Chapter 775 Family
Many valid reasons justified the barriers and hindrances among the various career paths.
The personal goals and backgrounds played an important role. After all, wealthy descendants would usually prioritize businesses to improve their family's position. Meanwhile, poorer soldiers would chase military achievements, hoping to secure benefits through promotions and special jobs.
Time was another massive issue. Climbing the political ladder was challenging and usually required years spent specializing in complex fields. Most people didn't have room to explore and excel in more than one path.
The conflicts of interest were also very relevant. Securing ranks inside the Global Army granted access to weapons and troops, which figures with special authority over planets or quadrants could exploit. Abusing that kind of power in the vast universe was easy and could create troublesome and illegal forces that didn't carry any flag.
Of course, exceptions existed, and the Global Army's precautions didn't stop all cases of abuse of power. Yet, Khan wanted to take things one step further, and everyone at the table understood the potentially negative repercussions.
Khan had claimed ownership of Baoway's quadrant, but the Global Army's regulations required him to be an official Ambassador to apply that rule. Khan had proven himself suitable for the task many times, but his recent change in status added new problems.
Khan was already a Major and had just become a Prince. His status among families had peaked, and his military career could only improve. Adding "Ambassador" to his list of titles would give him massive influence over three key fields, granting him a scary amount of authority.
Similar instances usually forced the figure in question to give up some benefits or titles. After all, almost no one could handle all the time-consuming and heavy obligations of those three fields.
However, Khan was an exception among exceptions, and his new status even helped his cause. Being a Prince made his request harder to refuse, especially since he had already met the requirements.
The decision wasn't up to Khan, and Mister Cirvags alone couldn't make it either. Different parties had to approve it, but Khan had already secured the right allies. A few phone calls would be enough to grant him the official title.
The people at the table were the only issue, but Monica's parents wouldn't oppose the decision. Headmistress Holwen also had no say in the matter, leaving things in the hands of the remaining three men.
Actually, the greatest leverage for Khan's Ambassador title came from the Thilku Empire, which Mister Cirvags oversaw. He was the only real barrier on Khan's path and even had good reasons to stop him.
Mister Cirvags had unshakeable loyalty in the Global Army, while Khan's flag was unclear. Granting him that title might hurt humankind, which Mister Cirvags couldn't let happen.
Nevertheless, the opposite was also true. Refusing Khan could push him further away from humankind, which wasn't a hard feat after everything that had happened.
Khan and Mister Cirvags fell into a stalemate, staring at each other while seemingly probing their respective intentions. Truth be told, Khan wasn't studying anything. His mere presence was a stance meant to convey a troublesome reality to Mister Cirvags.
Official approval or not, Khan wouldn't give up on the quadrant. Also, his next move would be to take care of the information leaked in his absence. That decision wouldn't even affect his position with the Empire since the Thilku wanted him as a representative. Mister Cirvags could choose to become an annoying hurdle, but the following inevitable conflict would be pointless.
Mister Cirvags dropped his usual condescending and knowledgeable attitude and showed genuine hesitation. Everyone could see he had doubts about the matter and Khan. Still, he wasn't a man he could control anymore. That ship had sailed since Cegnore.
"Why do you want to wait on the reports?" Mister Cirvags asked, dropping the formalities.
"Illegal channels are spreading information about Baoway," Khan explained. "I must kill them before delivering official reports."
"What makes you think they are illegal?" Mister Cirvags questioned.
"The only ones who could have spread the information returned from Baoway," Khan revealed, "After failing to kill me and leaving me stranded."
"Are you claiming there was an attempt on your life, Prince Khan?" Cecil Usten beamed.
"The Nognes family is already handling the situation," Khan stated. "I revealed some details only to honor my time working with Mister Cirvags."
"Prince Khan!" Anastasia almost shouted. "Allow the Solodrey family to help with the investigation. Such criminals-."
"I'll handle it personally," Khan interrupted.
"How?" Mister Cirvags asked.
"I thought I was clear," Khan uttered.
Mister Cirvags fell silent. Khan had only said he would kill the illegal channels, but the threat probably also involved the people behind them. A slaughter was looming over the Global Army, and nothing could prevent it since the nobles sanctioned it.
"These pieces of illegal information," Mister Cirvags attempted a different approach. "It might be useful to compare them to your future reports."
"Yes," Khan agreed, "But no."
"Why?" Mister Cirvags questioned.
"Because that's my quadrant," Khan explained. "Any information belongs to me and is only mine to share."
Many businessmen and political figures would have been more subtle about the matter, but Khan was different. He openly claimed monopoly over anything related to Baoway's quadrant and his willingness to eliminate the competition.
That could still be fine. Khan was a Prince, so the Nognes family's involvement would have cut away the authorities at the table anyway. Yet, his status counted another player that Mister Cirvags couldn't ignore.
"What will be the share of information?" Mister Cirvags wondered. "Will you give the Global Army as much as the Thilku Empire?"
That concern grew more reasonable by the day. It wasn't even uncommon for Ambassadors to sell sensitive information to parties outside of humankind for personal gains. Giving Khan an official status would enable that path, potentially leaving the Global Army in the dark about misconduct.
"That depends," Khan replied. "Is the Global Army on my side?"
Many people at the table were ready to proclaim their allegiance to Khan, but everyone understood he only cared about Mister Cirvags' reply. The weight of expectations slowly mounted on the experienced warrior, forcing him to make a decision he hoped not to regret.
"I'll call the involved offices," Mister Cirvags conceded. "Prince Khan, you'll be added to the official registry of Ambassadors by tomorrow."
"That's wonderful news!" Anastasia declared. "We must also hold celebrations to compensate for the missed birthday and anniversary. Please, Leticia. Let the Solodrey family host the event."
"How could I refuse such a generous offer, Madam Solodrey?" Headmistress Holwen smiled. "I believe we can settle the specifics later."
"Of course," Anastasia agreed. "This meeting is far more-."
Anastasia couldn't finish her line since Khan stood up, lifting Monica with him. He gently helped her to the floor before whispering something in her ear and heading outside. Monica promptly drew her phone while the guests froze in confusion.
Mister Cirvags was the only exception to the confusion. He stood up as soon as he noticed Khan's sudden departure and hurried toward him. The two ended up face to face by the hall's entrance, far enough to keep eventual conversations private.
"Prince Khan," Mister Cirvags muttered, suppressing his voice. "I hope you aren't forsaking your species for short-term benefits."
"Hoping is all you can do," Khan coldly replied.
Mister Cirvags was a man of reason, but the apparent taunt threatened to get to his nerves. Of course, he was aware enough of his position to avoid reckless outbursts.
"I should remind you who the official spokesperson for the Empire is," Mister Cirvags said. "I may have gotten old, but my name carries a lot of weight among the Thilku."
"I know what kind of man you are," Khan stated. "That's why I respect you. Our views might differ, but you are an honorable soldier."
"Flattery, Prince Khan?" Mister Cirvags almost scoffed but held back on impolite tones.
"I wasn't flattering," Khan explained. "I meant you would have stopped me. Either you trust me, or you know you can't."
Mister Cirvags stared deeply into Khan's eyes but failed to discover anything. Khan's intentions were a mystery, but Mister Cirvags became sure of something. That wasn't the same man he had sent to Cegnore.
Khan didn't waste more time in the conversation. He departed, grabbing the first soldier in his surroundings to make his way outside. Needless to say, a proper escort formed around him, but his attention never lingered on it.
Reaching one of the roofs put Khan in the middle of more rows of soldiers, but his feet brought him directly to the two figures near the ride. Andrew and Gordon were waiting for him, even if he had just told Monica to make everyone gather in his flat.
"Prince Khan," Gordon and Andrew said simultaneously, but the former added something. "I apologize for my presence here. I received Miss Solodrey's message, but we had already arrived."
"We are returning to Ylaco," Khan explained, ignoring the apology. "Prepare the necessary soldiers and ships."
"We, my Prince?" Gordon asked, but the door connected to the roof promptly opened, revealing Monica and her parents. They had followed Khan, but his escort had gotten in the way.
"Prince Khan," Anastasia called. "What is it that I hear about a trip to the Slums?"
Anastasia didn't dare to sound impolite, but it was clear she despised the idea. Even stepping on Ylaco's training ground was below her, but Khan didn't care.
"Since you are so adamant about labeling me as your in-law," Khan said, welcoming Monica to his side. "I figured you couldn't wait to greet the rest of our family."