Chaos Heir

Chapter 1331: Savdat

The Elder was perfectly aware of the Niqols’ political situation and the inevitable repercussions Khan’s actions had caused.

The Niqols were politically done for. Their reputation wasn’t salvageable, especially since they couldn’t defeat an opponent backed by the Thilku Empire.

Actually, the Thilku Empire probably wouldn’t need to play a role there. The Elder had only needed that quick inspection to confirm that Khan was a monster. Chances were, he wouldn’t need anyone’s help to deal with the Niqols.

Defeating Khan or making him pay for the insult were the Niqols’ only options to regain a modicum of reputation. With those possibilities gone, the Niqols could only go back into seclusion, reorganizing themselves once again while waiting for the universe to forget about the failed arranged marriage.

The whole chase after Khan was purely theatrical. It was a desperate attempt to salvage face in a situation that was already set in stone. At most, the Niqols could officially exile Liiza, which wasn’t much in the grand scheme of things.

However, there was another option, something that would be hard to sell to the Niqols but that could also save them from more pointless years of resentment and isolation.

Khan wasn’t just anyone for the Niqols. The tales from his time from ten years ago had spread far and wide on Nitis after he ran away with Liiza, inevitably earning him some respect due to the genuine nature of his feelings.

Liiza wasn’t just anyone, either. She was more than respected in her field, and her efforts in developing the new old ways didn’t go unnoticed. Many believed she was the next in line to become an Elder, too.

Moreover, Khan and Liiza seemed to gather Niqols’ allies wherever they went. Zalpa was with them, and the same went for Ilman, who weren’t exactly nobodies on Nitis.

The many Niqols’ crews Khan had intercepted during the chase had also walked away with a positive impression. Clearly, Khan truly loved the Niqols and respected their ways.

The traditional Niqols tattoos on the married couple were another point in their favor. Nothing screamed Niqols more than those marks of love, and a child had even been born from them.

The Niqols wouldn’t accept a leader. Still, if they did, the Elder couldn’t think of anyone more suited than Khan. He was their strongest unofficial ally and probably the only force in the universe that wouldn’t use that authority for his benefit.

Khan couldn’t help but be surprised, but perfectly understood the Elder at the same time. In many ways, he knew more about interspecies politics than that old evolved warrior, allowing him to see how he could fit in all that.

Snow sensed the new seriousness that had fallen in the area. The Aduns stopped poking Khan’s head with its beak, lifting its three eyes at the Elder, wary but also hesitant.

"[I don’t want to lead anyone]," Khan announced, rubbing the feathers behind him to reassure Snow. "[Especially the Niqols. You can have anything that’s in my power to give for free]."

"[That’s not how it would be seen]," The Elder pointed out. "[The Niqols would become akin to pets of their alien overlord. They’d be well fed and safe but limited to your shadow]."

"[I won’t apologize for my political influence]," Khan declared. "[I paid the price in blood and lives. I can give it to you freely precisely because I earned it]."

The Elder truly wished things were that simple, but the Niqols had already revolted once after their society tried to make them evolve too quickly.

Establishing an unclear alliance with Khan would be several degrees of magnitude greater than simply adopting the human ways. The Niqols couldn’t accept that so easily and so early.

That was why Khan was a perfect fit for a leadership position. He was basically a Niqols in disguise, making him a ruler that species might accept. Yet, he had to come forward with the intention of seizing that authority since mere charity would only hurt the Niqols’ pride.

As strange as it sounded, the Niqols would find it easier to accept a leader they couldn’t oppose rather than someone who could affect their species from the shadows. Any change they disagreed with would only build resentment, eventually leading to another revolt.

Of course, accepting was a stretch. No matter what, the Niqols would be unhappy with the outcome. The Elder was simply exploring options that could prevent another isolation.

"[The Niqols pay more attention to tribes than family]," The Elder exclaimed, taking another step forward before gracefully sitting on the snow. "[But we are family now. I’m Savdat]."

"[Elder Savdat]," Khan called, "[Great-grandmother in law, I understand I put the Niqols in an impossible position, but the last thing I want is ruling over them]."

"[What you do with that authority is yours to decide]," Elder Savdat exclaimed. "[A benevolent leader might be what the Niqols need to evolve]."

"[And how do you expect me to become this benevolent leader]?" Khan wondered. "[Should I fly down to Nitis, cause a few natural disasters, and expect everyone to stay silent while I take over]?"

That whole conversation was leaving a bad taste in Khan’s mouth. He didn’t even want to hear the Elder’s answer. Those leaders were detached from their species, only considering it as a whole, so they would accept minor sacrifices in the short run to ensure a better future.

Nevertheless, Khan wouldn’t just play the role of the evil executioner. He didn’t care about killing those who stood in his way, but the Niqols would always be an exception.

"[The alternative is to send my great-granddaughter in exile]," Elder Savdat pointed out, "[As well as my great-great-granddaughter. The Niqols will seclude themselves afterward, and you won’t hear from us for decades]."

"[I have a better solution]," Khan declared. "[The enemy I talked about finally showed itself. Let’s postpone this talk while we fight it together]."

"[How do you expect the Niqols to believe that this enemy exists]?" Elder Savdat asked. "[Even if they did, why would they care]?"

"[Because this enemy will go after anything and anyone with mana]," Khan explained, his tone turning casual. "[And I put my soldiers on collecting all the available data from the battle]."

Elder Savdat immediately understood the meaning behind Khan’s words, but he voiced it anyway. "[I don’t have to convince the Niqols about the existence of the Scarlet Eyes. I can show them]."

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