Tauriel turned with an annoyed expression. "Old man… as if you don't have any yourself," she snapped sharply.
"Enough, stop arguing. They're here."
Lein's voice was calm yet firm enough to halt the squabble. His eyes remained fixed forward, watching as a group of soldiers approached the ship. One of them stepped onto the deck with practiced precision.
The soldier wore full armor with a large visor on their combat helmet, reflecting the neon glow of EON Gateway's distant structures. As they reached the deck, the visor slowly lifted, revealing a pair of strikingly sharp and beautiful eyes—a woman.
"I, Soldier Ely, request permission to conduct an inspection," she said in a firm tone. Even so, there was a gentleness in her voice, bringing a sense of calm to those who heard it.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings before stopping at Lein, Aleron, and Tauriel. "Who is the leader of this group?"
Tauriel stepped forward without hesitation. "I am."
Ely nodded, then handed a wide tablet to Tauriel. "Please fill out this form and pay the required fee," she explained briefly.
A moment later, her gaze swept over Lein, Aleron, and the entire crew standing behind them.
"Everyone, please comply with the procedure. Do not resist. Once this process is completed, you will receive a Dominion Entry Pass (DEP)."
With a calm movement, Ely took out several small bracelets from her storage ring. The bracelets floated above each person's head, spinning slowly as if assessing their owners. Suddenly, they expanded to a size wider than their shoulders, then emitted a bright light that flowed from top to bottom, forming transparent tubes that enclosed them.
Inside the light tube, Lein felt a strange sensation. The light was not only scanning his body but also penetrating the structure of his energy. A small hologram appeared in front of him, displaying a digital form he needed to fill out.
[Dominion Entry Pass]
Race / Species (Human, Beastkin, Cyborg, etc.):
Region / Realm of Origin:
Age & Citizenship Status: -
Energy Level / Power (If Any):
Affiliation / Faction:
Lein had anticipated such a procedure. Calmly, he began filling out the form.
"Race?" he muttered softly, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "Should I just put 'Human'? Or 'Sacred Human'?"
After considering for a moment, he finally typed 'Human' in the species column.
When filling in his age, his fingers paused. The number 24 felt so foreign to him, as if age was merely a formality. With slight hesitation, he typed it in while leaving the citizenship column blank.
The inspection process continued. Lein glanced at the others. The white light from the inspection tubes reflected their silhouettes, their faces serious, each lost in thought.
Lein stared at the holographic form in front of him. "Energy Level?" he muttered, scanning the available options. "Should I enter a specific level or just 'Tier 2 King'?"
He pondered for a moment. Fully revealing his power might attract unwanted attention. In the end, Lein typed "Tier 1 King" in the provided field. He then filled out the purpose of entry as "temporary stay" and set his duration of stay to "3 months."
Once the form was completed, the light bracelet surrounding him began to dim. The light contracted, transforming into a black bracelet that floated in the air before gently landing in his palm. Without hesitation, Lein took it and wore it on his wrist. Tauriel and Aleron beside him did the same.
Soldier Ely, still standing on the deck, saluted gracefully. "Thank you for your cooperation. Welcome to the Dominion of the Nova Consortium. I, Soldier Ely, will now take my leave."
With light yet disciplined steps, she turned and walked away from the ship. Lein watched her go, a small smile forming on his lips. "Very courteous," he murmured.
Tauriel, standing beside him, crossed her arms over her chest. "The Dominion was established out of humanity's need to survive, Master Lein. While competition still exists within it, most of its inhabitants uphold high moral and ethical standards." Her tone carried a sense of pride, as if she felt part of something greater.
Lein nodded slightly, storing that information in his mind. If that was truly the case, then his business here might be easier.
In the distance, the Veyron ship had completed its inspection process. The soldiers on duty signaled for them to proceed. Without further delay, the ship moved again, gliding through the skies of the Dominion. The journey continued for several more kilometers before they arrived at the main port.
Lein gazed ahead, his eyes widening as he beheld an enormous artificial island. The port was not just a docking station for ships—it was a bustling floating city. Massive space vessels arrived and departed constantly, each carrying cargo or passengers from various regions of the Dominion.
"Incredible..." he murmured in awe. His eyes swept across the towering structures standing firm on the island's surface, appearing small compared to the giant ships docked there. The sight far exceeded anything he had ever imagined.
Ahead, the Veyron ship began slowing down before entering its designated parking area. Shortly after, Lein's ship followed, landing smoothly beside it. The sound of clanking metal and the hum of machinery filled the air before everything gradually settled. The ship's protective system was deactivated.
Fresh air immediately touched Lein's face as the ship's shielding was lifted. A cool breeze carried the scent of foliage and damp earth, making his body instinctively relax.
"Whoa... this air is so refreshing," he muttered, taking a deep breath, feeling it was purer and more natural than any place he had ever been before.
"Yeah, I feel the same," Aleron added, inhaling deeply several times as if savoring every particle.
As they basked in the comfort of the refreshing air, firm footsteps approached. The ship's captain walked toward Lein and reported, "The ship has been fully shut down, sir." He then gestured to the side, pointing outward. "The gangway is open."