Arthur's mind whirled for a while, but he couldn't make sense of the logic behind it all.
"It's like you— don't you have a nickname? Don't tell me 'Instructor' is your real name."
Peter explained, "See, once you have a nickname, people can refer to you that way. Like, 'Oh, you're that legendary Raider 'Instructor'?' But without a nickname, people would just say, 'Oh, you're Arthur.'"
"Even though 'Instructor' sounds a bit off, at least you have a nickname. I don't have one yet, so help me come up with a good one."
Star-Lord looked at Arthur with a serious expression.
Arthur sighed and said, "Star-Lord!"
"... Star-Lord? Star Lord?"
Star Lord's eyes widened and then he frowned. "Oh my god, why would you give me such an awful nickname?"
"Are you serious?"
Arthur widened his eyes. Wasn't this nickname your idea?
"Fine, better than nothing."
Star-Lord mumbled to himself a few times before nodding. "Alright, Star-Lord it is. You're quick on your feet!"
What else could Arthur say?
After a couple of chuckles, he asked, "What's next?"
"Next? We need to come up with a name for our team!"
Star-Lord said earnestly, "Otherwise, people will..."
"Stop, Stop, Stop!"
Arthur was really fed up with his 'theory'. Was this all just filler?
He quickly said, "Get to the point!"
"Hmm... how about you come up with one?" Star-Lord suggested. "Though you're not as smart as I am, you're close, and we have different focuses. You're good at naming things."
Arthur almost cried; this was the first time someone thought he was good at naming.
After pondering for a while, Arthur suggested, "How about 'Star Guard Brigade'?"
But then he felt something was off and quickly shook his head. "No, no, that won't work. 'Star Guard Brigade'? Hmm, why does it have to be a brigade?"
"Yeah, why does it have to be a brigade? I don't want to guard anything."
Star-Lord said, "How about 'Star-Lord Assault Team'?"
"...I'd rather go with 'Raging Assault Team'!"
"That's so tacky, buddy. Looks like I overestimated your naming skills!"
"Get lost!"
Arthur's face darkened.
Then the two of them got caught up in a naming dispute, and after an entire hour, they still hadn't settled on one.
After an hour of temporary ceasefire, the two looked at each other. Star-Lord rubbed his stomach and said, "I'm hungry."
"I'm starting to miss Banner."
Arthur sighed, "I assume you've prepared enough food?"
"Of course! I've got everything ready!"
Star-Lord suddenly had a mysterious look and said, "Not only that, but I also have a big surprise for you!"
Arthur had an unsettling premonition, "Why do I feel like it's going to be a shock?"
"How could it be?"
Star-Lord opened the door to the lower level and said to Arthur, "Come here!"
Arthur followed him down, puzzled, and arrived at the next level.
This level was mainly a lounge, kitchen, and dining area… equipped with everything needed to support the lives of two people.
However, as soon as Arthur arrived, he saw an unbelievable scene.
There was a blue giant, tightly bound and gagged with a filthy rag shoved into his mouth, making it hard for him to breathe.
He was struggling, eyes rolling back, on the verge of passing out.
"Jeff?"
Arthur was stunned. "How did you bring him here?"
"He's a valuable asset!"
Star-Lord said, "He's the warden of the Kyln high-security prison, an influential figure. The Nova Empire would certainly be willing to pay a fortune to get him back. Instead of giving this opportunity to Yondu, why don't we take it?"
"That makes sense, but do you have a channel for this?"
Arthur asked.
"A channel… hmm, yes!"
Star-Lord said, "We can visit Xandar in a while. I'll contact a buyer who will purchase him at a lower price, then he can negotiate a ransom with the Nova Empire's higher-ups."
"Are you sure this plan will work?"
Arthur felt uneasy about the whole idea.
This whole selling-people scenario felt off, and not at all proper.
He approached Jeff and removed the rag from his mouth, only for the Disassembler to prompt:
**[Do you want to Disassemble Star Lord's Privacy (Green)?]**
Disassemble your ass!!!
This isn't privacy, it's Star Lord's underwear!
Arthur quickly tossed the rag at Star Lord's face.
Star Lord's reflexes were remarkably swift as he dodged. "That was close! You'd never guess what that was! I've worn those underwear for ten years!"
The whole situation was filled with absurdities!!!
Arthur turned green with disgust and looked at his hands. "These hands… they're ruined!"
Jeff was almost in tears. "I… I don't even need my mouth anymore."
The blue giant tried to raise his body to get closer to Arthur's face. "Please, save me! He's a complete demon!"
Arthur quickly stepped back. "Let's talk nicely. Your mouth stinks!"
Upon hearing this, Jeff's eyes were filled with a dull, 'heartbroken' gray, as if he had lost something precious.
Arthur sympathetically patted his shoulder and said to Star-Lord, "Are you really going to sell this guy? It feels like something only a villain would do. Maybe we should keep him?"
"No way!"
Star-Lord and Jeff said in unison.
Arthur was puzzled by their insistence. Why was the person being sold so adamant about being sold? But then he understood.
If sold to the Nova Empire, Jeff would go home willingly.
And for Star-Lord… why not make some money?
After considering this, Arthur had nothing more to say. "Fine, sell him then, but your method seems unreliable."
"Really? What should we do instead?"
Star-Lord said, "And this way, we will indeed lose a lot of money."
Arthur was clueless about such matters, and they both scratched their heads.
But then Jeff timidly said, "I have an idea…"
Arthur and Star-Lord both turned their attention to Jeff.
(End of Chapter)
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
As long as I reach 200 dollars on my Patreon, I will post 10 extra bonus chapters per month in batches of 5 for that month. If I reach 300 dollars then I will post 15 extra bonus chapters in batches of 5 for that month. If I reach 400 dollars then I will post 20 extra bonus chapters in batches of 5 for that month. So come and support me.