Chapter 840 Tournament
Prince Ethan didn't think for even a second that Khan was joking. Although the order was demeaning, he still reached Prince Jack's corpse, bending toward it to pick up the gory item.
Prince Ethan gave one last look at Khan, seemingly searching for approval or additional conversations, but nothing arrived. Khan silently watched him, and his gaze didn't falter even after he began to leave the hall.
Prince Thomas and Princess Rebecca moved aside at Prince Ethan's arrival. The latter crossed the door behind them, and the mood inside the hall instantly changed. The tension vanished, replaced by a mixture of helplessness, worry, and anger.
"Do you mind explaining yourself, Nephew?" Prince Thomas voiced, hurrying toward Khan's couch. Princess Rebecca followed closely behind, and her eyes often fell on the headless corpse on the floor.
"Prince Jack insulted my mother and fiancée," Khan explained shortly.
Prince Thomas' anger vanished. He even slowed down, calmly sitting on a nearby couch. He didn't like Khan's irrational behavior, but it sounded justified in that instance.
"Many inside the family look down on you," Princess Rebecca announced, also occupying a couch. "You are young, untrained, and prone to violence. They also don't like that you don't follow their rules."
"They won't look down on me now," Khan stated.
"You have just proven them right," Prince Thomas pointed out. "I wouldn't be surprised if the other factions summoned secret meetings now."
"Let them," Khan said. "They would have done that anyway."
"Stalling them would have been the best option," Prince Thomas commented. "It would have given us time to reinforce our position."
"I have a Thilku Lord attending my birthday party," Khan claimed. "I have a planet financially bound to the most powerful families in the Global Army. I have the best training resources available, and my troops improve by the day. What else would you have me reinforce?"
"We lack evolved soldiers," Prince Thomas said.
"They belong to the family," Khan argued, "Not single factions."
"A majority vote could allow their deployment," Prince Thomas explained. "As strong as you are, you still can't survive evolved soldiers."
Khan dived back into the booze, letting his thoughts wander on the issue. He was aware of the problem, but his hands were tied. Trying to earn the other factions' support would also weaken his position, removing some of his progress.
The matter wouldn't be too problematic if Khan had the factions' friendship. However, everything was about power in that environment. The family was far from united, and the internal deals only worked to prevent anyone from rising to the top and taking control.
'They won't accept me as a leader unless compelled to,' Khan thought. 'I have to leave them no other choice.'
Sheer force couldn't work toward that goal. Khan was already strong, and the entire Global Army knew that. Still, his family was a political organization that couldn't be beaten into submission.
Amassing resources wouldn't work either since it was the family's prerogative to share those advantages to retain power among other nobles. Khan could try to buy time, but the result wouldn't change. The Nognes factions still had a rightful claim over his stuff.
Killing anyone who opposed Khan would also defeat the purpose. Weakening the Nognes family would make assuming control of it pointless. He would rather have fewer loyal assets than many potential enemies, but that environment forced him to compromise for now.
'Limiting the weak links,' Khan concluded. 'Improving the political protections.'
"Have Abraham move the lab here," Khan eventually ordered. "Francis can handle all the external affairs."
"What else?" Prince Thomas asked.
"Give me a line of communication with the Ef'i," Khan continued. "I want embassies and barracks on Baoway."
"Increasing the number of alien species on the planet will help deter attacks," Princess Rebecca summarized. "They grow up so fast."
"It's a good move," Prince Thomas evaluated, "But a defensive one."
"Send samples of the magic item to the other factions," Khan added. "Put some supplements there, too. I'm not against sharing with the family, but I won't be played with."
"A gesture of goodwill," Princess Rebecca exclaimed.
"Which isn't enough to compensate for the head you've taken," Prince Thomas uttered.
"Lower the magic item's price for the other families," Khan continued, "Just for the first purchase. Let them empty our reserves. The next batch is almost ready anyway."
"Do you have anything else in store?" Prince Thomas wondered.
"Ideas," Khan revealed, "Which need time to turn into reality."
"Then," Prince Thomas announced, "I might have a suggestion."
"Speak," Khan ordered, his bottle ending after the last sip.
"Right now," Prince Thomas sighed, "You have focused on reinforcing your political status through alliances, business agreements, and monopolies. Yet, you have closed yourself to the public. It won't be long before the Global Army sees you as an organization outside humankind."
"All the noble families are organizations outside of humankind," Khan pointed out.
"They are on top," Prince Thomas corrected, "Not outside. They are untouchable and unreachable but still members of the species."
"So?" Khan asked. He genuinely didn't understand where Prince Thomas was going. Moreover, his recent actions weren't a matter of choice. His focus on the political side of his life had been almost mandatory.
"It's time to open the borders," Prince Thomas suggested. "You are already an odd Prince, so why not go all-out with it? Be both on top and an integral part of humankind."
"How?" Khan questioned. "Should I start selling to other families?"
"I'm talking about social events," Prince Thomas revealed.
"Like trips to the planet?" Khan remained confused. "Most lower families can't afford the businesses here."
"But they would desire your products," Prince Thomas explained, "If they were to learn about their benefits."
Something lit up inside Khan's brain. Rumors about the supplement had already spread throughout the network, but the nobles kept most details limited to their environments. That was their way of ensuring superiority over the masses, and Khan didn't mind it as long as they provided their support.
However, the supplement's production had ramped up in the past months, and things were bound to improve once Abraham moved the lab to Baoway. Khan could spare some samples for the masses, and making the matter as public as possible would improve his popularity.
"A tournament could work," Khan thought. "Having the Thilku and Ef'i as spectators would also demonstrate humankind's power."
"Our faction can do without some magic items," Princess Rebecca revealed. "Our armories have been dusting away for decades now. I'm sure we can find appealing prizes."
"It could also become a reoccurring event," Prince Thomas added, "A way for the lower families to touch the nobles."
"How is the financial picture?" Khan asked.
"It's quite grim," Prince Thomas explained. "These events usually take a big tool on the organizer's part, but we can handle it. Besides, we would greatly make up for it in prestige."
"Let's take it one step further," Khan announced. "General Seycomb is here, and Headmistress Holwen is just one call away. We can offer scholarships for the Harbor and good jobs to any noteworthy contestant."
"Nephew," Prince Thomas called. "These events take time to plan. I'm not sure-."
"Make it happen," Khan interrupted, standing up. "This quadrant has enough space left for a big arena, so let's build it here. I also want a list of all the potential contestants. The numbers have to be right."
"My Nephew is so excited," Princess Rebecca chuckled. "Might I suggest adding personal lessons as a reward? We might even consider adding promising descendants to our ranks."
"Write all these ideas down," Khan ordered. "We'll have a meeting to screen them out. This is promising."
"Are you going to General Seycomb?" Prince Thomas asked, also standing up.
"It's better to secure the Global Army's support now," Khan confirmed.
"I can handle that part," Prince Thomas reassured. "Us nobles have our ways of bending the Global Army to our will."
"I'll call Headmistress Holwen," Princess Rebecca added. "We'll probably have to pay for those scholarships, but I'll make sure the price is right."
"Are you cutting me out of the organization process?" Khan couldn't help but ask.
"Nephew," Prince Thomas called, "It's our job to handle these matters. You must learn to share the weight of leadership."
"In short," Princess Rebecca added, "Go enjoy your birthday."
Princess Rebecca and Prince Thomas bowed their heads before heading out, planning to turn the idea into reality. Soon, Khan remained alone inside the hall, with only Prince Jack's corpse keeping him company.
'Enjoying my birthday,' Khan thought, almost mocking himself.
Khan's Uncle and Aunt could handle the human aspects of the organization, but he wanted to be the one to contact the Ef'i. He would also need to talk with Lord Exr, and the idea of bringing the Fuveall to the planet still existed. Basically, Khan couldn't just enjoy himself.
Nevertheless, Khan had a few hours to spare since all the other guests were busy with different tours. His legs moved on their own, bringing him to the building's terrace and higher in the air. Soon, he found himself in the sky, staring at his city.
'A tournament,' Khan thought. 'That's good.'
The symphony updated Khan on the city's movements. He could feel the various groups but didn't want to join any of them. His mind instinctively focused on a nearby cave, which he quickly reached to settle in its humid silence.
'The masses need to see more than a man,' Khan considered, removing his bone armor and crown before tracing bright lines on his torso. 'They need to see the best warrior in the world.'