Chapter 774 Meeting
Lieutenant Dyester was closer, but Khan's mind was too far away to think about joyous reunions. Things were moving faster than he expected, forcing him to get on top of them as soon as possible.
The Nognes family wasn't stupid, and the same went for the soldiers appointed to Khan's escort. Everyone connected the dusty hole in the Slums to a meeting with a criminal organization, but no one questioned him during the flight to the nearest teleport.
The teleport in Ylaco's training grounds was ready long before the ship's landing, so Khan only needed to jump on the machine to return to familiar environments. His feet crossed the Harbor's complicated array of narrow corridors without waiting for an escort, leading him to a luxurious ride ready to fly him to the embassy.
The ride was empty, and Khan could understand why without checking his endlessly buzzing phone. Usually, Monica would be inside the cab to enjoy some privacy during the trip, but obligations had already requested her presence elsewhere. She was waiting for him in the embassy, but her update hinted at something opposite to romantic.
A more pompous version of Khan's usual landing at the embassy unfolded. The building's small roof had rows of soldiers welcoming him and following his every move throughout the vast corridors. He couldn't be alone even inside the few elevators, but everyone waited outside once he reached his destination.
A vast hall unfolded in Khan's eyes. The various seats had been rearranged to create a spacious dining hall featuring a long, rectangular table and familiar guests. Waiters stood by the place's walls, ready to deliver food and other delicacies, but Khan only cared about the known faces.
Headmistress Holwen, Mister Cirvags, Cecil Usten, Clark Onsai, Anastasia, Luther, and Monica sat at the table but stood up when Khan crossed the hall's entrance. The area had leaders of specific divisions and factions, but Khan only had eyes for the figure approaching him.
"Welcome back," Monica whispered after reaching Khan, who promptly took her hand and pulled her into a kiss. She smiled under that public show of affection, placing her palm on his face to prolong it for a few seconds. Still, the two eventually separated, ready to face the imminent meeting.
Headmistress Holwen, Mister Cirvags, Luther, and
Anastasia's presence was predictable, but the other two figures hinted at something more serious. Khan had only met them once, but their relevance inside the Harbor spoke for the meeting's nature.
Cecil Usten oversaw the Harbor's interspecies operations, while Clark Onsai was in charge of most scientific departments. It seemed the Headmistress wanted to cover every field in a single meeting, but her aura told a different story. Khan only needed a look to understand her hands were tied there.
Of course, having so many fifth-level warriors with high status in the same room couldn't shock Khan anymore. He firmly advanced toward the table, holding Monica's hand while she stole his elbow. His disinterest was palpable, but no one said a word while he waited for Monica to sit at his side.
Khan's new status elevated Monica's even if the couple didn't speak with her parents. Everyone remained on their feet while Khan adjusted Monica's chair and sat only after he did. He had become a Prince, and she was his official fiancée, so the two held the highest position at the table.
"Prince Khan," Anastasia called, breaking the tense silence once everyone sat down. "I think I speak for everyone when I say we are glad about your return. Of course, none is as glad as my dear daughter."
Anastasia was wearing her political face, but Khan didn't mind. The time to deal with Luther and her would come. Right now, he was more interested in the parties strictly connected to the Global Army.
"We are definitely happy about the success of Prince Khan's rescue mission," Headmistress Holwen intervened. "His feats for the Global Army have been priceless. Losing him would have been an unforgettable shame."
"Indeed," Clark Onsai commented. "His input in the field is revolutionary. I hope you'll allow me to invite you to dinner when you have time, Prince Khan."
"The Prince must spend time with his fiancée first," Luther declared, "And his in-laws."
"Must?" Cecil Usten asked. "Prince Khan, I know you have just returned, but the situation is quite critical. I can only appeal to your goodwill and reason to clarify it."
"Prince Khan's family comes first," Anastasia stated. "He won't be forced into politics until he expresses his desire to do so.""
"Madam Solodrey, with all due respect," Headmistress Holwen cleared her throat. "There's an impending need for official reports, and the Thilku Empire has long since requested a meeting with its representative."
"Does the Global Army work for the Empire or the Global Army?" Anastasia questioned.
"Madam Solodrey," Cecil Usten smiled. "It's far more complicated than that."
"It isn't," Anastasia jabbed back. "Any mistake is your mistake. The Solodrey family won't pay for them."
"Madam Solodrey, please," Headmistress Holwen called. "This meeting is meant to establish priorities without bothering the Prince's calendar."
The meeting amused Khan. He had often talked with most people at the table, so he found their change in behavior funny, especially Anastasia's. She fought tooth and nail to elevate and protect Khan, and the other guests struggled to contradict her.
That was to be expected with Khan's new status, but the change soon stopped entertaining him. Initially, he focused on the booze the waiters had promptly delivered, but the continuous bickering eventually bored him.
Khan glanced at Monica while the others kept fighting. She felt surprised sensing his gaze on her, and recognizing his seemingly casual gesture embarrassed her. Yet, she complied, standing up to join Khan on his chair.
Needless to say, Monica's movement silenced the others at the table. Kissing Khan while welcoming him was fine, but sitting on his lap during a political meeting crossed the line, especially since he stopped caring about the other guests altogether.
"I want you to meet my father," Khan whispered, the gentle hand on Monica's face creating a stark contrast with his cold expression.
"Are you sure?" Monica replied.
"I'll have to return to Ylaco," Khan said. "I'll take you to the Slums afterward."
"How should I dress?" Monica gasped, holding onto Khan's clothes.
"He won't care about that," Khan reassured.
"I do care about that," Monica pointed out. "I wonder what I have left in this wardrobe."
"Wardrobes," Khan corrected. "I'll help you choose after dealing with this."
"Okay," Monica nodded, her mind wandering, thinking about the future meeting. She had yet to ask how the reunion with Bret had gone, but the request told her everything had ended well.
The guests at the table couldn't share that feeling. As important as Khan's father was to him, he was ignoring other massive issues. The Solodrey family, interspecies policies, and alliance with the Thilku were right before him, but he was prioritizing other seemingly futile matters.
Anastasia and Luther had to tolerate Khan's behavior since their daughter was involved, putting the others in a bad position. The Headmistress, Cecil, and Clark didn't know how to intervene without offending Khan, and their eyes simultaneously converged on the only figure who had remained silent until now.
Khan shared that feeling, even if his cold eyes remained on Monica. Her parents could wait, and he didn't have much of a relationship with Cecil and Clark. At that point, Headmistress Holwen lacked real authority, so Mister Cirvags was the only person who could claim his interest.
"Prince Khan," Mister Cirvags decided to speak due to the general attention on him. "We are missing reports on the Baoway situation. The Empire also wants them, ideally directly from you."
"I'll deliver reports after dealing with other matters," Khan responded, his first time addressing the meeting.
"What about the Thilku Empire?" Mister Cirvags questioned, even if the previous matter wasn't over in his mind.
"I'll meet its representatives in my quadrant," Khan declared, eyeing Mister Cirvags. "We'll negotiate deals on the planet itself."
"Prince Khan," Cecil Usten called. "Do you wish for Global Army's representatives to fly to Baoway? It can be arranged, but it will take time."
"I'll talk with the Empire without human representatives," Khan explained, his eyes still on Mister Cirvags. "The Global Army will accept any deal I secure."
It was unclear how far or deeply the illegal updates from Baoway had gone. Princess Felicia had been able to warn Monica due to her family's connection to the ploy, but
Khan didn't know whether parties outside the noble sphere were involved.
Khan's demand would generally be outrageous, but parties with the right knowledge would take it one step further. The more someone insisted on their presence during eventual negotiations, the higher the chance they had something to do with the ploy.
Nevertheless, the people at the table had deep political expertise. Even without the right knowledge, they could guess and understand that something had happened to Khan, and many preferred to avoid issues involving nobles, at least publicly.
Instead, the focus moved to something else Khan had said, and Mister Cirvags became its spokesperson.
"Your quadrant, Prince Khan?" Mister Cirvags asked, his calm tone conveying the real meaning behind his words. "Interspecies regulations," Khan chanted, "Article 89.3. Ambassadors securing cooperation and colonization of certain quadrants exempt from official laws will receive temporary ownership and rule over such quadrants."
"Prince," Headmistress Holwen intervened. "That regulation applies to Ambassadors."
"So," Khan uttered, moving his gaze to the Headmistress. "What are you waiting for?"
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