After discussing the matter concerning Ego with Rocket and Drax, Lin Rui transported them back. As for what Rocket would do upon his return, Lin Rui trusted that he would make his own judgment.
Lin Rui had contemplated joining the storyline of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 himself, as it might trigger some hidden quests. However, at this point, Earth had just proposed the establishment of the Earth Federation, and there were many tasks ahead that would keep him occupied.
After all, during the formation of the Earth Federation, the League of Defenders couldn’t afford to be absent, as they were crucial members.
Two days after Lin Rui had discussed the matter with Rocket and Drax, Star-Lord and his biological father Ego concluded their global journey. After giving some excuses, Star-Lord eventually changed the last stop from China to Russia. They explored around Russia and then returned to New York, preparing to leave Earth.
The Milano was parked at the SHIELD branch base for repairs and had already been restored to full functionality after all the maintenance. Although the ship’s ammunition had been depleted, Rocket had managed to manufacture new weapons using SHIELD’s research equipment.
In the process, Rocket had also assisted SHIELD in upgrading several weapon technologies, keeping his promise.
Before he returned to New York to depart from Earth, he contacted Lin Rui to bid his farewell. When Star-Lord arrived, Lin Rui was attending a multinational, multilateral symposium regarding the establishment of the Earth Federation. However, Lin Rui immediately left the meeting upon receiving Star-Lord’s message.
Standing on the square of the SHIELD New York branch base’s underground level, Lin Rui and Star-Lord faced each other. Beside them stood the renewed Milano, and Rocket and the others were already on board.
“Jackson, it’s been a pleasure to meet you! Without you, I might never have come back, and I would never have known that Earth has come this far.” Star-Lord said with a touch of nostalgia as he looked at the young Lin Rui.
“I’m glad to have met all of you wonderful people too! I hope we’ll meet again someday,” Lin Rui replied with a smile.
“Haha! That’s a given! This time, when I go to Ego’s planet with him, I’ll be a celestial heir! Look forward to visiting us!”
Lin Rui didn’t express any opinion regarding Star-Lord becoming a celestial heir. He maintained a smile. If Ego was genuinely a good person, Star-Lord would indeed become a celestial heir and possess great power upon reaching Ego’s planet. However, things were unlikely to be that simple.
“Well then, I wish you all the best on your journey as the newly minted celestial heir!” Lin Rui extended his hand and patted Star-Lord’s shoulder, offering his best wishes.
“Thanks, man. See you later.” As Lin Rui patted his shoulder, Star-Lord opened his arms and gave him a hug.
Then, Star-Lord turned and walked toward the Milano. Soon after, with Star-Lord on board, the already warmed-up Milano activated its engines. In the next moment, it soared into the sky, breaking through the sound barrier directly above the SHIELD base.
With a resounding boom, the impressive Milano displayed its wings a couple of times before the ship’s rear unleashed a powerful burst of kinetic energy, piercing through Earth’s atmosphere. Within seconds, it vanished from the view of countless onlookers below.
After the Milano had broken through Earth’s atmosphere and disappeared, Lin Rui withdrew his gaze. Star-Lord had departed, which also meant that Ego had left. The main storyline of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was finally set to unfold, but it remained uncertain how their future would change after their brief involvement on Earth.
Without dwelling on it too much, Lin Rui stood in place, shook his head, and turned to go back to continue the meeting. While the meeting was essential, it had already delved into the territory of politicians arguing over interests, which was something Lin Rui disliked.
If he weren’t a key member in establishing the Earth Federation, he would have been reluctant to stay there any longer.
In reality, the League of Defenders’ scale wasn’t quite sufficient for attending such high-level meetings, let alone becoming a key member of the Earth Federation. However, there was no other way around it.
The technological support provided by the Phantom Knight, along with the alliance he had worked hard to establish, formed the foundation for creating the Earth Federation. Excluding him from this process would hinder the successful establishment of the federation.
As Lin Rui made his way slowly to the meeting room on the first floor, an alarm rang out within the SHIELD headquarters. Hearing this alarm, Lin Rui furrowed his brows slightly. He could clearly discern that this alarm indicated a detection of extraterrestrial threats.
However, the departure of the Milano had been properly documented within SHIELD. They should have already left the solar system and possibly entered Warp flight, heading goodness knows where.
This shouldn’t have triggered an extraterrestrial threat alert within SHIELD. Besides the Milano, there was also Ego’s spaceship. But even he had no reason to remain on Earth now that Star-Lord had left.
So, Lin Rui halted his steps halfway, retrieving his communicator. He needed to find out what SHIELD had discovered. Because, as far as Lin Rui’s knowledge of the storyline went, there shouldn’t be any extraterrestrial threats at this point.
Swipe~
With a tap on the communicator with his right hand, a pale blue holographic screen appeared before Lin Rui, displaying the situation as seen by the telescopes deployed by SHIELD in space.
Upon seeing the several massive Spaceships on the screen, Lin Rui’s eyes displayed a hint of amusement. Because he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with these particular Spaceships.
“It’s the Ravagers, Yondu’s gang. It seems the losses they suffered on that alien planet weren’t in vain… At least, those folks who had issues with him should be pretty much sorted out by now,” Lin Rui muttered to himself with a slight grin after confirming that the logos on the Spaceships indeed belonged to Yondu’s Ravagers.
In the original storyline of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Yondu had been pursuing Star-Lord relentlessly after Ego took him. And with Star-Lord’s brief visit to Earth influenced by Lin Rui, it seemed only logical for Yondu to follow suit. However, he arrived a little late; Star-Lord had already left.
“Well, looks like I need to step in this time! The Earth Federation hasn’t even been established yet, and I’m practically acting as Earth’s diplomat!” Lin Rui sent a message to Captain Rogers, muttering to himself as he continued toward the underground plaza where the alert originated.
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