Lucian adjusted the cuffs of his black, high-collared coat as he stepped through the towering glass doors of the Galactic Corporation's headquarters.
The vast lobby was pristine, with holographic displays showcasing the corporation's achievements in several departments; interstellar trade, artificial intelligence, and automobiles.
A soft hum filled the air from the floating drones that monitored activity, scanning every entrant with an efficiency bordering on paranoia.
He had assumed the identity of Rishan Kael, a low-tier noble investigator assigned by an external regulatory agency. His fabricated credentials were flawless, backed by an encrypted data trail that even the Corporation's AI would find difficult to dispute.
A receptionist, an android with a human-like visage, offered him a practiced smile. "Welcome to the Galactic Corporation, Investigator Kael. Your appointment has been scheduled with Director Vance on the seventy-fourth floor. Would you like a security escort?"
