Inside the dim glow of a bar on Knowhere, Kurogai sat at the counter, idly spinning a glass in his hand. His expression was relaxed, almost amused, as he turned to face the bartender, Old Ou.
"Two bad news, two good news? Sounds interesting. Let's hear it," Kurogai said with a faint grin.
Old Ou, polishing a glass with deliberate slowness, raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly.
"The first bad news—you've been exposed. Your arrival on Knowhere didn't go unnoticed. Word spread fast. The Kree Empire's been hunting for you for years, and now it looks like they're making a serious move. They've mobilized a fleet. They're coming to wipe you out."
Kurogai raised a brow, but said nothing.
"And the second bad news," Old Ou continued, "is that Accuser Ronan is leading them. He's already en route. If you stay here more than two days, he'll find you."
He set the glass down, watching Kurogai for a reaction, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement. The underlying tone wasn't just mockery—it was familiarity. The kind built over years of dangerous cooperation.
Kurogai gave a small laugh, utterly unfazed. "Looks like I've really made an impression. What's the good news?"
He leaned back, completely unbothered by the threat of a Kree armada.
Old Ou's grin deepened. "Well, the first good news is that you'll have a chance to kill a whole lot of Kree again. I figured that would cheer you up."
A flicker of something darker passed through Old Ou's eyes. Hatred. Deep-rooted, lingering. His grudge against the Kree clearly hadn't dulled with time.
Kurogai gave him a flat look. "That's your idea of good news? Don't tell me the second one is that I get to kill Ronan."
"You're not far off," Old Ou said with a dry chuckle. "The second good news is, if you kill Ronan, I get my revenge. My family—my people—can finally rest. That bastard destroyed everything I had."
Kurogai rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "That's good news for you, not me."
"I'm not asking you to do it for free," Old Ou said, shifting tone. "You do this, and I'll give you something in return—something big. A clue to a cosmic treasure. You in?"
He was serious now. Kurogai could tell by the way Old Ou leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. There was always a price in their dealings, and neither man believed in charity.
"You really think I can kill Ronan?" Kurogai asked, a sly smirk tugging at his lips. "You've got more faith in me than most."
Ronan wasn't just some Kree noble. He was a warlord with an armada at his back, feared across the galaxy. Most wouldn't even whisper about going up against him.
"I've known you long enough to bet on it," Old Ou said calmly. "You hide it well, but your power—it's deeper than what anyone sees."
Kurogai tilted his glass thoughtfully. He wasn't denying it.
Old Ou continued, voice lowering. "You've always played your cards close. But I've watched, and I've seen glimpses. You're stronger than you let on. And frankly, you're my only shot at getting revenge. So, yes—I'm gambling on you."
Kurogai's gaze sharpened. "Tell me about this treasure."
Old Ou exhaled, visibly relieved. Kurogai's interest meant he was considering the deal—and he never accepted anything he couldn't finish.
He activated a localized shield around them, ensuring their conversation wouldn't be overheard. Leaning closer, he spoke in a near whisper.
"According to intel I've gathered over the years, I've tracked down the possible location of the Soul Stone."
Kurogai froze for a moment, then quickly masked his reaction. His fingers paused on the glass before continuing their motion. But his eyes gleamed with interest.
The Soul Stone—one of the legendary Infinity Stones. Its power was said to rival the gods, and even among cosmic entities, it was spoken of with reverence. Kurogai already possessed the Power Stone, discovered on Morag years ago. But this… this was different.
"Give me the location, and I'll deal with Ronan," Kurogai said evenly. He didn't trust vague promises.
"I figured you'd say that," Old Ou grunted, reaching beneath the bar and pulling out an aged scroll. It was made of tanned skin—non-human—and etched with symbols that pulsed faintly in the light.
Kurogai unrolled it, scanning the contents. After a long pause, he gave a single nod.
The name Vormir stood out clearly.
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I be seeing other fanfics with over 400 Powerstones, and we be getting less than 50 lol. Makes me a little sad, honestly 🙂.