Chaos Heir

Chapter 1448: Last thing

Khan wouldn’t exactly call the life Rodney had led as making up for what had happened on Nitis. After all, Rodney had mostly worked on restoring his reputation and serving humankind’s best interests.

Still, Khan didn’t disregard the challenges, either.

As a fellow struggler, Khan could imagine what Rodney had gone through to get where he was. Sure, their starting points had been different, and Khan didn’t forget how Rodney’s fall had happened because of his actions.

Rodney had lost what Khan never had due to his own mistakes, but that didn’t make his rise to power any less praiseworthy. He had started later than Khan, and their paths and goals featured irreconcilable differences, but he had still done it to some extent.

In a way, Khan could also spot vague similarities in those journeys. Rodney’s goals had been more humankind-related, but he did step up when the situation demanded it. He had done so during Milia 222’s crisis and seemed to have done the same during the previous battle.

Actually, George’s tale had been quite shocking. Khan struggled to believe it. Also, it was hard to feel grateful due to how much of an annoying jerk Rodney was, but the truth turned out to be far simpler.

Rodney always had a talent for getting on Khan’s nerves and pushing his buttons, but that wasn’t really possible anymore. Khan was fine. He had completed his journey, becoming happy. Rodney had no vulnerabilities or leverage to exploit against him.

That allowed Khan to give a proper look at Rodney for the first time in a decade, and his piercing, now-unbiased inspection led to the most normal conclusion in the world. Rodney had matured in his exile. He was still an asshole, but had also changed for the better.

As for whether that was enough, Khan didn’t know. It wasn’t up to him to decide anyway.

“I know I fucked up!” Rodney couldn’t help but continue his shouting before Khan’s silence. “Don’t you think I wish I could take everything back?! Don’t you think I dreamed of being like the almighty Prince Khan, always making the right decision no matter the crisis?!”

That resentful, shameful shout was unbecoming, but Rodney couldn’t help but come clean. He had nothing else to give anyway.

As for Khan, it annoyed him, but he understood Rodney. He also knew how wrong Rodney was, but realized why he would think that. Khan never came close to believing he had always made the right choices. He honestly saw countless mistakes in his life, but his fame had set an impossible standard.

Khan’s current power and situation were bound to have worsened that image. Despite everything he had done, he would still be acclaimed by many as the universe’s best shot at winning the war.

Khan even seemed to be in the perfect relationship, idealizing that side of his life, inevitably earning envy for anyone struggling with it.

Of course, Khan had never wanted for such unreasonable standards to exist, let alone having people trying to match them. Yet, the similarities in lives made Rodney draw that comparison, finding himself undeniably lesser.

Still, that whole predicament wasn’t about Rodney’s self-esteem. Honestly, Khan had never cared about such trivial matters and was way beyond them now.

Everything there was about Monica and putting Rodney in his place. Yet, Khan just couldn’t see any threat. Whatever potential problem Rodney had been in the past, he wasn’t that man anymore.

So, Khan’s lips eventually parted, finally joining that one-sided conversation, only to release a whisper that echoed through Rodney’s very being. “Whether Monica accepts you or not, remember one thing.”

Rodney’s concentration skyrocketed at that long-awaited answer, focusing all of himself on Khan, only for another Khan to appear behind him and place a hand on his shoulder.

“The second I hear something concerning,” The second Khan said, whispering in Rodney’s ear, “Your name vanishes from the historical records.”

Rodney didn’t have the time to process the threat since his perception became chaotic. A squashing pressure fell on him, only to vanish when his eyes could realize that his surroundings had changed again.

People, or aliens to be specific, from Coravis had teleported on Earth to deliver Yeza back to her family and maybe help with war-related issues. That was only a first batch, which already made the group in the desert far more numerous, and Rodney found himself lying next to it.

Khan stood at Rodney’s side, illuminating him with his blue light, conveying a silent but stern order. As much as he had worked to restore his reputation among humankind, he had yet to face the Niqols, and Khan forced that to happen now.

Khan quickly diverted his gaze, browsing over the newcomers. Zalpa, Doku, and a handful of seemingly capable Niqols were sitting on the sand around Liiza, Yeza, and Snow. George was also somehow sharing drinks with Doku already, and the symphony vouched for the happy mood, but Rodney’s arrival changed that.

The Niqols weren’t ones to let go of grudges easily, and one look at Doku’s face told all the unaware parties of the seriousness of the situation. Over ten years had passed, but Doku hadn’t forgotten that traitorous human.

Khan didn’t say anything about the matter. It was for Rodney to figure it out anyway. He also ignored the tension he had caused and the different environment to approach Liiza, who had already lifted her head, waiting for him.

“[I’ll take care of one last thing],” Khan said in the Niqols’ language, leaving a brief kiss on Liiza’s lips. “[Did Aunt Zaza explain how our daughter ended up flying alone on Snow]?”

A shiver ran down Zalpa’s spine. After all, everyone could hear the couple. Luckily for her, Khan and Liiza only focused on themselves and the still-sleeping Yeza.

“[Yes],” Liiza commented. “[She really is our daughter, but don’t think of keeping out of that last thing].”

“[I had always planned on bringing him here],” Khan reassured. “[I wouldn’t miss you getting all deadly sexy for the world].”