"A living Planet named Ego," Ronn said, naming the person he was looking for.
The Celestials were too difficult to find in the Universe, so he would try his luck to see if he could obtain a complete Celestial template from the defective Ego.
Genetically speaking, Ego was at least complete.
"Is it him?"
"You know him?"
The Collector bowed his head slightly, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes as he said, "I've heard of his existence before, and I've always dreamed of capturing him and making him one of my collections."
A unique living Planet in the Universe—if he could make it a part of his collection, the thought alone was exciting.
However, Ego's power was comparable to a God, and he was not someone The Collector could deal with.
"I want you to tell me his location."
He wasn't interested in The Collector's eccentric desire for Ego; he just wanted to know Ego's location.
In the comics, The Collector was a member of the Elder Council of the Universe, possessing immortal life and strength not inferior to Thanos. He possessed the Reality Stone but didn't know its use, and Thanos obtained the Stone by trading things.
In the MCU, The Collector's power level was much weaker.
"Sorry, Your Highness Ronn."
The Collector looked troubled, cautiously glancing at Ronn's expression.
"Ego is a living Planet, capable of moving freely and hiding himself, even if the speed is very slow.
Anyone who lands on him or encounters him is often killed."
A long time ago, he had lost track of Ego's location.
Ego, this unique life form in the Universe, had always been mysterious, not interacting with others. Any spaceship or person that accidentally encountered him would be eliminated, and no news about him would be spread.
"Do you know the whereabouts of other Celestials?" Ronn asked indifferently.
It didn't matter if he didn't have Ego; in fact, it would be better if there were other Celestials.
A premature, disabled child always made people a bit worried.
"Celestials?
I heard they have existed since the beginning of the Universe, powerful ones creating galaxies and stars, and weaker ones responsible for seeding all things in the Universe, guiding the reproduction and evolution of life.
They are ancient and powerful."
His voice trembled, and cold sweat appeared on his forehead. The Collector felt this question was truly difficult for him. Such beings, like their name, were the Gods of the Universe.
He was at most a slightly larger ant; how could he spy on the traces of Gods?
"So, there are none?"
The Collector couldn't continue speaking. Ronn frowned, already knowing his meaning.
Ronn's single sentence made The Collector's heart tremble, and he stammered, unable to speak.
Fortunately, Ronn had a backup plan.
He waved his hand, and the guard team brought the bound Star-Lord, throwing him at their feet.
Lying on the ground, Star-Lord gave a wry smile.
"Your Highness, you're not going to sell me, are you?
Although there are no Earthlings in the Universe, sometimes scarcity doesn't mean precious. You won't get a good price for me."
Daisy and Jane were browsing the surrounding collections under Karina's introduction.
He watched Ronn and The Collector say something, and then Ronn had him brought over. Ronn might be selling him?
"No need to be modest. If I were to sell you,
you are basically more valuable than all the treasures here."
The Collector looked at Star-Lord curiously, trying to figure out why Ronn would say that.
Star-Lord, who had been a thief since birth, running for money, looked confused: "Am I… am I that valuable?"
Ignoring him, Ronn turned and said.
"Send a message to Yondu of the Raiders. His thief boy has been caught. Tell him to come here.
If he's late, he can prepare for a funeral."
He spoke in an almost commanding tone, as if The Collector were his subordinate.
The Collector dared not refute and immediately complied.
Yondu of the Raiders had a good reputation in the Universe, and he had also had several dealings with him.
He quickly sent a video message.
In the Universe, the Raiders' massive spaceship was flying.
Yondu was waiting for news from Star-Lord. The Collector had put a bounty on the Cosmic Orb, and he had received some information about the Cosmic Orb, so he had Star-Lord, who had been wandering for a long time and was in a good position to approach, investigate.
If this business succeeded, the Raiders could live comfortably for a long time.
"Captain, The Collector has sent a message."
Yondu opened the video message, which showed The Collector's stern, inscrutable face.
He had completely different expressions when facing Ronn and Yondu.
"Yondu, I really don't want to break our meager friendship.
But your subordinate has offended me. I'll only give you one day to get here.
If you're late, prepare a funeral for your crew member."
The video also included a photo of the bound Star-Lord.
"Damn it, what did he do?
Didn't I tell him to come back quickly after getting the Cosmic Orb? He actually dared to trade privately and caused trouble!"
Yondu's eyes flashed with eagerness, and he put on an enraged expression.
"Immediately head to the Land of Nihility. The Cosmic Orb is ours. The Collector shouldn't think he has an excuse to keep it for himself."
Although he was the Captain, he couldn't act recklessly.
"Yes, Boss!"
With this reason, a group of vicious pirates under him readily obeyed.
After sending the message, The Collector turned his head and immediately put on a humble expression: "Ronn, Your Highness, I have done as you said."
"It's just…"
He looked a bit troubled, as if he wanted to say something.
"You want a reward?"
Ronn saw what he wanted to say at a glance.
"Yes."
The Collector, emboldened, rubbed his hands and said, "I always have fair dealings with others."
"What do you want?"
"Your Highness, could you give me a strand of your hair or a little blood?" His face flushed with fervor.
"I promise not to do any cloning; it's purely for display and collection.
You also know that powerful beings like you generally cannot be cloned at all."
The Collector was half a merchant, and merchants were often greedy, especially since he was a merchant with extreme eccentricities.
"Heh," Ronn sneered, saying, "How about we change the reward?
How about I let Asgard protect you forever?"
"Really, Your Highness?"
The Collector looked up, a bit incredulous: "Like the Dwarves?"
He only helped this little bit, and he could get Ronn's promise in return?
In the future, whoever wanted to deal with him would have to consider Asgard behind him.
"Of course."
Nodding lightly, Ronn raised his hand, which was wearing the Infinity Gauntlet.
"But the price is that you must offer your loyalty."
The Collector's eyes darted around, he hesitated for only two or three seconds, then nodded and grinned.
"I can be your eyes, ears, and broker."
Isn't loyalty something to be betrayed at critical moments? But normally, he would be loyal, until there were greater benefits.
"No, I mean absolute loyalty!"
Ronn interrupted, and the Infinity Gauntlet glowed red.
The Collector had an ominous premonition, but before he could do anything, his body was fixed in place. The next second, his consciousness blurred, and his eyes turned red.
Looking at the brainwashed Collector, his eyes were indifferent.
This was his third purpose for coming here: The Collector possessed countless treasures in the Universe, including the crystallization of many races' cultures and technologies.
At the same time, The Collector also had almost the most well-informed intelligence channels in the Universe.
It didn't matter that the Mind Stone had been sent away and hidden; Reality encompassed everything.
"Although I can't use the Reality Stone to defeat powerful enemies right now, it can provide some convenience."
He still couldn't control and unleash the power of the Reality Stone very well, but turning Nebula into a bird and rewriting The Collector's thoughts wasn't difficult.
"Ah!"
Seeing The Collector being controlled, The Collector's maid, Karina, screamed.
She cowered, then bravely asked.
"Your Highness Ronn, what did you do to him?"
Karina was nervously anticipating something to happen.
"It's just changing his thoughts."
Ronn looked at Karina and said.
He remembered this maid.
When Star-Lord and Gamora brought the Cosmic Orb to trade with The Collector, she boldly tried to control the power to escape The Collector.
As a result, she couldn't bear the power of the Power Stone and was turned into dust.
"What, are you going to protect your Master?"
"No, Your Highness Ronn, he is simply a devil."
Karina shook her head violently, looking at The Collector with fear and hatred in her eyes, tears welling up as she broke down, saying.
"There are countless display cabinets here, and he makes me wipe them every day. I work non-stop, non-stop.
Every day I'm so tired I can't feel my arms, and he still demands that I maintain the etiquette of a noble maid in every move, otherwise he will punish me."
She poured out all her painful and collapsing experiences as a maid. The Collector, besides collecting things, had almost no emotions at all.
He demanded people to meet the standards of a tireless robot.
"The last maid of my kind who didn't meet his demands was turned into a thoughtless flesh specimen and became one of his collections."
Her voice was full of fear.
Unlike when she first met Ronn, eagerly hoping for a powerful prince to save her, a dusty maid, and going to great lengths to deepen Ronn's impression of her, Karina was now showing genuine emotion.
Jane and Daisy listened to her crying, looking in the direction she pointed, and indeed saw a maid of the same race as Karina in a display case, wearing shackles and a brain-computer interface, her eyes blankly staring straight ahead.
Although The Collector was not very powerful, he possessed almost immortal life. His emotions had been worn away during countless tens of thousands of years of life, leaving only the eccentricity of collecting.
His emotions only fluctuated for collecting.
"Master."
A few seconds later, The Collector's thoughts were completely rewritten. He bowed, his face filled with endless respect.
Glancing at him, Ronn ordered.
"Go prepare a catalog of your collection."
"Jane, Daisy, you can do whatever you want with this collection hall.
Whether it's studying the things inside, or browsing and playing with them."
He smiled at the two, intending to fulfill his words.
This place contained all sorts of strange and rare items from the entire Universe, enough for anyone to study and play with.
"Yay!" Daisy cheered. When Karina had led her on the tour earlier, she had already wanted to curiously get her hands on some things and play with them.
"Really? So many things…"
Upon hearing this, Jane was first delighted, then looked around blankly.
All the rare items of the entire Universe were here. For a scientist, this was simply the greatest treasure in the Universe.
Even she, an astronomer, was no exception.
She was even a bit bewildered, unsure where to start her research.
"Go ahead."
Ronn smiled and waved his hand.
There were many things in this hall that were deadly and dangerous to ordinary people, but Daisy and Jane both possessed strength not inferior to the Hammer God, so they would be fine.
"Your Highness, I want to become your maid, no longer following The Collector."
Karina walked up, knelt on the ground, and looked at Ronn with clear, bright eyes.
"I will make The Collector less strict with you."
He waved his hand, refusing.
"Your Highness."
She didn't want to give up and continued to beg: "I observed that there isn't a maid role by your side."
"How can a noble being like you not have a maid to take care of you?"
There were guards, and friends with ambiguous relationships, but no maids to take care of daily life.
Although the guards were all women, looking at their dark skin, flat noses, and thick lips, one knew they had absolutely no relation to pretty and obedient maids.
Ronn raised an eyebrow; she had a point there.
"Danger often accompanies me. Don't blame me if you die."
He slowly walked forward, grabbed her chin, and looked down, chuckling.
"Of course."
Looking at his handsome face in her upward gaze, Karina's face flushed with shyness, and she nodded excitedly.
She felt that anywhere was better than this terrifying collection hall, especially being by the side of the powerful and handsome Ronn.
A few hours later.
"The Collector!" Yondu of the Raiders rushed in with his two subordinates, guided by Karina into the building.
He saw a handsome young man with a noble and powerful aura, sitting on a chair.
And The Collector, the Master of the Land of Nihility, stood respectfully by his side.
"Who are you?"
Yondu asked suspiciously.
"Who I am isn't important," Ronn said with a smile.
The Collector beside him straightened up and continued, coldly saying.
"What's important, Yondu, is do you want to save your crew member?"
Star-Lord was once again picked up and thrown in front of him.
"Hey, Yondu.
I know you're confused, but don't rush. Something unexpected happened."
The disheveled Star-Lord gave an awkward, apologetic smile.
He had been given a clue to get the Cosmic Orb, but he had screwed up this big business and now Yondu had to come and bail him out.
"My crew member, what did he do wrong, Collector?"
Yondu almost treated Star-Lord as an adopted son, especially now that he was being threatened and it seemed a large compensation would be demanded. His face darkened as he said.
"Did he offend you?
Or this gentleman next to you?"
His treacherous pirate life had long made him realize who the real person in charge here was.
Yondu was filled with doubt and kept guessing Ronn's identity and origin. Who could make the famous Collector in the Universe adopt such an attitude?
"None of that matters.
Yondu, tell me Ego's location."
Ronn didn't want to waste words.
"Ego?"
Suddenly hearing this name, and secretly glancing at Star-Lord on the ground, a trace of unnaturalness flashed across Yondu's face.
Many years ago, he had been hired by Ego to search for Ego's children across the Universe and bring them back to Ego.
At first, he always received a good amount of compensation. Doing good deeds and getting paid, wasn't that a great thing?
But one time he discovered that all the children he sent were killed by Ego, so he kept the last child of Ego he found, Star-Lord, and raised him himself.
"Wait a minute, who is Ego?" Star-Lord noticed Yondu's gaze and change in expression, instantly thought of something, and asked excitedly.