Those with hatred in their hearts are the easiest to control.
Or rather, those with attachments are the easiest to control.
The appearance of the Maximoff siblings was a fortunate accident for Thanos.
Lothar was destined to take his place, and Thanos believed that day would come soon. That's precisely why he let Lothar play the "good guy."
Information from the HYDRA database, retrieved by Woz, showed that the two siblings voluntarily joined the notorious organization for revenge. This meant that their desire for vengeance had consumed them, leading them to willingly become HYDRA's test subjects.
Now that HYDRA, that strange-named group, had been destroyed, why not let Lothar take them under his wing?
Two subordinates imbued with an Infinity Stone's isotope power…
Thanos was looking forward to it.
He was eager to see what Lothar would do.
As he had said before, his Black Order was not Lothar's personal team. Not to mention, Lothar's relationship with Ebony Maw was not exactly harmonious.
In the side hall, within the dungeon laboratory.
After undergoing a full-body examination with Woz, Pietro and Wanda took off their helmets, which were connected by dozens of wires. They got off the recently built lab table and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At the very least, what Woz had said was true. He was only collecting their physical data, not using them for some bizarre experiment.
"What's the situation?"
Lothar's sudden entry made the siblings tense up again. Their breathing hitched, especially when his gaze swept over them.
"Your Highness Lothar, the power data for Mr. Pietro and Ms. Wanda has been collected and analyzed. Due to the influence of the Mind Stone's isotope, the final analysis report is expected in three days."
Woz, ever confident, turned and bowed respectfully to Lothar along with The Other.
"Your Highness Lothar."
Pietro quickly elbowed his sister, and the two of them imitated the respectful gesture of the Black Quadrant.
Lothar's gaze then fell on The Other.
Their eyes met, and The Other grinned, his face full of the joy of "a job well done." For The Other, training two prospective subordinates brought back by Lothar was a piece of cake.
"The two of you are not yet worthy of bowing to me." Lothar couldn't be bothered to look at the fawning The Other anymore. His words made the respectful siblings' hearts sink.
"Prove to me that you have value."
"How do we do that?" Pietro took a deep breath, looking up to meet Lothar's gaze.
"Fulfill your revenge. Show me your abilities."
The ever-loyal minion, The Other, silently brought a chair and placed it behind Lothar. Lothar sat down naturally and spoke.
"?!"
Pietro and Wanda, who had long given up hope for revenge, had a sudden change in expression.
"HYDRA's database is completely defenseless against Woz. Therefore, I know everything about you," Lothar leaned back against the cold chair. His relaxed posture showed his contempt for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technology.
"You mean, you'll help us?" Wanda, who had recovered her composure faster than her brother, asked first.
Never underestimate a woman's capacity to hold a grudge.
"No, I will only give you a Chitauri squad. Other than that, I will give you nothing."
Lothar wagged his index finger. If he paved the way for them entirely, what would be the point of them? For Lothar, it was enough to simply point them in a direction and give them a goal. This was Thanos's way, and Lothar, having grown up under his tutelage, had learned it perfectly.
Pietro and Wanda exchanged glances, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.
No strings attached, and they'd even be given a well-trained elite squad? All just so they could get their revenge?
HYDRA wasn't even this generous. At the very least, HYDRA had asked them to work as undercover agents for a while, to figure out what the Ultron Program was before they could seek revenge.
"If you're telling the truth, I agree," Pietro, as the elder brother, accepted.
All the rigorous experiments and training they endured in HYDRA, what was it all for?
Wasn't it to get revenge on Tony Stark?
That was the pillar that supported them through that difficult time. For that, they were willing to pay any price.
"The Other, prepare an elite squad for them." Seeing Pietro agree without hesitation, Lothar was very satisfied.
He hated indecisive people.
"The timing of the attack is up to you. I won't force you."
"But, you'd better remember one thing."
"This mission is a test for you."
Lothar's gaze swept past the respectful siblings and landed on Carol Danvers, who was staring at him. A cold glint flickered in his dark eyes.
"Succeed, and you will have earned the right to come back."
"And if we fail…"
"If we fail, I guess we won't be coming back anyway," Wanda finished his sentence, questioning Lothar who was seated in the chair.
Tony Stark himself was not to be trifled with, not to mention his group of powerful friends.
"Why are you helping us get revenge? Do you have a grudge against Tony Stark too?" A woman's intuition kept Wanda from thinking as simply as her brother.
The terms Lothar was offering were a godsend to them in their desperate situation.
"Father once said…"
With his elbows on the armrests, Lothar crossed his fingers in front of his chest and leaned back in the chair. A radiant glow emanated from his eyes. He began to quote his "Daddy's wise words," which made Wanda and Pietro freeze in place. A moment later, two awkward yet polite smiles appeared on their faces.
Meanwhile, in the cosmos, on the planet Sakaar.
Although it was known as a famous "junk yard" in the universe, Thor had never heard of it before. That is, until he was thrown here by Hela's people and then picked up like a piece of trash.
The Grandmaster.
That was the name of the person who picked him up.
Thor didn't know his real name; so far, everyone he had met on Sakaar called him that.
"Thor Odinson, former heir to the throne of Asgard, son of Odin."
The Grandmaster, still impeccably dressed, looked down at the figure he had his people tie up and bring back.
Big and burly.
Certainly a good candidate for the gladiatorial arena.
"You know me?"
"Of course." The Grandmaster nodded, his expression friendly.
"Not only that, I know your father, Odin."
"In that case, could you untie me first? This thing is very uncomfortable." Perhaps The Grandmaster's amiable expression gave Thor a sense of comfort, and his tone relaxed.
"Of course. But that'll have to wait until I throw you into the arena." The Grandmaster was smiling, but it wasn't a smile a senior gives a junior; it was the smile of someone who had finally gotten what he wanted.
Thor immediately felt a bad omen.
"Take him away and give him a new hairstyle. I hate long blond hair." The Grandmaster waved his hand, and the words that came out of his mouth made Thor's eyes widen.
"No!"
"I am the son of Odin!"
"You can't— Mmph! Mmmphh!"
Annoyed by the noise, The Grandmaster had someone stuff a rag into Thor's mouth.
"Son of Odin? That's the game I'm playing!" The Grandmaster stepped down from his seat and walked towards Thor. He leaned in, his expression gritting, which left Thor completely bewildered.
"I'm going to start collecting interest on the emotional damage your sister and her lover caused me all those years ago."
"???!??!"
My sister? Hela???
Her lover? That Lothar guy???
What the hell?! Why are those two everywhere?!
And!
What do their past mistakes have to do with me?!!
"Mmph! Mmmphh!! Mmmphh!!" Thor's eyes widened. He wanted to say something, but he was immediately zapped and dragged away.
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