Chapter 169: Meeting With The Governor 2

The Grand Aeloria wasn't just a hotel. It was a monument to excess from a previous era.

Its crystalline spires pierced the heavens, reflecting the twin suns' light in dazzling, almost blinding rays. The entire structure shimmered like polished diamond, so pristine that it made the surrounding city, still scarred by war, feel even more fractured by comparison. The entrance itself was a declaration of opulence: a grand archway lined with gold-lit patterns that shifted and flowed like molten metal, and instead of a revolving door, there was a seamless, rippling energy barrier. It undulated like liquid glass, silently parting as guests stepped through, only to seal shut behind them without a trace of movement.

Ethan paused outside, adjusting his jacket with a practiced tug. His silhouette stood in stark contrast to the gleaming facade, a figure carved from shadow against the backdrop of grandeur. His boots scuffed the immaculate pavement as he approached, the faint hum of security drones hovering high above barely registering in his mind.

The doors whispered open as he stepped through the energy field. And that's when it hit him.

The luxury.

The interior wasn't just overwhelming, it was surreal. The ceilings stretched impossibly high, vanishing into a sky-like expanse filled with drifting light orbs that resembled distant stars. Cascading water features spiraled through the air, twisting and coiling like liquid sculptures, defying gravity as they moved in slow, mesmerizing arcs. The walls were lined with genetically engineered plants, their leaves softly glowing in hues of blue and violet, casting a gentle, pulsing luminescence that ebbed and flowed like a living heartbeat.

The floors gleamed like polished obsidian, so flawlessly reflective that Ethan could see a sharp, perfect mirror image of himself as he walked. Even the air was regulated, perfectly balanced humidity, laced with a subtle infusion of jasmine and something faintly metallic, like ozone after a storm.

It was the kind of place that screamed power. Wealth. Untouchability.

And it wasted no time acknowledging who had just arrived.

"Welcome to the Grand Aeloria, Captain Walker."

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere, the hotel's integrated AI, its tone silk-smooth and dripping with reverence. The moment his name was spoken, the entire atmosphere of the lobby shifted.

A line of humanoid staff in shimmering uniforms instantly pivoted toward him, moving in perfect synchronization. Their attire was made of a material that rippled with subtle, iridescent hues, and they bowed in unison as Ethan approached.

The concierge, a tall, elegant figure with metallic filigree tattoos running down their temples, stepped forward. Their eyes glowed faintly with an internal HUD, flickering as they scanned Ethan's biometric signature.

"Captain Ethan Walker, the hero of Kynara," they said, voice practically dripping with admiration. "It is an honor to host you. Please, allow us to ensure your every need is met during your stay."

Ethan barely suppressed a sigh, biting down on the flicker of discomfort that came with that title. He didn't see himself as a hero, he never had. But the people of Kynara had built him into a symbol, whether he wanted it or not.

"I appreciate it," he said, voice steady, giving the slightest nod as he kept walking.

The staff didn't miss a beat. They moved alongside him like a perfectly choreographed escort, their steps soundless against the black-glass floor.

"Your suite has been prepared with the highest accommodations," the concierge continued, falling in step beside him. "And we've arranged for a personal steward to be available at all hours. The Grand Aeloria's culinary division has curated a menu specifically tailored to your preferences, and we've taken the liberty of integrating your ship's AI into our local network for seamless connectivity. Should you require transportation or any modifications to your room's environment, simply issue a command."

"That won't be necessary," Ethan said, glancing at the spiraling water columns that traced intricate patterns through the air. "I won't be staying long."

The concierge tilted their head, the glowing lines along their face pulsing softly.

"Of course. However, Governor Krenn has requested that you enjoy the full hospitality of the Aeloria during your visit. He insisted."

Ethan almost laughed. Of course, he did. That governor Tallis Krenn was a master of politics, he knew parading Ethan through the most luxurious building on the planet would reinforce the image of victory and recovery.

And Ethan knew better than to fight it.

The lobby itself was populated with a curated blend of elite guests, Ashen Prime diplomats that came with Tallis Krenn, Kynaran business moguls, high-ranking administrative officials from the new Kynaran government, each of them subtly turning their heads to catch a glimpse of him as he passed. Conversations quieted, and he could feel the weight of their stares, feel the whispered reverence in the way they spoke his name under their breath.

He didn't linger. He had no reason to.

But the hotel wouldn't let him slip through unnoticed.

As he reached the main elevator, an expansive glass chamber that rose through the hotel's central spire, two towering Federation Elite Troopers stepped aside to let him pass. Their armor, a far cry from the standard soldier gear, was a fortress of layered plating and kinetic shielding, their visors scrolling with real-time data streams.

"Captain Walker," one of them acknowledged, voice distorted by the helmet's modulator.

Ethan gave a subtle nod in response, stepping into the elevator as the doors slid shut with a hushed whisper. The entire structure was transparent, a sleek glass cylinder that rose through the hotel's central spire like a needle threading through the sky. As the lift began its silent ascent, the panoramic view of Valeris unfolded around him, the sprawling cityscape stretching out to the horizon.

He exhaled slowly, watching the patchwork of destruction and reconstruction below. Crumbling skyscrapers stood like gravestones beside newly erected towers of gleaming alloy and glass. The scars of those attacks were still there, blackened craters where bombs had exploded, entire districts reduced to skeletal ruins by the controlled mindless mobs. But alongside the wreckage, life persisted. Workers swarmed the construction sites like ants, drones gliding overhead to ferry materials while sky-barges deployed prefabricated structures with machine-like efficiency.

The streets pulsed with activity. Crowds wove through narrow alleys and wide thoroughfares, people haggling in markets, children darting between the legs of exhausted workers. Vendors rebuilt their shops, engineers patched broken conduits, and musicians strummed out mournful ballads on corners where fights had once raged.

It was a living, breathing testament to survival.

Yet even from this height, he could feel the weight of their collective gaze.

He couldn't escape the attention. Couldn't erase the title they'd given him.

The hero of Kynara. The mercenary who saved the planet. The Coalition's true leader, who put an end to the tyranny of the Black Sun Syndicate and their allied warlords.

The words clung to him like chains, dragging behind every step he took. He hadn't asked for it. Had never wanted it. The people had built him into a symbol, a walking reminder that they'd endured, that they'd fought back against tyranny and won.

He ran a hand through his hair, fingers lingering over the ridge of an old scar just beneath his hairline. There was no undoing what he'd done, no erasing the history written in blood and ash.

But he wasn't here for the pageantry.

He was here to finish what he started.