The arrival of two big figures from the Solodrey family forced Harris to calm down. Dennis and Monica also wore more respectful stances, but Khan remained unaffected.
'Cyrus Solodrey,' Khan thought, inspecting Harris' uncle. 'According to Monica, he is just a businessman.'
Cyrus' aura confirmed that information. The man wasn't only out of shape. He wielded enough mana to be a fourth-level warrior, but Khan barely felt any threat from it.
Anastasia and Cyrus strode forward at different paces. The former retained her elegant manners, slowly walking toward the group. Instead, Cyrus accelerated, prioritizing rescuing the descendant from his faction.
"Get up," Cyrus muttered once he could grab Harris' shoulder to help him to his feet. "We warned you not to try anything."
Khan didn't care about the shameful scene, but its consequences were hard to ignore. Now that Harris had calmed down, he could review the previous exchange, and pure shock and fear surged. He couldn't even understand what Khan had done, but the outcome was clear.
The sole idea that a fellow third-level warrior could wield so much strength was terrifying. In Harris' mind, Khan couldn't be human. He didn't even match any regular power level created throughout the years. The network didn't do him justice, either. He was a monster through and through.
Harris wasn't alone in that reaction. Dennis had inspected the short exchange, and similar emotions surged inside him. Khan seemed able to wield an invisible force stronger than most third-level warriors, and simply thinking about it created the urge to step back.
Khan had long since gotten used to those stares. He partially sought them, too, since his political situation needed that fame. Still, the familiar warmth that spread from his hand made everything easier to endure.
Monica didn't miss those reactions, and her legs promptly moved. She didn't only adore that version of Khan. She also knew her role, so she took his hand to stand proudly at his side.
Of course, Anastasia's arrival played a big role in Monica's behavior, but her intentions didn't change. Monica was showing that she would take Khan's side even before her mother.
"I'm sorry, Captain Khan," Cyrus apologized in the middle of that tension. "We train our descendants to be the best, so many want to test themselves against the strongest."
The blatant praise didn't affect Khan, but he still felt that a warning was needed. "You shouldn't consider me a third-level warrior anymore."
Harris completely agreed with Khan. Actually, his instincts told him he was more dangerous than his uncle, putting him above some fourth-level warriors. Moreover, that was an evaluation founded on lackluster senses. It was unclear how strong Khan was when he relied on all his techniques.
That stalemate broke when Anastasia finally reached the group. She stopped at Dennis' side, inspecting the couple from head to toe. Monica responded with a challenging cold glare, but no bickering unfolded.
"Captain," Anastasia quickly broke the silence. "I need you to come with me."
Monica was ready to refuse, but Anastasia didn't stop at words. She stepped toward Khan, grabbing his elbow just like Monica had done countless times.
Needless to say, the friendly and respectful gesture shocked Monica. She had to muster the entirety of her self-restraint to keep her mouth closed. Jealousy didn't even manage to arrive due to how incredible that event was.
Khan could remain calm in any situation, but Anastasia's behavior shattered his cold face. His eyes widened in surprise when the woman took his elbow. He even felt uncomfortable since Monica was still holding his hand.
"What are you doing, mother?" Monica couldn't help but ask. She had already snapped, but her self-restraint managed to hide that.
"Your father wants to see the Captain," Anastasia explained. "Privately. I'll give him back to you in a few minutes."
The mention of Monica's father changed the atmosphere once again. Dennis, Harris, and Cyrus instinctively straightened their position to wear more respectful stances. As for Monica, her mouth finally opened in surprise, and her hand slowly left Khan's.
"I'll see you in the third dining hall," Anastasia continued before looking at the corridor. "Captain, indulge me for a while."
Khan's eyes didn't return to a normal shape, no matter how much he tried. He showed that look to Monica, and she could only silently nod. They wouldn't usually separate, but the shock was too great to think straight.
Before anyone could add anything, Anastasia applied some strength to Khan's elbow, and he understood what the gesture meant. Dennis got out of the way as the two began to walk forward. Khan would have liked to be in charge, but Anastasia set the pace, giving enough time to everyone to savor the moment.
The awkwardness inside Khan's mind didn't vanish even after the two put some distance from the group. He could still feel the gazes on his back, especially Monica's, and his face struggled to understand which expression to wear.
Still, once Anastasia knew her words couldn't reach the group anymore, she voiced a compliment. "It was about time someone taught a lesson to that Harris kid."
Khan couldn't think of any reply. His mind struggled to keep up with the recent events, and the praise worsened his condition.
"You did good," Anastasia continued. "No one in the family will question your value now."
"Did you hit your head recently, ma'am?" Khan wondered.
"Tasteless as always," Anastasia scoffed. "You are affecting my daughter, too. That stunt at Lord Vegner's estate was too much."
Khan held back a gulp, recalling the night after that trip. Initially, Monica had purchased those items to annoy her mother, but the outcome had been far different. Still, it was better to refrain from sharing that information.
"Did my daughter come up with the idea of the uniforms, too?" Anastasia asked.
"She did," Khan confirmed.
"I educated her well," Anastasia commented, wearing a faint smile. "She knows how to send a message."
"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" Khan questioned. He would have accepted the praise, but the smile was too much for his brain.
"If only you didn't have that character," Anastasia sighed. "I suggest you avoid joking before my husband. He doesn't like wasting time on nonsense."
Mentioning Monica's father brought some seriousness to Khan's mind. He had only interacted with the man once, and the call had been too short to understand much. Still, Monica had prepared Khan for the event, and he already knew he wouldn't like it.
"We'll never see eye to eye," Khan exclaimed.
"No," Anastasia agreed. "You won't."
Khan couldn't find anything to add to that reply, and Anastasia was in the same situation. The two remained silent during the rest of the walk, and the immense corridor eventually ended.
The passage expanded into a big, rectangular hall featuring open and closed doors. Anastasia led the way, bringing Khan to one of those entrances, and another corridor unfolded.
After a series of corridors and halls with different shapes, Khan and Anastasia arrived before a door that required her genetic signature. She didn't hesitate to provide it, and a vast office expanded in their eyes.
Khan instantly became aware of the office's furniture and details, but his focus remained on the figure behind the main desk on the other side of the place. Monica's father was there, with his face immersed in a series of reports, and he didn't lift it even after Anastasia led Khan inside.
"Take a seat," Mister Solodrey ordered in the detached tone Khan had already heard.
Anastasia let go of Khan's elbow and pointed at the chairs before the main desk before approaching one of the armchairs lying around. Khan followed her with his senses, but his eyes remained on the man.
Mister Solodrey hadn't changed since the last call, but Khan could study more details now. For starters, he was a fifth-level warrior, a strong one according to Khan's senses. Also, the sternness in his aura created a suffocating environment.
"Captain Khan," Mister Solodrey called since Khan had yet to move. "Don't waste my time."
The sternness didn't affect Khan, and he complied after the call. He approached the main desk to sit before it, but his stance didn't convey respect or composure.
Mister Solodrey finally lifted his face, and his bottomless dark eyes ran over Khan a few times before returning to the reports. He didn't show any happiness or disappointment. Even his mana remained devoid of any ripple.
"It's a pleasure to meet you?" Khan exclaimed, curious and confused.
"I wouldn't call it a pleasure," Mister Solodrey responded, tapping on the desk's surface. "I have your biological report here. It says that you are a human, correct?"
"I," Khan frowned, "I do belong to the human species."
"Even after that?" Mister Solodrey asked, lifting his face to point at Khan's blue hair.
"What's the point of this question?" Khan wondered.
"Fertility," Mister Solodrey calmly explained. "Can you still get humans pregnant?"
The personal nature of the question ticked Khan off. He could understand where Mister Solodrey was going, and an idea of remaining respectful vanished.
"Monica and I would stop using precautions otherwise," Khan stated. He half-expected Anastasia to scold him, but she remained silent the whole time.
"No," Mister Solodrey exclaimed. "Keep using them. You can't have children yet."
"What?" Khan asked.
"On that topic," Mister Solodrey continued. "Once I clear you, you should keep their number to two, three at most. Any more than that would waste too many resources."
"Are you implying that Monica and I must ask your permission to build a family?" Khan asked, using the last tinge of self-restraint to confirm that point.
"Obviously," Mister Solodrey confirmed. "These family matters must be strictly regulated. They can ruin multiple investments otherwise."
"You are lucky I didn't kidnap your investment the first time you opposed me," Khan scoffed, standing up. "We are done here."
"I didn't give you permission to leave," Mister Solodrey reminded.
"Permission?" Khan repeated. "The next time you speak of Monica like that, I'll double my debt toward the Solodrey family."
"Captain," Anastasia intervened. "This isn't the time for your rash manners."
Khan peeked past his shoulder to glance at Anastasia, and the symphony shook. The synthetic mana accumulated above his head, condensing until a purple-red sphere formed.
"Open the door," Khan ordered as the sphere slowly morphed into a spear, "Or I will."
