[Beczontop (Imperial Down): I never said that.
Anyway, Queen Rimiya asked me to act as proxy because she doesn't have access to your stream.]
"Ok, but why does she want me to rescue Eytelis? Surely she should dispatch Solarian special forces for such a high-profile rescue?" Adam asked.
[Beczontop (Imperial Down):It was Princess Liluth who suggested asking you since it would take the SSF several days to reach Flamyre.]
"Hmm, I guess that makes sense, but I would like to alter the rewards slightly," Adam replied
[NonpareilRaphilia (Aaru): Seriously? How's he not happy with them?]
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Our streamer is getting greedy? Kekeke.]
[OracleRomy (Elysium): Well, since it's a proxy stream quest, he does have the right to negotiate them.]
[NonpareilRaphilia (Aaru): True, but this is the solarians we're talking about. Most people would do anything to get in their good graces.]
[OrangeeyedStace (Spector): My boyfriend isn't like most people and isn't he already in their good graces after saving their princess?]
[NonpareilRaphilia (Aaru): That's true.]
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): Queen Riniya asks: What would you like to change?]
"Instead of the royal family owing me a favour, I want them to vote in favour of allowing the Terran race back into the shared military technology program when it comes up in the senate soon," Adam replied.
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): …]
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): Queen Riniya asks: That's it?]
"That's it," Adam confirmed.
[Phoenixempress (Fenix Nest): Honey, why haven't you told me about this vote if you are in need of support?]
"I meant to bring it up to you before, but after everything that's happened, I forgot," Adam answered.
[Phoenixempress (Fenix Nest): Ok, but why do you need it?]
"It was part of the agreement I made with the Terran Imperial Family when purchasing Royal Entertainment," Adam replied.
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): Wait, so the streamer made that sort of deal for Royal Entertainment? Do you understand how significant that is?]
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): No.]
[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): Of course you wouldn't, you dumbass.]
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): If you're so knowledgeable, why don't you explain it to the class?]
[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): It's important because it means the streamer already has enough influence to sway the opinion and votes of Universal Senators.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): This is unheard of for someone from outside the known universe.]
[OfficialMuriel (Aqua Primus): How did he gain so much power so quickly?]
[OracleRomy (Elysium): If you think about it logically, it's not all that surprising.]
[OfficialMuriel (Aqua Primus): What do you mean?]
[OracleRomy (Elysium): Well, let's go through the list.
Phoenix Empress Revi doesn't even need explaining.
Diva Rowena is a high-ranking member of one of the top Brood families.
Diva Lorelie is known to be well treated by the Merinmian Royal Family.
White Dragon Tephe's mother is a Universal Senator.
Not to mention he's business partners with Lady Erkath, a former Universal Senator who no doubt still has many connections in the Senate.]
[MercheadAnderson (Palaxia): How did we not notice this sooner?]
[LadyErkath (Aqua Primus): He's been building his connections.]
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): Queen Riniya asks: Why would you use a favour for the Terran race when you yourself are not a Terran.]
"Because I made a deal with them, one I plan to keep. I would do the same if the roles were reversed and I made a deal with the Solarian Royal Family," Adam explained.
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): Queen Riniya says: Very well, I agree. If you can save Eytelis, then I give you my word as Queen of the Solarian race that we won't oppose the Terrans rejoining the shared military technology program.]
[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): Fuck, she actually agreed.]
[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): He actually negotiated with the Solarian Queen.]
"That's not what I asked for, Queen Riniya," Adam said with a frown.
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Huh! What does he mean?]
[Justiceistruth (Earth): I'm not sure either.]
[LadyErkath (Aqua Primus): Clever boy.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): Indeed, he didn't fall for her trap.]
***
"Heh, he didn't fall for it, impressive," Riniya said with a smile.
"Of course he didn't," Liluth retorted while rolling her eyes. "Did you really think the man I chose to be my husband would fall for such an obvious trick?"
"Not really, but I had to test him if I plan to let him marry my daughter beneath the great tree," Riniya replied.
"Do you have such little faith in me choosing a suitable partner?" Liluth asked with a pout.
"Not at all, I trust you completely, my daughter. It's him I don't know or trust," Riniya replied before adding.
"Besides, it was you who wanted me to observe him."
"Yes, observe him, not test him," Liluth replied.
Riniya smiled at her daughter before asking, "We tested each of your siblings-in-law before allowing them to join our household. Did you really expect your chosen partner to be made an exception?"
"No," Liluth conceded.
"Good," Riniya replied happily before frowning as she added, "though I'm sure you know his test will be far harder than the others."
"Damn overprotective old farts," Liluth grumbled.
"Old farts?" Riniya repeated in confusion, though she could guess her daughter was insulting her father and grandfather.
"Oh, err, nothing," Liluth replied before nodding at the holographic screen and asking, "Shouldn't you reply?"
"Hmm," Riniya replied before turning to Becky and saying, "Please reply as follows.
"Indeed, please forgive me for my little test."
The group of women saw Adam's frown deepen before he asked, "And why did you feel the need to test me when you're the one asking me for help?"
Riniya, Keerla and Shalendra all showed looks of surprise as they heard Adam's response. They never expected him to speak in such a way to the Solarian Queen.
"If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion?" Tessa asked and only continued after getting Riniya's nod of approval.
"Tread carefully, Queen Riniya; he's on the verge of refusing your request," Tessa warned.
"What do you mean?" Riniya asked while raising a delicate eyebrow.
"Stop treating him like a suitor to one of your daughters and more like a foreign dignitary.
First of all, he is yet to show any romantic interest in Princess Lilith, as far as I'm aware.
And second, he wields the power to destroy Solarian Prime should he so wish." Tessa advised.
"Power to destroy Solarian Prime?" Kerala asked in disbelief.
"I doubt that," Shalendra added.
"Oh really?" Tessa replied before looking out of the window at the planet below while asking, "Has the Solarian race managed to develop a cloaked ship detection grid that you can't see with the naked eye, because it doesn't look like it?"
"His ship can cloak?" Kerala asked in surprise.
"Indeed, and he also has access to a planetary annihilation beam," Tessa replied while conveniently forgetting to inform them that Spector Unit 6 was in the Imperial Downs hanger.
Riniya turned to Liluth with a questioning look while adding, "Is this true, daughter?"
"It is," Lilith confirmed before adding, "my research also shows that his ship is equipped with solar bombs."
"Solar bombs?" Shalendra repeated with wide eyes.
"Wow, Adam just gets more and more impressive," Becky replied and for a second the other women could have sworn they saw hearts in her eyes.
"I had no idea his ship was equipped with solar-class weapons," Tessa remarked.
"It's something I only learned recently through my sources," Liluth replied.
"I see, it seems I've been underestimating the man you have chosen, daughter," Riniya replied thoughtfully.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you," Liluth replied.
"Hmm," Riniya replied before turning to Becky and once again saying, "Please relay the following."
"My apologies. While I will allow my daughter to explain to you why I decided to test you when you meet again in the future, for now, allow me to make amends by answering any one question you may have. Within reason, of course."
The group of women saw Adam fall into thought for a few minutes before opening his mouth and speaking; however, for some reason, they didn't hear his question.
"Huh! Is the speaker broken?" Shalendra said in confusion.
"No, we can hear the background noise of the hover taxi he is in," Kerala replied in equal confusion.
"His AI's doing that muting thing again," Tessa said with a sigh.
"Yes, though this time it seems it muted him to everyone," Becky replied before writing in the chat.
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): I'm afraid we didn't hear that, Adam. I think your AI muted you.]
Adam sighed after reading the message before asking, "Seriously?"
He once again went quiet for a moment before saying, "Fine, fine, I'll ask something else."
"Who's he talking to?" Kerala asked.
"Probably his AI," Tessa replied before adding, "He responds to it every so often in a way that we don't understand. I believe his AI can speak directly to him alone when it wants to."
"I guess that would make sense," Kerala conceded before the group waited for Adam to ask a different question.