"Alright, Miss Sonya, you can sign now," the man said, having received confirmation of the transfer through his small communicator. He placed some documents on the table and spoke with a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
In the world of luxury, the fortunate might receive substantial amounts of money or even live in opulent homes as someone's lover, enjoying a life of leisure. But for many, the fate of a proxy often led to fleeting pleasures and a descent into a deep, irreversible abyss.
Sonya sensed the man's sympathy and understood his thoughts. However, she did not explain and simply signed the documents, adding her fingerprint.
Once she had fingerprinted the documents, her information began to upload to the Xandar management network. After formal registration, her name would be recorded as the official owner, though in reality, Kassadin would retain control.
If Kassadin committed any serious crimes, she would bear the responsibility. Thus, wealthy individuals often offered substantial sums for proxies, but Sonya had gained something more valuable than money—power.
"Since everything's in order, let's wrap this up and head out," Kassadin instructed after Sonya completed the signing and uploading.
Sonya nodded, gathered the documents, and followed Kassadin out.
The man watched Sonya's obedient demeanor with a mix of pity, but he refrained from giving any warnings. Advising her might risk offending the formidable Kassadin.
Once Harvey and Sonya were in the car, Harvey instructed, "Find a reliable and speedy construction company to build according to my specifications."
"I want to see the completed structure in a month. Money isn't the issue; reliability and speed are."
With the Void Temple's construction completed, Harvey could begin spreading the word, drawing others seeking to fulfill their desires.
"Understood. I'll compile a list of companies that meet your requirements and let you choose before we start the work," Sonya replied, taking note of the main criteria.
"What about these documents?" she asked, referring to the papers from the auction.
"You keep them," Harvey said casually. "Don't worry, no one on Xandar can threaten us."
If it weren't for the five-year residency requirement, Harvey wouldn't have needed Sonya as a proxy. He wasn't inclined to stir up trouble on Xandar, so he wasn't worried about causing issues. However, if the New Star Legion came knocking, he would handle them as needed—friendly or otherwise.
"Thank you for the reassurance, Mr. Kassadin. But since I agreed to act as your proxy, I never had any concerns," Sonya said with a smile.
From the moment she encountered the Void, Sonya knew her future had changed. She couldn't predict what lay ahead, as her understanding was limited compared to those who dealt with extraordinary powers.
Regardless, she intended to follow the path ahead, aligning with Kassadin's steps and discovering the unknown as she went.
Harvey was slightly taken aback but recognized Sonya's intelligence and chose not to press further.
The chauffeur, who had overheard their conversation, kept his silence. As a professional driver, he adhered to the rule of never revealing what he heard.
Soon, the driver returned Harvey and Sonya to the Elite Hotel, and they both ascended the escalator together.
"Where did they go?"
"Back so soon?"
"It doesn't seem like they went to a luncheon or a ball, as they returned too quickly."
"Sonya's outfit and jewelry must have cost at least 200,000."
"If she was dressed up, she must have attended a significant event."
"Any major events today?"
"There are quite a few: Xandar Tech Expo, Landmark Auction, a celebration hosted by a real estate tycoon, and a prominent figure's birthday…"
"We'll see if they go out again later."
A group of women continued gossiping, puzzled by the rapid return and Sonya's attire.
Usually, when accompanying someone, it's an all-day affair, and returning quickly left them speculating.
Sonya, however, was unaware of their speculation. She changed back into her work clothes, having bought the formal attire specifically for the occasion. She had no intention of requesting reimbursement, but since Kassadin offered, she would take advantage of it.
She planned to finish her tasks before submitting the expense report to Kassadin.
In the hotel lobby, other guests observed Sonya's change of clothes with curiosity.
If Sonya appeared dejected, they might guess Kassadin had changed his mind. If he was dissatisfied with Sonya, it would become a long-lasting topic of conversation.
But Sonya's smiling face suggested otherwise. Her skin appeared even smoother and more radiant as if she had benefited from a touch of romance.
This led some to wonder if they should also seek a wealthy partner to enhance their appearance.
Unaware of their chatter, Sonya focused on selecting food and drinks to bring up to the villa.
When she returned to the villa, she found Kassadin already at the dining table, which had become routine.
Kassadin seemed unusually idle these days, preferring not to leave the villa. When he did not have to go out, he was punctual for meals but otherwise lounged around like a contented cat.
This was the side of Kassadin Sonya had seen recently.
For Sonya, Kassadin was still a mystery with many unanswered questions.
Finding reliable construction firms wasn't difficult if the budget was flexible, but finding ones that were both reliable and fast was another matter.
Fortunately, Kassadin had made it clear that money wasn't an issue, which allowed Sonya more leeway in her search.
If one company wasn't sufficient, she could engage three firms, each handling different areas of the project.
In just ten minutes after Harvey finished his meal, Sonya had identified three suitable construction companies.
"Mr. Kassadin, I've found three companies that can start immediately and complete the renovation of a small island within a month," Sonya said, approaching Harvey. "Do you have any specific requirements for the construction facilities?"
"There's no need to fully renovate the entire island," Harvey replied, taking a sip of his drink. "The primary focus is to establish a grand Void Temple where people can come and make their requests."
"It's also essential to have a space where new adherents to the Void can train and adapt to their powers," he continued. "So, we need facilities with gravity devices and structures that can withstand significant impacts."
"Additionally, different styles of villa areas would be nice, so I can change things up occasionally."
"As for other undeveloped areas, you can devise a plan and notify me. As long as the plan is reasonable, you can tell me the budget needed."
Harvey had just finished his meal and was enjoying his drink when Sonya's inquiry led him to provide more detailed requirements.
New Void instructors might cause trouble if they can't adjust to their new powers initially. Therefore, having a training area is crucial.
"Understood," Sonya said, noting the additional details and confirming that she could oversee the construction.
Typically, developing an island and making it operational would require billions. However, with Kassadin's initial requirements, the costs were relatively modest. The training facilities would be the most expensive part, while the villas, given sufficient land, were less costly to build.
Since the island was Kassadin's private property, there would be no need to pay taxes unless it was used for profit.
Sonya's mind was already filled with plans, including necessary transportation routes and tools for island access.
Although Kassadin could fly and even teleport, others wouldn't have such abilities. To establish the Void Religion on Xandar, connections to the outside world were necessary.
Kassadin had mentioned that Sonya would manage the island in his absence, so she needed to ensure its smooth operation.
Harvey relaxed, sipping his drink and eating fruit, while Sonya worked on drafting architectural designs and budgeting.
The idea of having a reliable assistant and being a hands-off boss was quite satisfying for Harvey.
Sonya focused on the holographic projection of the construction designs, calculating costs, and making notes.
With the land issue resolved, designing the temple was straightforward, and the cost was reasonable. The main challenge was crafting sculptures and inscriptions.
The tenets of the Void Religion were simple, and Sonya had committed them to memory from discussions with Kassadin and Darm.
Sonya could create drawings of terrifying Void entities but needed approval for the final design.
"Mr. Kassadin, can the deity statue in the Void Temple be sculpted in your likeness?" she asked, glancing at Kassadin, who was lounging on the couch, playing a game.
"Yes," Kassadin replied without looking up from his game.
Kassadin's public persona was intentionally projected, so it was fitting for the temple to reflect his image.
"For the inscriptions, should they follow the Void Religion's commandments and doctrines?" Sonya asked, seeking clarification to avoid any mistakes.
"Yes. Currently, the Void Religion has only three commandments and one doctrine, so those four inscriptions will suffice," Kassadin responded, pausing his game to think. "If more are added later, we can always rebuild."
"Understood," Sonya said with a smile. "The estimated total cost for the construction is 153 million."
Harvey was surprised by the amount. He had expected the preliminary budget to start around 100 million, with a total not exceeding 500 million.
However, Sonya's use of "total" made it seem like a bargain.
"Is it only 153 million?" Harvey asked, glancing at Sonya.
"Yes, just 153 million," Sonya confirmed. "I can draw the designs for the temple and villas myself, which saves a significant amount of money."
"We'll start with four differently styled villas, which should be sufficient for now. If you want more in the future, just let me know, and we can add them."
"The remaining costs are for construction, decoration, and furnishings. As for the inscriptions, having you carve them will command more respect from other Void adherents."
"I believe with your skills, carving the inscriptions should be manageable, saving additional costs."
Sonya explained with a nod.
"You know about these things?" Harvey was even more surprised.
"The reason the Elite Hotel stands out on Xandar is due to its exceptional accommodation and dining, as well as its suitability for social gatherings where influential figures forge new partnerships," Sonya explained. "We also have various villa managers with different specializations and skills."
"My goal has always been to do things to the best of my ability," she added. "I've studied some relevant skills in the past, and it's surprising how useful they've become today."
Harvey was impressed, realizing he had encountered a true expert in her field.
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