Chapter 966: Who?


    ?


    A familiar appeared on the Leviathan''s scanners by the end of the week. The gigantic ship slowly approached Baoway''s orbit while the army prepared for the disembark. The vehicle had far more than troops to unload, but the scientists could handle that in the


    following days.


    The atmosphere became lively once the announcement ran through the Leviathan. The Scalqa couldn''t wait to get back to actual soil, and Khan''s exit from his long istion inevitably intensified that feeling. The army felt ready to explode, but everyone behaved in Khan''s presence. Excessive mayhem wasn''t safe on the ship anyway, so the aliens temporarily held back.


    Under Lieutenant Dyester''s directives, the army split into multiple toons, each filling a cargo ship. The Leviathan had many of those, and the casualties on Senerth left many spares, so the Scalqa had no problem finding seats.


    Garret remained behind to coordinate with the scientists, while Khan, Lieutenant Dyester, Bruno, Moses, Roger, and Prince Richard upied a smaller ship. Its departure kicked off the massive disembarkation, and a sea of vehicles soon pierced Baoway''s orbit, heading for a prearrangednding area.


    Needless to say, the news of the army''s return had spread throughout Baoway. The prearrangednding area was in the main quadrant, and a crowd had formed outside its perimeter. Scalqa, humans, Thilku, and Ef''i stood on the barren ground, ready to wee friends, loved ones, and political allies.


    Khan''s ship was the first tond, but its doors remained closed, waiting for the others to join it. More vehicles followed, creating a quasi-encampment in the previously empty in. Silence spread when thest ride arrived, but that peace was short-lived.


    Metallic and thudding noises filled the barren in as doors opened and ramps stretched to the ground. The Scalqa''s heavy steps soon joined the ruckus, giving birth to a rhythmic march. The aliens'' orderly march was imposing but remained iparable to the person leading them.


    Actually, the audience felt the person in the lead was part of the reason behind that orderly march. Even the strongest among them couldn''t help but feel some pressure when studying the bright-eyed leader. His oppressive aura almost threatened them to behave properly.


    Of course, not all the gazes falling on Khan showed fear toward his aura. Respect, concern, eagerness, and more filled the symphony, but a universal emotion existed. Everyone experienced different shades of surprise, especially those who couldpare Khan''s current appearance to that before Senerth''s mission.


    Khan now had long blue hair that reached his shoulders, but its strands weren''t flowy and straight. They were messy, often standing against gravity. They seemed part of a monster''s mane rather than belonging to a human.


    No crown rested on Khan''s head, not that he needed it. Anyone would understand who was in charge with a single look at the army. Even without the sea of Scalqa, people would still view Khan as a leader. His presence alone was enough for that.


    The thick red cape on Khan''s shoulders was the only piece of clothing on his upper body. His chiseled torso was in the open, exposing the eye-catching blue scar. Meanwhile, a simple military trouser hung from his waist, but no shoes kept his feet safe from the dusty ground.


    Khan browsed the audience with his bright eyes. His rtives, Tlexipalli, and the Thilku tried to im his attention, but he inevitably focused on the charming figure before the crowd. Monica had donned a simple military uniform, but the suppressed excitement on her expression was worth more than a thousand skirts.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Most of the audience studied Khan, but his figure suddenly vanished. Confusion spread, but Monica only smiled. Her eyes couldn''t follow her Fiancé''s movements, but she knew where he would end up.


    As Monica had predicted, a familiar hand reached her cheek, and she closed her eyes, letting it pull her forward. The feeling her lips had longed for during those months finally returned, and her arms instinctively rose, wrapping themselves around a neck she had memorized long ago.


    Khan didn''t indulge in anything passionate. He didn''t care about the audience or the public situation but kept his kiss simple anyway. His focus wasn''t on the umted lust. Khan only wanted to immerse himself in the familiar moment and the intense emotions it generated.


    The couple separated only to rest on each other''s foreheads. Khan and Monica studied each other, smiling as their eyes darted across their respective faces. It had been so long since they had been together, and both sides inevitably spotted differences.


    Monica didn''t care about Khan''s wild appearance. If anything, she found it arousing. However, the strange feeling hidden behind Khan''s intense eyes tickled her concern. At once, Monica knew something had happened in Senerth, and guilty worry filled her brain.


    Khan felt Monica''s exhaustion. Those months hadn''t been easy on her. She always struggled when Khan wasn''t with her, and the countless political tasks had only worsened her mental condition. However, the guilt that followed hinted at bigger problems.


    Monica said nothing but nced to her right, seemingly pointing at a figure behind her. Prince Thomas was among the audience''s first row, and a feeling of urgency tainted his mana. Princess Reba and Khan''s Cousins shared that emotion, confirming that hunch.


    "What happened?" Khan asked Monica. She looked unwilling to reveal the issue, but Prince Thomas heard him and stepped forward.


    "It''s best if we head to the city first, My Prince," Prince Thomas announced.


    Khan briefly matched Prince Thomas'' gaze to confirm the seriousness of the situation before disappearing. The strange event didn''t only apply to him, either. Monica and Prince Thomas also suddenly vanished, leaving a concerned Princess Reba in charge of weing the army back to Baoway.


    Khan crossed an incredible distance in no time, quicklynding on one of the city''s buildings'' terraces. Prince Thomas and Monica were at his sides, but their bodies needed a few seconds to restore their bnce. Khan''s speed wasn''t something most people could endure. Luckily for the two, Khan supported them while their bodies adjusted to their new position. He had also used his aura to deal with any friction force that could scorch their skin. Slight dizziness aside, Prince Thomas and Monica werepletely fine.


    Of course, Monica had received a preferential treatment. Her dizziness was barely noticeable, and it only took her a few seconds to be as good as new.


    Yet, that didn''t ease Khan''s concerns. The serious expressions that returned on hispanions'' faces once they recovered actually intensified them.


    "What happened?" Khan repeated when he saw that Monica and Prince Thomas were well enough to reply.


    "We should go to the meeting room, Nephew," Prince Thomas said, the different title adding fuel to the fire. The nce Monica shot at Khan worsened the situation, but he remained silent, following the two inside the building.


    The trio quickly reached a meeting room where soldiers were already gathered. Khan''s arrival made them perform a series of military salutes, but he ignored the gesture, focusing on their status. Those troops came from the Nognes family, stating how ssified the matter was.


    Prince Thomas simply nodded, and the soldiers tinkered with the interactive desk to summon holograms. The blue lights yed a recording of a ship''s insides and the crew that inhabited it. Its scanners were also in in view, showing a space station in the distance.


    Khan gained a clear idea of the environment from those few details. He recognized the crew, ship, and space station in the distance. Those were his troops and vehicles flying through an established trade route.


    The scene went on peacefully for a few seconds, but the screen suddenly brightened. The video flickered, asionally conveying partial screams and sizzling noises.


    The recording eventually stabilized to a deste picture. The ship was in pieces, and soldiers floated through the darkness of space. They had already be corpses, and ayer of ice umted on their shocked, terrified faces.


    Khan expressionlessly studied the holograms. The scene didn''t seem to arouse any emotion inside him, but the room''s illumination suddenly started to flicker. Different surfaces also exploded, leaving long tears on their reinforced alloy. Even Monica gasped at that development, but Khan''s chilling voice suppressed her reaction.


    "Who?" Khan questioned.