Chapter 84: Nourished?

Upon hearing this, Harvey immediately initiated the payment, transferring three hundred and fifty million at once. Other miscellaneous charges like fees were none of his concern.

“All right, Miss Sonia, you may sign now.”

The man, having received confirmation through his compact communicator that the funds had been successfully transferred, retrieved several documents and laid them out on the table, speaking as he did so. Yet, when he looked at Sonia, there was a trace of sympathy in his gaze.

If one were fortunate, they could receive a significant sum, perhaps even become a kept lover, acquiring a mansion of their own and leading a life of endless leisure. But not everyone was so lucky. The fate of a proxy signatory was often a fleeting indulgence in luxury, leading in exchange to an abyss from which there might be no return.

Sonia sensed the look in his eyes and understood what the man was thinking. She offered no explanation, simply signing her name and pressing her fingerprint where indicated.

Once her fingerprint was applied, Sonia’s information began to be read and uploaded directly to Xandar’s administrative network. Upon official registration, her details would be reported to the planetary management system, showing her as the legal owner.

Though she was listed as the owner, true control still lay with Mr. Kassadin. Unless Mr. Kassadin were to commit a particularly serious crime, most legal liabilities would fall upon her as the proxy signatory.

That was why wealthy individuals seeking such arrangements would usually pay a hefty sum. But Sonia had already gained something far more precious than money: power.

“Now that everything’s settled, let’s finish up here and head back,” Kassadin said, seeing that Sonia had completed the signature and upload process.

Sonia nodded at his words, gathered the documents, and followed him out.

The man watched Sonia’s obedient demeanor and shook his head with a touch of pity, but refrained from saying anything further—he knew better than to offend the infamous Kassadin.

Harvey and Sonia left the venue and entered the car.

“Find me a reliable and swift construction company,” Harvey instructed Sonia. “Have them build according to my specifications. I want to see the completed structure in a month. Money is of no concern—what matters is dependability and speed.”

Once the Void Temple was finished, he would be able to spread the word, drawing those who sought the power to fulfill their wishes.

“Understood. When we return, I’ll compile a list of companies that meet your requirements and let you make the final selection before work begins,” Sonia replied, immediately noting the two key criteria.

“How do you want to handle these documents?” she asked, glancing at Mr. Kassadin after recording his request.

“Keep them with you,” he said dismissively. “And don’t worry. On Xandar, no one can threaten us.”

If not for the requirement to reside for over five years, he wouldn’t have needed Sonia as his proxy. He had no intention of causing chaos on Xandar and thus wasn’t concerned about attracting trouble. If, by chance, the Nova Corps came to investigate and behaved amicably, he would respond in kind, resolving matters through discussion. If they were hostile, he would be even more so.

“Thank you for your reassurance, Mr. Kassadin. But since I agreed to act as your proxy, it means I was never worried in the first place,” Sonia replied with a gentle smile.

From the moment she encountered the Void, she had known her path would be forever changed. She could not yet imagine what lay ahead or what the future might hold. Her experience was considerable, but still limited by what was ordinary, unable to comprehend the world navigated by those with extraordinary abilities.

But it didn’t matter. All she needed to do was follow this path, to walk in Mr. Kassadin’s footsteps. All that was unknown would, in time, be revealed.

Harvey was momentarily speechless, but he knew Sonia was clever and said no more. The seasoned driver ignored the conversation happening behind him, as any proper chauffeur would—what was heard in the car stayed in the car.

Soon, the driver delivered Harvey and Sonia back to the Elite Hotel, where the two of them ascended the floating staircase together.

“Where have they been?”
“They’re back already?”
“They don’t look like they went to a lunch or a ball—otherwise, they wouldn’t have returned so soon.”
“That outfit on Sonia, from dress to jewelry, must have cost at least two hundred thousand.”
“Since she dressed up, it must have been for something important.”
“What major events are happening today?”
“Let’s see—there’s the Xandar Tech Expo, the Landmark Auction, a celebration ball hosted by a leading real estate group, and some bigwig’s birthday…”

“Let’s wait and see if they go out again,” one woman suggested as a group of them began to gossip.

Usually, if someone went out with a guest, it was at least a whole-day affair—they’d indulge themselves before returning. For Sonia to come back so soon with Mr. Kassadin left them with nothing to speculate on.

Sonia, meanwhile, returned with Mr. Kassadin to Villa 7777 and changed back into her work uniform. The evening gown had been purchased specifically for this outing, so she would not embarrass Mr. Kassadin. She hadn’t expected to be reimbursed—it had been her own decision. But since Mr. Kassadin had offered, she wouldn’t refuse. She planned to finish her current tasks before submitting the receipt to him.

She quickly descended the staircase and headed for the dining area.

In the hotel lobby, others saw Sonia return in her work clothes and exchanged baffled glances, even more uncertain about what had transpired. If Sonia had looked disappointed, they might have guessed that Mr. Kassadin had changed his mind or found her unsatisfactory, which would have provided endless fodder for gossip. Going out with a guest only to be rejected was something to laugh about for weeks on end.

Yet, the smile on Sonia’s face betrayed none of that. If anything, she seemed in even better spirits, as if revitalized by love. Some even noticed that her skin appeared smoother and more radiant than before. The women present couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps they should find a wealthy patron themselves—maybe a taste of romance would do wonders for their complexion.

Oblivious to their musings, Sonia carefully selected a variety of dishes and drinks and brought them upstairs.

When she returned to the villa, she found Mr. Kassadin already waiting at the dining table, as was his custom. These days, he seemed to have little to do, rarely needing to go out. Unless he had business elsewhere, he would always appear at mealtimes, spending the rest of his days in idle leisure, much like the other guests at the Elite Hotel, who, now freed from financial worries, simply did as they pleased.

Of course, this was only the side of Mr. Kassadin that he allowed Sonia to see in recent days. To her, he remained a man swathed in mysteries.