Building Interstellar Empire With Universal Synthesis

Inside a shady underworld bar, Zestia and Leon could be seen talking to some slippery men who were known to have the most secret intelligence in the underworld.

​They had all kinds of news; however, when it came to targeting a newly awakened Beyonder like Neo Godson, they seemed to have no information at all.

​After failing again, Leon exhaled an exhausted breath.

​"Dear niece, this is getting nowhere. If we search blindly like this, we will find nothing. We should just charge into the Byzon Company and grab the President’s collar. That cunt will spit out everything he knows," he said, showing a little of his arrogant attitude.

​Zestia sat on her chair and rolled her eyes at him.

​"You know that is not possible, Uncle. The Byzon Company is not some small fish we can barge in on like that. Forget about the Rothschilds’ influence; they also have Federal Officers as security due to how valuable they are to the economy."

​Leon scoffed in irritation.

​"Tch, the Rothschilds have no formidable fighters in their bloodline. And yet, they have taken quite a hold of the government because of their talent in managing intergalactic business and finance. Anyway, why don’t you ask your father for help? He should have a say in the matter of politics."

​Zestia’s fingers, tapping on the table, paused. The music didn’t even register in her mind.

​Uncle Leon’s advice made sense, but the thing was, it would mean accepting defeat over the very thing she was running away from.

​Leon noticed her difficulty and added, "On second thought, you don’t need to be so hard on yourself, Zestia. I’m sure we’ll find another way before your boyfriend returns."

​However, she shook her head.

​"No, I must do this. For Neo, at least."

​She was about to call her father through her biologically implanted watch, but then Neo’s call request flashed over the table in a holographic display.

​Neo was seen sitting on a sofa, his face eerily calm in the dimly lit background.

​"Are you already here, Neo?" she asked, her voice trembling before she knew it.

​She also noticed his change, and it made her feel intimidated.

​Even Leon, a Type 6 Beyonder, felt his eyes narrow because of the invisible, chilling aura around Neo.

​"Yes, I am here. Come and meet me at my house," Neo replied from the other side.

​She nodded.

​"Alright. I’ll be there with Uncle Leon."

​The call was cut off, making the atmosphere between uncle and niece tense.

​"That boy... he changed so much," Leon commented solemnly. "He feels stronger than me."

​"That’s impossible, Uncle. You’re a Type 6 Metahuman, and it took you fifteen years to achieve that. And Neo... he became a Beyonder just a few months back. There is no way someone could become that strong so rapidly," she added, not believing it at all.

​But then she remembered how he had managed to slaughter the Red Mermaid Lord single-handedly while he was just a Type 8.

​She obviously couldn’t do it. No one in their age group could do it. But Neo had done it.

​She became doubtful of her statement again.

​And Leon stayed silent. The words coming from his niece made sense, after all.

--

Less than twenty minutes later, their hover-car descended into the expansive courtyard of the Green Vine Villa.

Zestia and Leon stepped out, immediately noticing the oppressive, heavy atmosphere blanketing the entire estate.

​The air itself felt thicker, almost difficult to breathe.

​As they walked through the grand double doors and entered the dimly lit living room, Leon’s martial instincts immediately screamed at him.

His pupils shrank to pinpricks, and a cold sweat broke out across his back.

​Sitting casually on the central leather sofa was Neo. However, seeing him through a holographic screen was entirely different from standing in his actual presence. Neo’s physical form had undergone a flawless, terrifying evolution. His shoulders were broader, his posture exuded the absolute authority of a cosmic sovereign, and the invisible aura rolling off his skin felt like the crushing gravity of a dying star.

​Leon, a proud Type 6 Metahuman, suddenly realized that if Neo wanted to, he could probably crush him with a single thought.

But how was this possible?

​Regardless, standing slightly behind Neo were Elena and Clark, both Hypermechas looked intimidating, despite keeping their heads respectfully bowed.

​But Zestia’s eyes did not linger on Neo’s terrifying new strength, nor did she pay any attention to Elena and Clark. Instead, her gaze instantly fixated onto the woman standing directly by Neo’s side.

​It was Noir.

​Zestia felt a sudden, sharp sting of jealousy pierce her chest. As one of the most talented and beautiful young women in the Chronopolis elite circle, Zestia was used to being the center of attention. But the woman standing next to Neo possessed a breathtaking, unearthly beauty that defied mortal comprehension.

​Noir had flawless, pale skin that contrasted sharply with her long, flowing dark hair. Her abyssal black eyes held a seductive, dangerous allure, and her figure was curved with a sinful perfection.

Worse yet was the casual, intimate way Noir rested her hand on the back of Neo’s sofa, leaning down close to him with an air of long familiarity and devotion.

​’Who is she? Why is she so close to him?’ Zestia thought inwardly, while her fists clenched involuntarily.

​Noir noticed Zestia’s intense stare.

She flashed a faint faint as if already seen through Zestia’s inner thoughts.

Her dark angelic eyes swept over Zestia, sizing her up in an instant before she let out a soft, melodic hum that felt entirely condescending.

​"So, darling, this is the little subordinate who let the prey slip through her fingers?"

"D-darling?" Zestia stumbled, eyes wide.

"Who are you? Why are calling him darling?" she asked, her eyes blazing with anger.

"And just to let you know I am his friend, not his subordinate. And I did everything in my power—"

​"Enough," Neo said coldly, his voice deep and absolute.

​