Building Interstellar Empire With Universal Synthesis

The atmosphere in the grand showroom of SkyXon Flywheels turned frigid.

Nina shrank back, her fingers trembling as she clutched the hem of her jacket. The senior saleswoman, whose name tag read "Linda," sneered, adjusting her tight blazer with a flourish of self-importance.

​"Didn’t you hear me? Move away from the T-73,. I won’t have the upholstery smelling like a thrift store before a real client arrives."

​"Oh, look who it is! If it isn’t Nina Godson."

​Suddenly, another sharp, high-pitched voice cut through the tension.

It came from a young girl about Nina’s age, followed by a group of well-dressed teenagers.

She was Chloe, a girl from Nina’s class known for her wealthy parents and a penchant for making others feel small.

​"Chloe?" Nina whispered in nervousness.

​"Is this your brother, Nina?" Chloe laughed, pointing a manicured finger at Neo’s casual attire.

"I heard your family was struggling, but I didn’t think you’d be desperate enough to come here just to take ’window shopping’ selfies. Do you even know how much the steering wheel of that car costs? It’s more than your brother’s yearly salary, if he even has one that is."

​"My brother is a Beyonder!" Nina snapped back.

​Saleswoman Linda sneered,

"Hehe, a Beyonder? In those boots? Please. Every kid who can light a match these days calls himself a Beyonder. Real Beyonders don’t walk into a SkyXon showroom without an appointment or a gold-plated credit chip."

​Chloe’s friends joined in the snickering. "Maybe he’s here to apply for a job as a floor polisher," one boy joked.

​Neo’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

He didn’t care about the insults directed at him, but seeing Nina’s eyes well up with tears made his Cosmic Force manifest with a dangerous rhythm.

​He took a step toward Linda, speaking coldly: "I’ll give you one chance to apologize to my sister."

​"Or what? You’ll burn me with your ’scary’ eyes? Security!" Linda scowled.

​"Excuse me! Please, stop!" another younger woman, barely out of her teens and wearing a slightly oversized uniform that marked her as a trainee, scurried over.

Her name tag read "Sophie." She looked terrified, glancing between her senior colleague and the volatile energy radiating from Neo.

​"Linda, please, the manager says we shouldn’t cause scenes in the main hall," Sophie pleaded.

She then turned to Neo and Nina, bowing deeply.

"I am so sorry for the misunderstanding. If you are interested in the T-73, I can show you the interior and explain the flight mechanics. It’s a wonderful model."

​Linda scoffed, "Sophie, don’t be a fool. You’re wasting time on a trash. You have a quota to meet, and these two won’t even buy a keychain."

Sophie said softly,

​"I don’t mind. Everyone who enters SkyXon is a guest. Sir, Miss, please follow me."

​Neo looked at the young trainee. Her eyes were honest, filled with the kind of desperate kindness one has when they know what it’s like to be at the bottom.

The killing intent in Neo’s gaze slowly dissipated.

​"Fine," Neo said, ignoring Linda and Chloe entirely. "Sophie, was it? Show me the top-tier version of the T-73. Not the base model. The ’Limited Edition’ with the reinforced shield."

​Hearing him, Chloe rolled her eyes, "Tch. The Limited Edition? That’s 108 million Federal Dollars. He’s totally delusional."

​Ignoring them, Sophie led them to a platform where a deep crimson aero-car sat, its chassis shimmering with a subtle iridescent glow.

As she began to explain the specs, Neo cut her off.

​"I’ll take it," Neo said.

​Naturally, the showroom went silent for second. Even the distant sound of other customers chatting died away.

​"What did you say?" Linda asked, stepping closer.

​"I said I’ll take it. Right now. Full payment. And I want her to handle the entire commission. Every cent of it."

​Sophie’s jaw dropped, "Sir... that car is 108 million. The commission at 5%... that’s... that’s over 5 million dollars."

Neo remained unbothered. He pulled out the titanium card he had received after his recent dealings.

​"Can you process the transaction?"

​Sophie’s hands shook as she took the card. She ran it through the portable terminal at her waist.

Beep.

​[ Transaction Successful: $108,000,000.00 Debited ]

​Sophie stared at the screen, and tears began to stream down her face.

"I... I can pay for my mother’s surgery. I can... Oh, thank you, sir! Thank you!"

​Linda looked as if she had swallowed an entire ostrich egg. Her face turned a sickly shade of purple, her mouth opening and closing without a sound.

Chloe and her friends were also frozen, their faces pale. 108 million dollars was a sum their parents talked about in hushed, respectful tones. And this "commoner" had just spent it like he was buying a loaf of bread.

​Linda suddenly changed her demeanor. She rushed forward, pushing Sophie aside.

​"Oh! Lord Beyonder! I am so, so sorry! I was just testing your patience. It is a standard security protocol for high-profile clients!"

"Please, allow me to finalize the paperwork. A trainee like Sophie might make a mistake with such a large sum. I’ll give you a 1% discount and a lifetime membership to our lounge!"

​Neo didn’t even look at her. He kept his eyes on Nina, who was looking at the car with wide-eyed wonder.

​"Get away from me," Neo said as if he couldn’t stand her ugly presence.

​"But sir! I can offer you so much more! I have years of experience. I can give you much more—" Linda purred seductively, reaching for his arm.

​"I said, get away," Neo repeated, shoving her aside. "Sophie is my representative. You are nothing."

Linda hissed as if she was dripping venom,

​"You little brat! You think you’re getting that commission? I’m the senior here! I’ll tell the manager you stole this client from me. You’re fired! Give me that terminal!"

​"Who is being fired?"

​ This voice came from Mr. Henderson, the showroom manager.

Lina immediately seized the chance.

​"Manager! This trainee is violating protocol! She’s trying to embezzle a commission from a client I was already mid-negotiation with! And this man is being extremely disruptive!"

​Mr. Henderson ignored her. He was staring intently at Neo. His eyes traveled to the black card in Sophie’s hand, then back to Neo’s face.

His eyes widened in recognition. He had been at the Delta Square Auction recently, seated in the back, and he had seen this young man, the one who had moved mountains of credits and stood unfazed among the city’s elite.

​"Mr. Godson?" Henderson asked with reverence.

​Neo raised an eyebrow, "You know me?"

​"I was at the auction, sir. I saw your... strength. It is an absolute honor to have a Beyonder of your caliber in our establishment."

​Linda’s heart plummeted into her stomach.

"Manager? You— you know this beggar?"

​"Beggar?" Henderson turned to Linda, his face contorting with rage. "You idiot! This is Mr. Neo Godson. He earns billions in seconds. Money is like water to him."

​"W-what!" Linda looked as if sinking in despair.

​"I heard everything, Linda. I was watching the security feed from my office. You insulted a Beyonder, harrassed his family, and then tried to steal a commission from a hardworking trainee."

​He turned to a security guard standing nearby.

"Security, escort Linda out. She is terminated effective immediately. Ensure her name is blacklisted from every luxury guild in the city."

​"No! Wait! Mr. Godson, please!" Linda screamed as the guards grabbed her arms and dragged her toward the exit.

​Chloe and her friends tried to slip away quietly, but Neo’s voice stopped them.

​"Chloe."

​The girl froze, her back stiff.

​"Nina is my sister. The next time you speak to her, remember that the price of her ’commoner’ hands is currently worth more than your family’s entire estate. Do I make myself clear?"

​With face white as sheet, Chloe nodded frantically, before sprinting out of the showroom.

​Mr. Henderson turned back to Neo, smiling warmly.

"Mr. Godson, please accept my deepest apologies. As a token of our regret, we will upgrade the T-73 to the ’Imperial Dragon’ trim for free, and I will personally oversee Sophie’s promotion to Junior Executive."

​Sophie was still sobbing quietly, suddenly looked at Neo with profound gratitude.

​Neo nodded, then looked at Nina, "So, is the T-73 okay, Nina? Or do you want to see the T-80?"

​Nina laughed, "Haha, no, brother. This is perfect. It’s more than perfect."

​"Good. Let’s get the paperwork done. I have a secret location to visit, and I’d like to see you drive this home before I go."