The orbital elevator descended smoothly into the base hall of the towering orbital elevator tower located on the surface of the Capital Star.
The crystal-clear cabin door slid open silently, allowing soft artificial light and filtered fresh air to flow in.
The interior of the hall was as vast as a square, bustling with orderly crowds. Various guiding light screens floated in mid-air, directing travelers from all corners of the universe.
"Everyone!"
Qin Beiwang stopped and turned to face the officers who had accompanied him.
"The medal awarding ceremony is scheduled for three days from now. During this time, you are free to arrange your own activities and relax. There are plenty of places worth seeing on the Capital Star. Just stay safe and keep your communication channels open."
Everyone nodded in agreement. After continuous battles and long journeys, they indeed needed some rest.
Qin Beiwang said nothing more, simply taking out his personal terminal and swiping his fingers quickly a few times.
Soon, each officer's terminal emitted a slight vibration and notification tone.
They looked down to see their account information displaying a deposit of five hundred thousand Star Credits.
Sender: Qin Beiwang.
"Commander, this..."
A young Sub-fleet Commander instinctively wanted to refuse.
Five hundred thousand Star Credits was no small amount for mid-level officers like them—equivalent to a year's standard allowance.
Qin Beiwang waved his hand dismissively, his tone casual.
"Just some pocket money. Since you're here, make the most of it. Buy something, enjoy good food, or bring gifts for your families. No need to decline."
His tone was indifferent, as if he had given away a truly insignificant amount of "pocket money."
In reality, for someone born into a top-tier family on Blue Star and having just received an exceptional promotion with corresponding benefits, this sum was indeed a drop in the bucket.
The officers exchanged glances before finally raising their hands in a solemn salute.
"Thank you, Commander!"
Their gratitude was palpable. This was not just money but an expression of care and recognition.
After brief farewells, the officers dispersed in small groups, merging into the bustling crowd in the hall with curiosity and excitement, ready to explore this planet they had only heard of in news and legends.
Meanwhile, Qin Beiwang was led by a butler in a black uniform, who had been waiting for him, toward a dedicated passage on one side of the hall.
At the end of the passage, a sleek, futuristic vehicle was parked quietly on a private platform.
Its body was a matte deep-space gray, with elegant yet sharp lines resembling a dormant metal panther.
It had no wheels; beneath the chassis, an almost imperceptible pale blue ion glow shimmered—this was the latest model of anti-gravity personal vehicle, commonly known as a "Cloud Shuttle."
Its cost and maintenance fees were enough to bankrupt a middle-income family.
The car door opened upward silently like wings. Qin Beiwang settled into the snug, comfortable cockpit.
The butler bowed outside the vehicle.
"Young Master, the course has been set for the return to 'Stellar Dome Mansion.' I wish you a pleasant journey."
The "Cloud Shuttle" rose silently, accelerating smoothly as it slipped into a nearly transparent VIP express lane in the sky, quickly leaving the noise of the ground far below.
It did not head toward the dense clusters of skyscrapers but continued to climb, eventually reaching the "Tranquil Zone" at a specific altitude within the atmosphere of the Capital Star.
Here, a limited number of detached mansions floated like islands in the sky—residences truly reserved for the top tier.
Qin Bei Wang's "home"—the Stellar Dome Mansion—was one of them.
It was not a traditional structure but rather resembled an elegantly arranged combination of geometric forms, constructed from high-strength transparent alloys and special crystals, floating gracefully above the sea of clouds.
From the outside, flowing light and shadow made it almost blend into the sky.
Inside, it was the epitome of simplicity, spaciousness, and high-tech integration.
The panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows made one feel as if they were standing among the clouds, overlooking the miniature city below and the distant horizon.
The Ecological Circulation System maintained the most pleasant temperature and humidity, while the Intelligent Butler controlled everything.
As soon as Qin Bei Wang stepped into the vast, silent living room, his personal terminal vibrated.
A familiar, somewhat teasing virtual avatar popped up, labeled "Fatty Luo."
This was one of the few people in the Capital Star social circle of the original owner of this body who could be considered a "close friend"—his full name was Luo Hao.
His family was primarily responsible for logistics, immensely wealthy, and he was a typical hedonist.
"Brother Qin! Hero Qin! Finally got through to you!
You're back on the Capital Star and didn't even say a word?
Not cool, man!"
Luo Hao's voice came through, loud and enthusiastic.
Qin Bei Wang rubbed his temples as fragments of the original owner's memories surfaced—this "close friend" had dragged him into countless scenes of revelry.
"Just arrived," he replied succinctly.
"We have to meet up!
The guys are all waiting!
We've got to celebrate your return!
I heard you've been promoted to Senior Colonel?
And you're commanding a mother-class fleet?
My god, you're the biggest shot in our circle now!
Hurry up, 'Stellar Glory Summit' top floor, the usual spot, just waiting for you! Everyone's missed you so much, they all want to hear your war stories!
Must've been super exciting, right?"
Luo Hao spoke in a rapid-fire manner, with background noises of others cheering and urging him on.
Qin Bei Wang instinctively wanted to refuse.
He was not the original owner and had no interest in such hedonistic scenes, nor did he want to deal with a group of frivolous playboys.
But as the words reached his lips, he hesitated.
The original owner's persona was that of a dissolute playboy. Although he had changed somewhat after joining the military, cutting off all ties with his past circle would seem abrupt and might arouse unnecessary suspicion.
Appropriate contact, maintaining a superficial "normality," might better conceal the changes within him.
Moreover... he also wanted to see what it would be like to face these "old friends" now.
"Got it," he replied flatly.
"I'll be there soon."
"Awesome! We'll be waiting! Hurry up!"
Luo Hao hung up the call excitedly.
Qin Bei Wang stood in the spacious living room, gazing out at the churning sea of clouds and the distant, glittering sea of lights below.
He took off his military uniform jacket and casually draped it over the back of a chair, changing into well-tailored but relatively casual attire.
In the mirror, the reflection was young, yet with a calmness in his features that belied his age, along with a subtle, almost imperceptible sharpness that belonged to someone who had returned from the battlefield.
"Stellar Glory Summit..."
He murmured the name softly. In the original owner's memories, it was one of the top luxury establishments on Capital Star.
Very well, he would go and see for himself what the ultimate extravagance of the rear and the "warmth" of old acquaintances truly felt like.
He turned and walked toward the elevator leading to the private landing pad.
Not long after.
The anti-gravity Cloud Shuttle slid silently into the exclusive aerial berth of Stellar Glory Summit.
Qin Bei Wang stepped out of his vehicle. What greeted him was not noise, but a precisely controlled, unique scent blending rare spices and ionized air.
This was no traditional building; it resembled more a massive crystal sculpture, vertically suspended a thousand meters in the air, slowly rotating. Countless beams of light emanated from its complex prismatic structure, intertwining with the night sky of Capital Star and the sea of lights below.
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