Chapter 247: The Bravery of the Blind

Clark was able to shield the outside world's perception of this place simply by using illusion magic learned in Asgard, combined with his own understanding of space, which was just a little trick he had developed.

It wasn't just that he had electrocuted three thugs to the ground; even if he had turned them into chopped pepper fish heads on the spot, others would not have noticed anything unusual.

Seeing that Clark really could throw them into outer space, and did so without hesitation, the remaining two thugs dared not pretend to be heroes anymore. They immediately spilled all the information Clark wanted.

It turned out that the place where Clark was now was the most bustling city on Xandar. In this city, there was a broker with great powers. If one wanted to buy some rare goods not available in official stores, he was the right person to find.

As for news about Star-Lord Peter Quill, that was not something these petty thugs cared about or knew.

After figuring out the situation, Clark immediately withdrew his illusionary blockade and left the bar with Ava.

No sooner had they stepped out of the hotel, Ava couldn't help but voice her doubts, "Clark, why didn't you kill those other two alien thugs just now? Aren't you afraid they'll go out and blab, exposing our whereabouts?"

"A man's word is his bond; of course, one must be credible," Clark patiently explained. "I said earlier that if they refused to answer questions, I would throw them into space, and I did exactly that. The latter two guys were more cooperative, so I couldn't just kill them arbitrarily."

Seeing her expression of disbelief, Clark could only say helplessly, "Okay, even if they do go and report us, what evidence could they possibly have? Not to mention their thug status might prevent them from reporting this to the Nova Corps, and even if they did, the Corps might not believe them."

"Even if the Nova Corps does believe them, what then?" Clark continued persuasively, "They wouldn't come to arrest us immediately but would first investigate our background. Once they learn I'm the prince of Asgard, I don't think they'd be foolish enough to take the side of a few thugs over ours."

"More likely, they'll send someone of high rank from the Corps to contact us and probe our intentions," Clark confidently smiled. "By then, not only will we be trouble-free, but we might even gain an additional helper. Here we are!"

With that, Clark had found the broker's shop as described by the interstellar thugs.

The shop was a metallic building full of a sense of technology.

The shop's main door was heat-controlled. Standing in front of it, the metal shutter automatically opened up and down.

Stepping inside, they saw various strange and peculiar alien items displayed in glass cabinets, most of which neither Clark nor Ava could identify.

Behind the counter facing the main door stood a middle-aged man in formal attire. He had a distinct, dry-looking face with five strands of hair on his head and chin, resembling rat fur, and an unavoidable look of a cunning merchant.

As Clark and Ava entered, the shutter door closed again, and Clark's gaze fell on the broker: "Are you the legendary broker?"

The broker, having put on a gentlemanly smile, asked, "What would you like to buy?"

Ava looked around the shop while Clark asked the broker, "I need a detailed star map, the more comprehensive, the better. I also want to buy some information from you."

"You've come to the right person," the broker said, taking out a metal sphere the size of a baseball from under the counter and placing it on top: "This is a copy from the Shi'ar Empire, the most up-to-date and comprehensive star map in the universe, only available in my shop here on Xandar. Very affordable, 100,000 credit points."

"May I check it first?" Clark asked.

"Of course," the broker replied, taking out another star map that looked similar in appearance, placing it on the counter: "This one is the official Xandar star map, priced at only 2000 credit points. You can compare the differences between the two maps."

Clark opened both maps, paying particular attention to the regions around the Nine Realms, which he was more familiar with.

After the comparison, Clark confirmed both maps were authentic, at least in their records of the regions surrounding the Nine Realms, which matched the map provided by Asgard.

However, this comparison also showed differences between the two maps.

The official Xandar star map vaguely recorded the area around the Nine Realms, while the Shi'ar Empire's map had much richer details, even pinpointing the exact location of Asgard.

Neither map mentioned Nidavellir, indicating that its location remained a secret exclusive to Asgard.

In comparison, the Shi'ar Empire's star map was much more detailed but also much more expensive – it cost half of Star-Lord's bounty!

While the Xandar star map was less detailed, it was sufficient for general use and much cheaper, only a twentieth of the price of Star-Lord's bounty.

Money was not an issue for Clark. Odin had allocated a billion in operating funds before his departure, enough for anything short of buying Infinity Stones.

As Clark was deciding whether to buy the Shi'ar Empire's star map or both, the shop door opened again, and a blue-skinned middle-aged man with a metallic crest on his head, accompanied by a tall, thin man, entered. They looked no different from ordinary Earth Caucasians.

After entering, the blue-skinned man glanced at Clark and Ava, who were selecting star maps, and said casually, "I have important business with the broker. Please leave for a moment."

Clark frowned at the man's commanding tone, replying unpleasantly, "Didn't your boss Stallone ever teach you to be polite when mingling in society?"

Impressed, Yondu Udonta and Kraglin gained a positive impression of Clark.

Yondu didn't understand Clark's actor reference, but the mockery and disdain in Clark's tone were clear.

As the leader of the Ravagers, Yondu was not known for his mercy. Seeing Clark's refusal to leave, he swiftly flicked his coat and whistled, sending a red-glowing arrow flying rapidly from his pocket towards Clark's forehead!

A trifling skill.

For Clark, who had grasped the "Blood Sky" and learned to wield repulsive magnetic fields, such an attack was negligible. The arrow stopped a yard from him, spinning in place regardless of Yondu's whistling.

With a cold snort from Clark, Yondu and Kraglin were both blasted away by an invisible force, crashing heavily against the metal wall beside the door and falling to the ground, struggling to get up.

After teaching Yondu a lesson, Clark turned back to the broker, "I'm satisfied with your Shi'ar Empire star map, but I'll take the other as a reference. Now, let's talk about the information I want. Do you know where Star-Lord Peter Quill is now?"

Yondu, who was planning to flee, stopped to eavesdrop on the conversation between Clark and the broker.

Frightened by Clark's power, especially after easily defeating Yondu, the broker said, "Mr. Quill came here to sell the Orb, but hearing that Ronan also wanted it, I dared not take it."

"After leaving my shop, he quickly got into a fight with Ronan's subordinate Gamora and two interstellar hunters. Then, they were captured by the Nova Corps and imprisoned in the Kyln."

Clark frowned, "So, to find them, I must go to the prison?"

"No! No! No!" the broker hurriedly explained, "Just yesterday, there was a riot in the Kyln. I learned that Mr. Quill, Gamora, two hunters, and Drax the Destroyer escaped. Their whereabouts are now unknown."

"Oh?" Clark shook his head in regret, then asked, "One last question, the address of the Collector."

Shocked, the broker truthfully replied, "In the Void, its exact location is detailed in the Shi'ar Empire's star map."

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