Revi nodded in agreement as she said, "Take Eccinda, for example, which is home to both the Succuba and the Nagareen. They are two entirely different races, yet Eccinda is part of the Universal Senate.
There is no rule stipulating that a planet needs to unify to join; it just needs to put aside all wars and internal conflicts between nations or races."
"Easier said than done," Emma laughed.
"Well, now that Earth is aware that it's not alone out in the universe, perhaps it will move towards peace," Revi replied.
"That would be nice and all, but unfortunately it's only a handful of people who know the truth, and they're either working to cover it up if they're powerful like the members of the five families, or they're called crazy if it's one of Adam's other viewers," Emma replied.
"Then why doesn't Adam reveal such information?" Elemence asked. "It would be a simple matter with Spector's capability."
"You'd have to ask Adam to know for sure, but I believe it's because he's given up on Earth," Stacey sighed.
"Understandable, considering he was abandoned by his parents, bullied at school and then had to watch the woman he loved be killed right in front of him," Revi stated sadly.
"Did that woman contact you about being his grandmother or something, though?" Elemence asked.
"It's a rather moot point considering Spector confirmed that they are not actually blood-related," Emma replied before adding thoughtfully. "It makes me wonder why she thought that in the first place."
"Why not ask her?" Elemence suggested.
However, Emma shook her head in response and said, "It's not my place to inform her, plus we're not exactly friends."
"Fair enough," Revi replied before suggesting. "Then regarding Earth's conflicts, why not ask Adam to intervene?"
"He has no reason to accept?" Emma replied.
"He would if you became his woman," Revi replied. "I know you're considering it."
Emma blushed slightly before saying, "Perhaps, but what benefit do we gain from doing that? I already have my business back home that I'm keeping on top of, and it's not like Earth will join the known universe in my lifetime."
"Why run a few businesses when you can run the planet?" Revi asked with a smirk.
"Excuse me?" Emma asked.
"Considering the massive technological superiority that Spector has over Earth, it would be simple for Adam to conquer Earth and give it to you," Revi explained.
"It's scary how easily you just suggested that," Emma replied before shaking her head and saying. "Also, why would I want to rule Earth when I can explore the universe?"
"Fair point," Revi conceded. "I certainly wish I could abdicate and permanently travel with you all."
Elemence frowned at Revi's comment before saying seriously, "You can't do that, Revi."
"I know, I know," Revi replied before adding with a smirk. "At least not until Adam gives me a child I can abdicate to."
"This woman," Elemence sighed.
"You have it rough," Emma said as she gave Elemence a sympathetic look.
"You have no idea," Elemence remarked, causing Revi to elicit a small cough.
"Anyway," Emma quickly replied. "Is that your eventual plan? To have Adam's child and eventually abdicate the throne to them?"
"Eventually, though, admittedly, it's still a long way off," Revi admitted.
"Yeah, you haven't even let him claim your virginity yet," Elelemence teased.
"Not for lack of trying," Revi stated defensively.
"Then I suggested you take advantage of your swimming lessons with him," Elemence said.
"I already planned to," Revi replied before turning back to Emma. "While you don't specifically want to rule Earth, unifying it under our banner is not a bad idea."
"Our banner?" Emma repeated.
"I mean the family," Revi explained. "At the end of the day, owning and running a planet is just another form of business."
"I never thought of it that way," Emma said thoughtfully.
"That's because you still have much to learn," Revi replied. While Erkath can help you learn to manage your family's businesses, I can help you learn to run a planet, even if you're not there."
"How does that even work?" Emma asked. "I mean, you live on Fenix Nest."
"True, but I don't live on any of the trillion or more planets in the Ashes Galaxy," Revi stated with a smile.
"Trillion or more?" Emma repeated in shock.
"Two trillion, one hundred and eighty-three billion, ninety-seven million, four hundred and ninety-two thousand, seven hundred and eighteen to be exact," Elemence stated. "Though admittedly the large percentage of those are unoccupied."
"Errr," Emma replied as she stared at the pair in shock.
"Aww, look, Elemence, you broke her," Revi teased.
"Seems like she wasn't prepared for the vast number," Elemence replied, causing Revi to nod in agreement.
"Emma, sweetie, you ok?" Revi asked as she leaned forward and waved her hand in front of her face.
Eventually Emma managed to ask, "You telling me that you rule over more than two billion planets?"
"Oh, good, you're still with us," Revi smiled before explaining. "Not exactly. Remember that most of those worlds are uninhabitable and although we could inhabit most of them by installing the necessary tech, it's not worth the expense.
Then there are the planets belonging to the other races, such as the Pyroth. While I do indeed rule over the Ashes Galaxy, I generally don't interfere in the operation or politics of the other races unless I have to.
That leaves me with only the planets under Phoenix control to rule.
It's all about delegation dear, you should understand that as the owner of multiple businesses."
Emma nodded before asking thoughtfully, "So we should find someone suitable to rule Earth who reports to me and, through me, to Adam?"
"That would work," Revi agreed.
"I don't think forcefully taking over Earth using Spector's superior technology is the right answer, though," Emma stated. "Our planet has a history of overthrowing dictators and that's what Adam would essentially become."
"Hmm, and I get the idea that Adam wouldn't like to be known as a dictator," Revi stated in agreement. "At least not unless absolutely necessary."
{Maybe it would be better to form a shadow government.} Emma thought as her business brain took over and she began to theorise a way to seize Earth.
{Quietly seize control of Earth and run things from behind the scenes; that way, no one would be any the wiser.
We could even use one of the five families by having them swear loyalty to us by offering them the chance to rule over Earth … at least on the face of things.
But we would need a way to ensure their loyalty.}
Revi and Elemence could tell that Emma had fallen into deep thought about their discussion and so quietly excused themselves.
"It seemed like it worked," Elemence stated with a smile.
"Indeed, though I do feel bad for tricking her," Revi sighed while thinking.
{Sorry, Emma. But I need Adam to understand what it's like to rule over a planet. Only with experience can he grow.}
"It was necessary," Elemence replied. "He probably wouldn't pay much interest if you suggested seizing Earth, but if Emma does, he will be more inclined to consider it."
"I know, I'll just have to make it up to her in the future," Revi replied.
Galamedees Galaxy, Solarian Prime.
"Right on schedule," Liluth said with a smile as she sat with Tessa and Becky within the guest quarters of the Imperial Down.
Queen Riniya was currently being given a tour of the ship by Andria, while Liluth continued her negotiations with Tessa, or at least that's what Liluth led her mother to believe.
Keerla and Shalendra were accompanying Riniya as her bodyguards, although she had tried to persuade Liluth that Shalendra should stay with her. Liluth's valid argument that some of the Terrans might hold grudges against the Solarian Queen for their race's past actions against them was enough to convince Keerla to side with her.
In the end, Riniya only agreed if Liluth promised not to leave the guest quarters until her return, something Liluth was only too happy to do.
"How are we even able to watch this?" Becky asked in amazement as the three of them observed a large holographic screen which showed Revi and Elemence walking away from Emma, who was deep in thought.
"Via Spector," Liluth answered. "Along with the diary and a few other privileges, I received a special access code that lets me access Spector and observe what's going on at specific moments in time."
"Specific moments in time?" Becky repeated.
"Basically, my access only works at specific dates and times," Liluth answered.
"Oh," Becky replied.
"And why is this one of those times?" Tessa asked. "What was so important about the conversation we just overheard between Phoenix Empress Revi and that Earthling, whom I believe you called Emma?"
"Emma Hopkins, a future sister of ours," Liluth said with a smile before answering. "It's an important turning point in the power structure our family will build, dear sister. Sister Revi's selfish actions right there marks the beginning of Shadow Spector.