Khan was definitely annoyed by those loud complaints. He felt that the families' representatives had forced that meeting only to belittle him, and many of them didn't even bother looking at him while they did that.
His mood wasn't even ideal. Khan had spent almost a day immersed in the complete freedom that only a battle against lifeless robots could give, so going back to the restrained political life in less than two hours had been irritating.
Khan had also just accepted that his selflessness wasn't a solution to his desires and urges. In theory, his state could lead to a reckless and irrational statement, but his answer to the loud complaints had been calculated.
Captain Goldmon's teachings resounded in Khan's mind as he inspected the stunned and speechless representatives. The political environment was full of liars who would stop at nothing to gain favors or trick Khan into fitting their plans. Moreover, all of them would be better than him at that game.
Entering the political game as a liar would only work against Khan since he would have to face opponents with more experience than him. He could get away with it for now since he could exploit his young age and feats. Yet, the time would come when he would lose those advantages.
Khan didn't know if he could learn everything he needed about the political game before his advantages ran out. Also, he wasn't sure he wanted to. The sole thought of spending his entire life pretending among liars attempted to kill every motivation that his desperation had generated throughout the years.
Building a political persona could work, but it went against Khan's desires. His character might even suit that approach due to his experience in the Slums, but he didn't like it. He could compromise if the situation needed it, but he wouldn't give up on himself to please more people.
Headmaster Pitcus was as speechless as the representatives, but his role forced him to be on Khan's side. Moreover, Khan didn't seem to have lost control. His face was calm, and his eyes studied the area coldly. There was a plan behind that expression, and Headmaster Pitcus decided to trust it for now.
"What did you say?!"
"Did you just insult us?!"
"Headmaster Pitcus, I expect you to fire him after such a grave offense!"
"This boy has no manners!"
"Where does he think he is?!"
Those were only some of the lines that the representatives shouted as soon as they snapped back to reality. Needless to say, they were far from pleased. They didn't even try to contain their voices. They shouted and slammed their hands on the small tables before them to highlight how pissed they were.
"Can you stay silent for a few seconds?" Khan shouted to make sure that his words reached the angry representatives. "And, please, stop trying to involve Headmaster Pitcus before hearing me out. I've shed blood for a year for the Global Army. I deserve some respect."
The representatives' initial instinct was to raise their voices, especially since Khan didn't even try to justify his previous words. Yet, the last part of his statement reminded them of his achievements.
His victory on Onia alone had brought great benefits to the Global Army and Earth as a whole, and he had also saved many lives during his other feats. However, the representatives had treated him like a kid right away.
Khan nodded when he saw tinges of shames appearing among the audience. He had the representatives' attention now, so he had to make his next words matter.
"You are all wealthier than me," Khan announced. "I'm sure you'll try to offer everything you can to your descendants. You'll keep them safe and provide the best resources on the market. You'll give them things that I can't even pronounce, and I can only rejoice knowing that."
Khan was complimenting the representatives, and they knew that. Some displeasure and annoyance still filled their faces, but those words bought Khan a few seconds and improved the general atmosphere.
"I'm also sure you'll find good positions for them," Khan continued. "They will gather merits in safe environments and climb the military ranks without ever facing any danger. I know all of this because that's what I'd do for my children or relatives if I had your wealth."
"Get to the point, young man," One of the representatives voiced.
"I have been with wealthy descendants," Khan revealed. "I've seen the difference that money and resources can make. Yet, they are dead while I'm here."
"Are you insulting our descendants now?" Another representative asked.
"Not at all," Khan promptly responded. "I could survive because that's what I did my entire life. I had to fight over food, clothes, and even houses. When the rebellion on Istrone happened, I could react faster and better than my peers because I already had the right instincts."
"We know what you are trying to say, Lieutenant Khan," A third representative, one of the calmest among the audience, revealed. "We even know what you are trying to accomplish with your lessons. Still, you sent six recruits to the medical bay with injuries that need weeks to heal completely."
"So?" Khan asked. "The next time my students find themselves with a broken arm or leg, they won't freeze. They won't panic. They won't cry in front of an enemy or in the middle of the battlefield because they already have the experience needed to react."
"That's still too much!" One of the angry representatives shouted, and approving voices resounded among the audience.
"How would you teach them that then?" Khan questioned. "I know that I'm young and that my teaching experience is non-existent, but I'm open to suggestions. I don't want to hurt my students, but I can't find a different method to prepare them for what the universe can throw at them. So, please, do tell me if you have better ideas. I'll be happy to apply them."
No one spoke, and some representatives even diverted their gazes when Khan looked at them. They all knew the sad truth about the matter. Only the battlefield could teach about the battlefield.
"My son will never see the battlefield," One of the angry women among the audience eventually exclaimed. "His future is already set. He will never come close to a fight, so I don't see why he should face your barbaric methods only to get more academic merits."
"Where will he go?" Khan asked calmly.
"He will enter an academy specialized in building magic items," The woman proudly announced. "Reebfell is an option, but we'll see if he can aim higher after spending two years in this camp."
The other representatives nodded, and some even whispered compliments to the woman. A political game had started, and everyone wanted a share, everyone except for Khan.
"Let's say that he does exceptionally well during these two years, and let's say that I'm not in the picture," Khan theorized. "Your descendant enters this superior academy and shows great talent for its courses. However, the Third Impact happens right above the building, so he dies because he freezes in front of a Nak."
"What do you kn-?!" The woman instinctively complained before closing her mouth with her hands. Her anger had almost made her forget Khan's history.
"The Second Impact has been a tragic event," Another representative declared. "However, you can't use it to prove your point."
"Why not?" Khan asked while moving his gaze among the audience. "Do you know when or where the next Impact will happen? Can you predict the next rebellion? What if the Global Army finds a stronger alien species and loses the war with it? Can you tell me with absolute certainty that no major crises will happen in the next years?"
No one answered. It was pointless since the representatives knew what Khan would say to reply. He didn't experience only one crisis. His luck had been horrible, and nothing could prevent his descendants from going through something similar.
"As I said before, I know that you'll do everything in your power to keep them safe," Khan continued, "But I also know that it might not be enough. You can complain all you want, but I will still try to prepare my students for the worst. At the end of the day, I only care that they have what they need to survive out there."
Khan wasn't being rude, but some representatives had the chance to complain about that. Yet, they remained silent since everything he had said made sense. It would have been different with another professor, but Khan's history added too much value to his words.
"Anyway," Khan added after letting his words resound in the representatives' minds for a few seconds," My subject isn't mandatory. Tell your descendant not to attend it if you find it too dangerous. If something happens, they won't be on my conscience because I know that I'm doing everything in my power to prepare them."
Those final words acted as a death blow. Khan had made his position more than clear, and the representatives couldn't argue with that. Everything would be up to them now.
A few silent minutes passed before the representatives began to exchange whispers. Khan couldn't understand what they said, but the various nods and general calm that filled the audience told him that the meeting had gone relatively well.
A glance at Headmaster Pitcus also revealed that he approved what had happened. He nodded at Khan as soon as he met his eyes, and he even decided to take control of the situation after a few more minutes went by.
"I think there's nothing else to say," Headmaster Pitcus announced while stepping forward to reach Khan's left side. "We can end the meeting here. Please, let me escort you all to the station."
The representatives nodded and began to descend from the staircases as Headmaster Pitcus walked toward the entrance. Khan performed a military salute while remaining on his spot, and most of the audience nodded at him before going on their way. Still, a few decided to approach Khan to exchange some short lines.
"I appreciate everything you have done for the Global Army and humankind, Lieutenant Khan," A representative said while wearing a warm smile.
"The future of the Global Army seems to be in decent hands," Another representative commented in a dismissive tone.
"I'm sorry for the initial rudeness," A third representative whispered. "Part of us was only testing you, and I think I speak for all of them when I say that you have given an outstanding impression."
"Try to contain the number of broken bones, will you?" A fourth representative chuckled.
"I can't wait to meet you in friendlier situations," The fifth said.
"My Elsie is about your age," A middle-aged woman hinted. "Try to watch her closely. She might need a man like you in her life."
Khan wore a fake smile as those statements went by. That part turned out to be the worst phase of the meeting, but it ended quickly. When the last representative left the hall, Headmaster Pitcus nodded at Khan again before following those lofty figures.
'It's over,' Khan exclaimed in his mind as a sigh left his mouth. He soon realized that he didn't care about the meeting's outcome. He only felt glad that everything had come to an end.
'Maybe I'm not fit for the political environment,' Khan wondered as he waited in the hall to put some distance from the representatives. 'I never thought that telling the truth could be tiring.'
Khan spent silent minutes in the hall. He sent a few messages to tell Amber and Cora about the meeting and his first impressions, but his stomach eventually forced him to leave. He had yet to have dinner, so he went directly to the canteen.
A familiar scene unfolded in his vision when he left the canteen. Khan noticed a figure waiting for him on a bench in the distance. The phone's light illuminated Cora's face as she waited for a message from her loved one.
Cora almost dropped her phone when she heard steps disrupting the silence of the night, but a timid smile appeared on her face when she saw Khan walking toward her. Still, shyness soon replaced her happiness, which forced her to lower her gaze.
"Were you worried about me?" Khan chuckled as he stopped in front of Cora.
"I knew you would ace the meeting," Cora responded while shaking her head. "I only wanted to see if you were okay."
"My hands are fine," Khan stated while putting his hands in her line of sight. "I'll take off the bandages once I get to my flat."
Cora began to reach for his hands, but her face suddenly turned scarlet, and her arms froze. She felt too timid whenever she thought about the previous night. She didn't know how to face him.
Khan smiled in front of those cute reactions, but he still decided to act. His fingers reached Cora's chin and lifted her head while he bent forward. Cora let him guide her until she found his lips pressing on her mouth.
The kiss was sweet, soft, and slow. The violence that Khan had shown the previous night didn't appear, and Cora slowly grew used to that gesture.
"I have already accepted you," Khan whispered after making their lips separate. "Stop worrying so much."
Cora wanted to say something, but Khan interrupted her with a quick kiss on her lips. A cute pout appeared on her face as her face reddened even more, but Khan melted it with a short laugh.
"Let me take you home," Khan requested while straightening his back and showing her his open hand.
Cora smiled and nodded before taking his hand. She left the bench, and the two began to walk slowly toward her dormitory.. They separated only when they were about to enter the patrolling soldiers' vision.
