Even back in his own world as a king, Van had never gotten the attention that was being placed upon him now. Of course, he didn't really stay much to be adorned by the masses; but now, he couldn't land his eyes and not see someone looking at him like he was some kind of… celebrity.
Ameera and her people were already guarding him in a tight perimeter as they walk, but even that was not enough to stop all sorts of people from gathering. Unlike in the 10th Realm, the majority of the race in their so-called Base Station seemed to be humans.
There was a race similar to humans, but their skin was completely blue; and for some reason, with all the stares that Van was getting, they were the most noticeable one; with them giggling as soon as Van's eyes met theirs.
"How big is this… Base Station?" Van then asked as they have been walking for almost 30 minutes now; granted, they couldn't really rush towards their destination because of all the people.
"Around 10 cubic kilometers," Ameera replied, the tone of her voice seemingly excited as she was the one to make contact with the first ever Super Extraterrestrial in the whole galaxy. Of course, her nerves were also all over the place.
The reason why her men were tightly guarding Van was not only because they needed to protect them from the curious gazes of the people… but to also keep him within the scope of the snipers they had planted all over the place.
They could have just chosen to place Van in some kind of cage and disguise it as a vehicle, but the last thing they wanted to do was antagonize a race they know nothing about and cause a war against a race of super-powered individuals.
And so, they chose a more stealthy approach. Letting Van walk around would also make him feel like he could escape at any time; it was good for him to see that their people are peaceful.
"This is actually one of the smallest stations we have," Ameera then added, "We have thousands scattered all around the galaxy."
"I… see."
This… is considered small? This was almost as large as the realm where the Aesir's Palace was located. But what was more impressive was that the Base Station was basically just one huge castle-- a city inside a floating colossal castle.
Angela told them that the World Eaters were just previously humans who have been able to attain an extremely advanced technology, way beyond what was possible. Could it be… their technology was the same as this?
If not, and they were still more advanced than what Van was seeing now… then just what exactly are they capable of? If the ships of this world were already able to travel long distances in just a second… then what more the World Eaters?
If their ships were capable of moving even faster, then forget about him; how would the others even be able to fight them?
No wonder Evangeline wanted Van to just absorb every Aesir-- because in the end, he might actually be the only one that would even be able to fight them.
"Is… is something the matter, King Evans?" Ameera's gulp could almost be heard by her men. Did she say something wrong? Why did Van suddenly turn quiet? If ever he becomes aggressive, then the first one that would die would probably be her as she was walking beside him-- she just hopes that when Van did become aggressive, the snipers would be enough to deal with him.
"No, I was just thinking of something important," Van quickly shook his head as he gestured Ameera to continue walking.
"O… okay. We're quite near the office, the general truly regrets he wasn't able to welcome you himself, King Evans."
"It's fine," Van once again shook his head, "I'm not one for formalities anyway."
Van and his entourage continued to walk for a few more minutes until finally, they reached a place where the crowd that was following them no longer seemed to be allowed.
"We're here, King Evans."
And after a few more minutes, they arrived in front of a metal door, which was heavily guarded by almost 20 guards. Van's entourage was also no more, as the only one left beside him was Ameera.
A hissing sound similar to the closing of the Docking Bay then whispered into Van's ears as the metal door in front of him slid open-- and just from looking at it, the door was almost a meter thick.
This general that Ameera speaks of seems to value his or her own security above everyone else.
"P… please, follow me inside."
"..."
And as if that wasn't enough, there was another hallway past the meter-thick door. They walked for what seemed to be another minute until they reached another metal door, which quickly opened even before the two of them got near it.
"Are you… really leading me to your general?" The tone of Van's voice became slightly cold as he looked Ameera straight in the eyes.
"O… Of course! P… please don't kill me!" Ameera quickly stepped back a few feet away from Van as she saw the weird look on his face. With no snipers and no other comrades by her side, the only thing that Ameera could really do was beg for her life, "F… follow me!"
She then hastened her steps, almost running towards the now opened door. "General Hossam, I brought our guest!" She then saluted, her words almost a shout as she frantically stepped inside the room.
"This is King Evans of--" But before she could even finish her words, she noticed that the general was not the only one in the room, but there were plenty others wearing some sort of white gown.
"G… General? Who… are these people?" Ameera then said as she looked at the individual in the center. The man's outfit was similar to Ameera's; a white, seemingly light armor that covered the whole body from the neck down. Except, the General was adorned by a red cape as well as a white hat that seemed to symbolize his rank.
"..." Van also entered the room, his eyes immediately landing on the people that were wearing some sort of white dress, "I thought we will only be meeting your General?"
"I… I thought so too," Ameera then said as she lightly stepped closer towards Van, trying to cover him from the view of the others, "What… is going on here, General?"
Despite Ameera asking the General numerous times, he only remained quiet; his eyes looking back and forth between her and Van.
"Gene--"
"Do it."
And before Ameera could ask one more time, the metal door behind them shut.
"It seems you're not as important as you thought, Captain Ameera," Van then let out a short but deep sigh as he patted Ameera on the shoulder a couple of times, "That's alright, it was going too smoothly anyway."
"D… didn't you receive our reports, General!?" Ameera then stuttered as she took a few steps forward, "Our… Our guest is a King from another planet-- and his energy readings are beyond any of--"
"This is why you will be stuck as a captain, Ameera," the General let out a sigh as he raised his hand, and as soon as he did so, the people that were wearing a white gown all grabbed something from their waist, "The Common Council has already ordered the alien's subjugation as soon as they read the reports of its Energy Level."
"B… But sir, he's a King."
"It doesn't matter," the General whispered, "Even if he's a god, it doesn't m--"
"I don't like being threatened, General."
"!!!"
And before the General could even start the speech he had prepared, he felt a whisper crawling through his right ear. But before he could turn his head, he felt something cold touching his neck.
"And, what exactly does this thing do?"
"K… King Evans!?" Ameera turned to look behind her to check if she was seeing it right, only to find that Van truly was not there anymore, but instead floating behind the General, holding one of the neutralizer guns that the people wearing a white gown were previously holding in their hands.
"Order the others to leave the room or I am going to stab whatever this thing is down your throat," Van then said, "I am trying diplomacy here, don't make me change my mind, General."
"You… you think you can escape this place ali--"
And once again, before the General could finish his words, he felt a sharp wind brush past his cheek, causing his hat to fall off; and before it could reach the ground, a thunderous explosion erupted through the entire office.
Most of the people in the office almost stumbled as it was then followed by the tremble of the floor.
"This is…" Ameera then once again turned behind her, only to see the meter-thick metal door of the office twisted open as if it was forced by a blunt drill.
"I can assure you, General..."
The General then heard a light clanging beside him as Van once again whispered through his ears; he slightly turned to look at the noise, only to see what seemed to be a chunk of the door swinging beside his feet.
"...I can escape this place alive and well," Van then continued to whisper as he once again placed the neutralizer on the General's neck, "The question is…
...if I destroy this place, would you be able to survive?"
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