NOVPUBPantheon's voice returned, calmer now. (The moment that barrier drops, things might change again. Get ready to act, but don't jump the gun.)
'Understood.'
Asher lowered his hands, allowing his golden energy to settle. The veins of light on his skin dimmed, but he didn't fully release Overload. Not yet.
The last thing he needed was to get caught off guard.
More people arrived—enforcers, Starfront agents, and other groups. Some flew in; others came by hovering cars.
Emergencies lifted the usual no-fly zone.
However, no one dared to get too close after realizing Aranis was present.
(Here it comes,)
The foggy barrier collapsed, and Aranis turned toward Asher.
"I get the gist of what's going on. Both of you—settle this and end the bloodshed now."
Asher's eyes narrowed. "So I'm free to take my client and leave?"
Aranis nodded. "Yes. Take him and head to Starfront Headquarters. I'll speak with your Guild Leader myself."
Without wasting time, Asher flew back to the Orion Hotel and grabbed Shery and Alder.
Then he headed toward headquarters, flanked by other Starfront members acting as escorts.
"Wow. You actually dodged Aranis's hands. You're fast, newbie," said a female member beside him.
She had a lizard-like head, and he figured she was female from her voice and the curves of her body. Based on her energy, she was at least A Rank.
"He went easy on me."
She smirked. "You're selling yourself short. I saw everything. He caught Raven easily, but when you picked up speed, he just stopped chasing. I'm sure he knew you were even faster than you let on."
She glanced sideways, amusement flickering in her eyes. "You're holding back, aren't you? I bet you didn't show your full power."
Asher didn't reply and just flew faster.
Judging Raven's skill by how easily he got caught wasn't accurate.
The assassin stayed still within his shadow realm, not expecting someone to casually scoop him up so easily.
Asher, on the other hand, knew from the start he had to keep moving to avoid getting caught.
Besides, he wasn't lying when he said Aranis went easy on him.
In no time, they reached Starfront HQ, where Astra was already waiting.
The guild leader quickly ordered someone to take Alder away, then turned to Asher.
"Follow me to my office."
When they reached the office, Astra motioned toward a chair. "Sit down,"
Asher sat and waited.
"Congratulations, and thanks for completing the mission. Your merit rank jumped from F- to C-. Your ability rank also rose to S+. After the meeting, see the clerk to get it updated."
He gave a small smile. "I'd like to raise it higher, but jumping too fast would raise some questions."
"That's it?" Asher tapped the table impatiently. "I offended a family that owns multiple galaxies, fought an S Rank assassin, almost got caught by an SS Rank, and all I get is a rank up?"
The guild leader laughed loudly, shaking his head. "Oh, sorry about that—I got a bit too excited and forgot myself. Don't worry, I'll make it up to you personally for handling that mission. Check your Starfront account."
Asher pulled out his portable device and tapped the Starfront icon. The screen lit up, showing his updated status.
[Code Name: Asher]
[Ability Rank: S+]
[Merit Rank : C-]
[Star-Points : 5,000,000]
"That five million Starpoints lets you buy stuff at any Starfront branch across the universe. Since you're heading toward the center, saving them up will help you get rarer items and artifacts. They're more valuable than regular money."
Asher nodded. Getting rare artifacts wasn't really his priority, but having plenty of money to spend never hurt.
"So that's it, huh? Everything's finished? I don't have to worry about the Crimzahr family sending people after me?"
The guild leader shook his head. "That, I can't promise."
"Perfect. So you gave me a mission that put a target on my back. I really hate being taken advantage of ,
Astra leaned back in his chair.
"Not really. Only a handful know you're using the Hyperion Teleporter. I doubt the Crimzahr would bother sending an assassin that far just for revenge. More likely, they'll try to pressure Starfront—but we're prepared for that."
If this was before, Asher would have doubted these claim.
But even Aranis, an SS rank, gave face to the organization.
That meant Starfront was far more influential than the Crimzahr—and possibly the force behind them.
"It's best you stay here until your departure date. Moving around too much will only draw unwanted attention. Keep a low profile—avoid conflict. When the time comes, the Hyperion Portal will be your way out."
He paused, then added, "Trust me, disappearing quietly is your safest move."
Asher didn't argue and accepted the offer.
Special rooms reserved for VIPs were available, and one was assigned to him. He brought Shery along to lower the chance of information leaking about his escape plan.
She felt sad that their time in the grand hotel was over, but he made up for it by staying close to her—enough times to wear her out.
Departure day arrived. He woke early, transferred 50 million more to Shery's account, and talked with Astra about moving her to a neutral planet for safety.
The guild leader agreed immediately. It was the least he could do after Asher risked everything on that sudden mission.
"Are you sure you don't want to see her one last time?" Astra asked.
Though they didn't show any affection in public, his instincts told him there was more between the two—something physical, at least.
"No. It would only make it harder for her to move on. I'm not the type to stay in one place for long."
Astra didn't press further. 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
"Let's go," he led Asher toward the Starfront hidden teleporter.
It was reserved for top-secret missions, accessible only with the guild leader's permission.
"This will take you straight to the space station. You might want to wear a mask—you're a celebrity now after what you pulled off in Orion," Astra explained, half-smiling. "They even gave you a nickname. Golden Flash."
Asher stayed quiet but slipped on the mask anyway. Better safe than sorry.
As soon as he stepped through the teleporter, the scenery shifted. Now aboard the station, he kept his head low and blended into the crowd without drawing attention.
He made his way back to the Void Slasher, climbed in, and took off toward the Hyperion Station—where the mothership waited.
Even from a distance, the ship stood out. It dwarfed the station—massive enough to hold tens of thousands of ships like his.
Its flat, triangular shape reminded him of a paper airplane, but there was nothing fragile about it. This was a fortress built for deep space and war.
Cannons the size of football fields lined its surface. If locked onto a small planet, it could reduce it to rubble in seconds.
As he closed in, a cluster of smaller patrol ships broke off from the station and moved to intercept.
He slowed down the Void Slasher, switched to comms, and sent over his credentials along with the permit for docking.
A moment passed. Then the reply came in: calm, firm, and procedural.
"Clearance verified. Proceed to Dock 7. You'll be escorted."
Two of the patrol ships flanked him while the rest peeled away. He followed their lead without resistance.
The docking clamps latched onto his ship with a dull clunk, followed by the hiss of pressure adjustment.
Once he stepped out, station guards surrounded him. No weapons were drawn, but they moved with that unmistakable stiffness—standard sweep protocol.
They checked the ship remotely for anything illegal—explosives, banned tech, or hidden passengers.
He kept his hands visible and didn't speak. It was all expected.
After a few minutes, the lead officer gave a nod. "Clean. You're good to go."
They motioned him toward the station's inner corridor. The Void Slasher, now out of his hands, would be parked by the station's AI.
He wouldn't be allowed to access it again until they reached the final destination. He had to move on foot like everyone else.
The waiting area stretched wide like an airport lounge, but the tension in the air made it feel tighter than it was.
Smooth metal benches lined the walls, and faint blue lights ran along the floor to guide traffic.
Asher stepped through the corridor and paused just outside the threshold, eyes scanning the crowd.
Thousands of people had gathered—mercenaries, adventurers, and government-tagged specialists by the look of their gear.
Armor pieces, reinforced coats, and utility belts showed that these weren't regular passengers.
Some wore cloaks to hide their faces, others stood tall like they owned the place. No one spoke loudly. Most stayed quiet, sizing each other up.
Though their appearances varied, it was clear they were all hardened warriors. Each had come for urgent missions spanning across the universe.
A slow breath escaped his lips. He pulled his hood lower, glad he worn the mask.
He quietly found a seat along the edge, choosing a spot with clear exits on both sides.
"Can I sit here?" A familiar voice echoed. He looked up to see Nyla—the same overly talkative S Rank girl he'd met before.
Not wanting to be recognized, he ignored her completely.
"Don't be so cold. This is the second time we've met, remember?" she giggled.
"How did you know it was me?" Asher's voice dropped dangerously low. He trusted his ability to hide his presence and aura , but she easily see through him.
"It's a secret. I'll only tell you if you agree to be my friend." She held out her hand for a handshake.
