Earth.
Hydra's underground secret base.
Uehara Naraku sat leisurely on an office chair, with a mobile phone on his desk, playing a report from another person.
"Uehara Naraku, I've been following your instructions. That group will soon develop the time machine. When will you allow us to return to Asgard?"
The person reporting on the other end of the phone was Loki.
This spy lurking around Tony Stark and his group chose to ally with Uehara Naraku, leaking information about Tony Stark's faction of Avengers, aiming to exchange it for power to return to Asgard from Uehara.
Compared to Sol, who stayed with Steve Rogers' faction, drinking without a care, Loki seemed exceptionally intelligent. He knew who had the biggest influence and believed that person might know the whereabouts of Asgard.
"Us?"
Uehara Naraku couldn't help but raise his eyebrow and laughed, "Does our Prince Loki want to take others back with him? Doesn't Prince Loki wish to return alone and become the king of Asgard? Who do you want to take back?"
"…"
Loki remained eerily silent.
After a while, Loki spoke, as if indifferent, "Of course, Sol. I want him to witness my coronation and to realize that I'm the only one who can become the king of Asgard…"
"Hehe…"
Uehara Naraku couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
"What are you laughing at?"
Loki appeared somewhat annoyed and ashamed, sensing mockery from Uehara Naraku. He said angrily, "What do you mean! Without the information I brought you, you wouldn't know this group is targeting you…"
"Nothing…"
Uehara Naraku casually stopped his laughter and continued softly, "I just recalled a happy thing. I just heard my teacher is traveling through space, and I will soon meet her…"
"…"
Loki remained silent for a moment before speaking again, "Alright then! I will continue to report Tony Stark and Thanos's experimental progress to you…"
"Okay."
Uehara Naraku agreed gently, tapping his phone and said to Loki, "By the way, as an early reward for the information you've provided, I can let you see the recent photo of Queen Frigga. She seems very haggard lately…"
"…"
On the other end of the call.
Loki fell into prolonged silence.
Compared to his father, God King Odin, Loki actually cared more for his mother, Queen Frigga. He was raised by Frigga herself, and thus he always showed more interest in Frigga's magic than Odin's power.
Looking at the photo on his phone, Loki saw an image of his mother Frigg alone sitting high in the Immortal Palace, making the queen appear unusually lonely.
Frigga's discerning eyes were full of yearning.
It's unclear whether she's missing her deceased husband Odin or her two sons far away in foreign lands, maybe both.
Loki's fingers instinctively brushed against the Earth phone's screen, almost pressing delete, causing him to stand up in a panic and cautiously manipulate his phone.
Once Loki's actions calmed down, he looked at the photo, eyes gradually reddening, even with some sobbing sounds…
These are his family.
"Don't hurt Queen Frigga…"
Word by word, Loki pleaded on the phone to Uehara Naraku, "Otherwise… No, this is a request… Master Uehara, whatever you need me to do, I'll help you…"
"I trust you."
Uehara Naraku calmly hung up the phone.
Compared to the allure of gemstones, throne, and power, the ties between people are the most effective chess piece. Uehara Naraku believed Loki would stand by him for Frigga and Asgard's safety.
Although Loki might have some little plans, it didn't matter to Uehara Naraku, as he had planted another piece beside Tony Stark and Thanos.
As Uehara Naraku put away his phone and began to ponder, the ring on his hand lit up, and a familiar blurry figure suddenly appeared.
Haku.
This childhood friend, full of concern, spoke worriedly, "Master, a group claiming to be Raiders has intercepted our spaceship. Kimimaro has already gone to negotiate. Konan didn't want me to disturb you, but I think this matter should still…"
"I will go there immediately!"
Uehara Naraku's expression suddenly became stern. Which Raider group dared to intercept Akatsuki's traveling spaceship!
It's been three or four years since Thanos was completely defeated, making the entire universe Akatsuki's domain, and most cosmos civilizations recognized the situation.
Originally thought there was no danger left in this universe, but unexpectedly there's still a batch of reckless raiders...
To be honest.
The raiders seem reckless, but in reality, they don't want to lose their lives over trivial matters, especially since what they are provoking now might not be a small matter.
It's the Raider Squad led by Yondu.
The universe is peaceful, and Star-Lord is still working on Yondu's spaceship. They even recruited two daughters of Thanos, a raccoon-like creature, and a tree man, but things haven't been going well for them lately.
Because...
The universe is too peaceful, they haven't had business for a long time.
Originally, Yondu and his crew saw one of the most luxurious ships traveling in the galaxy, and had a small idea of hijacking it to get some money.
However...
When they contacted this luxury ship, they saw on the contact projection a group of figures wearing Cloud Black Robes, and the entire team was instantly dumbfounded.
This is...
It seems like they have messed with a tough crowd!
Even if they are fearless and brave, they wouldn't dare cause trouble with the Akatsuki over trivial matters, which is the new overlord of the universe, even more domineering than Thanos!
The universe is not short of planets destroyed by Akatsuki members...
As the boss of the team, Yondu decisively chose to apologize, laughing and saying they just wanted to make friends and planned to leave...
Just when Yondu reaches an agreement with Kimimaro on the luxury ship, he sees on the screen a space black hole appear on the ship, from which a young man walks out.
"The leader of Akatsuki..."
Yondu's face suddenly changed.
As the man who once defeated Thanos, the image of Uehara Naraku doesn't need deliberate publicity; it's already a face that most civilizations in the universe must remember.
Moreover, among their Raider Squad, there are two daughters of Thanos, one of whom, Gamora, trembles upon seeing Uehara Naraku!
Yondu felt a bit fortunate.
Thankfully, they didn't show hostility and already reconciled with this ship, never thought the people on this ship were really all Akatsuki members...
"I just heard..."
Uehara Naraku walks up to the screen, curiously speaking to the people on the screen: "You stopped this ship just to make friends with its owner?"
Yondu chuckled, wanting to brush it off: "Hahaha... just wanting to meet the famous Akatsuki..."
"Alright, I remember you."
Uehara Naraku seriously nodded, his gaze swept over everyone on the screen, landing on Star-Lord: "I will prepare a gift for you..."
"Then thank you very much..."
Yondu's face remained smiling as before.
But after they disconnected with the ship, Yondu's face suddenly turned grim, nervously calling his crew to leave immediately!
"What's wrong?"
Star-Lord, unaware of the crisis just now, still had a fearless personality: "The Akatsuki leader seems very friendly..."
"Wow!"
The Raccoon spread its claws in surprise: "That guy doesn't look like the most powerful figure in the universe, more like an ordinary student... Aren't we really going to hijack this ship? It's the most expensive ship in the universe!"
"Don't be fooled by appearances."
Gamora shook her head beside him, saying solemnly: "He is the most terrifying person in the universe. He can easily control a person's fate, even my father Thanos is constantly toyed with by him..."
"Better leave immediately..."
Yondu wiped the cold sweat off his forehead with a lingering fear, whispering: "That guy's smile seems even more inhuman than Igo..."
This is just purely scared out of his wits.
Uehara Naraku believed his smile was more perfect than ever, having handled Yondu's trouble, then slightly turned his head to look at the people on the ship.
Until...
Uehara's gaze fell on a woman with light blue-purple hair, his smile showing eight perfect teeth, and he opened his arms with a smile.
"Welcome to vacation here, teacher."