A Meal

What do you think of that Jack?

Xandar, the capital city.

Inside the technologically advanced restaurant, Hela put down the cup containing a drink unique to Xandar and looked up at the man sitting directly opposite her.

He wore a loose-fitting black Battle Suit, with a red tail coiled around his waist. His hairstyle looked like it had just experienced the Big Bang, and his mouth never stopped once he started eating.

Empty plates piled up like small mountains disappeared at a visible speed, and new dishes were brought to the table one after another by the waiters.

Hela, who was already used to Beckett's eating speed, couldn't help but nudge Beckett's calf under the Hela with her toe, signaling the latter not to just keep eating.

Beckett didn't react after being poked once.

Beckett remained unmoved after being stabbed twice.

After being stabbed three times, Beckett could no longer tolerate it.

What he thinks is none of my business.

He had only one goal: information about the Soul Stone. He didn't want to know anything else, nor did he wish to know.

Aren't you afraid there might be a trap involved?

After waiting for so long, this was the only answer she got. Hela's forehead veins throbbed, and the more she looked at it, the more she felt that she had wasted her lunch today.

My father once said—

"Stop!"

"Keep eating!"

Hela rolled her eyes, raised her hand to stop Beckett from saying what he was about to say, and gestured for him to hurry up and eat.

"Ten more servings, please."

"..."

As Hela's eye twitched, Beckett, indulging in his food, emptied the entire restaurant's stock...

Hela was heartbroken about her wallet.

I spent almost all of my savings from childhood on this meal.

She shouldn't have said that extra word, asking Beckett if he wanted to sit down and discuss some of the doubts surrounding the operation.

She'll treat them to lunch; she could book the entire restaurant to avoid anyone interrupting their conversation.

The result is obvious.

One dared to invite, and the other dared to eat.

"Madam, I'm sorry, we've run out of ingredients in our kitchen. You see..."

The restaurant owner, who was born and raised on Xandar, had never seen anything like this before. Although there was money to be made, he felt a little uneasy about it.

The man with a tail coiled around his waist looked rather cold and fierce; who knows if he might be some kind of wanted cosmic wanderer or a gang member?

"It's alright, just bring me some cooling drinks." Hela covered her forehead and waved to the owner to bring her some drinks.

She felt a bit feverish from Beckett's meal and needed to cool down.

"Gap~"

Meow~

After finishing his last bite, Beckett let out a burp for the first time in front of Hela. The orange cat, imitating him, sprawled out on the soft leather chair, squinting contentedly, its pink paws stroking its soft but bulging belly.

The food on Xandar is indeed quite delicious.

"Are you full? Now we can have a proper talk, right?"

Hela took a sip of the icy, cooling drink Hela gave her a cold look.

"There's nothing to talk about. Jack Jones is just Jack Jones."

"You want information about the Frost Giant' collusion with Xandar, and I want information about the Soul Stone. And he happens to know all of these things. That's enough."

"If he breaks his promise, he will pay an extremely heavy price."

Beckett stood up, tapping the table with his right index finger, and bent down to face Hela, his dark pupils filled with a chilling light.

"My father once said that promises should never be broken lightly, because the price of breaking a promise is extremely high."

Hela frowned, their eyes met, and she could see no hint of jest on Beckett's face, only seriousness.

"Are you serious?"

Hela wanted to laugh.

Don't you guys in the Dark Order know how you started out?

They also made a promise.

"Certainly."

Beckett turned and left, raising his right hand with his back to Hela, his figure gradually disappearing around the corner of the restaurant. Only his raised index finger remained glaringly obvious in the midday sun outside the window.

"My father has always done it this way, and so have I." That's why Beckett never makes promises lightly.

As a father, Thanos did everything he said he would in front of Beckett.

This includes never betraying the promises you make.

This is why, as Beckett grew older, the image of Thanos in his mind grew stronger.

They strive forward for the sake of cosmic balance, and collect the Infinity Stones only to solve the problem of overpopulation.

With unwavering resolve, shouldering heavy responsibilities, and never wavering in their resolve.

Even under these circumstances, Thanos never broke his promise even once.

After the Centaurian race rebellion was suppressed and the entire Centaurian race was nearly wiped out, Thanos still kept his promise and sent Chuck Yondu's family away from the Centaurus Galaxy to a safer star system.

He could have easily killed Yondu's entire family, but he didn't.

"Your His Highness Beckett, wait for me!" The Other, who had already eaten and drunk his fill, grabbed the orange cat, who was still comfortably reclining on a leather chair, by the scruff of its neck, and ran after Beckett's retreating figure, clutching his scepter in one hand, and left the restaurant.

That look was exactly like someone trying to dine and dash and then skip out on the bill.

"This guy..."

"Wait, what was I supposed to say to him?"

After Beckett left, Hela realized the real reason she had invited him to the meal.

Looking at the overflowing menu in front of her, Hela's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

She could already foresee the scenario of emptying her own savings.

"My mother was right. Men's words are deceitful."

Hela gritted her teeth inwardly, and when she called to pay, the owner, sporting a set of pearly white teeth, told her, "That gentleman has already paid, ma'am."

"Have you paid the bill?"

Hela paused in taking out her card, then looked out the window.

Her good eyesight allowed her to clearly see the figure walking on the road.

Wearing a loose black Battle Suit, with a tail coiled around its waist, and an orange cat that looked sleepy after a meal perched on its shoulder.

"Your His Highness Beckett, why are you paying the bill?"

The Others, who followed closely behind Beckett, were full of confusion.

Although the amount of money wasn't much for Beckett, Hela had initially said she would treat him to the meal.

"That's right, I did say I'd treat you to this meal."

A woman's voice followed immediately after The Other, and Hela, her alluring figure encased in a black bodysuit, appeared directly opposite Beckett on the road.

Leaning against a lamppost, with his arms crossed in front of his chest, he blocked Beckett's path.

Beckett put away the switch he was playing with and walked straight up to Hela. Taking advantage of his height, he looked down at Hela and said, "I just don't want to owe you a favor."

"Don't block the way, move aside."

Beckett's tone was as impolite as ever. Hela raised an eyebrow and made way for him.

That thing, Vanessa gave it to him before she left, right?

[Cosmic Switch containing remaining divine energy.]

"Hey, Beckett, how about we team up?"