Harvey didn't give Sonya any more power right away. He knew that an immediate surge in strength could distort her mindset and behavior.
After all, Sonya didn't need immense power at the moment. Her current role was mainly to handle daily tasks and manage minor affairs. She had plenty of free time on her hands, and there was no urgent need for her to fight. There was more than enough time for her to grow into her power gradually.
"Thank you, Lord Kassadin, for this incredible opportunity."
Several minutes later, when Sonya regained her composure, her eyes were filled with awe. She bowed slightly, speaking in a quiet, reverent tone, trying to contain the shock she felt inside.
Now she understood why Darm had shown such reverence toward Lord Kassadin after placing his faith in the Void.
The vastness of the presence she had encountered—like a celestial body—made her truly aware of her insignificance.
To receive the blessing of such a great and mysterious force was nothing short of an immense honor.
Moreover, knowing that she could one day draw closer to such a force and gain even more power was a gift in itself.
"Keep addressing me as you always have. In the future, you'll only need to monitor and report on any unusual or extreme behaviors among the others in my absence," Harvey instructed casually, noticing Sonya's new title for him.
"For now, just continue doing the work we discussed. Act as you normally would."
"And don't worry about your salary—it will be paid on time," he added.
"Understood, Mr. Kassadin," Sonya replied with a nod.
Just then, she felt a sharp pang of hunger, as if she hadn't eaten in ages. Her brow furrowed slightly, though she didn't say anything.
"You don't need to hold back. Go find something to eat," Harvey said, noticing how Sonya clutched her stomach but didn't voice her discomfort.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Kassadin. But it's not urgent," Sonya replied with a serious tone. "This hunger must be one of the consequences of gaining power."
"If I can't endure this initial hunger, then how will I avoid becoming a mindless monster, destined to be killed by you someday?"
Harvey raised an eyebrow in surprise but allowed her to follow her reasoning. "In that case, please report the repair costs for me."
He was impressed by her determination to endure the hunger and sharpen her mental fortitude, even though she hadn't yet fully tasted the allure of power.
It was a good mindset to have, though whether she could truly stick to it remained to be seen.
If Sonya succeeded in her effort to temper her willpower, her potential in the future would be limitless.
After all, once someone joined the Void, they would never lack strength. The real question was whether they could keep their sanity.
As long as she retained control of her mind, guided by her own will, her power would only grow stronger over time.
Sonya nodded in agreement and went upstairs to the villa's second floor to calculate the repair costs from Darm's earlier accident.
Meanwhile, Harvey picked up his communicator and began researching the requirements for purchasing land on Xandar.
After investigating, he discovered that for non-Xandarian residents, purchasing property on the planet came with some stringent requirements.
To buy a house on Xandar, an off-worlder had to have lived there for at least five years.
Buying land was even stricter—requiring a ten-year residency with no legal infractions during that time.
In other words, Harvey needed to have legal residence status.
But Harvey wasn't the type to follow all the rules. He knew that if an Xandarian were the one to make the purchase, the process would go much more smoothly.
"Sonya, I'm going to bid on a piece of land in your name," Harvey said abruptly.
"The auction is in three days. You'll accompany me."
Harvey had no intention of waiting for years to establish residency. He was ready to act now.
"Understood," Sonya replied without hesitation. She had just finished calculating the damages and came downstairs.
She knew that Harvey intended to purchase the land for the construction of the Void Church on Xandar—the future base of operations where she would be working.
Even though rumors might spread that Kassadin was keeping her as some sort of mistress, Sonya no longer cared about such trivialities.
Before witnessing the greatness of the Void, she might have been more hesitant, but now? There was no room for doubt.
And besides, if Kassadin had been interested in her body, he would have made a move long ago. The fact that he hadn't shown that this was strictly a business arrangement.
"Fortunately, Mr. Darm only damaged the ceiling and didn't break any valuable decorations or art. The total repair cost will be 6,000 units."
"The repair crew said they could fix everything within two hours."
"If you'd prefer to avoid the noise, you might want to step out for a bit," Sonya suggested, glancing at her communications device and bringing up a projection of the damage assessment.
"Tell them to come right away," Harvey said, tapping the screen to approve the payment.
He had spent months completing numerous bounty missions, solidifying his reputation, and now he just wanted to rest.
All he wanted at the moment was to enjoy some good food and find small distractions to pass the time. He didn't want to be running around constantly.
If it weren't for the land auction, he wouldn't even bother attending. After giving the order, Harvey lounged on the sofa, casually sipping a drink.
"…"
Sonya glanced at Harvey, now sprawled out like a lazy fish on the couch, realizing he had no intention of leaving the house that day.
She didn't ask why—she didn't have the right to. Instead, she took out her communicator to contact the repair crew, reminding them to bring soundproofing materials so they wouldn't disturb the guests.
Then, she stood quietly by, waiting.
Although the hunger gnawed at her, it didn't weaken her physically. It seemed the need to eat was more of a desire than a necessity.
Oddly enough, the more she thought about the hunger, the stronger it became.
So, Sonya shifted her focus to the upcoming auction and began contemplating what outfit she should wear to avoid embarrassing Kassadin.
After all, she still didn't know Kassadin's true identity. But one thing was clear: based on his appearance and demeanor, Kassadin carried the air of someone important.
And if she was going to accompany him, she'd need to make sure her image was worthy of that role.