The next day morning at 10 AM, Neo took a taxi and headed to the Central district, where Apex Nebula's headquarters was situated.
This time, though, he had to take a flying taxi, as the distance was long, and the address was at a very complex location.
Flying taxi was the only option.
But of course, he had to pay 500 dollars just for one ride, when a land taxi would have cost only 50 dollars for the same distance.
As frugal as he was, this price really stung.
But there's no other way. At least he enjoyed the skyline view of Chronopolis.
The moment he stepped into the Central District, the atmosphere felt different.
The air was fresher, vehicles were more luxurious, and the people here moved such refined grace as if they were elite breed of their own.
Even the roads and sidewalks were magically enchanted.
Neo paid the fare and stepped out of the taxi.
At once, he found himself standing before a structure that defied the architectural norms of the lower sectors.
The Apex Nebula Headquarter was a towering building of glass and brushed titanium that sprawled in a wide area of 1,000 meters radius (approx).
It was also high enough to reach into the clouds where its peak was often obscured by the atmospheric mist of Chronopolis.
Even Neo couldn't understand the Technological jargons to create this kind of buildings.
In truth, the building was stabilized by massive anti-gravity pylons at its base.
Focusing on the wide entrance, he found two massive holographic banners flanked on both sides.
The company's symbol was a unique rotating galaxy that felt noble and peak of perfection.
Naturally, armed sentries in white and silver power armor stood guard. Their visors scanner every passerby with
microscopic precision.
Unlike the rusted gates of the rat-slum Complexes, these doors were massive.
They were made of reinforced poly-carbon that made its opening and closing palmost effortless.
Neo took a deep breath, then adjusted his collar.
Wearing a simple black and a jean, honestly, he felt like a stray cat that had accidentally wandered into a lion's den.
The sheer magnitude of the wealth and power on display here was overwhelming for a person who just earned his half a million.
The world of the Beyonders was on a completely different level.
He walked toward the main reception desk, where a beautiful young lady sat to welcome any wondering guest.
She noticed Neo's presence the moment he passed the entrance.
"Welcome to Apex Nebula space mercenary group. Are you here for an appointment or do you want to issue a specialised quest for us to handle?"
Neo coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem, no. I'm here to see Madam Titania. She told me I can join this company under her special recommendation."
The young lady scanned him with newfound interest.
"Are you awakened as a Beyonder?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied crisply.
Hearing his confirmation, she quickly typed something onto the virtual screen.
"Name?"
"Neo Godson."
"Age?"
"20."
"Address?"
"Education?"
"Date of Awakening?"
After asking many questions like this, she stood up to leave.
"Follow me to the appraisal facility. Once you're qualified by the minimum requirement marks, we will gladly take you in. We're short-handed anyways."
Neo didn't know if he should feel glad or be worried about her last statement.
But did he have other choices?
No.
"Oh ho, now who is this little fella, Seline?" a man in his forties asked as they entered a laboratory-like facility inside the building.
The receptionist, Seline, smiled as she introduced him.
"Sir Viscount, this is Neo Godson. He is a new recruit recommended by Madam Titania herself. We are here for the compulsory Appraisal Test before we proceed with the next step. Would you please help us with the process?"
The man named Viscount rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Titania recommended this boy? How odd! I thought she wasn't the type to take an interest in a new awakener."
"I am as confused as you are, Sir. But it is already confirmed. She gave the authorization last night."
Mr. Viscount scanned Neo's body from head to toe, trying to discern if there was anything special about the boy. However, even after looking through his special eyes, which could detect any kind of talent, he didn't find anything noteworthy about Neo. Neo was completely ordinary.
Neo felt the scrutinizing gaze, and he knew that in front of this man, any kind of resistance would meet with crushing defeat.
He seemed harmless at first glance, but his physique was akin to a Greek god's. Behind that neat neon-blue suit, he was an absolute monster.
True to his name, he was very intimidating. But there was one similarity between them: both Neo and Viscount had jet-black hair. His was slightly longer and more refined, while Neo's was shorter and a bit unkempt.
"What did you say his name was?" Viscount asked, turning to Seline.
Instead of Seline, Neo replied this time, "It's Neo Godson, Sir."
"Godson? Isn't your family name a bit weird?"
"You mean like your name, Sir Viscount?"
Viscount let out a boisterous laugh before slapping Neo on the back. "You're quite interesting, Little Godson. Let's get you appraised before you start asking for the story behind my name."
Neo managed a weak smile as he followed Viscount. The man's slap had seemed light, but it had forced the very air from his lungs. It only proved his assumption right: the man was indeed a monster in human skin.
Next, he was led in front of a medical pod. Its glossy white sheen and advanced mechanics stood out instantly within the facility.
Viscount glanced at it and spoke, "This is a Cryo Pod, mainly used for medical treatment. However, it also has the function of measuring your Cosmic Energy and other vitals. Judging by various indexes, it will give us your Adaptability Score for surviving in the void of space. If you manage to score 50 points, you're in. If you pass 90, you're a once-in-a-century genius."
Neo nodded, processing the stakes. Then he asked curiously, "What if someone scores 100?"
In response to his query, Viscount's smile turned somewhat wistful.
"No one has managed to get that score. At least not in our company. Still, if you must know, those people are simply legends. Their potential is world-shattering."