You can read ahead up to 70 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/GGS6395
Arthur looked at Thor blankly before saying: "In the future, knock before entering someone's room."
"So I really interrupted something?" Thor looked at Arthur in surprise, then at Jeff. "I never thought you had such... unusual tastes."
"What on earth do you mean by unusual tastes?"
Arthur stood up, his face darkening. Before he could speak, Jeff interrupted, "Who are you?"
Just a moment ago Jeff had been sobbing uncontrollably, but now he suddenly found his voice.
And it wasn't just a question. Jeff continued, "I am Jeff, the warden of the Kyln Maximum Security Prison of the Nova Empire! This guy is a prisoner from our facility. Whatever he told you, don't believe him. If you've ever heard of the Nova Empire, contact them immediately and capture this criminal!"
The blue-skinned warden was obviously desperate.
As Thor opened the door, Jeff's mind raced with possibilities.
First of all, Arthur hadn't revealed him in public, which could mean that Arthur didn't want anyone to know that he had captured him.
As he spoke, Jeff emphasized the word "Prisoner," hoping to get Thor's attention.
Beyond that, everything else was up to fate.
Given the way things were, Jeff decided he might as well take a chance. Being imprisoned indefinitely by Arthur seemed worse than dying. If Arthur killed him now, Jeff thought it would be a relief.
As they say, those with nothing to lose can be the most dangerous. Jeff's courage was impressive.
But Thor's reaction was unexpected. He looked at Arthur and asked: "So you've been to Xandar?"
"You know about my recent training. I ended up there because of that pesky cube."
Arthur explained, "I was thrown straight into the Kyln maximum security prison and they immediately assumed I was trying to escape. I barely had a chance to explain before they decided to lock me up. Honestly, I couldn't afford a lawyer... and negotiating with them was impossible. I lost my patience and just took him hostage.
Thor nodded, "I can understand your situation."
Jeff's heart sank deeper and deeper.
He stared at these two "partners-in-crime," nearly in tears. "If there really is a divine realm in this universe, the gods will punish you both! You devils! Devils!"
Curious, Thor looked at Arthur again. He had never heard of a blue-skinned follower before.
"I've mentioned Asgard to him before. When I was lost, Asgard's Bifrost was my only hope."
Arthur shrugged. "Apparently, he hasn't forgotten that."
"I see."
Thor approached Jeff and lifted him off the ground: "Let me tell you a fact. This is Asgard, the so-called divine realm. And I am Thor, son of Odin, the All-Father!"
What's worse than despair?
It's Jeff.
Jeff was so hopeless now that he was almost dazed. The legendary Asgardian realm?
Why was it allied with a criminal like Arthur?
What kind of deal did they have?
An entire blue-skinned edition of "A Hundred Thousand Whys" quickly formed in Jeff's mind.
"So, buddy, you're actually safe now."
Thor told Jeff, "I know about the Nova Empire. If you're ready, I can send you back now... Right, Arthur?"
Arthur nodded, "Of course, that's fine by me. To be honest, I didn't know what to do with him. I took him out of necessity and never really mistreated him..."
"You sold me to the Raiders!"
Jeff's eyes widened. "And after taking payment, you had that little thug put me on a spaceship to sell me again! Not only that, but you brought someone to humiliate me by thinking I was a costume actor! And then you brought a giant to intimidate me! Heaven knows why he was so tall, so big, with that disgusting green skin, and so irrational! And now you shamelessly claim that you never mistreated me?"
Thor's sense of humor was suddenly triggered and he burst out laughing like a thunderstorm.
Arthur and Jeff both stared at Thor, who blinked awkwardly after laughing for a long time. "Wasn't that funny?"
Arthur remained silent.
Jeff, on the verge of collapse, exclaimed, "What's so funny about that?"
"I get the feeling that being locked up for so long has made him a bit crazy," Arthur shrugged at Thor. "Anyway, you can handle whatever happens to him next. Honestly, I meant to leave him here a couple of times, but I just kept forgetting."
Thor nodded, then raised a concern: "But there's a problem. He said you wanted to sell him again, and you mentioned that you had an accomplice. Is this guy okay now? What if sending him back causes trouble for your friend?"
"Hm, I hadn't thought about that."
Arthur fell into thought.
Jeff looked even more dazed. "As gods, why would you even say such a thing? Isn't it your duty to punish the criminal?"
"Apparently it is."
Thor nodded. "But, my friend, the person standing before you is a true hero. Just a month ago, he saved millions of lives and stopped an interstellar invasion."
"In fact, I'm now considered a hero of the Nova Empire as well," Arthur added. "Although I'm not sure what the higher-ups were thinking, I was facing a Kree invasion on a trading planet at the time. I ended up shooting down an important ship and killing their commander. After that, the Nova Empire promoted me as a hero... even if I think they had ulterior motives, I can't ignore the recognition."
"That's impossible."
Jeff shook his head. How could a kidnapper suddenly become a hero?
"It's true, buddy."
Thor patted Jeff on the shoulder, and with tremendous force, Jeff fell to the ground.
"He really is fragile."
Thor looked at Jeff and then turned to Arthur, "So, what do we do now?"
"How about letting him stay in Asgard for a while?" Arthur suggested. "In a few days, when my friend becomes a hero too, we'll release him."
"Prison?"
"Too harsh, perhaps house arrest?"
"Fine."
The two reached an agreement once more.
(End of chapter)