A minute passed, and the three men crashed to the ground with a thud. They didn't care about their bruises or scrapes; all three were too stunned by what they had just experienced.
"Was that just an avatar of Lord Kassadin?" one of them asked, eyes wide.
"Could that have been the true form of Lord Kassadin?" another wondered aloud.
"Darm, how did you manage to meet such a magnificent being?" the third added, awe-struck.
The guards were filled with reverence. What they had just witnessed was far beyond anything they could comprehend.
"Kassadin's greatness is unquestionable," Darm declared, arms crossed and face stern. "As someone who joined the Void ahead of you, I must explain the doctrines and laws of the Void Church."
Darm knew it wasn't just about serving Kassadin; it was about ensuring that none of them would tarnish his name or bring unnecessary trouble. They needed a clear plan—grow stronger in secret and then spread the word of the Void, allowing the Void's blessings to rain down on Xandar.
Barnett, Primo, and Philip, Darm's comrades, had no objections. After all, not only had Kassadin blessed them, but Darm had also brought them along for the ride, proving himself to be a loyal brother. Now, they were more eager than ever to serve the Void and contribute in any way they could.
Meanwhile, at the Elite Hotel, Harvey observed from above, watching the men's expressions of joy and newfound conviction. He fell into deep thought.
He had already completed the disaster missions from the bounty list. The remaining tasks weren't useless, but they wouldn't provide the same level of money or evolution points that the previous missions had. He could still do them, but the reward wasn't as high.
Maybe it was time to think about other ways to make money.
For long-term success, he needed to find a profitable venture, something that could provide a steady stream of resources while supporting growth. But that required more followers of the Void to make it sustainable.
Right now, Harvey had about 2.8 billion in savings, so he wasn't strapped for cash just yet. He hoped that once the Void Church was properly established, talented individuals would start joining.
Too bad Tony was still preoccupied with Earth, focusing solely on how to grow stronger to face the coming dangers. If Tony could be convinced to come to Xandar and learn about its advanced technology, his inventive mind could no doubt come up with breakthroughs. And with those inventions, money would flow in easily.
But Harvey knew it wasn't the right time. Tony wasn't ready to leave Earth and start exploring the universe.
The Void Church was lacking manpower, especially skilled individuals, so everything needed to progress slowly for now.
Once the church grew beyond its initial stages, things would undoubtedly improve.
As for asking rich people to donate large sums in exchange for the right to believe in the Void, that wasn't Harvey's style. It would require too much direct involvement on his part, and that would only create more problems.
The first and unchanging tenet of the Void Church was to give everyone a chance to believe in the Void. The weaker the individual, the more they desired change. After receiving the power of the Void, these people would cherish the opportunity and have stronger faith.
The more devout the followers, the less likely they would be to betray or harm the Void Church. In the early stages, Harvey's goal was to recruit as many devout believers as possible.
With enough loyal followers, Harvey would receive a constant flow of Void energy. It was a win-win.
Pushing his worries aside, Harvey decided to relax and play some video games. With the Void Church soon to be established, he knew his free time would be scarce.
The following month flew by.
While Harvey indulged in food and games, Sonya was constantly on the move. She regularly visited the island to oversee construction, ensuring the workers didn't slack off after receiving their paychecks.
As the project's designer, she kept a close eye on the layout of the buildings, checking for any errors. She also had to negotiate with the Maritime Planning Bureau about opening new shipping routes to the island.
Despite the daily grind, Sonya didn't find her tasks burdensome. She thrived on the variety of her work. This was exactly what she had wanted—to step outside the confines of the Elite Hotel and experience something different.
A month of running around left her physically exhausted, but she also noticed that her body had evolved three times during this period. Her strength, stamina, and recovery ability had all vastly improved. Even after a full day of activity, she could regain her energy after just a half-hour of rest.
If others knew that joining the Void could bring such incredible changes, they would pay anything for the chance.
Yet, Kassadin hadn't demanded massive sums of money from her. Instead, after a few simple tests, he had granted her this life-changing opportunity.
This gift was more valuable than anything money could buy.
A month later.
"Mr. Kassadin, we're ready to go."
One morning, Sonya stood in front of Harvey. She had resigned from her position as villa manager the previous day. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Dressed in a white blouse and matching shorts, her long, pale legs shimmered in the light. She looked youthful, energetic, and full of anticipation for the future.
"Mr. Kassadin, we can leave now. Everything is ready. Please, come with me and take a look," she said with a bright smile.
"That's all you're taking with you?" Harvey asked, noticing how little she had packed.
"Yes, I've already had the rest of my things shipped to the island. I know you don't need transportation to get there, but could you please come with me this time? I'd like to give you a full tour."
Harvey smiled and nodded. "Alright."
Originally, he had planned to simply teleport them both to the island. But her request made sense, and there was no reason to decline.