Finding Stardust (Princess Of Akkadia)

Chapter 31 - Have You Really Thought That Far?

Emma was surprised seeing Haoran stumped for a long time. She didn't know what the young man was thinking. Ahh... if only she could read Haoran's mind, things would be much easier.

"What are you thinking about?" Emma finally asked him.

"Uhm... did you create the lightning when we were walking back from Mr. Neville's shop?" Haoran asked back. "And also... did you cause the blackout in Paris?"

Emma nodded. She didn't want to lie to Haoran about it. "Yes, I did."

"Oh..." Haoran was stunned. "What else can you do?"

"I can control the wind and plants. The others, I don't know yet."

Emma decided not to tell Haoran she could also read minds. She didn't want Haoran to think she would read his mind when she actually couldn't. That'd make the situation awkward. As long as Emma couldn't figure out why she could read other people's thoughts and not Haoran's mind, she would keep the information to herself.

"If you can remember more about the planet your parents came from, maybe we could also find information from NASA and various other space agencies," Haoran said later. "I hope your parents are still on earth, and they are just hiding, so we can find them. But if—"

Haoran's words suddenly stopped. Emma knew why Haoran didn't continue his words. He was afraid of making her sad by stating the possibility Emma's parents might have returned to their home planet. Because if that really happened, then they couldn't possibly go and find them.

Space technology on Earth was still limited to the exploration around the solar system and nearby planets. They hadn't been able to explore farther than Neptune.

"My parents came with a space capsule from their home planet. They landed it on the Moon and came to Earth in a small ship," Emma explained. "If I can find a way to get to the capsule, then I might be able to find a way back to Akkadia."

"Emma." Haoran stared intently at Emma. He seemed to be weighing something with a serious expression. "I... might be able to help you."

"Really?" Emma asked enthusiastically.

Haoran nodded. "Goose has access to satellites secretly. If Goose can confirm using the satellite that your parents' capsule is still on the Moon, then we should try to go there."

"How?" asked Emma. "We're not astronauts, and we don't have the authority to go to the Moon."

"My father's company group has an investment in SpaceLab. It's the biggest private space program in the world at the moment. It's a collaboration of several prominent global businesses. They're doing an exploration and research program in order to build a colony on Mars. If I go into my family's business, I can get access to it. Once we confirm your parents' capsule is still there, we can divulge this information to SpaceLab. They'll definitely send a fleet there to conduct further investigations. Then we can sneak in with that fleet."

"Gosh... Haoran, that sounds really dangerous," Emma said. "Are you sure?��

"That's one option. Another alternative is to find the small ship your parents used to go to Earth. We don't know whether they left it on here or not, but there's no harm in checking all the possibilities." Haoran continued with his words.

Emma was stunned by Haoran's statement. Infiltrating a fleet of researchers from SpaceLab to the Moon to find clues of Emma's parents there? It sounded crazy!

"Do-do you think we can do it?" Emma asked Haoran enthusiastically. Her eyes started to have a glimpse of hope.

Haoran nodded. "Both of these things can be done, but we must be discreet. The first priority is to trace the whereabouts of your parents. Next, we have to track their capsule on the Moon. Thirdly, we must look for clues if they left their ship on Earth, if any. We must also find anything we can get about Akkadia. I can't promise that everything will be fast. We may need years to infiltrate SpaceLab to not arouse suspicion. Can you be patient?"

Emma was silent. If they did find her parents' capsule on the moon, they needed to be careful in providing information to SpaceLab. If SpaceLab decided to immediately send a research team there while Emma and Haoran haven't had access to the program, the impact would be dangerous.

The company could take the capsule and all the technology in it and bring it to Earth for research. Then, governments would know there were some other species from another planet around them coming with a space shuttle. So if the government or corporation took the capsule for themselves, it'd be very difficult for Emma and Haoran to get to it. Hence, they must play their cards well.

"All right. I'll be patient," Emma nodded. "I've waited for 13 years. I can certainly wait again."

"That's good." Haoran gently touched Emma's shoulder and nodded back. "As soon as Goose replies to my message, I'll make an appointment with her and discuss the assignment. I'll assign her to look for your parents' capsule on the moon."

"All right," Emma replied.

"In the meantime, we must live as usual. I'll study hard and show my father that I have ambitions to take over his business. I'll ask him to take me with him, so I can learn from him every day. Next year, after we graduate from high school, I'll slowly enter SpaceLab."

"Next year..." Emma muttered. She raised her face and looked at Haoran seriously. "You have really thought that far? Now I feel bad about bothering you."

Haoran shrugged. "Actually, I've been thinking about this a few months ago since I hired Goose. I've thought about inheriting my father's wealth when I'm 25 years old and will slowly plan my revenge on him. I'll act like a filial son and show my ambition to inherit his business. And as soon as everything falls into my hands, I'll get rid of him and his young wife. Whether you're there or not, I'll still walk this path. Your presence is just an additional motivation for me."

Emma stared at Haoran and could tell he was dead serious. "All right, then. Thank you."

"We'll talk about the plan once we hear from Goose. Hopefully, tomorrow, she'll answer me," Haoran said later. "You'd better sleep now. It's almost midnight already."

"Yes. Good night, Haoran." Emma nodded before rising from the sofa while carrying her parents' paintings.

"Good night, Stardust." Haoran escorted Emma to the door and waved goodbye after making sure Emma had entered the elevator.

DING!

Haoran wasn't expecting to hear his laptop's notification. Was Goose still awake? He hurried back to the sofa and checked his laptop. His face adorned a smile when he saw the contents of the message.

[I'll look for information about your friend's parents. No need to pay me.]

"Ah... Goose, you're really kind," Haoran murmured to himself.