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C647

'Is this for real?' Khan wondered, looking at his phone while sitting on the couch. He had just woken up, but the news dispersed any lingering drowsiness.

Monica was lying behind Khan, but his absence awakened her. She noticed him sitting before her, so she got up to reach his back. Monica hugged Khan from behind, but the lack of reactions from her loving kisses on his neck told her that something was off.

The phone in Khan's hands attracted Monica's attention, and peeking past his shoulder allowed her to see its contents. A similar shock immediately invaded her mind, leading to a simple but meaningful statement. "Oh, shit."

"Oh, shit indeed," Khan commented, leaning back. Monica moved away to sit beside him, and the two continued to stare at the phone while their thoughts went wild.

The message was specific to Khan, but someone had leaked it on the network. The topic was also quite secretive. Khan could imagine how only wealthy families and higher-ups in the Global Army had access to it, but his phone didn't lie. Everyone had learned about it and that he could join it.

Khan scrolled up to recheck the sender's identity. The message had come directly from Colonel Norrett, but its contents had a slightly stiff and political vibe. The two had grown past that long ago, but the topic justified that change.

As shocking as it sounded, the message was a formal invitation to an event that most soldiers wouldn't consider in the entirety of their lives. Colonel Norrett was attempting to surpass the limits of the fifth level. He planned to tackle the evolution and wanted Khan as part of the audience.

"Is this a common occurrence?" Khan questioned.

"As common as evolutions," Monica replied. "So, no."

"Do they often have audiences?" Khan wondered, checking Monica's expression.

"I," Monica muttered, shaking her head. "This is beyond me. Even I would have to contact my parents to know more."

"And he even leaked the news," Khan pointed out, opening the network to read the recent articles. "Why did he involve me in such a small group?"

Khan was certain Colonel Norrett was behind the leaking of the news. The network literally had a short list of people invited to the event, and the fact that Khan was the weakest and had the lowest rank added unmistakable details. Colonel Norrett was doing him a favor for reasons he couldn't understand.

Of course, Khan didn't even consider refusing the invitation. The evolution was still distant for him, but learning about it couldn't hurt, especially since every knowledgeable party wouldn't share related information lightly. It was an incredible opportunity capable of making the entire Global Army envious.

"Does it say location and time?" Monica asked, reaching for the screen to return to the message.

"Only the time," Khan revealed, letting his girlfriend do as she wished. "Well, week. The location is classified."

"Understandable," Monica nodded. "You don't want enemies around that. You shouldn't have told me this either."

Monica made that statement while studying every word in the message, adding a hilarious vibe to the scene. Still, Khan wasn't in a teasing mood. He actually understood Monica's concern pretty well.

Khan didn't know much about the topic, but the tiny bits of information he had gathered throughout the years taught him something. Evolved soldiers were regarded as powerhouses, and a single one of them could shift the frail balance of influence toward one party or another.

Colonel Norrett was a special case since he had chosen the Global Army over the families, but the issue remained. Some powerful parties might not like that sudden surge of power outside their domain and control, which made secrecy mandatory.

"I'm kind of looking forward to it," Khan admitted, scratching his head. Political repercussions apart, that experience was priceless. It was the best present Colonel Norrett could ever give to him.

"As if we didn't have enough problems as it is," Monica sighed, throwing the phone away and leaning to her right.

Khan caught Monica and hugged her tightly. Her worries were evident, and Khan didn't take them lightly. Witnessing an evolution was a priceless experience, and the same applied to knowledge of the topic. Khan would become the center of another political storm after the event, and Monica's family wouldn't shy away from questioning him.

"It's great," Monica exclaimed, slightly whining. "It's really great, but come on. Give us a break."

Part of Khan shared Monica's mood. Peace didn't seem to be an option in their lives, and even lucky occurrences brought an immense number of problems to them. Those tradeoffs were getting annoying, and no amount of growth could make them disappear.

"Don't worry," Khan announced, pulling Monica closer and laying his head on her shoulder. "If they try anything, I'll deal with it."

Monica glanced at Khan and remained struck by the firmness of his expression. She had already seen that face a few times and knew how serious it was. Khan appeared ready to shoulder the entire weight of those problems on his own.

Of course, Monica didn't want that. They were together in that mess, and supporting each other was part of being a couple. However, that resolute look on Khan's face flipped a switch, and Monica turned inside the hug to push him down.

"What is it?" Khan chuckled when his nape hit the pillows, but the symphony killed that laugh. The face that unfolded in his view wasn't one of lust and passion. Monica looked serious as she reached for his cheeks to keep his head still.

"One day," Monica exclaimed, "You'll be at the top of the Global Army. No, the entire universe."

"Monica," Khan called, reaching for the hands on his cheeks.

"So," Monica continued, lowering her head until it touched Khan's forehead, "Until then, I'll support you with everything I have. I don't care if it breaks me."

Those words inevitably hit Khan deeply. He had said something similar not too long ago to Onp, and Monica was there uttering a similar claim.

"Silly girl," Khan sighed, wrapping his arms around Monica's head. "The only one I want to be on top of is you."

Monica exploded into a laugh that almost hid her usual curses. A "dummy" and a "scoundrel" escaped her smiling mouth, which Khan soon sealed with his lips.

.

Khan and Monica took it slow and easy, enjoying each other's warmth and resting before the outside world inevitably crashed down on them.

Days passed in which the couple never separated. Khan and Monica had to make up for the time spent on different planets, which they did plenty of. Khan even completely healed in that period and finally got rid of his metal brace.

Still, the time to address the world eventually arrived, and the couple even had a public event to attend. One afternoon, Khan and Monica left their building dressed in their finest clothes, and a storm of reporters welcomed them.

A sea of questions flew in the couple's direction, especially Khan's. The reporters shouted all kinds of statements, but no one ever managed to get close to the two. That was an official event backed up by the Solodrey family, so soldiers and Master Amelia's team were already on the scene to create a path.

Khan followed Monica's lead. The two ignored the reporters and walked hand in hand toward a car ready for them. The Solodrey family had prepared a schedule for their anniversary, and they planned to get it over with as fast as possible.

The couple had already done something similar, and the planned schedule offered nothing complicated. Khan and Monica went shopping, ate in a fancy restaurant, watched an auction, and drank in one of Pandora's establishments. The point behind that date was to appear publicly as a happy couple, and they fulfilled it perfectly.

It also helped that Khan and Monica weren't shy about their affection. They often kissed publicly, uncaring of the pictures snapped by the reporters. Khan actually liked that the network saw that aspect of his relationship since it kept away potential suitors. Moreover, refusing Monica when she was her enchanting dress was simply impossible.

Drinking at Pandora was supposed to be the date's last stop, but the car didn't drive back to the second district. Khan noticed that, but Monica suddenly jumped on him. Her mana told a clear story that her sensual kisses couldn't hide, but Khan respected her effort and let her distract him.

The car crossed most of the Harbor and arrived at a solitary hangar. Only luxury rides and private ships could land there, and a special team of soldiers always guarded it.

Khan didn't understand what was going on even after stepping into the hangar, but a familiar color in the distance suddenly caught his attention. A small ship donning an iconic white dye stood near the end of the place, and its pristine state told Khan how new it was.

"You are joking," Khan gasped, and Monica took his arm before he could say anything else.

"I had to pull some strings," Monica laughed, dragging Khan toward the white ship, "And you have no idea how hard it is to keep secrets from you."

The couple reached the ship while more cars landed in the hangar. Master Amelia and her team stepped out, but Khan only looked at the vehicle. He now understood everything, but his mind still struggled to accept it.

'Small but comfortable canopy,' Khan thought, listing the ship's stats. 'Triangular and flat shape. Three engines on the back. Can only fit two people.'

"This is a race ship!" Khan exclaimed, still incredulous.

"I couldn't have my dear Captain fly that old thing from the Global Army," Monica pouted. "This still doesn't match your value, but it's a start."

Khan's eyes were wide, and Monica's pout melted into a smile when she noticed his shock. She was ecstatic about that reaction.

"Did you buy me a ship?" Khan asked for confirmation.

Monica giggled, tightening her grip on Khan's arm. "Happy birthday again."

"You crazy girl," Khan said, leaning toward Monica to trap her in a kiss.

Monica let go of Khan's arm to cling to his neck, and he didn't miss that opening. Khan grabbed Monica's waist and lifted her. He put her on his shoulder amid laughs and complaints, and his feet kicked the floor to send both into the air.

"Captain Khan!" Master Amelia shouted in an admonishing tone. That hangar was more private, but Khan couldn't behave like that. It was too improper for Monica.

"Khan!" Monica joined those complaints, even if she used a far happier tone, but Khan ignored her. The ship's canopy opened at his touch, and he dropped Monica in the backseat before landing on the glass's edge.

"I'll take Monica out," Khan declared before diving into the pilot's seat. He didn't ask for anyone's permission, and the ship set off once the Harbor cleared him for departure.

To be continued