Done

"To be honest," Emma paced around the room after a brief discussion with Sy, "I'm suspecting that this design of yours aim to not only make Patter a super city, but to propel Logria to become a powerhouse planet. I mean, the fusion plant..." She motioned at the gigantic power reactor in the middle of the blueprint, "It's meant to power 10 major cities."

A chuckle escaped Sy as he realized that Emma did her homework on the design. Their topic was on the mid phase of the project where a hollow space beneath Logria was dug out, and the fusion plant already installed. Actually, the reactor was the most important aspect of the design in order to attract businessmen and corporate industries to fund new industrial centers such as mech facilities in Logria. With that, the planet can now recruit more workers which would in turn, create a boom in its population. More people brought bigger progress.

However, the fusion plant would not come cheap, and it would cost billions to construct. Since Emma decided to be the one in charge of this project, he doubted that she won't be able to achieve it with her many connections. As much as he wanted to partake in the materialization of his design, he had pressing matters to attend to and could only give her some advice. It was safe to say that while he was gone in search for the xeno artifact's origin, drastic changes in Logria will occur.

Sy stood up and manipulated the projector device, causing the design to enter its next phase. He explained, "You already know that the reactor is the critical component of this design, aiming to industrialize the city of Patter." He pointed at the center of the underground complex and new structures surrounded the fusion plant, "The center of the underground city would become the industrial zone surrounding the reactor - situated directly below the Starport so that finished goods could be hoisted up and easily transported into space. In the inner part of the city will be the commercial area dotted by shadow teams designated in strategic positions--"

"What?" Emma had a confused look on her face.

"I mean, the police forces." Sy amended before he continued, "Residential area will be located in the mid circle and the outer would be the utility infrastructures."

In the end, Sy filled up the empty spaces of the design leaving Emma contemplating on it.

After a moment of deep thought, Emma murmured with an index finger pressed on her lower lip, "I see..." She then took the new data and turned to the man in the room, "I must take this to my specialists. They must see this."

"You do that after dinner." Sy suggested, "Me and the girls are going back to the outer rim before mid night."

"Won't you stay for the night? Most of the rooms are empty." Emma said with a troubled look, hesitant with her next action due to the lack of hospitality she provided to her guests.

"Sorry. Tight schedule." Sy shrugged, "Now let's go eat. Don't let me drag you there."

Emma chuckled as she pocketed the data chip. She then followed the man outside the secured room.

In the hallway, Eran and the girls had only just arrived. They started exploring the manor with Emma acting as their guide. After being introduced to the girls on the way, she questioned one particular girl with silver hair who was near her, "How old are you, Jinae?"

"Twelve." The silver haired girl answered bluntly.

"My, my..." Emma smiled as she took the girl's hand, "I think I might tutor you in oratorical skills. Sometimes it is rude to the person asking the question. You must say more than one word when answering.

"What did you want me to say?" Jinae asked with her emotionless voice, managing a curious face.

"'I am twelve.'" Emma patted the silver head with a pleased smile, "Ain't that better?"

When they were done touring the huge house, a maid informed Emma that dinner was already prepared and they could head into the dining area.

With the high-end food served on an exquisite circular table, the guests had their satisfactory fills. Being on the outer rim for a week, Eran looked like he had not eaten for ages, wolfing the food down with ferocity.

In the end, however, the two men were outdone by the girls and Emma. Sy had a lot in his mind while something bothered Eran.

The yellow haired man seemingly wanted to say something to his sister but couldn't let it out.

Their short meeting ended after they shared their experience during the occupation of Logria by the AO Guild. Emma was relatively safe in her residence but chose to take a risk by replacing the mayor to conduct the negotiation between the city and the mercenary leader. Thankfully, all ended up well.

Emma proved to be a formidable woman, Sy could see that now. The nerve to stood up against the invaders, and demand something instead of outright submitting to the their demands was a feat befitting her status as a member of a great house. Or was she still one? He did not know.

"So, you want me to forge some documents stating that the girls were born here in Logria?" Emma clarified one last time as she accompanied them to the parking platform.

"Yeah." Sy nodded, before adding, "Actually, can I ask you another favor?"

"Is it about the drop pods?" Emma shook her head, "It's out of my hands. The city has no claim on it as it already fell in the jurisdiction of the Union's Void Martial. Military vessels will be collecting them in two days."

Sy let out a regretful sigh.

With that, the five bid Emma good-bye as they boarded the hover bus.

Sitting behind Eran, Sy waved at the yellow haired woman, motioning the girls to do the same, before the door slid close.

The hover bus hummed into life and gently whirred out of the parking platform, leaving the lone figure of a woman.

Just as they passed the massive gate, Sy leaned closer to the scion and asked, "Is something wrong?"

Eran was silent for a moment before stating, "You said you're going out into the void. I'm planning to go with you. I don't care what my father says. It's just that my sister might forbid me... Seeing that you two were close, she will definitely find ways to prevent you from leaving as well. It's better that you don't mention it to her."

Sy straightened up and rested his back on the seat. That was not new to him. Every people getting left behind had the same concern to their loved ones going to the void.

Staying in hypersleep and the time dilation between jumps, void-farers might only perceive that they only spent a couple of seconds but in reality, decades had already gone by. Years and years, someone was waiting for them, while their minds experienced just a fraction of that duration. When they return, no one was there yet they were still young and only aged a few years.

It was in fact a big decision to go and explore the void for a person to leave behind people he cared about. No one knew how many years before they return.

Although, Sy calculated that his own expedition would only last more than a year, no one knew what will happen in the void. If their ship's propulsion suffered heavy damage, they might spend decades in the void and it will take half a century to get back to Logria using the conventional subatomic particle propulsion.

However, his thoughts were more concerned in bringing along Eran in the journey. He knew how much the scion wanted to come, as it was a rare opportunity that will never come in the Union. But this was not a normal expedition. It was more than that!

The Pioneer had to gather his thoughts on this matter.

The hover bus returned to the Starport to pick up Genevieve.

The Runerie was on a great mood at that time as she entered the vehicle and sat between the girls with a smile plastered on her face.

"You seem to be on high spirit." Sy commented.

"The mayor just pledged a good plot of land for my family to erect our headquarters after I promised him a generous sum." Genevieve explained, unable to contain her joy.

"Ugh!" Eran expressed his disgust on the driver's seat causing the Runerie to gleefully chuckle.

On the other hand, Sy could only raise a brow. He had no interest in prying over such matters. So long as humans live in an organized manner, it was not his concern. Corruptions and other type of misdeeds, it was an inbuilt custom within people that had been performed from generations to generations. As long as they didn't indiscriminately annihilate each other, Pioneers like him will not step in.

The journey back to the outer rim this time was halved with less traffic at that hour. After exiting the hover bus, Sy pulled Genevieve to a corner and said, "Take the girls to Laira's apartment. I need to do some work throughout the night."

The Runerie stared at him for a few seconds before she nodded, and proceeded to fetch the three.