Things didn't take long to get busy. After replacing Ambassador Abores, Khan ended up in charge of many tasks connected to the Thilku Empire, and the time to get comfortable with them was short.
Lord Exr had done Khan a favor by waiting for him to sort out his situation, and almost four months had passed since then. Khan was already late on the Thilku's schedule, enforcing a meeting just one week after obtaining the new role.
A series of trips hindered by multiple security checks brought Khan to Cegnore again. The Thilku ship didn't head for the same building or quadrant as the previous meeting, but the destination wasn't too different.
As the descent continued, a tall, rectangular building with vast balconies and open windows expanded in the ship's scanners. The vehicle headed directly for the structure's roof, landing beside a huge gazebo already in place.
A metal ramp grew, connecting the ship to the roof, and a tall Thilku escorted Khan outside. His arrival turned many heads, especially those under the gazebo. No one stopped working, but murmurs spread, and a specific title reached Khan's ears.
'[The blue shaman],' Khan heard, but his attention was elsewhere. His gaze wandered on the horizon, searching for the sensation that used to call him in the past.
'They are moving quickly,' Khan acknowledged. He couldn't find any trace of the Nak, even with his enhanced senses and innate perception. The call had disappeared altogether.
The sitting figure under the gazebo quickly claimed Khan's attention. Lord Exr was inspecting him with a satisfied and approving smile. He couldn't look happier about that development, especially now that Khan conveyed the intensity of a leader.
"Captain Khan," Lord Exr called, filling two cups on his side of the table. "Come, toast with me. We must celebrate your new position."
Khan strode toward the gazebo and stopped to utter a "[My lord]" before sitting on the other side of the table. Lord Exr handed him a cup at that point, and the two lifted their drinks to toast. Khan tried to abide by the Niqols' customs, but the Thilku ignored them.
"Tell me," Lord Exr announced, "How is your new position?"
"That's classified," Khan stated, "But I'm dealing with it well."
Lord Exr's smile widened, showing his sharp canines. Khan had read through the lines, understanding his hidden question. He had even replied to it without revealing unnecessary information.
"I knew you were the right human for the job," Lord Exr declared. "I also heard about your engagement. She is a partner at your level."
"Thank you, [My lord]," Khan said, showing no surprise about Lord Exr's knowledge. He and Monica were famous enough for information to leak into the Empire.
"Let's feast now!" Lord Exr cried. "To this new alliance!"
Khan lifted his cup again, and the two began to eat. The table was already filled with food, but the soldiers delivered more as Khan and Lord Exr wolfed down anything that entered their reach.
Lord Exr and the other Thilku couldn't help but appreciate Khan's manners. He ate with his bare hands, accepting any food that landed on the table. He behaved like a proper Thilku, reinforcing his welcome in those alien environments.
Still, once the feast ended, Khan and Lord Exr found themselves inspecting each other while sharing a jug of booze. They both knew that the time for pleasantries was over. They had to talk business now.
"I'm sure you have reviewed your tasks," Lord Exr decided to break the silence. "What do you think about them?"
"The Empire can expect them to be completed in the agreed timeline," Khan promised. "My rise to Ambassador Abores' position won't change that."
Khan wasn't actually sure about that. Ambassador Abores had used his connections to secure jobs for many friends and acquaintances who could easily get in Khan's way. Still, Lord Exr didn't need to know about that.
Moreover, if problems arose, Khan would handle them personally. He couldn't enforce loyalty but planned to compensate for eventual missteps or delays with his power.
"That's good to hear," Lord Exr exclaimed. "However, the Empire has a problem with the current timeline."
Khan didn't reply. He had expected a similar development due to how long it had taken him to rise to his new position. Also, he believed the Empire wanted to test him.
"Colonizing Cegnore turned out to be more expensive than we thought," Lord Exr explained. "The Empire's reserves of Grugrian are plenty, but we hoped to rely on the agreed shipment."
Khan's face remained still, but his thoughts dived deep into his brain to retrieve information memorized in the past week. Once he found it, his reply arrived. "The shipment isn't due for four more months. Ambassador Abores explained that in his last report."
"We also need to accelerate on those fabrics' deliveries," Lord Exr continued, ignoring Khan's response.
"They aren't due for another two months," Khan pointed out.
"And [My Lord] expects your presence at the imminent festival," Lord Exr revealed. "Conquering Cegnore requires celebrations, which wouldn't be fair without you."
The last news wasn't part of Ambassador Abores' tasks. That was the first time Khan had heard about it, but the opportunity's appeal was evident. Meeting Lord Exr's superior wasn't something he could miss.
Khan brought his drink to his mouth, reviewing what he knew about the mentioned tasks. The Global Army had already accumulated the materials for the fabrics' deliveries, and the rest of the process was automated, so Khan couldn't affect it.
Yet, the Grugrian's issue was manageable. The Empire used that mineral in their runes, and the Global Army excavated it on a nearby planet. The mining had yet to begin since the human soldiers were taking their time clearing the area, but Khan could change that.
'It would take two weeks in perfect conditions to mine enough Grugrian for the delivery,' Khan thought, recalling Ambassador Abores' notes.
"I'll cut off two months from the Grugrian's delivery," Khan promised, "And I'll be there for the festival."
"What about the fabrics?" Lord Exr asked.
"The original timeline is unchangeable," Khan stated. "If the Empire needs them quickly, I believe my fiancée's trade routes can handle them."
"That would put the expenses on the Empire," Lord Exr commented.
"I'm sure the Empire has more than enough funds," Khan responded. "Besides, we wouldn't want your soldiers to think that the Empire needs the Global Army to solve its problems."
The comment earned Khan a series of glares, but Lord Exr wasn't among them. His amusement only intensified at that almost insulting comment.
"Your terms are acceptable," Lord Exr eventually exclaimed. "I'm glad we can understand each other."
"Likewise," Khan uttered, standing up. "I should leave now. My timeline has just gotten tight."
"What a pity," Lord Exr announced, pretending to have nothing to do with Khan's new problems. "I'm sure I'll hear from you soon."
"[My lord]," Khan said, slightly lowering his head before turning toward the ship. A Thilku promptly hurried forward to escort him, and his figure soon disappeared inside the vehicle.
The trips between the Global Army's territory and the Empire always involved multiple stops and checkpoints, with many controlled by the Thilku. Khan couldn't affect those, but orders escaped his mouth as soon as he returned to his species' domain.
The first ship commanded by humans was initially meant to head for the closest space station, but Khan made it change its route. The planet with Grugrian didn't feature teleports, but the vehicle would reach it in half a day if flying at top speed.
About fourteen hours later, the ship landed on a planet that resembled Earth before the First Impact. The seas were vast, and the landmasses were plenty, but its inhabitability became clear as soon as Khan stepped on its brown ground.
The ship had landed beside one of the Global Army's outposts. Soldiers and machines had to clear a vast area to plant that rectangular building there, but nothing could hide the immense trees around it. They were almost ten times what anyone could find on Earth, and many things shared that feature on that planet.
The unusual and unexpected landing attracted a lot of attention, bringing soldiers outside the outpost. Even the person in charge of the structure came out, and recognizing Khan updated him on the seriousness of the situation.
Khan took a deep breath when he stepped out of the ship. The air was heavy, but his body could take it without problem. The symphony was also thick, which he loved, but also warned about the planet's dangers.
After a brief inspection, Khan gazed at the troops that had left the outpost. He only needed a second to spot the soldier in charge, and his confident steps quickly brought him before him.
"Major Kilwood, I presume," Khan announced, inspecting the tall, burly man from head to toe. He had already dealt with the Kilwood family on Ecoruta, so his fame was bound to precede him.
"Captain Khan," Major Kilwood exclaimed, performing a military salute. His rank surpassed Khan's, but their level was the same, and their fame wasn't even close.
"What brings you to Strara 3518?" Major Kilwood probed. "My team's performance has met every standard agreed with the Global Army."
"I know," Khan nodded. "I just need to speed things up a bit."
"Speed things up?" Major Kilwood wondered. "The new quadrant is dangerous, but our tactics are sound. Abandoning them would mean risking my soldiers' lives."
"Are they on the site already?" Khan questioned.
"Well, yes," Major Kilwood revealed. "They are encamped a few kilometers north from here, but they are resting from last night's raid."
"No need to add anything," Khan said, tapping the ground to send himself into the air. "Keep up with the good work."
Major Kilwood had countless questions, but Khan disappeared, leaving behind a gust of wind. Major Kilwood and his soldiers tried to look north to find his figure but couldn't see anything behind the tall trees in the distance.
Khan flew at full speed, absorbing any information carried by the symphony. He could sense many lifeforms in the huge forest under him, but nothing that could threaten him. His plan would succeed as long as the appointed quadrant featured the same environment.
After a while, traces of human auras leaked into the symphony, and Khan followed them. A simple encampment made of metal tents eventually became visible, and Khan dived straight toward it.
Khan's landings were usually graceful and uneventful, but he chose a different approach. The soldiers were in their tents, so shaking things a bit was the quickest way to attract their attention.
An earthquake spread through the encampment, awakening the tired soldiers and bringing them out of their tents. Those men and women were ready for a fight, but the scene that unfolded in their view destroyed any trace of battle intent.
A shallow crater had formed at the center of the camp, and Khan stood proudly at its bottom. His figure radiated pure power, which spread an oppressive vibe to his surroundings. The soldiers couldn't sense it, but their bodies instinctively froze as if knowing a monster had landed among them.
"Which quadrant do you have to clear?" Khan asked, his voice conveying authority.
The domineering tone prolonged the soldiers' frozen state, but a few managed to snap out of their condition. Most of that came from recognizing Khan, leading to one of them to reply.
"Anything three square kilometers in that direction," One of the soldiers revealed, pointing at a random spot in the forest.
"Stay here until I come back," Khan ordered before disappearing from the crater.
The symphony told Khan enough. He knew the soldiers wouldn't dare move from their position, so his focus went on the forest. The tall trees surrounded him, but his mind was on the many auras that tainted the natural mana. Monsters filled the quadrant, and killing them would accelerate the mission.
Khan flew among the trees until he reached what he felt to be the quadrant's center. Vegetation ruled the place, but hungry eyes had already fallen on him. The landing had attracted a lot of attention, and he stood still to wait for it to act.
Eventually, the ground began to shake, but Khan didn't even look in the source's direction. He knew what was coming, as well as its level and overall size. A creature driven by hunger rushed toward him, but he stood still, welcoming that challenge.
The tree's huge size created many vast areas where massive creatures could run, and the same applied to a boar-like monster with two long tusks and thick red fur. The Tainted animal was two meters tall, and its heavy body added a deadly momentum to its charge.
The monster dodged the huge trees to aim at the tiny invader without losing speed. Its bloodthirsty eyes focused on the human before closing when it lowered its head. A frontal clash was imminent and unavoidable, but its outcome sparked surprise.
To the monster's amazement, the clash didn't end in a long search for its flung prey. Instead, the beast felt like a wall had appeared in its path, and its right tusk hurt due to the impact. Its momentum had vanished, and its eyes opened to inspect the scene.
Fear immediately invaded the monster. The tiny human was there, holding its right tusk still. The former didn't only stop its charge with one hand. The feelings conveyed by his eyes triggered the monster's survival instincts.
"Stay still," Khan ordered, firmly holding the tusk while drawing his knife. "I have to test this out."
The monster wanted to run, but its body didn't move. It only heard a humming noise before its entire world went silent.
