First Intergalactic Emperor: Starting With The Ancient Goddess

The moment the officials returned from their little huddle, they had smiles plastered across their faces—too forced, too polished.

”We’d like to offer you and Miss Yelena a royal dinner, Mister Xavier,” one of them said. ”And of course, full VVIP status—permanent and cross-network. You’ll have top-tier access to every casino tied to our intergalactic network. No waiting lists. No fees. Ever.”

Xavier didn’t even look up from his glass.

He tilted it, watching the amber liquid swirl like it owed him rent.

Then he spoke—calm, sharp.

”Since I already have the Floor Owner’s Badge now, I think that kind of privilege is automatic.”

The smiles cracked a little.

Another official cleared his throat. ”About that. The... stake amount you mentioned earlier. Five percent is—well, that’s quite a lot.”

”It’s accurate,” Xavier replied instantly. ”That’s what I’m asking. And I want the official papers before I leave this tower.”

”...We can offer 0.1%. That’s still billions in equity. It’s—”

Xavier looked up. His gaze silenced the man mid-sentence.

”Get your owner on the line.”

None of them replied.

They turned, stiffly nodding, and left the room.

Dinner was served on a balcony that floated mid-air, extended out of the tower’s glass like a suspended throne.

A long crystal table with golden patterns danced with digital light. Beyond them, the skyline of Nexus City stretched out like a galaxy trapped in a dome.

Dishes rolled in. Lobster from a frozen ocean on Io. Martian wine aged in magnetic vaults. Desserts that sparkled like stars on their plates.

Yelena cut a piece of glimmering blue steak and poked at it lazily.

”You haven’t said what you’ll do with Ethan and his group,” she said, her tone casual. ”You basically own them now. Casino law means they’re under your mercy until formal charges drop. You could ruin them completely and still walk out clean.”

Xavier didn’t respond right away. He took a slow bite of his food, eyes still on her.

Then—

”Why should I tell you?” he asked, tone dry. ”You haven’t told me anything about you either.”

Yelena blinked.

”All I know is your name. Not who you are. Not what you’re doing here. Not what you want.”

Yelena shrugged, keeping her voice light. ”I’m nothing special. Just someone who came to the casino to have some fun.”

Xavier kept chewing. Eyes narrowed. Then his lips curled.

He leaned in, resting one arm on the table as he stared at her.

”Sure, Yelena Red.”

She stopped chewing. Just for a second.

But that pause was everything.

”...I see,” she murmured.

She didn’t deny it. Yelena was from the Red family, who owned the casino and all its intergalactic network. Her presence alone could destroy someone. One word from her, and any corporation could shut down.

Instead, she picked up her wine glass and took a sip.

”How long have you known?”

Xavier leaned back.

”Let’s say a few minutes after you approached me.”

Yelena smiled. ”So how did you figure it out?”

He smirked.

”That’s a secret.”

And with that, the two of them continued eating, like nothing in the world could touch them.

After the last course was cleared, a soft chime echoed in the suite.

One of the suited officials stepped in, carrying something wrapped in a velvet casing. It wasn’t big—just a polished black box with a silver lining—but even Yelena sat up straight the moment she saw it.

The man walked up to the table, placed the box right in front of Xavier, gave a slight bow, and walked away without a word.

The moment he left, the device buzzed.

A smooth mechanical whirl, then click.

Before either of them touched it, a soft shimmer pulsed from the center of the box, and a glowing blue hologram bloomed into the air.

It was a man’s face—sharp, aged, eyes like a hawk. The surroundings behind him showed a massive chamber lined with banners of red and gold, and armed guards standing at attention in the background.

”Xavier,” the man said, voice deep, confident. ”I am Zarthos Red, Patriarch of the Red Family.”

His gaze softened, just slightly.

”And I must say—I’m very impressed by you today.”

Xavier stayed still, arms folded.

Zarthos continued, ”You didn’t just win. You exposed a deep flaw in our casino system. A flaw we now know might have cost us billions—billions—over the past few years. A blunder that went unchecked because we were too proud to look under our own nose.”

There was a pause. He exhaled.

”But you noticed and informed us. You could have misused it, but you didn’t. That’s honesty, and nowadays, it’s very expensive.”

Then came a smile.

”So as thanks, and as recognition...” he raised a small card between his fingers, glowing with platinum light, ”I’m officially awarding you the Floor Badge. And not just that—”

He lifted a second, crimson-gold card with the Red Family crest embossed across it.

”I’m giving you a five percent share of the Red Family holdings. Effective immediately. Welcome to the family, Xavier.”

The device beeped again, and the hologram showed the documents and stakeholder confirmation already in Xavier’s name.

”Your official card will be delivered to your registered address soon.”

Xavier leaned forward slightly and nodded. ”Thank you,” he said, genuine but simple.

Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, he slowly turned the device toward Yelena—who had gone from calm and elegant to stiff and panicking just under the surface.

She didn’t say anything, but her fingers twitched under the table. Her lips barely moved as she mouthed something toward Xavier.

Please don’t.

But it was too late.

Zarthos squinted, leaned a bit closer toward the holo projection, and then—

”...Yelena?”

His voice dropped an octave.

”What are you doing there?”

Yelena kept her face composed, but the shift in her posture was subtle—her back straighter, her expression careful, controlled.

”I was acting as Xavier’s guide and assistant,” she said. ”He was... my client today. That’s all.”

There was silence.

Zarthos didn’t speak, didn’t blink. But the air around him turned cold.

”...Return to Red Star as soon as possible.”

Then the call ended. No goodbye. No nod. Nothing.

The device faded out.

Yelena stared at the black box.

Then slowly turned her head and glared at Xavier.

”You bastard,” she muttered. ”Why the hell did you do that?”

Xavier leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head, eyes smug as hell.

”That was for deceiving me. I warned you—I always settle my debts.”

Yelena didn’t respond.

She just sat there, silent, biting back her next words... knowing she couldn’t win this one.