Neville didn’t even realize that his favorability had just risen to 14%. His mind was still elsewhere, more specifically, on the gleaming rows of nutrient solution dispensers lining the docking bay’s passenger terminal.

His stomach cramped at the mere thought.

Forty-eight hours, he reminded himself grimly. Forty-eight hours of that or horrible food.

Even if the ’delicacies’ of Planet Xylos improved a bit by the trend of baragara, the ingredients of it were still something he didn’t want to eat.

The passenger starship loomed before them like a city suspended in the void. He had seen images of these vessels in the news. But seeing one up close, watching as its hull gleamed under the docking bay’s artificial lights, was an entirely different experience.

The starship’s name was Aurelius, one of the famous passenger starships in the Imperial Galaxy. It was the kind of vessel that diplomats fought over, that military officers pulled strings to book, that billionaires treated as a status symbol.

And Neville was about to board it as an ordinary employee. It was really a huge honor.

The boarding ramp wasn’t a ramp at all.

A glowing, transparent tunnel materialized before them, suspended in the air like a bridge woven from starlight. Beneath their feet—and above their heads—starscapes shimmered. Live feeds of the space beyond the docking bay played across the tunnel’s surface, creating the illusion that they were walking through the cosmos itself.

Neville’s breath caught.

’Don’t trip,’ he commanded himself. ’Whatever you do, do not trip on the fancy space bridge.’

[That would be hilarious though. ╮(╯▽╰)╭]

’Not. Helping.’

They bypassed the standard boarding procedures entirely. Meanwhile, other passengers queued in orderly lines, presented their QR tickets and identification to automated checkpoints, shuffling forward with the weary patience of experienced travelers.

Grayson led their small party through a private entrance that opened onto a priority lift.

No lines. No waiting. No questioning looks from the security.

Just a brief scan of Grayson’s identification, a respectful bow from the attendant, and the soft chime of doors sliding open.

"This way," Bryan said, gesturing for Neville to follow.

The lift rose in silence.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

Instead of narrow cabins and harsh metallic walls, the passenger starship looked like a cross between a luxury hotel, a floating botanical garden, and a high-end cruise liner.

Neville stepped out of the lift and immediately forgot how to breathe.

Soft gold lighting curved along the walls in elegant spirals, creating pools of warmth that made the space feel less like a vessel and more like a dream.

Floating holo-koi swam lazily through the air, their translucent bodies rippling with programmed iridescence as they wove between passengers.

The floor was a smooth grav-carpet that adjusted to the person walking across it, softening each step like they were treading on clouds.

Farther ahead, a transparent lift shaft glowed with swirling light threads, carrying guests upward like drifting feathers caught in an updraft.

His jaw dropped.

"Don’t look around too much," Bryan whispered, his voice barely audible as he fell into step beside Neville. He elbowed him lightly as a warning disguised as friendly contact. "Remember that you’re in the middle of work."

"I understand." Neville’s voice came out stiff and mechanical.

Bryan snorted. "You’re too stiff."

Neville clenched the strap of his bag tighter. "I’m trying."

"Relax." Bryan gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

I might as well be, Neville thought as he secretly took a deep breath. If I embarrass Mr. Maxwell on this trip, a firing squad would be the merciful option.

Even though he had been instructed not to wander his eyes around, Neville couldn’t help but catch glimpses of the luxurious interior as they walked.

The crystal viewing decks lined the corridor ahead, offering panoramic views of the docking bay. Shimmering grav-lift walkways branched off in multiple directions, carrying well-dressed passengers to their destinations.

"The Aurelius is one of our company’s flagship models," Bryan explained as they approached another lift. He said in his professional tone, "Mr. Maxwell likes to conduct inspection tours when the opportunity arises."

"Two birds, one stone," Neville murmured, remembering the old Earth phrase.

"Precisely."

The lift doors opened with a soft chime, and they stepped inside. This one was different from the priority lift at the entrance—more intimate, with walls paneled in what looked like actual wood. A small chandelier hung from the ceiling, its crystals swaying gently as the lift began to ascend.

Even the elevator is rich, Neville thought despairingly. What is my life?

The doors opened onto a corridor that was markedly different from the spaces they had glimpsed below.

Where those areas were comfortable but practical, it was the kind of tasteful luxury that said ’we have money, but we’re not showing off’. It was pure opulence.

Soft lighting bathed everything in a warm glow. Polished wood paneling covered the walls, interspersed with holographic artwork that moved and changed as they walked past. The carpet was thick enough to sleep on, swallowing the sound of their footsteps like they were walking through a soundproof chamber.

And at the end of the corridor, a door that opened onto what could only be described as a penthouse suite.

"This is the executive level," Bryan said, stepping inside without hesitating. "We have it to ourselves for the duration of the journey."

Neville stood in the doorway.

His mouth hung open.

The space felt less like a cabin and more like a private estate. A lounging area dominated the central space, filled with floating chairs that seemed to move and adjust automatically. Beyond the chairs, a wraparound panoramic window showcased the vast space.

The floors were polished metal in deep navy and silver, gleaming under the ambient lighting. Quiet corners held reading pods, their surfaces curved and inviting.

There was even a private dining and kitchenette that occupied one wall, complete with a table that could seat eight. Two study rooms branched off from the main area, their doors half-open to reveal desks equipped with the latest holographic interfaces. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

A kitchenette! Neville exclaimed, I can sneak in and make some food!

And beyond all of that, a wide hall led to what Neville could only assume were the bedroom suites.

But Neville did not feel like enjoying it. He felt like one wrong move, one item destroyed, he would lose all of his money and sell his body to pay for this debt.

Then, a shadow fell over him.

He became acutely aware of a presence behind him. A tall, solid, and cold presence that exudes fresh water pheromones.

"You’re blocking the walkway," Grayson said in a low voice.

Neville jumped so hard he stumbled forward, his hand shooting out to grab the nearest stable object. Unfortunately, the nearest stable object turned out to be Bryan’s sleeve, which he clutched like a lifeline while his heart attempted to escape through his throat.

"I’m sorry." The words came out too fast, tripping over each other. "It’s just... this is a lot."

Behind him, Grayson remained silent for a beat.

Then, an unexpected reply was heard. "I suppose it is."

His tone was light. But those silver eyes remained unreadable, fixated on Neville, or rather, his hand that was clutching Bryan’s sleeves.

"Keep up," Grayson said as he walked inside.

Bryan had already made himself comfortable on one of the floating sofas after getting out of Neville’s clutches. He opened his light brain and started sorting through work documents.

Neville followed him and sat across from him, nervous to even set his butt on the seat comfortably. He even hesitated to place his backpack carefully on the cushions, afraid that it would leave a mark on the cushions.

[The male lead keeps looking at you, host. ♡(´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)] Shelly informed him.

Neville resolutely did not turn to check, afraid of being scolded for his poor behavior.

With that, Neville decisively focused on the view outside the panoramic windows. The star station had begun to recede, shrinking in the distance as the Aurelius pulled away from the docking bay. The massive engines thrummed somewhere deep below, propelling them forward.

Stars stretched and blurred at the edges of the viewport as the ship accelerated toward the first warp point.

"Journey time to Planet Monus is approximately forty-eight hours," Bryan said, not looking up from his tablet. "You should start preparing your briefing for the meeting upon touchdown. Mr. Maxwell will expect a full summary of the key stakeholders and their positions."

"I understand." Neville pulled out his own tablet, grateful for the excuse to focus on something.

...

Several decks below, in the standard passenger areas of the starship, trouble was brewing.

A man in a gray coat checked his light brain for the third time. The holographic display flickered above his wrist, casting a pale blue glow across his unremarkable features. He scrolled through his messages with a blank expression.

The message he was looking for appeared at the bottom of his inbox.

No sender name. No subject line. Just a few words and a location tag.

Target Spotted. Executive level. Proceed as planned.

He read it twice, and then he deleted it.