Chapter 783: Slave chips

“I get what you're saying.” Adam nodded before turning back to Emma and asking. “So what have you come up with so far?”

“You're interested?” Emma asked in surprise. “I figured I would have to prepare a presentation as if I was proposing something to a CEO.”

“We’re not a company, Emma,” Adam laughed.

“I know, but we’re awfully similar if you think about it,” Emma said, smiling. “You could compare what we’re having right now to a management meeting where we discuss things and make minor decisions.”

Erkath smirked at the comparison before saying, “Not sure how many corporations have their manager meetings around a pool in bikinis, but I see where you're coming from.”

“Any higher-level decisions are made by the board of directors, e.g. the members of your harem.”

“So you're aiming for a promotion?” Stacey chuckled.

“Isn’t everyone here?” Emma replied.

“Huh, I’ve never considered a group relationship in that way before; it strangely makes sense,” Elemence said thoughtfully.

“Agreed, but what did you mean by e.g.?”Erkath asked.

“It’s an abbreviation for the Latin word exempli gratia, which means for example,” Emma explained.

“I’m interested in how and why you would want to take over Earth?” Adam stated.

“The main reason why is so that we can prepare it for the day that it will join the Universal Senate,” Emma explained. “I know that is a long way off and probably won’t even happen in our lifetime, but we can still set the groundwork. Also, eliminating all conflicts used to sound like a pipe dream, but with Spector’s capabilities it's entirely possible.

Then, as a selfish reason, there are a few individuals who looked down on me in the past and made things difficult for me; I honestly wouldn’t mind returning the favour.”

Adam nodded in understanding before asking, “And the how?”

“The how is still a work in progress; I’ve only been at it for one night after all,” Emma said, smiling. “Presently, my best idea is to seize control of one of the five families and then use their resources and connections along with Spector’s capability to raise them above the others.”

“I suppose that could work, but how do we make sure they remain loyal?” Adam asked. “Spector is powerful, but it’s not omnipotent.”

[It's a work in progress.] Spector announced to everyone.

“Was that another joke?” Adam asked.

[Negative, I don’t joke.]

{Yeah, I’m starting to wonder about that.} Adam thought.

[…]

“The easiest and most guaranteed way for them to remain loyal is to implant them with slave chips, but I don’t know if you're willing to go that far,” Aphrodite suggested.

Emma’s eyes widened before she asked, “Don’t you think slavery is going a bit far?”

“Doesn’t the Universal Senate frown on slavery?” Adam asked.

Aphrodite nodded. “It does, but also remember that it’s not technically legal.”

“And yet you're suggesting we enslave the members of one of the five families?” Adam asked.

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“Not all of them, just the leaders,” Aphrodite replied. “Don’t forget that there are different levels of enslavement; not all slaves are required to follow their masters' words.”

“Yeah, only power-craving idiots enforce slaves like that, as it usually ends up in them losing them faster than they can replace them,” Revi added.

“Why? Because they mess up?” Emma asked.

“Yup,” Revi nodded. “No one's perfect, and we all make mistakes at some point. Slaves with chips set to the highest setting only have to mess up once, and they can end up dead.”

“What are the other setting levels?” Adam asked.

“The most common is general slaves, where the slave still has a level of free will, and the guidelines of the slave contract dictating what the owner can and can’t order their slave to do are agreed upon before being installed in the slave chip.

The second most common are sex slaves; these are basically the same as general slaves except they also have to obey any sexual commands which a general slave can refuse,” Aphrodite explained. “Another note is that no slave can conspire against or run away from their owner.

This way the Earthlings you enslave will never be able to conspire against you without being punished, and you notified; you could even add a few extra things such as they have to manage Earth properly or they can never touch another man except you.”

“I’m not so sure about the last one,” Adam said while shaking his head.

“It was just an example,” Aphrodite replied while winking.

Emma wore a thoughtful expression before saying, “That could work. We could offer one of the five families the deal that we will help them become the most powerful family in the world and be the public rulers of Earth in exchange for having slave chips implanted. Naturally, we would control them from behind the scenes and stay in the shadows, Kind of like a shadow government.”

“Seriously?” Adam asked. “Just a moment ago you were questioning the idea of slaves, and now you want to form a shadow government?”

“I told you, this is a managers' meeting where we're just tossing around ideas,” Emma said in amusement. “All I mean is that if you did decide to go ahead with the idea, that might be the best way to do it.”

“If I go ahead with the idea?” Adam asked. “You're the one who wants to rule Earth from the shadows.”

“Do you really think I’m capable of doing that without your help and resources?” Emma asked.

“She’s right, babe,” Lorelie cut in. “Emma can’t even get back to Earth unless you take her.”

“And what’s your opinion on this?” Adam asked.

Lorelie looked at him lovingly before saying, “I’m fine with whatever you decide. While we have all seen and understand how harsh you can be to your enemies…”

“Especially one who targets you,” Stacey teased.

“Especially someone who targets ‘us’,” Lorelie stated. “We also know how supportive you are of your friends and how protective you are of your loved ones. If we follow Emma’s suggestion and you did implant one of the families with slave chips, I don’t think you would treat them badly unless they betrayed you, and in that case they would get what they deserve.”

“I agree,” Stacey stated.

“Seconded,” Rowena added.

“Well, I guess it’s something worth thinking about since Emma has only been working on it for one night,” Adam said while smiling before turning to Emma. “Out of curiosity, which one of the five families did you have in mind? Or hadn’t you gotten that far?”

“Hmm,” Emma replied. “Well, because of your history with them, the Morose and Keita families are out. The Flemming, Williams and Zhao.”

“I’m not sure the Williams family will work,” Adam replied.

“Because of your mother?” Emma asked, to which Adam nodded.

“The Flemming family might be a good choice,” Tephe stated. “You already have a connection with them, and doesn’t the head think you're her grandson or something?”

“Well done, Tephe. I’m impressed,” Aphrodite said with a smile.

“Hmph, I have a brain,” Tephe replied.

“And now you ruined it,” Revi teased.

“Tephe’s right in that you already have a connection with the Flemming family, but I’m not sure how Isabella will take learning that you have no blood relation to them,” Emma replied.

“While she might be disappointed that there is no blood relationship between them, I doubt that will prevent Isabella Flemming from trying to build a closer relationship with Adam,” Rowena stated. “She seemed very keen on that.”

“I agree,” Aphrodite nodded. “That Isabella FLemming is a shrewd woman. Instead of trying to eliminate you as other families have, she wants her family to build a closer relationship with you.”

“She likely understands that her family has no way of beating Adam and so wishes to get into bed with him,” Emma replied.

“She wants to mate with her own grandson?” Tephe asked in surprise.

“Eww,” Stacey remarked.

Revi rolled her eyes in exasperation. “That’s not what she meant, Tephe; we’ve already confirmed that she’s not Adam’s grandmother. Though I must admit I don’t know why Emma would suggest her getting into bed with him.”

“It’s a business term,” Emma replied. “It’s used to describe a close, cooperative, or working relationship with another person, company, or group.”

“How interesting,” Erkath mused. “Does that mean I’m already in bed with Adam?”

“It does, just not the way you wish,” Emma replied while smirking, causing the other women to laugh.

[NOTICE: My virus has completed its infiltration into the mysterious organisation's space station.] Spector announced just as a holographic three-dimensional image appeared above Adam’s uniband.