Chaos' Heir-Chapter 1220: Money
Khan and Liiza bickered, joked, exchanged loving words, and spent meaningful silent moments while strolling through the shopping district, enjoying that long-awaited chance to be nothing more than a normal couple.
Of course, the stroll was purely recreational. The couple couldn't get anything done until Khan regained access to his finances, but the trip did help him get accustomed to Merth 290's environment and satisfy part of Liiza's curiosity.
Khan also didn't stop the trip to Dome 100. The shopping district simply wasn't big enough for the twenty hours the couple had to kill, so Khan led Liiza from public dome to public dome, visiting areas he didn't really need to know for the sole purpose of sightseeing and wasting time.
The trip was beyond relaxing. It truly felt like a normal date, something Khan and Liiza had only gotten close to experiencing. Also, it taught Khan much about the underground railroads, and that knowledge was bound to be helpful in the future.
Normal people couldn't roam for twenty hours straight, but Khan and Liiza were hardly ordinary, and time felt like a triviality when they were together. They reached the point when they had to return to Dome 56 far earlier than expected, but that task couldn't be delayed, no matter how enjoyable their date was.
The Fuveall stayed true to the agreement and estimate. By the time Khan and Liiza returned to the warehouse in Dome 56, Shakir's team was done with the phone. The device had become bulkier, enveloped in a black cover, but Khan found no issue with its functions.
The business with Shakir was technically over, but Khan and Liiza didn't immediately leave. Rodney's information was still in the console inside the narrow, isolated room, and the couple stayed there to retrieve it and plan their next move.
Of course, Khan would handle most of the planning, but that required time and a proper study of the general situation. Sa-amen had made his phone able to browse the network without raising alarms, so Khan had much to learn first. The warehouse still jammed its signal, but connecting it to the console solved the issue.
The network had nothing specific about Khan or Liiza, but rumors had started spreading. The news was only available to influential, wealthy parties, but many could benefit from destabilizing the Nognes family's unity, so willing leaks had happened.
The leaks didn't have the intended effects, but people had started talking. Khan's name had begun to disappear from the network after he abdicated for his Uncle, but articles about him had reappeared, and most weren't good.
Only vague and baseless hit pieces were allowed to reach the public. Khan's family and its allies were probably working overtime to contain the rumors, only letting those closer to conspiracy theories slip through.
However, Khan was famous for his rash behavior, and everyone knew how he behaved with women. The articles couldn't prove the existence of an arranged marriage or Nitis' reopening, but many liked to believe it anyway, and the stories increased by the day.
Khan couldn't do much about that trend. He honestly didn't care about it, either. He had only checked the network out of habit before moving to the main issue. Regaining access to his phone's functions could put him in contact with his inner circle, which was bound to have helpful information.
Messages had indeed reached Khan's phone. They didn't feature a clear contact, but he could easily guess who the sender was. After the call, Prince Thomas forwarded more detailed updates on the political situation in the universe and what he had learned, confirming Khan's guesses.
'Niqols and Kros are likely sending forces here,' Khan concluded while reading on the console. 'The Global Army must have dormant cells here, too, and they might become active after today's shenanigans.'
That was nothing new for Khan. He also believed he wasn't in imminent danger. After all, finding him wouldn't solve the issue. Khan remained a monster, so humankind, the Niqols, and the Kros had to prepare a proper attack plan to have any hope against him.
Still, safety had never been Khan's concern. Those looking for him were almost upon him, and some might already be on Merth 290, so he had to disappear as soon as possible, and that involved Rodney's information.
Khan couldn't help but shake his head when thinking about Rodney. Fate truly seemed to have a sense of humor. The information was useful, but Khan actually had better uses for Rodney.
Khan had initially planned to have Colonel Norrett as his connection with the Global Army, but the man had become an evolved warrior now. That new status would inevitably affect his political influence and his ability to represent Khan's organization.
Francis was the closest loyal asset in Khan's organization who could do that job, but he was still Francis. No matter how much he matured, Khan couldn't see him wield the witty, wise, and broad-minded approach required for that intricate political dance.
Instead, Rodney was perfect for the job. As much as Khan hated to admit it, Rodney was intelligent, resourceful, and resilient. He was a true survivor with lofty ambitions and unshakable loyalty to humankind. Rodney was Khan's best connection to the Global Army, but some work might turn that channel into a proper asset.
In the meantime, Khan had to lie low and play the role of the ordinary criminal, but a few things needed handling before he could settle a meeting with Rodney's criminal contacts.
Khan and Liiza needed to unload the ship and find a suitable place to park it. The Fuveall were probably willing to offer that as long as he paid them, but that was only the first step.
Finding a temporary base of operation came next. Ideally, Khan could go for something cheap to stick to his façade, but pricier options usually offered better privacy and services.
The same went for the better shopping districts. Khan had to find a balance between laying low and pursuing more useful but also pricier options. He couldn't allow himself to stand out more than he already did, but acting as a penniless criminal would only make his future employers underestimate him.
'Now that I think about it,' Khan realized, 'How many Credits do I even have?'
Khan hadn't needed to worry about money in years. His family took care of everything anyway, so he wasn't even sure he required a personal account anymore.
Yet, Prince Thomas and the others disagreed with Khan, and he realized how much after checking his finances. A number with more zeroes than he could count appeared on the console's screen, making him blink in disbelief.
Liiza didn't know the actual value of the human currency, but her political career had forced her to learn something. She still couldn't translate that number into material assets, but it was too big to disregard.
"Isn't that a lot?" Liiza wondered from behind Khan.
"I think I could build a planet with cans of spicy chicken with this much," Khan voiced. His words escaped Liiza's understanding. She only knew he had said one of his idiotic statements and that money would never be a problem for them.
