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The Nognes family had run countless simulations, using consoles and holograms to understand the impending mess better. It multiplied its workforce, prepared suitable areas and equipment, and even exceeded what the software suggested, but no artificial picture could compare to the actual event.
Khan watched everything unfold from a remote spot in the sky. His position allowed him to inspect most of the quadrant, but his eyes weren't good enough to study such distant details. However, the symphony compensated for them, even explaining the most minute events.
The massive encampment and the two Embassies had been kept away from the mess, but everything else had transformed to serve the tournament.
The finally finished arena acted as the beating heart of a new life form. Vast metal roads stretched from it, reaching other locations prepared for the occasion. Soldiers and shops filled them, reminding Khan of Milia 222's upper floors.
The locations served different purposes. Some had elevated platforms that acted as landing areas and parking spots for the rivers of ships descending into the quadrants. Others had short-distance teleports for the guests who preferred to reach the space station in orbit. There were also training grounds and halls for those who wanted to warm up.
The arena was its own monster, too. It included all the outside locations and more, but the most important guests had booked them, which the event had no shortage of. The noble families had sent representatives with suitable escorts, and the alien species also wanted their piece of the pie.
The Fuveall didn't care about the tournament, and the finished arena pushed their interest to the medical trials. However, the Thilku, Scalqa, and Ef'i wanted to see the battles among young descendants, and their presence was necessary to highlight Baoway's unique environment.
Thousands of voices shone in Khan's eyes, forcing him to close them to study each strand. The tournament had hundreds of descendants, all with relatives and escorts. Adding the aliens, the numerous soldiers, the many vehicles, and the various buildings to the equation created an intricate symphony, which Khan's senses slowly absorbed.
In many ways, the event was a security hazard. The Nognes family had deployed as many countermeasures as possible, but the quadrant was simply too crowded. A capable figure could easily slip spies into the planet, but Khan didn't worry about acts of terrorism.
The guests were the tournament's best protection against that. Every noble family had sent representatives, and no one wanted to anger them all. The Hive was the only exception, but Khan had a strange relationship with it.
Moreover, Khan was ignoring most of the nobles' traditions, and the tournament would benefit the lower families. That was precisely what the Hive wanted. Khan was changing the established system without committing reprehensible acts. He had to perform some to get where he was, but the event itself wasn't founded on any.
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Moreover, Khan was ignoring most of the nobles' traditions, and the tournament would benefit the lower families. That was precisely what the Hive wanted. Khan was changing the established system without committing reprehensible acts. He had to perform some to get where he was, but the event itself wasn't founded on any.
The symphony never stopped moving. Minute, colorful strands joined it and converged into the arena, gradually turning it into a blinding spot in Khan's senses. The stages, towers, and surrounding areas soon became packed, but the trend continued.
Calculations tried to happen in Khan's mind, but he quickly gave up. No matter how he twisted it, the financial loss would be massive. The only real income would come from the shops' taxation, but that couldn't compensate for all the people living in the quadrant rent-free for the event.
Of course, money wasn't a problem for Khan anymore. The tournament wasn't meant to earn, either. As Prince Thomas had described, the event was a charity meant to improve Khan's fame and turn him into a necessary figure inside the Global Army.
Khan could join the event right away, but his feet didn't move. His ankles occasionally twitched to keep him in the air, but he never flew forward. The arena already had many friends he wanted to meet, but the sole idea of diving into that political mess gave him a headache. Khan would attend the tournament, but only when his presence became necessary.
Nevertheless, Khan felt good despite the looming headache, the impending annoyance, and the overall hatred toward those performative events. The tournament was a positive outcome of all his struggles and achievements. He was finally helping people.
The helping part had countless restrictions, compromises, and hidden purposes that tainted its positive effect. Yet, Khan felt satisfied. All the loss, blood, and death finally gave birth to something good, and he stood at its center.
Khan hoped his stay in that isolated and private spot in the sky could last longer, but his phone eventually rang. A message had reached his device, telling him his presence was needed. A sigh tried to escape his mouth, but his legs moved before his expression could change.
As the arena grew closer, Khan became able to see its details with his bare eyes. Silver tiles had joined its overall dark design, and blue menus shone everywhere, offering all kinds of functions. The place even had underground control rooms filled with technicians, but only the latter could access them.
Voices began to reach Khan's ears. The murmurs of hundreds of people filled the air, shaking the symphony to its core. An earthquake had taken control of the sky, but only Khan could notice it.
Once Khan stood high in the sky above the arena, the scenery became clearer. He saw all the packed stages and exclusive areas. The towers had balconies booked by Khan's friends, allies, and other relevant figures, but one had more influence than the entire building. Its design was also different, offering a proper terrace and specific seats.
The specific seats also had precise arrangements. On the right, the chairs were bigger and more spacious, and guests of a suitable size already occupied them. Meanwhile, the left had smaller posts since the people there didn't need as much room.
The seats were also arranged in multiple rows, but a bigger chair stood among them, placed in a way to avoid giving its back to the guests. The item was made of bones and resembled a throne, and someone was already sitting on it.
As for the rest of the terrace, noble guards, soldiers, and waiters occupied its back, ready to deliver food or drinks during the event. Some guests had already used that function and were enjoying their booze, waiting for the tournament to begin.
Another message reached Khan during his inspection, and he even saw the event unfold. He had noticed the figure on the throne picking up her phone to send that reminder, and leaving her alone in that complicated situation wasn't an option.
A heavy presence suddenly fell on the main tower, freezing the air and flowing toward the other stages. That aura couldn't cover the entire arena but was noticeable enough to make all the spectators notice it. The murmurs gradually stopped as people lifted their eyes, searching for the strange event's source, but their reaction was too slow.
Monica was the only one who didn't lift her eyes. While everyone was distracted, she stood up, leaving the throne to wait for her fiancé's arrival. As if understanding her thoughts, a figure promptly materialized before her, sending a blue light to her face.
Khan didn't say anything, but Monica could read the thoughts behind his cold face. She let him inspect her new dress for a few seconds before pulling its edges to perform an elegant bow. She also wore a knowing smile, which Khan sealed with a quick kiss.
By then, the terrace's guests had noticed Khan, and he didn't hesitate to address them. He turned to his left, bowing and lifting his red cape to salute Lord Rsi and Lord Exr, who replied in kind, expressing their mutual respect.
Khan then looked past the two Thilku, eyeing the few Scalqa on the terrace. Ni-Kri, Kru-zi, and Rok-Go performed deep bows, highlighting how distant their primitive manners were.
The guests on Khan's right came next. Tlexicpalli stood up to shake Khan's hand, and he continued by nodding at the noble representatives past her. The latter could see the seats' arrangement as insulting, but Khan had placed his Grandfather among them, compensating for the distance from the throne.
The terrace also had Monica's parents, who had performed elegant and polite bows during the general greetings. Khan only nodded at them, which was enough to acknowledge their presence. Being among nobles already was the greatest reward Khan could give them, and they didn't dare to ask for more.
Khan's Uncle, Aunt, and Cousins were also in the arena, but he had placed them in different towers to entertain the allies and friends from wealthy families. Those areas even had a few Princes and Princesses interested in the event. Arranging all the seats had been the most time-consuming aspect of the tournament, but the result satisfied everyone.
Once the round of greetings ended, Monica moved away, opening the path for the throne. Khan reached it, adjusting his cape while sitting on it. Then, he stretched his hand, which Monica took to take her place with him.
The terrace and throne granted a perfect view of the stages and the battlefield below, allowing Khan to notice hundreds of blue lights while Monica adjusted herself on him. Most of the audience had pulled holograms and screens up to inspect Khan's tower, perfectly depicting his inhuman attire. Everyone saw his crown, war paint, bone armor, and red cape, and those pictures conveyed the powerful aura around him.
Khan didn't mind that inspection. He even expected it. However, Khan closed his eyes, focusing on the symphony while bringing his free hand to his mouth. Mana accumulated in his palm, and he blew on it once the technique was ready.
"May the tournament begin!" Khan whispered, and his voice echoed throughout the arena, reaching its most distant corners.