Chaos' Heir - Chapter 1077

Abdicating in favor of Prince Thomas didn't revert Khan's announcement. He wasn't a member of the Global Army anymore, and the same went for his organization.

Theoretically, that would prevent Khan from relying on the Global Army's structures, including Nott Station. Alternatively, he would have to go through many political hoops and send various formal requests to make use of them, just like any alien organization did.

However, Khan was a special case. His announcement didn't remove his status as a Prince nor the Nognes family's backing. Actually, killing Miss Christen had reinforced it, uniting all the Nognes factions behind him, at least publicly.

Khan's Lordship also was something the Global Army couldn't ignore. The shadow of the Empire was too terrifying to disrespect, making him an exception among exceptions. Khan wasn't a human politically, but the Global Army wouldn't refuse most of his requests.

Of course, the public didn't know how strong Khan truly was. Miss Christen's death had remained a secret, and only the Global Army's upper echelon had deeper insights. Meanwhile, the masses still saw him as a fourth-level warrior who could hold his own against those in the fifth level.

That wasn't enough to make Khan feared, but his title and connection to the Thilku Empire earned him the same level of respect, if not more. After all, evolved warriors were mysterious existences for the masses and lower political ranks. Meanwhile, everyone understood what being a Prince and part of the Thilku Empire meant.

Khan saw that respect when he arrived at Nott Station three days later. The structure was small, consisting of a cylindrical building with a circular ring spinning around its center. Its hangars couldn't be vast, but twenty ships had still come out, arranging themselves in space to create a path for Khan.

Landing inside a space station would typically require a short exchange of messages to deal with the security measures, but Khan received the all-clear without contacting anyone. Nott Station didn't even take control of his ship, allowing him to pilot it manually through the hovering vehicles.

That was one of the best welcomes Khan had ever received, especially after his controversial statements, and the sight ended up worrying him. He hadn't checked the network in months, and Nott Station was overdoing it, making him consider developments he was unaware of.

Entering the appointed hangar revealed more of that fancy welcome. The Captain in charge of Nott Station had emptied it, leaving the entirety of its relatively small space to Khan's ship. He could land at its center, and crews of soldiers immediately gathered around his vehicle, awaiting his descent.

Khan didn't know whether the situation smelled fishy yet. In theory, he wasn't a Major anymore, so a Captain should outrank him. Yet, the Global Army served the nobles, and Khan was among the most famous.

'Did the second tournament help the Captain here in some way?' Khan casually wondered while securing the important cargo. 'Does he want something from me?'

Checking would have taken Khan no time, but he still didn't do it. He didn't want to face the endless sea of news and messages accumulated on his phone. Khan didn't even wish to learn about the recent gossip on the network. It was better to cut himself off completely from that world to avoid making the same mistakes.

In a way, that was a type of self-inflicted punishment and barrier. Khan needed to draw a line to avoid giving those who cared about him pointless hopes. Monica had been the last straw, forcing Khan to take drastic measures. No one would ever get hurt because of him again.

Khan skipped on the metal ramp, jumping outside as soon as the side doors opened. He gracefully landed before the human crews waiting for him, only to see military salutes unfolding after the initial surprise.

That detail didn't escape Khan's glowing eyes. The soldiers trembled while his gaze ran over them but still forced themselves to retain their firm stances. Someone had ordered them to welcome him as a human of a higher rank rather than a Thilku Lord or a Prince.

'I haven't had this level of butt-licking in a while,' Khan thought.

Khan had seen the Captain's face during the trip to Nott Station, but the man wasn't among the crews. Instead, a beautiful woman in her twenties with long blonde hair broke the arrangement and her military salute to approach Khan.

"Prince Khan," The woman politely greeted, stopping a few meters from Khan. "I'm Mary. Captain Lochport assigned me as your escort during your stay in Nott Station."

Mary tried to perform an amiable smile but instinctively lowered her head under Khan's chilling gaze. She was a second-level warrior, so her mind and body barely endured Khan's piercing inspection.

Khan saw right through Mary and the Captain's ploy. The fancy welcome, the private hangar, and a beautiful woman as a personal guide revealed more than enough. Captain Lochport clearly wanted to please Khan, resorting to every trick in the book to earn his goodwill.

'Does this mean the Global Army suspects Monica broke up with me?' Khan wondered.

Khan's aura couldn't help but intensify at those thoughts, and Mary couldn't take it. Her hands closed into fists as her legs and back started to shake. She looked on the verge of fainting but did her best to endure that invisible, breathtaking pressure.

Khan diverted his eyes as soon as he spotted the tremors. They exemplified one of the reasons behind his break-up, and he didn't want to cause them randomly. Mary might be part of a ploy but was nothing more than an innocent poor woman until proven otherwise. Even her mana seemed to confirm that.

"Did the Nognes family send the goods?" Khan asked, the pressure on Mary relaxing while he inspected random corners of the hangar.

"Yes, Prince Khan!" Mary said, unable to contain her voice now that she could breathe properly again. "We have already arranged them in a private storage area. Once you check them, our best crews will load them on your ship."

Khan nodded, but glancing at his ship revealed another problem. His vehicle had formerly been white, but the stay on Chuwei had ruined its paint job, turning it into a quasi-grey scarred by black lines. It wasn't anything serious or necessary, but Khan minded it.

"Redo the paint, too," Khan ordered. "White snow."

"Yes, Prince Khan," Mary stated, managing to use a calmer tone. "Is there anything else?"

"I need to see Captain Lochport," Khan announced. "Is he available?"

"Captain Lochport is currently away on an official trip, Prince Khan," Mary revealed. "He asked me to inform you that he is immensely sorry for not welcoming you personally."

'Did he do it on purpose?' Khan considered, but Mary promptly dispelled those doubts.

"However," Mary continued. "Captain Lochport promises to return tomorrow with a clear schedule for you to fill, Prince Khan."

Khan met Mary's big brown eyes, only for her to lower her head again. She had planned to make a far better impression instead of appearing as a scared cat, but her body reacted on its own.

"Very well," Khan said. "I'll check the goods and rest on the ship. I'll meet Captain Lochport tomorrow while the crews load everything."

"Ah, Prince Khan!" Mary called as soon as Khan started to turn away. "Captain Lochport cleared his quarters as soon as he learned about your arrival. He wishes nothing more for you to use them."

Khan stopped, considering his options. He wouldn't use the bed anyway, but refusing the offer might give the wrong impression. The last thing he needed was for Captain Lochport to run away and avoid returning to Nott Station until he left.

"Is there booze in the Captain's quarters?" Khan asked.

"Anything you wish for or like in Nott Station is yours to take, Prince Khan," Mary exclaimed, this time keeping her head lowered on purpose. "Anything."