Chapter 172: First Class

?Nyxara gave him a small, indignantly flustered look.

?Cassian laughed, pressing down on the accelerator.

?The vehicle surged forward, its antigravity field absorbing all inertia as the city skyline gradually receded behind them.

?After several minutes of high-speed travel, their destination appeared on the horizon.

?The Lord Transit complex towered over the surrounding sector, it was an immense orbital transit hub connected to the planet’s upper atmosphere by a network of heavy launch platforms and magnetic transit conduits.

Massive docking gantries extended from its core structure, while luminous spatial rings rotated steadily around the station’s crown.

?Interstellar transport vessels entered and departed through designated vector corridors, their flight paths orchestrated by the facility’s automated traffic-control network.

?Even from miles away, the structure was awe-inspiring.

?Cassian guided the hovercar toward the designated VIP arrival platform. The vehicle descended gracefully, settling onto the landing pad with a soft hiss.

?The engine quieted, and the antigravity system powered down.

?Cassian glanced over at Nyxara. "We’re here."

?She looked through the glass at the sprawling station, her violet eyes reflecting the pulsing lights of the spatial transit complex. "Is this where we begin our journey to the Orion Rift?"

?"Exactly."

Cassian had guided the hovercar into the designated parking bay and brought it to a smooth stop.

The vehicle’s antigravity system fully powered down, allowing it to settle onto the platform with a soft hiss.

?He glanced at the parking terminal beside the entrance.

’?I’ll have to pay for every night it stays here.’

?It wasn’t a particularly concerning expense, but he preferred settling such matters beforehand rather than dealing with unnecessary complications upon his return.

After confirming the parking arrangements through the vehicle’s personal AI, he locked the car and turned toward the transportation complex.

?"Let’s head inside."

?His Champion gave a firm nod and followed closely behind him.

?The moment they crossed the threshold, they were greeted by the steady, ambient hum of high-level activity.

?The Lord Transit hub was considerably larger on the inside than its exterior suggested. Its enormous central atrium stretched across several tiered floors, with transparent walkways spanning different sections of the complex.

Holographic displays hovered above the crowds, broadcasting real-time updates regarding departures, destinations, vessel classifications, and transit clearances.

?Lords moved throughout the building, each intent on their own affairs.

?Some had arrived surrounded by their Champions and legions, preparing to launch expeditions to distant sectors of the Astral Dominion.

Others were returning from deep-space incursions, their expressions ranging from exhausted satisfaction to barely concealed disappointment.

A few gathered before departure terminals, analyzing environmental feeds while discussing strategy with their companions.

?The atmosphere was orderly, yet charged with tension.

?Every single destination represented opportunity, and in the Lord Era, opportunity rarely came without existential risk.

?Some Lords were bound for active war worlds. Others sought dimensional rifts, hoping to extract rare resources or unearth ancient legacies left behind by forgotten civilizations.

There were even those preparing to colonize newly registered planets, where the promise of unexplored territories lured ambitious Lords from across the Dominion.

?Cassian paid little attention to the surrounding commotion.

?His destination had already been set.

?He and Nyxara approached one of the executive registration counters, where an Association official sat behind a sleek glass terminal.

She looked up, offering a practiced, professional smile as they arrived.

?"Good morning, Lord. How may I assist you today?"

?Cassian retrieved his Lord Association license and handed it across the counter. "Please verify my credentials."

?"Certainly."

?The official accepted the card and tapped it against the scanning interface.

?A holographic display flickered to life above the desk, presenting Cassian’s registration profile. His identity, awakening date, Lord Seed grade, and active status populated the screen.

?The official scanned the records.

?Then her eyes froze.

?[Lord Awakening: 3 Days Ago]

[Lord Seed: D-Grade]

?She examined the readout a second time before slowly looking up at Cassian.

?A newly awakened Lord.

?There was nothing inherently unusual about that. The Lord Transit hub regularly processed newly awakened individuals, plenty of whom visited the station to explore entry-level opportunities beyond their home worlds.

?Still, the official made a mental note of his profile before returning the license.

?"Your credentials have been verified, Lord Cassian." She handed him the card with a polite nod. "Which destination would you like to request passage to today?"

?"The Orion Rift."

?Her fingers froze above the terminal keyboard.

?For a moment, the official wondered if her hearing had failed her. "The Orion Rift?"

?"That’s correct."

?She slowly raised her head, her gaze hardening slightly. "Lord Cassian... are you aware that the Orion Rift is currently classified as a Tier IV dimensional rift?"

?"I am."

?The official stared at him.

?The Orion Rift had become one of the most heavily discussed topics in the Astral Dominion following its recent discovery.

Its chaotic energy signatures and unexplored interior had drawn intense interest from high-tier Lords, research consortiums, and military factions alike.

?However, there was a very specific reason the destination carried a Tier IV hazard rating.

?Dimensional rifts were ranked according to environmental lethal risk, and a Tier IV rift posed a severe threat even to seasoned Ascendant Lords.

Powerful alien fauna, erratic spatial shifts, and unknown phenomena made such anomalies lethal for inexperienced explorers.

?A Lord who had awakened merely three days ago, holding a D-Grade Seed, was the absolute last person she expected to request passage to an active Tier IV zone.

?Yet Cassian’s expression remained entirely impassive.

?The official studied his calm blue eyes for another moment before releasing a quiet, inward sigh.

’?Another arrogant newcomer who thinks he can conquer the cosmos on day three.’

?She had seen hundreds like him.

?A few returned with legendary loot and rapid rank advancements. The vast majority never returned at all.

?Nevertheless, she possessed no authority to block a registered Lord from choosing his destination.

?She resumed operating her console. "Very well. Which transit tier would you prefer? We currently offer standard economy clearance, business class, and—"

?"First class."

....

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