Chapter 243: Awareness of Movements
The truth was that after making various directives and decisions in front of so many members of the Void Church, she felt mentally drained. It wasn't physical exhaustion; it was a fatigue that came from the pressure of maintaining her image and ensuring that her every word and action reflected the authority of Lord Kassadin.
"You handled it quite well, but why did you stop Loki from speaking out?" Harvey's voice cut through her thoughts, breaking her reverie. He observed Sonia, sprawled out without a care for appearances, and felt a sense of admiration for her efforts.
"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Kassadin," Sonia replied, straightening her posture as she prepared to explain. "There are many reasons why I intervened. Would you like to hear them?"
"Of course," Harvey nodded, intrigued by her perspective.
While Tony had noticed Sonia's mercy toward Loki, Harvey, having spent considerable time with her, was curious to understand her motivations more deeply.
"The first reason is that you mentioned not allowing Asgardians to join the Void Church at this stage. Implicitly, that means there might be a possibility for the future," she began. "As the prince of Asgard, despite Loki's arrogance and foolishness, one should always leave some room for negotiation."
"The second reason is that you told me that Loki and Tony are, in a way, considered friends," Sonia continued. "Initially, I didn't understand what you meant by 'friends,' but seeing Thor pleading for Tony's help clarified that for me. If we were to kill Loki, it could create a rift between Tony and Thor."
"Tony's home, Blue Star, is also one of the Nine Realms. If tensions escalate, it could also have repercussions for Tony's home."
She paused, ensuring Harvey absorbed the weight of her words. "The two points I mentioned are important, but they aren't the main reasons for my actions."
"Really?" Harvey raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is the main reason, then?"
"The main reason is that Loki is backed by King Odin and Asgard. If he were to lash out in anger because he felt rejected and say something disrespectful, and we were to kill him on the spot, it would paint the Void Church as merciless," Sonia explained, her voice steady.
"While it would indeed serve as a momentary relief to kill him, it would undoubtedly invite war. Even if I know you, Lord Kassadin, wouldn't be fazed by such conflict, instigating a war would bring countless troubles."
She continued, "When considering the overall picture, it would not be beneficial for the Void Church. According to your will, we have already expressed goodwill toward Loki. However, if we appear too friendly, it might lead Asgard to think the Void Church can be easily manipulated. Therefore, I thought it best to ensure Loki received a suitable warning."
"Thank you for your diligence, Sonia," Harvey acknowledged, his eyes reflecting a flicker of appreciation for her insight.
While he held fewer concerns about Loki himself, his main worry was avoiding the wrath of Odin. He had asked Sonia to convey his decisions to Loki, hoping that the prince would see the futility in seeking blessings from the Void Church and return home voluntarily.
Sonia's thoughtful considerations about the implications of Loki's actions impressed him further. "This is all part of my duty, Lord Kassadin. Please hold on a moment; I'll prepare dinner for you right away."
Her mood visibly brightened at the prospect of serving him, a smile gracing her face.
"There's no need for dinner tonight; I have some matters to attend to outside," Harvey replied, his gaze flickering for a moment.
He felt the need to release the pent-up desires within him.
"Are you heading out?" Sonia asked, her curiosity piqued. "How long will you be gone?"
"Just a few days; there's no need for you to worry," he reassured her before his form vanished from the villa.
Sonia watched him leave, her expression tinged with disappointment. Yet she understood that Harvey's decisions were final, and there was little she could do to alter them. It was merely a few days, after all.
Quickly gathering her thoughts, she focused on preparing a lavish spread for herself, using delicious food to distract from her momentary sadness.
However, as she was finishing her dinner and enjoying a relaxing bath, a sudden notification chimed through her communicator.
"Your account has been charged three hundred thousand at the Elite Hotel, current balance: ninety-nine million seven hundred thousand."
Harvey hardly ever utilized money directly, preferring to instruct Sonia whenever financial matters arose. Thus, the personal bank card he used for transactions was something Sonia managed on his behalf.
As she processed the notification, surprise washed over her. She hadn't expected that when Harvey mentioned going out, he would choose to spend time at the Elite Hotel.
It seemed perplexing that he would seek out the establishment when she, a former top manager of the Elite Hotel, was right at his side. Surely he could have asked for assistance directly instead of opting for a more distant solution.
But it was clear that he wanted to keep her in the dark, simply paying for a month's stay without consulting her.
Sonia felt a mix of confusion and concern. What could Harvey be planning? Was he perhaps seeking reliable people to help share the responsibilities at the Void Island?
If that were the case, surely he could have simply asked her for help, considering her extensive knowledge of the Elite Hotel.
As Sonia relaxed in the bath, she pondered the implications of the notifications.
After about ten minutes, she received several more messages, each one detailing charges that amounted to three thousand.
Given her expertise as the Elite Hotel's most skilled villa manager, she immediately recognized these as fees for selecting companions, indicating dissatisfaction and requests for replacements.
"Ah, so that's it; Lord Kassadin is out seeking women," Sonia mused, realizing the direction of Harvey's intentions.
Her understanding of the situation brought a sense of clarity, though it left her with lingering questions about his true motivations.