Near the New Year

Over the next month and a half.

Harvey found that Sonia still carried out her usual duties as normal.

Seeing that she seemed completely unaffected put Harvey at ease.

During that time, Tony had Sonia help him purchase some things, all of them minerals or special materials only available on alien worlds.

Then, on this particular day, Tony came to see him on his own.

"Harvey, I’m flying my fighter jet back tomorrow."

"I checked the wormholes along the route. The trip back will probably take around three days."

"I’m planning to head back early and surprise Pepper."

"And I can spend Christmas with Pepper while I’m at it."

Tony arrived at Harvey’s villa in his Iron Man armor and spoke.

"You haven’t told Pepper that you’re going back?"

Harvey asked, somewhat surprised by Tony’s words.

"If I told her, it wouldn’t be a surprise. I even told Pepper I’d be delaying my return."

Tony said with a smile.

Although Pepper had complained for a while when he told her he would be returning later, she would definitely be happy when he showed up early.

"Have you said goodbye to the others on the island?"

"You might not be able to come back for quite some time after you leave this time."

Harvey said.

Although Tony’s strength had improved considerably, after 2011, it would not be so easy for Tony to get away for a while.

"…?"

Tony was somewhat puzzled when he heard Harvey say that he would not be able to return for some time.

He had originally planned to go back, spend Christmas with Pepper, and stay with her for a while.

He expected to come back after about half a year. There was no need to make a special farewell for an absence of only six months; it was not like they would never see each other again.

However, Tony also knew that Harvey possessed an ability similar to seeing through everything.

He understood that Harvey would not suddenly say something like that without reason. Since he had said it, something might entangle Tony and keep him from getting away.

"Alright. I’ll go say hello to them before I leave."

So Tony thought it over, decided it was necessary, nodded, and immediately left.

"Mr. Kassadin, how long do you plan to stay on C53 Earth?"

At that moment, Sonia could no longer hold herself back and asked from the side.

"That depends. I’ll probably stay there for a while, watch a good show, and then come back."

Harvey was startled that Sonia had actually asked, but he still told her about his upcoming plans.

"Watch a good show?"

Sonia asked curiously.

"Yes. In a few years, someone named Star-Lord should come to Xandar."

"When you hear news of him, send me a message."

Harvey nodded and said.

"Star-Lord? I’ve never heard that name."

"In a few years… Mr. Kassadin, do you have the ability to see the future?"

Sonia’s eyes flickered as she searched her memories for information related to that name. Finding nothing at all, she asked in surprise.

Her feelings were complicated as she asked that question.

If Mr. Kassadin truly possessed the ability to see the future, then had their meeting also been within his foresight?

Would everything that happened between her and Mr. Kassadin in the future, every possible outcome, also be within his foresight?

"No."

Harvey shook his head.

Only after he obtained the Void Prophet’s ability would he possess foresight.

For now, he merely knew that certain major events would happen. He could not see people’s futures.

Even if another Hero Template appeared, he would not consider choosing the Void Prophet.

Instead, he would choose the Hero Template of Void Terror—Cho’Gath the Great Bug.

Since he had already chosen the Void Predator’s abilities and continued strengthening his body, he naturally had to prioritize physical power.

The Void Prophet belonged to the magical side. While magic was useful, a stronger body gave him a greater sense of security when taking action.

As long as his body was tough enough and he was not killed in one blow, he could teleport away and immediately restore himself to peak condition.

"I see."

Hearing Mr. Kassadin’s words, Sonia relaxed considerably.

If someone saw through your future and that future was good, it would be a good thing.

But if the future held misfortune, it would make people unwilling to face it.

Of course, what Sonia feared most was whether Mr. Kassadin had seen through the future between them, which was why he had not the slightest interest in her.

But now that Mr. Kassadin had said no, what she worried about would not happen.

"If I remember correctly, Xandar’s New Year is on December 20th?"

Seeing Sonia’s somewhat relieved expression, Harvey’s eyes flickered. He looked out the window at the snowy landscape blanketed in white, like a world of ice and snow, and spoke.

"Yes. Why?"

Although Sonia found it strange that Mr. Kassadin had suddenly brought it up, she answered anyway.

"The island should be quite lively then."

Harvey considered it for a moment before speaking.

Even now, with Xandar in the midst of a snowy winter and many people too lazy to go outside, it was still very lively.

"The Void Cult currently has a total of 427 members."

"Excluding me, there are still 314 members on the island."

"All of them plan to celebrate their first year after joining the Void Cult."

"Many members plan to spend the first day of the New Year with their parents before coming to the island to celebrate."

"And some are planning to visit the temple and pay respects to your statue, thanking you for granting them new lives."

"So it will definitely be very lively."

Sonia nodded slightly and said with a smile.

"Then I’ll stay until after the New Year before leaving."

Hearing that so many people planned to spend the New Year on the island, Harvey said with a smile.

"Really?"

Sonia froze when she heard that Mr. Kassadin was actually going to spend the New Year here. Then, unable to conceal the delight on her face, she asked in disbelief.

"Of course it’s true."

"Since they’re all planning to worship my statue together, what would it look like if I wasn’t on the island?"

Harvey nodded.

"That’s wonderful. I’ll go make preparations."

Sonia beamed happily, then immediately ran downstairs to fetch New Year decorations.

Seeing Sonia’s happy appearance, Harvey said nothing.

Even if he went back to Earth for the New Year, he would spend it alone. It would be better to celebrate on Void Island, where it would be livelier.

Harvey did not know much about Sonia’s past. He had never asked, and Sonia had never brought it up herself.

However, Harvey remembered clearly that when Sonia had signed on his behalf, the profile she displayed had listed "none" under relatives.

Perhaps they had died in an accident, perhaps they had abandoned Sonia, or perhaps there were other reasons.

But no matter the reason, if he left, Sonia would probably spend the New Year alone as well.

Although he and Sonia might have long grown accustomed to spending the New Year alone, having company for the holiday would naturally make them happier.

The seventh day of ten thousand words. The first update is here.