highly developed super-civilization, Xandar, similar to Asgard, also opts for a rule but non-intervention approach, governing many primitive civilisations within the Androda galaxy cluster with a laissez-faire philosophy akin to that of the Huang-Lao school.
However, there is one difference.
The Xandarians deeply desire freedom, love, and peace and detest all forms of war. Thus, their howorld, Xandar, focuses on harbours, trade, and tourism as its primary developnt strategies.
Many beings from across the Androda galaxy, or those who admire Xandar, co to the planet Xandar for various reasons.
Thus, one can see aliens from different galaxies, species, and statuses in Xandar, making it a version of the city of freedom for extraterrestrials.
Every newcor to Xandar is inford that they must unconditionally obey the local laws and regulations, or the Nova Corps might invite them for a "tea discussion."
The Nova Corps, like Asgard’s army, is a vital force maintaining Xandarian civilisation and has made a significant na for itself in the universe. Under normal circumstances, nobody would dare cross them unless they were seeking death.
It’s worth noting that even Ronan, the notorious Accuser of the Kree Empire, has suffered at the hands of the Nova Corps and had to flee in disgrace, which speaks volus about the strength of the Nova Corps.
"Both of you, that’s roughly everything about Xandar," said a rodent-headed individual, sneakily looking at a man and a woman in front of him and grinning: "A hundred Nova credits, and I’ll even throw in a free copy of the Xandar travel guide I wrote myself."
Nova credits are the currency of Xandar.
This rat’s price was not low, even a bit excessive. A hundred Nova credits, roughly equivalent to a hundred US dollars, for just a few words and a shoddy book was not worth it.
However, the man didn’t mind these details and casually tossed a golden coin, considering it was gifted to him, and thus, he didn’t feel any pinch spending it.
The rat-man caught the golden coin between his claws, his face lighting up with delight and his eyes filled with greed.
This high-denomination currency rarely circulated in the market and was possessed mainly by the nobility. One coin could be worth about a thousand dollars if taken to the black market.
Anyone who could casually produce such currency typically belongs to the affluent class.
As the couple was distracted, the rat-man sneakily glanced at the man, noticing the bulging pouch on his waist from which he had taken the coin, indeed containing many more such coins.
The man seed oblivious to the rat-man, took the tattered guide, turned to the gentle-faced woman beside him, and said, "There seems to be a nice restaurant up ahead; let’s try it out."
"Sure."
The woman smiled charmingly, brushing a strand of hair from her temple, her allure indescribable.
After the couple left, the rat n’s eyes shimred with cunning under the drive of greed; they took out a communicator and whispered, "Boss, found a couple of suckers, look loaded, on their way to the Rocacaca restaurant."
"What? Features?"
"Ah... let think, a bit ugly, completely hairless, ashen skin, like cheese."
"And wearing black clothes, not like standard space gear, more like sothing a noble would wear, soft as Xandarian high-grade silk, obviously valuable."
"And yes, they have weapons."
"No, not compression energy guns or laser particle emitters, just two ordinary lee weapons that look like decorative swords."
After ending the call, the rat-man licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with greed.
Despite Xandar’s advanced state and the Nova Corps maintaining order, shadows still lurk beneath even the brightest lights.
Especially since Xandar is a significant port, ho to all sorts, the seemingly orderly civilisation hides countless fugitives and rcenaries.
And people like him, akin to Earth’s gangsters, mainly profit from targeting naive tourists with all sorts of vile tactics to empty their wallets, including but not limited to theft and robbery.
These two were fools.
Daring to flaunt their money pouches so openly, the rat-man felt it his duty to relieve them of their burden, honouring his forefathers.
...
...
...
The couple was Lord and Unohana Retsu.
As for the woman, naturally, it was Unohana Retsu, given she was relatively free.
Although Squad Four is a dical team, the captain’s intervention is rarely needed, making it sowhat of a cushy job.
As Lord was heading out, after so thought, he felt uneasy leaving Unohana in the Soul Society alone, so he took her along under the guise of a vacation.
However, Lord was unaware that a street rat had marked them, but even if he knew, he probably wouldn’t bother to care.
Visiting Xandar for the first ti, it was natural to explore the alien civilisation; its architecture, art, and cuisine were a must.
As for the Twin Flowers...
Mikhail had only sensed their presence, with no specific location or clues available, so even if Lord was anxious, he had no choice but to seek information patiently.
After enjoying a al that looked strange but tasted relatively decent, Unohana Retsu pointed towards a distant fountain of fireworks, indicating she wanted to go there, and Lord naturally agreed.
The road to the fountain was lined with flowers, their shapes ’innovatively different,’ at least outside the aesthetic range of Earthlings, utterly bizarre, but the scent they emitted was refreshing.
Walking about a hundred ters down the street led them to a crowded garden plaza with a giant statue of a queen in the centre, said to be Adora, the current ruler of Xandar.
"So many people..."
Lord looked at the crowded throng and sowhat regretted his earlier decision.
"You’re not thinking of backing out, are you?"
Unohana Retsu half-squinted her eyes, a gentle and peaceful smile.
Feeling the temperature drop around him, Lord’s mouth twitched twice, waving his hand: "No, no... not backing out, let’s go there now."
Gentle Unohana is indeed terrifying...
She’s smiling at you, but it feels chillingly cold. After giving up her sword for dicine, Unohana truly awakened her sly instincts.
Lord shook his head, sighed, and voluntarily walked ahead to lead the way, controlling the output of his spiritual pressure to avoid harming and pushing through the crowd.
Unohana Retsu chuckled lightly, following closely behind and holding Lord’s sleeve as if afraid of being left behind.
After the fountain fireworks, they walked out of the crowd.
Lord felt sowhat relieved; thankfully, they had spiritual power to assist them.
Otherwise, entering and exiting the crowd could have taken hours, leaving them exhausted.
Swoosh—!
A large rat-like brown object suddenly darted out from the crowd.
Right in front of Lord and Unohana Retsu, it snatched their Zanpakuto and money pouch, then, using its tiny stature, it dove back into the crowd and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
With such agile skills and a well-practised technique, it qualified as an extraterrestrial version of Lu Xiaofeng.
"Tsks, how peculiar."
Lord glanced at Unohana beside him and laughed, "Who would have thought the formidable first Kenpachi would have her Zanpakuto stolen right before her."
"Ah, there are even more peculiar things."
Unohana Retsu returned his smile gently: "The great Lord of the Soul King, not only was your Zanpakuto stolen, but even your travel funds."
"Yeah, that’s going to be a problem."
Lord feigned helplessness with a sigh, spreading his hands: "We don’t even have the money to get back ho now; looks like we might be sleeping on the streets."
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