A Strict Father, Thanos
Centaurus Galaxy, Dark Order.
After a series of uninterrupted space jumps, the spaceship that departed from Sakaar finally arrived at its destination.
The unfamiliar machine was warned by the guards the moment it entered the airspace of the Dark Order. It was only after Woz showed Beckett's identification that it was able to land smoothly.
"Another plane crash, Beckett."
Proxima Midnight, who had also just returned from a mission, looked at Beckett as he stepped out of the unfamiliar spaceship with amusement and teased him.
In the entire Dark Order, only Black Order, also Proxima Midnight, dared to speak to Beckett in this way.
The others were either of low rank or, like Corvus Glaive, didn't get along with Beckett, and after spending half a day together, they couldn't exchange more than three words.
As for Ebony Maw, Beckett had beaten him up before, and the two were not on the same side.
"Shut up."
Unable to refute the facts stated by Noctis, Beckett could only maintain his cold and aloof demeanor as he walked past the latter's legion, earning countless admiring glances and a roll of the eyes from Noctis.
"Seriously, Beckett, how do you manage to have your personal warship crash every time you go out?"
Black Order deployed solo, is unique in the entire Dark Order. The others are fine; their dedicated warships are three years old, three years new, and can be patched up and used for another three years.
The thrifty and hardworking Corvus Glaive Noctis have never even crashed or damaged a single one of their own warships, let alone anyone else.
The Black Order were originally known for their frugality, but everything changed after Beckett's sudden emergence.
Although he hasn't been in the business for long, his reputation as the number one spendthrift in the Dark Order has already spread throughout the country, and every time he goes out, it means the crash of his personal warship.
Noctis thought that Beckett's trip to the auction would break the record of 100% crash rate, but unexpectedly, Beckett returned in someone else's warship.
This means that she has once again lost to Corvus Glaive in a special position and is now at his mercy.
I feel heartbroken.
How did you manage to do that this time?
"You rear-ended someone?"
Noctis casually approaching Beckett who was filling out handover paperwork, asked curiously.
She was truly unwilling to lose to Corvus Glaive.
She should have been the one in control of the posture.
She was confident of winning this gamble, but when she returned from a mission, she saw Beckett flying back in someone else's warship.
"Get out!" Beckett's face darkened.
What happened in the plane crash?
When he thinks...?
Besides, it's not like the Dark Order can't afford to crash; they don't need his little bit of material to build warships.
"If you use me as a gamble again, I'll make you both pay!" Beckett glared coldly at Proxima Midnight, then, after signing the handover documents in the port office, headed straight towards the base.
Do you really think he knows nothing?
Seriously, two idiots.
Beckett couldn't understand why the usually cold and powerful Corvus Glaive would be willing to go through all this trouble with Proxima Midnight.
If it were him, he would have already attacked someone.
For example, the sea—
[Hmm? Wait, why am I thinking of her?]
Shaking his head, Beckett pulled his thoughts back from the turmoil in his mind and stepped into the Dark Order base.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it's unlikely he'll have any further contact with Hela and Jennifer.
He will continue to strive to realize his father's dream as soon as possible.
"Ah, her personality seems a little cuter than before." Gazing at Beckett's receding figure, Proxima Midnight's lips curled into a curious smile.
If this were the old Beckett, he wouldn't have said so much to her; he would have been making a concession by simply telling her to "get lost" out of Thanos.
She began to wonder what had happened to Beckett.
"Father."
Inside the Dark Order base, Beckett, dressed in a loose black Battle Suit, knelt on one knee and respectfully bowed to the figure on the throne whose back was to him.
"Welcome home, Beckett." Thanos was gazing at the galaxy map, turned to the side upon hearing this, a fatherly smile playing on his lips.
"I'm sorry, Father."
"I lost the Reality Stone."
After bowing, Beckett did not stand up as usual, but instead continued to bow his head and confess to his adoptive father Thanos the mistakes he had made on this trip.
Collecting the Infinity Stones had always been Thanos's goal, but he inadvertently lost the Reality Stone.
Therefore, Beckett felt very guilty when facing Thanos.
"Yeah?"
The vast royal palace fell silent for a moment, until Thanos himself broke the tranquility with his voice.
Beckett overheard his adoptive father's disappointment in him.
"Do you remember what I told you before, Beckett?"
Thanos's smile gradually faded, but his calm words carried an imposing aura.
"Don't let pride blind you."
"But tell me, did you manage it against Ego?"
With his hands behind his back, Thanos stood before the throne, looking down at Beckett, who was kneeling on one knee, with a floating planetary map behind him.
"Father, how did you know—" Beckett suddenly raised his head upon hearing this, but was interrupted by Thanos's angry voice.
Tell me, Beckett!
A deep voice boomed like thunder across the Dark Order. Beckett lowered his head. "No, I didn't do it."
"But, Father, my strength—"
"Since you know that, then go report to the place of punishment yourself."
Beckett's words were repeatedly interrupted by Thanos, who had a cold expression on his face.
This is the first time Beckett has been banished to the place of punishment by his adoptive father Thanos since he went on a mission alone.
"Beckett, my anger this time is not because of the Reality Stone, but because of the pride and ignorance in your bones!"
"I hope you understand that you won't always be so lucky to escape danger."
"Without the Great Sage Gubo, do you think you could have persevered until your power broke through and increased?"
After his anger subsided, Thanos spoke in a calm tone.
Beckett remained silent.
"Your strength is immense, and your growth rate has exceeded my expectations. But precisely because of this, the arrogance that comes with great power has gradually taken root in your character."
"Perhaps it's been too long since I've criticized you. Once you enter the place of punishment, you cannot come out without my permission."
"...I understand, Father."
Beckett nodded and turned to leave.
"Lord Thanos, why did you do this to Beckett?" After Beckett left, Ebony Maw emerged from the shadows of the palace, not quite understanding Thanos's actions.
Beckett's expressionless demeanor before leaving clearly indicated that he only superficially agreed with Thanos's words.
Ebony Maw believed that if Thanos had said that he had killed Ego before him and avenged him, Beckett would definitely not have had that expression.
Thanos, seated on his throne, gave Ebony Maw a cold look, and the latter immediately bowed deeply, cold sweat pouring down his back.
"I'm sorry, Lord Thanos!"
"Get out." After a long while, Ebony Maw, having received Thanos's reply, finally breathed a sigh of relief and silently left the base, leaving Thanos alone on the throne, gazing at the star map before him.
"Pride will pay the price sooner or later, Beckett..."
Thank you to [Ye Zi Bo Tao] for the donation!