Chapter Seventy-Nine: In Your Name

However, Harvey did not grant Sonia more power, for if her strength increased too abruptly, her temperament and behavior might be altered. In any case, Sonia had little to do most of the time—just manage some trivial matters for him. Aside from that, Sonia was often free, able to do whatever she pleased, and there was no need for her to fight at present. She had plenty of time to grow; there was no rush.

“Thank you, Lord Kassadin, for granting me this opportunity.”

Several minutes later, Sonia returned to herself, her gaze full of awe. She suppressed the shock in her heart, bowed slightly, and spoke softly. She could now understand why Mr. Dam, after placing his faith in the Void, held Lord Kassadin in such reverence.

That body as vast as a galaxy had made her truly feel her own insignificance. To receive the blessing of such a great and mysterious being was an unparalleled honor. Moreover, she could draw closer to such an existence in the future, gaining even greater power—a blessing in itself.

“Just keep calling me as you have. In the future, all you need to do is monitor and collect information on whether those people act out of line when I’m not around.”

“As for everyday tasks, just carry on as we discussed; act as usual.”

“I won’t delay your salary, either.”

Harvey noticed Sonia had changed the way she addressed him and gave his instructions offhandedly.

“Yes, Mr. Kassadin.”

Hearing this, Sonia nodded. But soon, she felt a wave of hunger, as if she hadn’t eaten in a long time. Her elegant brows arched at this, but she said nothing.

“No need to endure it; go find something to eat first,” Harvey said, noticing Sonia clutching her stomach yet refusing to speak.

“Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Kassadin, but it’s not urgent.”

“This must be one of the pains that comes with gaining power.”

“If I can’t endure this initial hunger, I may not escape the fate of becoming a mindless beast, eventually killed by you, Mr. Kassadin.”

Sonia shook her head, speaking earnestly.

“In that case, just help me report the repair costs.”

Harvey was somewhat surprised by Sonia’s words, but he acquiesced, speaking casually. Sonia had not yet tasted greater power, but was already willing to endure hunger and hone her mind. The idea was good, though whether it could be carried out successfully was another matter. If Sonia really managed it, her future accomplishments would surely not be modest.

For after joining the Void, she would never lack for power; the key was whether she could maintain her sanity. As long as she never lost her mind and always acted according to her own will, her strength would inevitably grow over time.

Sonia agreed and went upstairs to the second floor of the villa to calculate the costs from Mr. Dam’s crash.

Meanwhile, Harvey took out his cosmic communicator and began researching the requirements for purchasing land on Xandar. After his investigation, he found that for non-Xandarians, the requirements for buying property and land were quite high. Outsiders wishing to buy a house must have lived on Xandar for at least five years. To buy land, one must have lived there for at least ten years, and during that time must have had no violations.

In short, one needed residency. Harvey was not one for rules. He knew that it would be much easier for Xandarians to purchase property.

“Sonia, I want to bid on a plot of land in your name.”

“The land auction will be held in three days; you’ll go with me then.”

Harvey, never one to wait, spoke directly.

“All right.”

Sonia had just finished her calculations and came downstairs. Hearing this, she agreed without hesitation. She knew Mr. Kassadin was buying land to establish the Void Church on Xandar—a place where she would work in the future.

Even if others believed she was being kept by Mr. Kassadin, or if other rumors spread, Sonia, having witnessed the greatness of the Void, felt no need to hesitate. If Mr. Kassadin desired her body, he would have found ways to lure her long ago. Since he had not done so, it meant he simply wished to purchase the land in her name.

“Fortunately, Mr. Dam only broke through the ceiling and didn’t damage any decorations or artworks, so the repair fee is only six thousand.”

“The repairmen need two hours to fix it.”

“If you find it noisy, you can go out for a while.”

After agreeing, Sonia tapped her communicator and sent over a projection. It displayed the compensation and repair costs automatically assessed by the system after scanning.

“Just have them come now.”

Harvey tapped to pay and didn’t mind the suggestion to go out. He had been busy for months, completing a slew of bounty missions and building his reputation. Now, he only wanted to rest, enjoy good food, and find something to occupy his time—not to run around everywhere.

If not for buying the land, he wouldn’t even bother with the auction. Harvey lay down on the sofa, picked up a drink, and took a sip.

“……”

Sonia watched Mr. Kassadin sprawled on the sofa like a lazy fish, realizing that he had no intention of going out today. As for why, Sonia didn’t ask—nor was she qualified to.

Since Mr. Kassadin wasn’t leaving, Sonia took out her communicator and contacted the repairmen, instructing them to bring soundproofing membranes so as not to disturb the guest.

Then she stood quietly to the side, waiting.

Her hunger gnawed at her, curiously intense, yet it did not make her feel weak. It seemed eating was merely a desire, not an absolute necessity. Yet the more she pondered the reason for this hunger, the hungrier she became.

So Sonia began to think about the upcoming auction, considering what to wear so as not to embarrass Mr. Kassadin.

She still didn’t know exactly what status Mr. Kassadin held. But judging from his appearance and bearing, he exuded the air of an important figure. As his companion, she had to pay attention to her own image, no matter what.