913  Families

The meeting with Prince Andrew ended in far better terms compared to how it had begun. Initial insult aside, Khan’s offer wielded great financial value, and his behavior demonstrated his respect toward the Montares family.

Princess Rachel had committed a mistake, but Khan rewarded it, prioritizing the Montares family in the negotiations. That error almost became a worthy investment because of that, which Prince Andrew couldn’t help but harness.

Monica’s plan also turned out to be accurate. It took some talking, but Prince Andrew eventually accepted Khan’s offer. The two left the details for the specialists, but their official deal triggered consequences that affected all the other noble families.

Securing the Montares family’s support helped Khan’s following meetings. He also tackled them in a specific order, prioritizing those who had built a decent relationship with him. That quickly increased his supporters, forcing the remaining nobles to agree to his terms and avoid attempting to leverage for higher benefits.

When the afternoon ended, Khan walked out of the last meeting with all nine noble families under his belt, allowing him to move to the next stage. The troublesome part was resolved, but the imminent dinner still required his full attention and commitment.

Truth be told, the nobles didn’t need to do much. Overcoming Hililles and Vuter’s troublesome environments was expensive but manageable as long as the proper equipment was employed. The investment would also be short, quickly opening the path to free and consistent earnings.

Meanwhile, the wealthy descendants inside Khan’s alliance would have to fabricate those earnings. They would have to deploy the workers, specific equipment, and trade stations to ensure the business’ viability. Moreover, they would have to manage everything to guarantee a constant money flow.

The various technicalities made that job difficult, but the wealthy descendants also had to overcome an additional issue. The noble families weren’t united but didn’t take sides and never refused the chance to increase their income.

Instead, the wealthy descendants’ families were already taking sides, some applying pressure to get out of the partnerships with Khan. Politics played a heavy role for them, and Khan needed to reassure them personally.

Similar gatherings had already happened during the tournament, but that night featured a more private version of the event. Waiters had arranged a dining hall with the usual couches, tables, and multiple screens to facilitate financial discussions, and Khan only arrived once everyone was there.

George, Luke, Bruce, Lucian, Mark, John, Lucy, Anita, and Monica had occupied specific couches, seizing food and drinks while inspecting the holograms among them. The atmosphere was friendly, but a trace of seriousness pervaded it, and Khan’s arrival intensified that different vibe.

“You are lucky we didn’t leave yesterday,” George announced while some stood up to perform welcoming bows. “I knew things would start right away.”

“As if I didn’t warn you,” Khan exclaimed, waving his hand to dismiss the polite salutes before removing his bone crown. Monica was ready to welcome him at her side, waiting with a full drink, which he didn’t hesitate to seize.

“I’m sure my Fiancée updated you,” Khan said, taking Monica under his arm while placing the crown on the couch’s armchair. “We have two planets to occupy, both of which are quite troublesome.”

“Hililles and Vuter,” Lucian stated. “Various natural calamities and steep cold.”

“Exactly,” Khan confirmed.

“The weather isn’t a problem,” Mark commented. “As long as the financial incentives are there and justify the investment.”

“Your initial investment would be zero,” Khan explained. “The noble families will handle the deployment of the necessary equipment. You’d only have to make the best out of it.”

“Double taxation?” Luke asked.

“Of course,” Khan confirmed. “The Thilku Empire wants its share, and the nobles need their Credits, too.”

Silence fell into the dining hall. Those deals were common when the nobles were involved, but the Empire’s presence applied a second, troublesome layer. The descendants were bound to see their potential income drastically decrease.

Potential income aside, the descendants would also have to deal with an authority issue. Baoway only had Khan above them, basically granting them complete freedom. However, the businesses in Hililles and Vuter would have to answer to the other nobles, adding responsibilities, political pressure, and control.

“Are we close to the critical point?” Khan questioned, using words Lucian had used in the previous meeting.

“There are two perspectives to this issue, Prince,” Lucian responded. “The first is an easy win for all of us. We’d get new businesses, channels with the noble families, and a landmark in Empire’s territory.”

“The other?” Khan asked.

“It opens us to external pressure,” Luke continued, “On multiple fronts. It will spread our alliance thin, opening opportunities only you could offer until now.”

Khan had almost become a mandatory checkpoint for any deal with the Thilku Empire. Yet, allowing the other nobles to control planets in its domain could damage his privileged position.

Of course, the Thilku didn’t think like that. It didn’t matter how beneficial those businesses were. Khan would remain the Blue Shaman, which the Empire trusted. Money couldn’t change that.

Nevertheless, things might look differently from a human perspective. The other factions in Khan’s family and the same nobles might believe they had a shot at replacing him, increasing their pressure on his allies to search for cracks.

The issue wasn’t even with the allied descendants themselves. Their families were the problem, and Khan couldn’t silence them with his knife. Even if he did, his allies’ authority would forever depend on him, decreasing their political value.

“Can you handle it?” Khan wondered.

“It would become a matter of loyalty, Prince,” Lucian explained. “Once the floodgates are open, we might jump ship and side with more stable parties.”

Lucian’s statement didn’t convey any interest in the actual act. He was merely describing a problem that could arise from that new environment. After all, Khan was a dark horse and a loose one. Other nobles could offer similar benefits without the same uncertainties.

“I plan to address my family next,” Khan revealed, attempting to reassure some of the concerns. “They’ll get their piece of the pie, so the pressure on you should decrease.”

“Or increase,” Bruce pointed out. “I wouldn’t dare claim I can speak for a noble family. Yet, concessions usually hint at weakness. Exploiting it would be the norm.”

Khan wanted to sigh but suppressed the urge. Monica almost sensed his need for advice, but the situation didn’t give her openings that wouldn’t expose him. He had to decide on his own there or postpone the meeting altogether.

“I want meetings with all your families, too,” Khan continued, eyes widening everywhere.

“Prince, involving you in my family’s matters would ruin the reputation I built until now,” Lucian exclaimed.

“It would also look disrespectful,” Lucy added, “Especially toward us.”

Khan ran his bright eyes over the audience, only finding agreement in that reaction. Interfering with the descendants’ families was a dangerous overstep, but Khan wanted to perform it anyway.

“I don’t plan on interfering with your businesses,” Khan reassured. “I don’t even want to reinforce your authority. I trust you can handle that.”

“Why would you want to talk with our families then?” Luke asked. “I don’t see the purpose.”

Khan had to address Luke’s concerns differently from the other descendants. He was closer to George in terms of friendship. In many ways, he was his first supporter, who had long since redeemed himself for exploiting Martha’s injury.

“Not your parents,” Khan announced. “Maybe none of your parents. However, someone started thinking they could plot against me. How could I not respond?”

Monica had to hold back the urge to smile. Khan had transformed that complicated political issue into a personal matter. The thought of going against Khan was a terrible sin, and the allied descendants’ families were guilty of that.

“Do you want to threaten our families?” John asked during one of his rare serious moments.

“Threaten? No,” Khan stated. “You are my allies. As long as you can intercede for me, I would never do anything against them.”

A few smiles appeared among the group. George was obviously excluded from that speech, but Lucian, Mark, and even Luke understood what was at stake there.

Everyone knew Khan was mental. He didn’t play by the rules and killed on a whim. His noble status also granted him immunity over most of his crimes, and his connection with the Thilku Empire handled everything else.

If Khan wanted to, the descendants’ families would greatly suffer, either under his knife or his relatives’ political pressure. He could overwhelm those weaker parties in many ways, and few would be willing to support those in his target.

Khan could use his infamous violence to his advantage. Making the descendants’ families aware of his insight into their political ideas could make him a threat. Those potential enemies would start to fear him, relying on his allies for protection.

“Are you okay with this, Khan?” Luke questioned. “Turning into the monster we have to keep out of the door.”

“That’s what those against me have to understand,” Khan declared. “I don’t have to turn into anything. I already am the monster coming for them.”