Chapter 174: The Astral Voyager II

?This was no ordinary civilian transport. It was a flagship interstellar vessel designed to carry Lords toward lethal frontiers while providing a degree of security and luxury that standard spacecraft couldn’t match.

?Cassian studied it through the shuttle’s window.

’?Not bad.’

?He had seen considerably more impressive capital ships in his previous life, but that didn’t diminish his appreciation for the craftsmanship.

The starship appeared impeccably maintained, and its defensive grid suggested that the Lord Association wasn’t willing to take unnecessary risks with its wealthiest passengers.

?After all, a Lord who could afford first-class transportation was hardly someone the Association wanted to lose to a spatial anomaly.

?Cassian turned his attention toward his fellow passengers.

?There were seven other Lords aboard the shuttle, excluding himself.

?Unlike the travelers he had encountered in the main public terminal, these individuals carried themselves with the quiet, effortless confidence of veterans accustomed to life-or-death combat.

Several wore specialized high-tier battle gear, while others had brought Champions or personal attendants who stood silently behind them.

?Cassian casually activated [Soul Gaze], letting his perception sweep over the group.

?Their strength was immediately apparent.

?The weakest among them was a Tier III Lord. The others were even stronger, with a few emitting dense auras that suggested extensive experience navigating the Lord’s Domain.

?Not a single one was below Tier III.

?Cassian found the situation subtly amusing.

’?I’m definitely the odd one out here.’

?On paper, he had awakened merely three days ago. His registered Lord Seed was a humble D-grade, and his official rank was still at the bottom of the ladder.

Compared with the seasoned explorers surrounding him, he looked less like an elite conqueror and more like a wealthy rookie who had accidentally boarded the wrong vessel.

?Of course, official records were meaningless.

?Cassian had already subjugated four complete territories, evolved his personal domain into a Tier III Region, and assembled an undead legion that would be considered absurd for an ordinary Lord at his stage.

?His actual combat power bore zero resemblance to his public profile.

?Still, he had no intention of correcting anyone’s assumptions.

?Beside him, Nyxara gazed through the glass with undisguised interest. "My Lord, that vessel is considerably larger than I expected."

?"First-class transportation comes with certain privileges," Cassian replied with a faint smile.

?"Does that mean the interior is equally impressive?"

?"We’ll find out soon enough."

?The shuttle gradually slowed as it approached the starship’s rear docking bay. A series of guidance lights illuminated along the massive hull, directing the smaller transport toward a recessed landing bay beneath the main thruster banks.

?The shuttle aligned itself with the entry vector.

?A moment later, magnetic clamps engaged with a heavy, muted thud.

?The docking sequence was complete.

?Beyond the viewports, the starship’s massive posterior hatch began to cycle open. Reinforced blast doors slid apart, revealing a pristine internal hangar illuminated by rows of bright white panels.

The bay was spacious enough to accommodate several shuttles simultaneously, with automated docking cradles lined up along the reinforced floor.

?The shuttle glided forward.

?Once it cleared the threshold, the outer doors sealed behind it, isolating the bay from the hard vacuum of space.

?A smooth, automated chime echoed through the shuttle cabin:

?"Attention, passengers. We have arrived aboard the Astral Voyager. Please gather your belongings and follow the station personnel to the executive reception hall. Final departure preparations will begin shortly."

?The passengers rose from their seats.

?Cassian stood and offered Nyxara his hand, which she accepted with a faint flush before following him toward the exit hatch.

?The shuttle doors glided open, revealing the cavernous expanse of the starship’s hangar. Automated maintenance units moved along recessed floor tracks, inspecting docking clamps and running diagnostic sweeps on the vessel’s secondary systems.

A small delegation of crew members stood waiting to escort the first-class guests toward the primary decks.

?One of them stepped forward immediately.

?The crewman wore a crisp, dark uniform bearing the insignia of the Lord Association’s transit fleet. A small identification badge rested on his lapel, and a sleek data wrist-comm was strapped to his forearm.

?He bowed respectfully as the Lords disembarked.

?"Welcome aboard the Astral Voyager, esteemed Lords. My name is Evan, and I will be facilitating your boarding today. Please follow me to the executive reception lounge, where your credentials will be confirmed and your private suites assigned."

?The other Lords acknowledged him with indifferent nods.

?Cassian walked alongside Nyxara, taking in the structural details of the starship as they moved. The hangar was vast, its bulkheads reinforced with thick layers of blast-resistant alloy.

Beyond a set of heavy hydraulic doors, a wide corridor stretched deeper into the vessel’s interior.

?The starship was even more impressive from the inside.

....

The passengers were led through a wide corridor that opened into the spacecraft’s executive reception lounge.

A transparent identification gate stood at the threshold, scanning each Lord’s credentials before granting access.

Once their identities were verified, the crew directed them inside and informed them that they were free to relax while the final departure preparations were completed.

?The lounge was considerably more impressive than Cassian had expected.

?A spacious chamber stretched before them, its curved walls lined with polished silver alloy panels and luminous strips that provided soft, ambient lighting.

The ceiling was high enough to accommodate several hovering holographic displays, each broadcasting real-time data about the Astral Voyager, its current trajectory, and the estimated time of arrival at the Orion Rift.

?Comfortable leather sofas and reclining chairs were arranged around low tables, leaving plenty of room for passengers to move about.

Along one side of the lounge, enormous reinforced armorglass windows offered an unobstructed view of the surrounding orbital bay.

Through the transparent surface, Cassian could see smaller vessels weaving between the station’s massive docking gantries.

?A luxury refreshment counter occupied the opposite side of the room, stocked with exotic beverages and high-tier culinary options.

Attendants stood ready to serve, while a discreet service terminal allowed guests to request specialized amenities.

?The atmosphere was refined, luxurious without feeling overly ostentatious.

?It was precisely the sort of service one expected after spending over twelve million Astral coins on a single passage.

?Cassian glanced around as he and Nyxara entered.