"Good, you saved the innocent animals!" Thanos commended as the detectives returned to him. "Did you find any evidence on the poachers?"

"Indeed we did!" Loki relayed. "The poachers on Niveis have been arrested by their local police, and as for the Barter Brothers, I used a form of mental hypnosis to pry the information I needed from them, without them even knowing. We know for certain that they're guilty, and we even confiscated an official contract between the two parties proving as much."

"You are a trained hypnotist? Then you could lull the brothers into a suggestive state again and get them to confess in court."

"I could- is that even allowed in a proper court setting?"

"I do not know. I am not familiar enough with the customs of Earth's laws or with the process of hypnosis."

"That's a good question and a fair idea; let me look it up." Mobius suggested. The others followed him to the nearby library, and he flipped through the pages of a reliable law book until he found a section that covered the effects of hypnosis on members of the court and in which cases it's allowed. "Oh, it says here that using hypnosis to produce a confession is not permitted, especially because there are people who can still lie under hypnosis, and their memory can be influenced by the hypnotist into misremembering an event."

"So, it'd be possible for an experienced hypnotist to brainwash their subject, even turn them against their family or friends?" Sylvie clarified. "For example, they could distort someone's memory into believing their brother pushed them off a bridge when in reality they had attempted suicide?"

Thanos, Mobius, and Loki looked at Sylvie, then to each other.

Thanos looked back at her. "That's a rather specific example, and very dark. I hope that didn't happen to someone you know, Ms. Lushton. Mr. Ouroboros, you're the hypnotist: is it possible?"

Loki solemnly nodded. "Unfortunately, it's not only possible, it happened. But for now, let's get back to our current case: I can share the memories I saw through the culprits' vivid interpretations with you, if you allow your mind to open itself to me. Then we can look through the scenes of their recent criminal actions for anything else that's tangible we can present as evidence, and you can try and prosecute them for their crimes!"

"That sounds like a plan. Mr. Paradox, could I ask a favor of you?"

"What kind of favor?" Mobius replied.

"You're very knowledgable of general court proceedings and learn quickly, and you said you had experience in law: would you represent me as my attorney during the trial? I don't have a lawyer, since I'm used to explaining and defending my own actions, like I did in my plan to balance the universe. Sometimes the Maw or the Other would speak for me, but now the Black Order is against me, and I'd rather not trust a strange lawyer with this case, because the Barter Brothers will most likely pay him or her off to turn on us. I have heard their lawyer is even more corrupt than they are. Are you up to the task?"

"Hold on, to be an official attorney in a trial, I'd need a degree in law, and I don't have-"

"Yes, you do!" Loki conjured an illusion around a thin book he held behind his back, giving the appearance of an impressive-looking law degree with Mobius's detective name on it, and he handed it to him. "You almost forgot it when we were leaving for this timeline, but I brought it for you, Dad!"

Mobius took it, nodding approvingly. "Oh yeah, thanks, Son. Alright, I accept, but you're gonna have to pay me the standard lawyer's fee, of course. We may be professionals, but we definitely need the money."

"Agreed."

"Good, then let's go over the facts of the case and get some solid proof!"

Thanos and his detectives for hire discussed what they knew of the case and those involved, and they found some more helpful pieces of evidence against their confirmed suspects. As they fetched and prepared their evidence, they were confronted by the Barter Brothers, who had prepared material of their own, and they awaited their rivals at the courthouse.

"Mr. Ouroboros, you and your team were supposed to bring us the endangered animals along with their poacher, Thanos. Unless he forcibly took them from you, we'll have to also press charges against you for aiding this criminal and keeping those animals from being freed." Buster Barter addressed them.

Loki smirked at them. "Oh no, we did turn them in to the authorities to free them, we just didn't see reason why you lot had to be present, especially if you're 'not involved in the crime' as you claim. Of course, if you were involved, then we'd be leery of leaving them with your men anyhow. And if Thanos really is guilty, here he is, ready to testify if you are."

The brother in the front, Brent, smirked back. "Well, in his case and yours, I hope he has a really good lawyer, because he'll need one to stand a snowball's chance against ours."

"Oh, he does."

"Hmph. Your funeral, detective. Then we'll meet here for the trial tomorrow at noon… and no tricks this time, got it?" The Barter Brothers left them, and the detectives turned back to their client.

"Any idea what kind of professional-grade mouthpiece they've got representing them?" Mobius inquired of Thanos.

"I couldn't tell you: his or her identity is just one of many tools of their trade that they keep a tightly guarded secret, but whoever they choose to defend themselves, I'm sure they're bound to do everything in their power to cover up their clients' guilt and corrupt as many people in the court as they can. I rented out a room for you nearby; let's meet here tomorrow morning at 10am to make sure they haven't rigged the jury."

"Alright, we'll do that." Sylvie responded. The next morning, the detectives met Thanos as promised, ensuring everything was in proper order.

"So far, everything seems ideal for the trial to begin." Thanos went over. "Do you have the evidence ready? Do you require anything in particular before you begin your prosecution, Mr. Paradox?"

"We have all the evidence. Now there's just one favor we'd like from you before the trial starts." Mobius requested.

"What do you need?"

"We need some breakfast." Mobius requested, patting his belly. "We're starving detectives, we're out of money, and it wouldn't help us any if the jury heard our stomachs testify to that. You can deduct the expense from our fee."

"Breakfast, breakfast, breakfast!" Healer chanted.

"…Fine." Thanos beckoned for them to follow him to a nearby restaurant. "You know, if you cut the number of detectives on your team in half, you wouldn't run out of money so quickly, and there would be more food to go around."

"Yeah, why don't you cut the crap about randomized genocide instead and just feed us already?" Sylvie advised. "While we're on the subject, are there any joints around here that serve crepes? I've got a real craving for them this morning!"

"Oh yes, that sounds delightful!" Loki agreed. "Crepes with strawberries and lingonberries and whipped cream, and a generous side of bacon!"

"Yes, and you know what else: a whole steamed octopus!"

Loki froze his expression. "An octopus? For breakfast?"

"Definitely, with ink and chocolate sauce! It's the perfect combination, don't you think?"

"I think that sounds deliciousss! I have also heard that octopuses have 9 brains each!"

"Octopi." Loki corrected.

"Yesss, I believe they would be scrumptious in pie too!"

"Ehehe… maybe you two could save the octopus for dessert when we're finished? We only have so much time before noon."

Mobius clutched his tummy as it uttered a low growl. "He's right, let's just find a place nearby and eat. By the way, octopuses is actually correct: 'octopi' would only be the plural of Latin-borrowed words, and octopus isn't Latin." Loki merely shrugged in response.

"If you are going to correct us on such trivialities, you should know your phrasing that 'our stomachs would be heard in court' is incorrect: the noises really come from the contractions of the intestines." Healer corrected Mobius. "I know, because I am right above them, and they are obviously far noisierrr in here than out there!"

"You don't have to get that technical-"

"Yes, because nobody cares!"

"And I was correcting Loki; he corrected you first!"

"And nobody corrects my Loki except for meee."

Mobius rolled his eyes. As they left the building, Thanos slowed his pace, whispering in Loki's ear. "Is Ms. Lushton pregnant?" Loki narrowed his eyes at the Titan. "It explains why you were so protective of her when I approached her."

"If you say one thing about too many people being born in the universe-"

"Congratulations."

Loki blinked, taken aback by the word of encouragement. "Uhm. Thank you?"

"Like I said earlier, my new mission is to protect all life and help increase the universe's resources for those in need, even though it seems as though I'm stuck in my ways. Populations are ever-expanding wherever I go, as they were and always will, but I see now that there will always be those who hoard resources, always those who take what they shouldn't, regardless of the population count. A good friend- and a wise leader taught me that many years ago."

"Hm, now there's someone I'd like to meet! What's this person's name?"

"He goes by the name of Starlord, and we work together sometimes to help those in need."

"Starlord?" Loki remembered the young song-and-dance-loving man Thor introduced him to on his mission to stop Gorr, The God Butcher. "Really? I wouldn't have guessed!"

After a tasty and hardy breakfast, the group promptly returned to the courtroom with a few minutes to spare.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the court, this afternoon we find the defense, known professionally as The Barter Brothers, vs. the prosecutor, Thanos the Titan, arguing the case of the poaching of the endangered animals. The prosecuting attorney may now present his case."

Mobius took a deep breath and rose from his seat. "Thank you, your honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the court, seven different species of endangered animals from Earth were taken by poachers, and we have reasons to believe that the Barter Brothers planned to trade them with the seven species of endangered species we found caged on the planet Niveis. We have evidence that they even tried to frame my client when he attempted to take action to save the animals and return them to their natural habitats."

"Thank you, Mr. Paradox. You may step down now. Now, will the defending attorney rise and give his testimony."

"I will, your honor." A man with short, black hair emerged from the Barter Brother's side, setting down his coffee and carrying an orange briefcase. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here today to prove the innocence of these honorable businessmen, who were in fact attempting to save those animals from Thanos, otherwise known as the Mad Titan, who was not framed as the prosecution states, but had his sleeve torn when he forced those animals in their crates. A man whose great strength, though unknown on our planet, is infamously feared throughout the rest of the galaxy, and among many more, who could easily catch and cage the fiercest of creatures on any planet."

"You may then present your evidence, Mr…. Gruenwald, was it?"

"It is." The defense attorney confirmed. "Gilfred Gruenwald, defender of the innocent."

Loki's eyes widened, and he looked to Mobius, who shared a similar expression of shock. "Is that your-"

His father figure shakily nodded. "My biological son!"