The ship's passenger area had no scanners or screens that could reveal its route, and that aspect was intentional. Everything about Colonel Norrett's evolution had to remain a secret, even during the last hours before the event.
As for Khan and Headmistress Holwen, their conversation ended after those few lines. Khan had more questions, but any answer would only intensify his curiosity. It was better to wait and experience the real deal with the entirety of his senses.
The lack of distractions inside the ship made the trip quite boring, especially since it stretched for hours. Neither Khan nor the Headmistress knew how long it would take to reach the intended destination either, which worsened that dull wait.
Initially, Khan couldn't even think about losing focus. He was too excited, curious, and eager to witness the evolution to consider drinking, sleeping, or meditating. Yet, as the hours passed, his mood quieted down and allowed compromises. He finally closed his eyes, and time picked up the pace as he forced his mana to flow faster.
The silence stretched even past a few hours. The flight continued for almost half a day before a change in the synthetic mana behind the metal surface awakened Khan. The ship was decelerating, which could only mean one thing.
The Headmistress used Khan's reactions to check the trip's state once again, which didn't disappoint. After a few minutes, the area's artificial illumination brightened, and a robotic message resounded inside it.
"We arrived at our destination," The speaker said, and a whooshing noise followed, marking the unlocking of the ship's side doors.
Khan and Headmistress Holwen snapped on their feet and approached the doors, which opened at their presence. Still, no natural environment unfolded in their eyes. Another passenger area expanded past the passage, welcoming the two to another trip.
Headmistress Holwen stepped forward without inspecting the new area, and Khan could only follow her. It was hard to understand the nature of the new vehicle due to the darkened windows, but the seats and the place's relatively small size hinted at a car or something similar.
The two took their seats, and the vehicle's entrance closed to start another trip. Headmistress Holwen and Khan could feel the faint tremors generated by the tires, so they knew they were on the ground. However, their location remained a secret for another hour.
Eventually, the vehicle stopped, and one of its doors opened to show another metallic environment. A short corridor carrying the style of a space station stretched from the passage, and soldiers wearing white medical coats stood at its end.
The partially natural symphony that touched Khan's senses didn't distract him from another striking detail. Those soldiers' clothes marked them as scientists, but both were fourth-level warriors, and their firm, cold auras conveyed their extensive battle experience.
That interest didn't vanish even after Khan and Headmistress Holwen stepped on the metal floor. The scientists performed military salutes, but that didn't diminish their value in Khan's eyes. They were strong, probably stronger than Khan.
'It's an evolution alright,' Khan thought, sensing similarly powerful areas in the two corridors that stretched from the current passage.
"The other guests have already arrived," One of the scientists announced. "They are enjoying the refreshments. Allow us to guide you there."
"Please," Headmistress Holwen nodded, applying a bare minimum of politeness. Khan didn't join her, and the seemingly isolated environment soon captured his attention.
The corridor had no windows that could give more intel on the outside world, but the symphony inside wasn't completely synthetic. Strands of natural mana flowed through it without ever dispersing completely. The place had a source of that energy, and Khan could pinpoint its location.
Khan didn't need to do anything to study that source. The scientists were already leading him in that direction, but more concerning matters claimed his attention. Some of the strong auras sensed before were getting closer.
The second corridor had multiple doors on one side, and scientists exited or entered them occasionally. Those random soldiers were also fourth-level warriors, but Khan paid them no heed since he was about to reach stronger figures.
Eventually, a large entrance appeared in the distance, showing a long table and people sitting at it. The scent of food and drinks also leaked from it, but Khan only focused on the guests. The seemingly cheerful atmosphere didn't show it, but a chilling presence existed inside the area.
The scientists stopped at the room's entrance, and Khan and the Headmistress crossed it together. The general attention immediately fell on them, and the two replied in a similar fashion.
The room was nothing more than a small dining hall enclosed by four metal walls with no windows. Still, neither Khan nor the Headmistress bothered to check the environment. The figures on the tables could delay those issues endlessly.
Khan recognized a few figures. He had actually researched all of them after gaining access to the guests' list, but some were more important than others. Of course, he was lucky to have met even one of them.
Robert Bizelli sat near Khan's position. His red, curly hair had gotten longer, and his level had also increased. He was a fourth-level warrior now, but his presence there probably had something to do with his friendship with Colonel Norrett.
A similar but younger figure sat at Robert's side. The man had the same red, curly hair combed in a more fashionable style. He was also leaner and burlier than Robert, adding points to his handsome look.
'Garret Bizelli,' Khan recognized, 'Robert's son and prodigy of the Bizelli family.'
Garret wore a military uniform with four stars on each shoulder, which was an outstanding achievement for someone slightly older than Khan. His aura was also on point. Yet, his fame inside the Bizelli family involved the medical field, which Khan couldn't check with his senses.
Robert and Garret were the only fourth-level warriors in the room. The Headmistress and the other six guests were all fifth-level warriors, with unclear differences in their battle prowess. Khan could only identify the strongest, which also was the man who interested him the most.
A burly man stood on the other side of the room, calmly drinking from a cup. The soldier had a few wrinkles on his face and short grey hair that conveyed his old age. However, pure power reeked from every inch of his body, which was built like a mountain.
The table couldn't hide the old man's huge frame. His shoulders were broad, and his arms were thick. The military uniform struggled to contain those bulging muscles. He was also so tall his body seemed to belong to a Thilku rather than a human.
'That's Major General Arngan,' Khan thought, recalling the title seen on the network, 'The Demon of a thousand wars.'
Khan had been on the other side of rumors long enough to know the network was hardly accurate. The Global Army also controlled the stream of information. Still, being in the same room as the Major General confirmed part of it. After all, he was the chilling presence Khan had sensed from the corridor.
'His entire being is ready for war,' Khan studied. 'Well, most of it.'
Major General Arngan felt like a battle maniac, but only Khan could get that impression from that seemingly calm and collected figure. He created a constant sense of danger in the symphony, and that wasn't everything. Khan also noticed that his right arm was artificial.
The inspection barely lasted a few seconds, in which Headmistress Holwen mustered a stern military salute meant to salute all the guests. Khan quickly imitated her, but his attention remained on the artificial arm.
Needless to say, the guests were also inspecting Khan and Headmistress Holwen, and almost everyone stood up to perform similar salutes. Only the Major General remained on his seat, and a loud snort soon left his mouth.
"I was told no one would notice," Major General Arngan said, his voice conveying the entirety of his strength. "Those hacks."
The nigh-shout brought every eye in the room on Major General Arngan's figure, but the latter lifted his right arm while looking at Khan. His previous words had been for him, and only a few understood their meaning.
"They shouldn't have put an engine inside it," Khan calmly responded before recalling basic manners. "Sir."
"Come here, Captain," Major General Arngan called, gesturing to Khan to come close.
That gesture could look rude, but Khan barely minded that. He had never met anyone with such a high rank, and his curiosity had been flaring for a while already.
The guests watched as Khan walked around the table to stop before Major General Arngan. The old man sized him up, but his gaze eventually stopped on Khan's intense eyes.
"I've never seen a kid to these events," Major General Arngan commented. "Well, you aren't exactly a kid."
'How long would I last against him?' Khan wondered, his senses absorbing as much information as possible. 'A few minutes?'
"I heard you are looking for the Nak," Major General Arngan suddenly mentioned, snapping Khan out of his thoughts. "Did you find any on Cegnore?"
Khan's eyes tried to flicker, but he forced them to remain steady. The Major General was spouting classified information in a room with people that might lack the proper briefing or clearance. Yet, his rank wasn't something Khan could oppose. Actually, those words removed any responsibility.
"No," Khan stated.
"What about information about the Nak?" The Major General pressed on.
"I'll keep that to myself," Khan replied, his tone growing colder. He didn't like that turn of events.
"That's not how it works," Major General Arngan commented. "Why would the Global Army help and support you if you don't share information?"
"Because I'm the strongest," Khan declared, "And the Global Army would be wise to keep me happy."
"Cocky brat," Major General Arngan snickered, but a whooshing noise distracted him, making him turn toward the sliding door in the back of the room.
Colonel Norrett stepped out of the door, and Khan could immediately notice differences from their last meeting. The man appeared thinner, but no muscles had been lost. They had just shrunk into a more compact form.
The Colonel's mana was also different in terms of quantity. He appeared about to burst in Khan's eyes. The soldier seemed to have reached the very limit of what his body could handle.
"Mark!" Major General Arngan called. "He is as cocky as you said."
"You are already picking up a fight with a General," Colonel Norrett scolded. "That's not what I meant in the Harbor, little shit."
