Building Interstellar Empire With Universal Synthesis

"Brat, you’re back!"

​Old Dorok’s laughter echoed the moment he spotted Neo inside his shop. As usual, the little girl, Stella, was there as well.

​"Brother Neo, how did your mission go?" Stella asked.

​Neo smiled faintly as he replied, "Good, I think. I have learned many new things."

​He then fell silent, which seemed unusual to them. Normally, he was always in a cheery mood, but now he felt different. The old man assumed Neo had become more mature, while Stella thought he looked a little more handsome.

​"Old Dorok, should we play a round of GoGo?" Neo asked.

​Old Dorok and Stella’s faces brightened instantly.

​"Haha, really? This time I will beat you for real, brat!" the old man said excitedly.

​"Ooh, I want to watch! Brother Neo, show us your God-hand skills! And Grandpa, don’t give up!"

The old man quickly brought the Augmented Reality device..

It cast a neon-blue glow on Old Dorok’s weathered face. In the virtual space of GoGo, the quiet shop transformed into a sprawling star sector, filled with asteroid belts and dormant gas giants.

​"Organize your fleet, brat!" Dorok challenged, "I’ve been practicing while you were away playing Space Mercenary."

His old fingers danced across the augmented interface with practiced ease

​Neo didn’t respond immediately. He watched the tiny icons of frigates and destroyers settle into their starting positions.

To Dorok, this was a retro-style game of space fleet organization and modern warfare tactics. But to Neo, who had just stood on the bridge of a Titan-class ship that spanned 5,000 square meters, the simulation felt hauntingly simple.

​"Old man, I’ll start with a standard pincer movement," Neo murmured, his voice lacking its usual competitive edge.

​"Standard? Since when do you play standard?" You’re playing like a man with a heavy conscience. Snap out of it!" Dorok grunted, sending a squadron of interceptors to harass Neo’s flank.

​Stella leaned in, her eyes wide as she watched the virtual explosions.

"Grandpa is winning! Brother Neo, your left wing is open!"

​Neo’s eyes narrowed slightly. He flicked a finger, and his central carrier didn’t retreat. Instead, it accelerated directly into the heart of Dorok’s formation, ignoring the damage reports flashing in red.

​"What are you doing? That’s suicide!" Dorok shouted, though his grin widened.

​"It’s not suicide, It’s a sacrifice. By the time you destroy that carrier, my stealth corvettes will have already tethered to your command ship’s engine core. In a real war, efficiency dictates that a single ship is a small price for a total surrender."

Dong!!

​As if on cue, the virtual corvettes emerged from the shadow of a gas giant, locking onto Dorok’s flagship.

The screen flashed a bright violet and the words TOTAL VICTORY scrolled repeatedly across the display.

​The workshop became quuet.

Old Dorok leaned back, looking at Neo with a mixture of pride and genuine concern. The "God-hand" skills were there, but the playstyle had changed from a clever gamer to a cold strategist.

​"You won, Neo. But you didn’t look like you were having fun," the old added.

​Neo leaned back as he replied, "No, Old Dorok. I’ve just realized that in every game, someone has to be the villain for the story to move forward, Old Man. I just decided I’m done being the one who loses."

Old Dorok placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

​"Tell me... what is wrong with you, Neo? You’re acting unnatural."

​Neo replied, "I thought about the demand you mentioned regarding the Aqua Core Flask, and I have decided to push it to the next stage. I am going to set up a company, and I want you to join me in this venture."

​The words coming from his mouth shocked Old Dorok.

​"What are you saying? You want to set up a company? What about your dream of becoming a Beyonder?" Dorok asked, looking seriously concerned.

​"I already am one," Neo stated calmly. "I just don’t wish to risk my life for it when I can achieve my goals from home by earning money. Yes, you could say I am a coward..."

​"No, no, no... you’re making a mistake!"

​Old Dorok stood up and began frantically pacing back and forth, deeply distressed by Neo’s statement.

Suddenly, he gripped Neo’s other shoulder, looking into his eyes for certainty.

​"Neo, you are not my grandson, but I see you as one. You cannot risk your future like this. If you are thinking of buying your way to power, it is impossible. Beyonders aren’t meant to stay idle in the mortal world. They are required to traverse perilous paths in the cosmos and learn from them. Sure, in the beginning, you can rank up easily, but later, this laziness will become a heavy blockage and prevent your path of ascension."

​Stella also looked at him with worry in her small eyes.

​Neo remained relaxed. "Uhm, I didn’t know you knew so much about Beyonders, Dorok. But my mind is made up. Also, I didn’t say I am completely abandoning my dream. I will still be going on missions for the Apex Nebula Group. However, I will no longer be a full-time mercenary. I want to set up a business empire because I have realized where my true talents lie."

​"Where? In business?" Old Dorok scoffed disdainfully.

​"No. In crafting," Neo shot back with a smirk. "You wanted to know who made the Aqua Core Flask, right? Well, now you know: It was me."

​Old Dorok’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! I have never seen you crafting. And to make a miraculous water bottle like that, one would need at least decades of experience. Hell, even this old man I couldn’t do it!"

In response, Neo unstrapped his communication watch and said, "Why don’t we test who has the most practical skill, Old Dorok? We both will dismantle this gadget, and then fix it back. Maybe then you will believe me."

​Old Dorok grinned wild, "You’re asking for a deathmatch, boy. I may have lost GoGo, but I will never lose in this."

But, when the competition ended, the Old man’s mouth went so wide that it can fit an egg.

"Kill Me Now!"