Chapter 68: The Name of Kassadin

After Harvey finished all thirty-plus beverages, his armor faded from sight.

Sonya, who was just about to gather the empty cups and leave, caught a glimpse of Kassadin's form as the armor vanished, revealing his muscular physique. For a brief moment, she was mesmerized by his impressive build. But as her eyes returned to his face, still obscured by that ever-present golden light, the moment of fascination passed.

Harvey didn't pay any attention to Sonya's reaction. Wearing swim trunks conjured by his magical powers, he dove straight into the nearby pool, swimming with vigorous strokes.

He knew that unless he did something truly massive—like waging war on Xandar or the Kree, or even obliterating entire planets—his name and reputation wouldn't be made overnight. Building a legacy, like his growing strength, would take time.

For now, it was all about balance. He needed to keep up his momentum: clearing out the higher-level Class-2 and Class-3 bounty missions would not only hone his powers but also help him amass a fortune. As his wealth and influence grew, so would his readiness for the next phase: founding a vast Void religion, and spreading his doctrine to attract followers from across the stars.

Harvey swam for a while longer, enjoying the water's calming embrace before taking a break to activate his evolution points. His Void Skin ability surged forward, evolving ten times in quick succession, causing him to feel a remarkable surge of strength coursing through his body.

He noticed that with each evolution, whenever he transformed into his Void Predator form, Kha'Zix, his size increased. He had already experienced this once on Kilf Star, where his sheer size had almost caused a panic. Luckily, he'd quickly vanished into the Void to avoid drawing more attention.

Clenching his fist, Harvey leaped back into the pool, swimming slowly this time as he worked on adjusting to the newfound power coursing through him.

By the time night fell Sonya had returned with dinner. Harvey ate the light, refreshing dishes she had prepared for him, grateful for their taste. Though they didn't add many evolution points, they helped him regain his appetite after days of gorging on the oversized Void creatures.

"Tomorrow at 8 a.m., don't forget," Harvey reminded her after finishing his meal.

"Understood," Sonya responded with a nod.

Once Sonya had left, Harvey spent the entire night training, perfecting his control over his growing strength. By the time morning came, he was feeling fully attuned to his powers once more. After a hearty breakfast, he set out for yet another mission.

Over the next month, Sonya found herself pondering Kassadin's daily routine. Despite telling her that he ate four or five times a day, he often left the villa after breakfast and returned at unpredictable times. Sometimes he was back by the afternoon or evening; other times, he would vanish for days.

Unlike the other wealthy clients at the Elite hotel, Kassadin had no interest in wild parties, stunning companions, or round-the-clock service. Sonya's only task was to ensure he had food when he was present and to occasionally bring him refreshments. It was, by far, the easiest job she had ever had.

Yet, despite her newfound free time, Sonya's curiosity grew. She couldn't help but wonder where Kassadin went every day and what exactly he was doing.

Though the hotel's extensive information network provided her with gossip about almost everyone, there was still nothing on Kassadin. His actions were a mystery. But Sonya, having grown accustomed to her enigmatic guest, didn't worry too much. This was, after all, the last day of his stay.

As she went about tidying the villa, she thought about how her life would return to normal soon. She would move on to serve the next high-profile guest, and the mystery of Kassadin would fade into memory.

During that same month, however, a name had begun to ripple across the galaxy. Across countless worlds and among the most powerful beings in the universe, the name "Kassadin" was quickly becoming well-known.

The reason? A bounty hunter—Kassadin—had emerged, someone unlike any other in the history of the profession. In a mere month, he had completed eighteen Class-3 missions, all of which involved eliminating large-scale threats. These were monsters and creatures so deadly that even entire fleets and groups of elite warriors had struggled to take them down.

But each one fell to Kassadin alone.

Rumors spread about this terrifying new force. Some claimed he was a demon, others believed him to be a monster, while some whispered that he was a god from the Void itself.

Kassadin's rise in the bounty hunter world was meteoric. In just a single month, he had become the first-ever Class-3 bounty hunter, and no one could argue against his credentials. His reputation alone silenced any potential critics. Wealthy patrons were already offering him contracts worth fifty million credits, hoping to lure him to their cause.

But Kassadin declined them all, stating he wasn't accepting any non-catastrophic missions at the moment.

Although this refusal frustrated some, none dared to criticize him openly. His recent track record—especially the way he single-handedly handled planetary-level disasters—had proven he was capable of obliterating worlds. To insult Kassadin was to risk annihilation.

In the bounty hunter community, Kassadin was now revered, almost godlike in the awe and fear he inspired. His name was on everyone's lips.

Meanwhile, Harvey, after finishing yet another task that involved defeating a fire elemental, casually returned to Xandar to collect his reward. While he had no problem eating grotesque creatures, he avoided anything humanoid. Though consuming them would yield many more evolution points, he didn't want to risk developing an insatiable hunger for them. He exercised self-restraint.

As Sonya was polishing a jade vase, she heard footsteps behind her. Without flinching, she turned around with a smile.

"Kassadin, sir, I'll prepare your afternoon tea right away."

Though she had once been startled by Kassadin's sudden reappearances, a month of serving him had made her accustomed to his unpredictable comings and goings.

Harvey gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Taking that as her cue, Sonya left her cleaning duties behind and hurried downstairs to fetch his usual drinks. In a matter of minutes, she returned with a tray of chilled beverages.

"Today's the last day, isn't it?" Harvey remarked as he took a sip, his tone thoughtful.

"Yes, sir. You've stayed here for thirty days," Sonya confirmed with a polite smile. "If you're not planning to extend, you'll need to check out by noon tomorrow."

"I've never had someone handle the little things for me before, but I must admit, having you around has been rather convenient," Harvey said with an appreciative nod. "I'll be staying longer. Go ahead and extend my stay for another month."