Chaos’ Heir

Chapter 905: Tutoring

'The easy part is done,' Khan thought while soldiers dealt with the auction's conclusion.

Troops entered the arena's floor, escorting Alice inside one of its openings. A doctor was already waiting, and the same went for a representative from Khan's family. Alice had to receive the tournament's rewards before being handed to the Virrai family.

The arena's cameras followed Alice for a while before focusing on the terrace again. Prince Catlee and Princess Virrai had returned to their seats, leaving the stage to Princess Montares and Prince Rassec, and that combination didn't bode well for Khan.

Ideally, Khan had to avoid creating enemy factions among the noble families. His position among the Nognes was still complicated, so stirring displeasure could easily add leverage to an eventual ploy from his opposing distant relatives.

Right now, the other faction of the Nognes family only had the evolved warriors' card to play, which was challenging to authorize and deploy. However, they could begin to pursue business ventures against Khan if he gave the other nobles reason to hinder him.

Dealing with the wealthy families was one thing. The descendants involved with Baoway's businesses could handle their parents and relatives, and Khan could intervene through his noble authority if things reached a critical point.

Yet, the same problem didn't have an easy solution if the other noble families joined that trend. Luckily, Khan mostly had allies and cautious friendships in that environment, with the Rassec being the only glaring exception.

Truth be told, Khan found the matter highly annoying. All things considered, the Rassec family should be grateful to him for fixing Rick's wimpy character. It had regained a Prince thanks to him, so the faction behind him should have offered support.

Nevertheless, those issues were always extremely convoluted in those lofty environments. Back then, the Rassec family had given up on Rick, devolving its resources toward more promising prospects. Rick's return had messed up those plans, and Khan's problems didn't end there.

Khan had insulted Prince Samuel Rassec at Rick's wedding, and the former had a far higher standing than the latter. Samuel was to blame for that whole mess, but Khan had yet to claim his noble lineage back then, resulting in a grudge.

Princess Edna's involvement in the mess didn't help. Prince Samuel didn't say it, but her interference had escalated the situation. That lousy impression on a fellow noble family was no minor deal, and the Rassec family inevitably blamed Khan.

Forgetting the grudge, especially after Khan's rise to faction leader, would have been wise. Many had opted for a blank state since his partnership offered great benefits. Yet, the Rassec family had taken the opposite approach, holding to a faint enmity while pretending to retain a neutral position.

Khan knew the two reasons for that. First of all, his current hesitation confirmed the approach's viability. The Rassec family hoped Khan would favor it to make up for the grudge. The second reason was a matter of pride. Appearances and reputation had immense value in those lofty environments, and the Rassec family couldn't ignore that offense. It would have been different if Khan had already been a noble, but the reality didn't work in his favor.

Princess Montares and Prince Rassec exchanged a smiling nod before the latter cleared his throat, bringing silence to the arena. Moses also stiffened, straightening his back. His auction was about to begin, and everyone was curious about the offers.

"Mister Parket proved himself to be an exceptional and talented warrior," Prince Rassec announced. "His battle instincts match and surpass seasoned soldiers. Hence, the Rassec family is willing to have him as a potential suitor for our Princesses."

The silence lasted a whole second before crumbling under the weight of deafening cries. The arena went wild as shouts resounded from every corner of the stage. The offer left everyone shocked, including Khan and Princess Montares.

Needless to say, Moses was the most shocked of them all. The offer surpassed his wildest expectations. The Rassec family wasn't only willing to welcome him. It offered a noble status, an unmatchable reward according to the public.

Prince Rassec lifted his hand, and the arena slowly went silent. Once every shout stopped, he added something. "Of course, the Rassec family is only offering a chance. It would be up to Mister Parket to seize it."

The addition made the offer more reasonable but no less shocking. The nobles had always been an unreachable and untouchable separate entity in the public eye, but the Rassec family had just opened its gates.

Many inevitably moved their attention to Khan, albeit not for his job as a mediator. That behavior change obviously had him as its main cause. Khan had proven himself superior to the nobles, lowering the barriers between them and the public in the process. His life had

revolutionized much, and he was still young.

"How generous of the Rassec family," Princess Montares exclaimed, reclaiming the arena's attention. "May I ask the reason behind such generosity?"

Princess Montares was doing Khan a favor with that question, and he knew it. Khan was only a mediator, so he couldn't probe Prince Rassec's intentions. Yet, as her opponent, she had every right to do it.

Also, eventual flaws in Prince Rassec's reasoning could benefit Princess Montares and tilt Khan's decision in her favor. Still, Prince Rassec was too capable to fall for that trap.

"Prince Khan proved that our ways need updates," Prince Rassec explained. "His involvements also seem to ensure success, so we have great hopes for the winner of his tournament."

Princess Montares smiled, but the answer clearly defeated her. Prince Rassec's open praise of Khan left her with no real options. She could try to deny it and defend the noble ways, but that would insult Khan now.

"The Montares family didn't initially plan such a grandiose offer," Princess Montares admitted. "However, Prince Rassec speaks the truth. Prince Khan has achieved more while having far less. It might be time we gave those promising enough better chances."

Khan felt a headache forming inside his mind. Clearly, Princess Montares was acting on her own now, without consulting her family. She was exposing herself against Prince Rassec, and Khan's eventual lack of support would add insult to injury.

"The Montares family is willing to engage in multiple business ventures with the Parket family," Princess Montares declared, "To build a prolonged cooperation and elevate its

status."

Gasps resounded among the stages. A partnership with the nobles could elevate any family, and Princess Montares' wording promised more than that. Given enough time, the Parket family could hope to achieve the same status as the Cobsend through that offer. That path could also lead to descendants being married into noble families. It had greater potential than Prince Rassec's offer, even if its greatest benefits wouldn't be immediate. "Mister Parket's achievements inside the Rassec family would lead to similar outcomes," Prince Rassec rebutted. "We wouldn't forget his lineage and would listen to his requests. "Besides, successfully seizing nobility would grant Mister Parket the power to improve his family status with his own hands."

Moses felt he was hearing things. He forgot where he was, and his mouth hung open in disbelief. He had never dared to hope for such a bright future, but Princess Montares and Prince Rassec were fighting each other to elevate those dreams.

Princess Montares hesitated. The bids were relatively even now. They simply prioritized different aspects of Moses' life. One focused on his status, providing immediate personal benefits, while the other targeted his family, granting safer odds that could eventually lead to similar results.

Still, Princess Montares didn't want to leave the auction in Moses' hands. He might lack the foresight to appreciate her offer, and she had already exposed herself. Losing now would affect her reputation inside her family and among fellow nobles.

"The Montares family is willing to add a factual engagement to one of its Princesses," Princess Montares declared, lifting her hand before the arena could go crazy, "On the condition that Mister Parket receives Prince Khan's tutelage."

Princess Montares lowered her hand, and chaos unfolded. Meanwhile, Moses felt like fainting. The Princess was offering the best of both worlds and having Khan as a Master was

an additional reward.

"The tournament's rewards already include Prince Khan's tutoring," Prince Rassec pointed

out.

"I obviously intended to prolong that training period," Princess Montares explained. "As long as Prince Khan is willing, of course."

'Just my luck with women,' Khan cursed in his mind as the entire arena turned toward him.

Even Moses couldn't stop staring, his eyes full of hope and anticipation. Khan could ensure his noble status with a single word, and becoming his disciple was a dream come true.

The situation had countless political nuances. Khan himself was busy beyond reason, and many inside his organization already required his attention.

Yet, meeting Moses' gaze made those deeper thoughts pointless. Khan didn't have the heart to shatter those innocent and genuine dreams. The emotions in Moses' mana appealed to his

kind side, defeating him.

"Since it would be a request from the Montares family," Khan announced, "Concerning a future Prince, I'd be willing to prolong the tutoring."

Moses had to use the entirety of his self-restraint to avoid jumping happily. He looked at the terrace, wondering whether Prince Rassec would have a counteroffer, and the arena's audience imitated him. Still, Prince Rassec remained silent.

Moses glanced at Khan again, receiving a silent nod. Stiffness replaced his excitement while

he bowed at the terrace, but clear words escaped his mouth afterward, and the arena echoed them. "I humbly accept Princess Montares' offer and swear on my life to meet all the expectations generously placed on me."