Chapter 1343: Middleman

The news spread like wildfire inside and outside the camp. Khan gave the Niqols full authority over the event and footage, which they shared with the network and any other allied species, unleashing predictable chaos.

That was a planned move. Khan could have an easier way of sharing the footage and news due to his already established communication channels.

However, having the Niqols do that would create the illusion of authority in the allied forces’ perspective and the Niqols themselves. It would demonstrate that the Niqols had agency and relevance in the new agreement, starting their attempts to improve their reputation in the eyes of the universe.

As for the news itself, it was simply undeniable. Khan had made sure of that since he knew how reluctant the universe was to believe that mysterious threat, and the Niqols had helped in that regard.

The original footage featured all kinds of irrefutable details and proof, which the Niqols had expanded upon through their methods.

Everyone, no matter their mastery and knowledge over the mana, could now see how dangerous that enemy was for life as they knew it. The Scarlet Eyes weren’t only real. They were even worse than what Khan had described them to be.

That started a call to arms and, especially, to labs. The ETA of the attack was still unknown, but another aspect was painfully clear. The universe of mana was unequipped to deal with the Scarlet Eyes, and the issue came from the mana itself.

“For the hundredth time,” Khan cursed, doing his best not to raise his voice due to the baby in his arms. “Tell the Kros that the Niqols’ old ways are out of the question. They will never share their secrets.”

“With all due respect, My Prince,” Garret’s voice resounded from the holographic screen on the wall. “The Niqols’ arts are the only known weapon we have confirmation of working against the Scarlet Eyes.”

“The old ways weren’t part of the deal even when the arranged marriage was still on,” Khan sighed. “Do the Kros expect me to play favorites?”

“Actually, My Prince,” Garret added, his stern figure inside the screen illuminating the dark room. “The Global Army is also interested. They wish to study these techniques.”

“Wasn’t the Global Army still pretending to be mad at me?” Khan wondered.

“Humankind never officially took a stand, My Prince,” Garret reminded. “The ceasefire with the Niqols removed any leverage they might want to use, so they have resumed communications. Quite actively, if I might add.”

Only two weeks had passed since the Niqols agreed to the ceasefire and spread the news, but the political landscape had already changed. Everyone wanted to gain an edge over the imminent war, and Khan had ended up playing the middleman among those many species.

“Does the same apply to the nobles?” Khan asked.

“Prince Thomas is holding the fort, My Prince,” Garret confirmed. “His reports also hint at a higher friendliness.”

Khan nodded, putting aside that concern. The Global Army wasn’t an issue, but his Uncle had disclosed problems about the fellow nobles back in Merth 290. Still, it seemed the imminent war had put the matter on hold.

“Look, even I can’t learn the Niqols’ old ways,” Khan exclaimed, frowning as a doubt rose through his mind, peeking behind his shoulder to involve someone else in the conversation. “Can I?”

“You have already mutated in a different direction,” Liiza explained, keeping her eyes on Khan’s hair to continue her braid-making. “The old ways also demand sacrifices, and you aren’t sacrificing anything ever again.”

Liiza stopped messing with Khan’s hair to meet his blue glow, and the two exchanged a brief, silent conversation, which he obviously lost.

“See?” Khan announced, turning toward the screen. “I barely understood what my wife said. How does humankind expect to do any better?”

Liiza chuckled, seemingly unfazed by the serious topic. Meanwhile, Garret retained his stern expression but received the message loud and clear. If he had to be honest, he shared Khan’s doubts, which that short, cryptic explanation confirmed.

“I’ll tell Prince Thomas to reject both Kros and the Global Army,” Garret stated.

“He can use my daughter if needed,” Khan suggested, lifting Yeza toward the screen. “Look how cute she is. No one would feel like negotiating politics after seeing her.”

“Gu-,” Yeza voiced, waving her arms and legs at the screen.

Garret didn’t have an answer for that. It wasn’t even the first time Khan had used those calls to show off his daughter. If anything, Garret could see that Yeza was far more developed than a four-week-old newborn should be, but irregularities were to be expected due to her parents’ identity.

“The Thilku Empire is also sending more troops to Baoway’s special training camps,” Garret continued. “The Ef’i have matched that behavior.”

“He was completely immune to our daughter’s cuteness,” Khan whispered to the cold figure behind him.

“Dealing with your stupidity isn’t his job,” Liiza commented, smiling when she saw that Khan lowered Yeza before the effort became too much for her. “It’s mine.”

“Those additional troops have created some confusion,” Garret reported, unbothered by the couple’s flirting. “Both Thilku and Ef’i have been found fighting over which species will take the vanguard in the war, and the Scalqa have somewhat joined them.”

“How did the Scalqa even get involved?” Khan cursed, snapping out of that flirting mood that barely had a chance to arrive. “What is Master Carl even doing?”

The fact that the Scalqa could sort of socialize outside their species was a good thing, vouching for Lieutenant Dyester’s methods. Yet, they seemed to have used his teaching to cause problems.

“Do they even know they’ll all be on the frontlines together?” Khan groaned. “Ah! Who cares? Issue a tournament among them or something, but I don’t want to hear about any deaths or heavy injuries.”

“It will be done, My Prince,” Garret declared. “As for that other subject …”

“I know, I know,” Khan sighed, his glowing eyes falling on his daughter. “We know.”

Liiza’s hands froze in Khan’s hair. She leaned forward, placing her chin on his shoulder to follow his gaze. Yeza accepted that joint light, seemingly finding it cozy, not knowing it would be her last time experiencing it for a while.

After over a month on that unnamed planet, the technicians had finally fixed Khan’s special ship, meaning that the married couple could fly toward the Nak’s home world, meaning they had to leave their daughter behind.