12:00 IST, Eighth Day, Sixth Month, 3079 PV | City Stelarum / Royal Quarters

  I look over at Ray’s super duper cute face. She is lying beside me, just looking into my eyes. We woke up a while ago but we just haven't said anything.

  It seems to have become a challenge. Whoever dares to break the silent happy moments first loses.

  So, I just stare into her brilliant blue eyes. It's not unpleasant, in fact it's quite nice. After all, who wouldn't take a chance to stare into their supercute girlfriend’s eyes for several hours?

  She is super cute by the way. Like, world endingly so. I'm surprised reality hasn't shattered at her raw beauty. Let alone when she puts on one of her brilliant smiles. Or that thing she does where she perks up only one corner of her mouth when she is thinking really hard.

  “Oi, lovebirds, stop staring into each other's eyes with those ridiculous grins and come do some actual work!”

  Unfortunately, our wonderful bliss time is abruptly cut short by a certain white haired menace. Wait, has she been spying on our personal time. If so, that's kinda creepy, Initae.

  “Ko, can't we just pretend we didn't hear her?” Ray (super cutely) says as she wraps her arms around me and gives me a nice squeeze. She doesn't stop until I make a squeaking sound like a dog’s squeaky toy. It's always nice to get super-tight hugs though. I return the gesture, her squeak is absurdly cute by the way.

  “I would like to pretend we didn't. But I fear she might drop a bee’s hive on us if we don't get moving.”

  “Hmm, that doesn't sound so bad for some extra minutes of cuddling with the guy I love so much. But I guess we should get moving. We've got that meeting today, right?”

  “Aww, why'd you have to remind me about that?”

  “Dont worry, I’ll do most of the talking, so just rely upon me.”

  She gives me a [pretty long] kiss and then releases me from her ironclad embrace. She extracts herself from the bed and changes into her uniform.

  “Come on, you lazy NEET. Don't make me drag you outa bed.”

  “Hmm, that doesn't sound so bad. I really should live up to that worthless NEET title if it means I get more attention from my cute girlfriend that I love oh so much.”

  She moves over and grabs a hold of my arms. Preparing to literally drag me out of bed. But, in a genius strategy that earns me at least twenty worthless NEET points, I pull her into the bed instead.

  14:00 IST, Eighth Day, Sixth Month, 3079 PV | City Stelarum / Command Room

  Ray (who is super cute) and I walk into the command room, arm in arm of course. The room is full of a bunch of people that are working on various things, they all take a moment to bow when we enter.

  Man, this whole King thing takes a bit of getting used to.

  Initae immediately looks at us with a stare that seems to hint at some sort of frustration. But resignation as well. Hopefully she is finally adapting to the fact that we are a pair of hopelessly in love humans and we don't really do the whole showing up on time thing.

  “Oi, lovebirds, it sure took you long enough. What can you possibly be doing for two hours?”

  Both of our faces light up with a pretty red blush. We were definitely doing things, though I don't think we should tell initae exactly what we were doing.

  “Aww, don't be like that, step-auntie, we were just doing a bit of morning exercise.”

  At her comment, many in the room let out a little bit of laughter, before quickly composing themselves.

  “As darling Ray said, merely a bit of exercise. It is important to keep up our physical health, right?”

  “You two know just as well as I that these augmentation kits remove the need for regular exercise. Wanting to do some early morning exercise out of some weird desire isn't an excuse to be late to important meetings! You insufferable lovebirds, I should've just stayed on my nice tropical island and watched as you two crashed and burned.”

  “Well, we thank your greatness for deigning to lend your aid into our most important endeavors. After all, aren't the older generation supposed to support their super cute nephews in whatever they should choose to pursue?”

  “Ko, don't you start getting sassy too. I think dear Ray is starting to rub off on you.”

  “I can't say that's necessarily a bad thing. I wouldn't mind if a lot more of her ended up rubbing off on me.”

  The room erupts into laughter, even Ray and I join in. Initae is the only one that doesn't laugh. Just sitting there with a look of disappointment on her face.

  “Well then, if that's how you're gonna be. Let's just get on with the plan for today.”

  “Yeah yeah, we've got some fancy delegates coming to meet with us right? Super cool and fun times await us. I'll get to show darling Ko off to a bunch of people!”

  “Oi, I didn't agree to being ‘shown off’, if anything it should be I who is showing you off. Everyone wants to see the super cute Ray!”

  “Darling, you're super cute too! I'm sure many people want to admire you as well.”

  “Ray, Ko, what have we said about flirting in the command room?”

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  “Oo, oo, I know this one! We should definitely be flirting in the command room! It's the perfect place to show off how cute darling Ko is.”

  Initae walks over and gives Ray a nice wallop on the head. I can't say I wish it was me instead, Initae’s wallops hurt.

  “Anyways, kiddos, you've gotta attend some meetings. We've got three parties that have sent delegations to meet with you on this fine day.

  First up, we've got the Arkanian Shipbuilding Association, also known as the ASA. You have already had some contact with them before, but I hear they have an interesting proposition to offer you two.

  Next up, you've got a meeting with Qualtrak, the sage of Initiation. They want to go over something quite important. Unfortunately, sages, except for me of course, aren't allowed to leave the sanctum, so it will have to be virtual.

  Lastly, you've got some super special guests.”

  Ray:”oooh wait, I know! April and friends are coming to visit, right?”

  “Correct, dear Ray. The Quartet and associated persons are coming to talk with you two about various things. In exchange, you will go visit them on a date in the future.”

  “Oooh I can't wait to show April all of the fancy things we have. It's going to be so much fun!”

  “Dear Ray. This isn't a fun trip, this is a highly important political meeting that could shape the future of the entire universe!”

  “Hey Ko, what do you think we should show them?”

  “Hmm, well the Septuplet does have a performance tomorrow. We should definitely take them to that. Plus we've gotta show them the fairgrounds, they'll love it for sure!”

  I think I hear Initae mumble something about worthless children. But I'm too focused on planning what we are going to do with the Quartet to care.

  15:00 IST, Eighth Day, Sixth Month, 3079 PV | City Stelarum / Super Fancy Conference Room

  “Salutations, old friends. It is I, Brik Lodge, back once again!” says a pretty large Arkan. They are dressed in a very fancy looking yellow suit (you can imagine how that looks on an Arkan). Of course, it's the good ol’ Brik Lodge, the liaison that helped us to acquire our first battleship, the Clak. Remember that old thing?

  Ray (super cute of course) and I, along with Initae and several other human officials are sitting at a pretty nice table. Across From us is Brik and several other important-looking Arkan.

  “Its a pleasure that we can be doing business with your organization once more. I hear that you have an interesting proposition to offer us, The Moonlight Alliance?”

  “That we do, fine sir!

  I'll cut straight to business, we have identified that one planet in this system would be an optimal site to construct a shipyard complex. We would be delighted to work with you to establish such a structure. Naturally we will handle most of the construction and complicated operations. But would be glad to share some of the profits, as a recompense for the space given to us.

  In addition, we think that many humans would love to learn more about shipbuilding, so it could also serve as an academy of sorts.

  Plus, we are sure that you will be in need of many ships soon, and having a local shipyard makes acquisition all the easier! At a cost of course.”

  It seems like a very simple proposition. They get to use one of the nearby planets to set up a shipyard. In return they give us some of their profit and allow humans to learn at the station. Plus it seems preferential treatment when it comes to acquiring ships.

  Overall it seems like a mutually beneficial agreement. The only thing we are really giving is a planet that we will likely never have a use for. Though it is clear that the ASA is getting far more benefit than us, it seems like a good arrangement.

  I look over at Ray and give her hand a nice squeeze. She looks back and seemingly is thinking the same as I am.

  Ray:”We happily accept your proposition! Let it happen. I'm sure one of our friends will be able to help you iron out the details and whatnot. Here’s to a prosperous partnership.

  While you're here, do be sure to enjoy the various fun activities and sights that City Stelarum has to offer. We hope that you truly enjoy your time here and spread word about our wonderful city.” She says, with a brilliant, reality-altering, smile.

  “Wonderful indeed! We will be sure to recommend your colony as a wonderful retreat destination to all that should come by in our travels.”

  With that, the meeting with the ASA is over and the Arkan file out of the room. Or rather, float out of the room? I'm still not sure what to think about them. They are kinda strange, floating synthetic cores surrounded by several floating appendages. Yet somehow they feel more alive than certain pink haired humans.

  During the short break before our meeting with Sage Qualtrak, Ray and I head off into an empty room.

  Thirty minutes later, we are back in the conference room with Sage Qualtrak on the holoscreen.

  “My my, if it isn't the little prodigy Ko, it's been a fair moment since we have spoken one on one. I hear you have achieved high level skill in all three categories of inae wielding. I'd expect no less from the apprentice of our lovely transcendent *laugh*”

  “It's a pleasure to be meeting with you again, Sage Qualtrak. Though, I wish this were just a call for us to chat. I am led to believe that you have something important to discuss with us?”

  “Yes yes, I should love to just chat. But we do have an important topic to discuss, let me get right into it.

  Upon researching human biology and other such things. We have concluded that humanity has an unprecedented affinity for manipulating Inae. Far surpassing the statistics for even that of the Itokin.

  Notably, it seems that while around 60% of humanity should have the potential to manipulate inae in some form. Comparatively, this number is around 15% for the Itokin.

  However, most of them will not surpass an average of medium affinity. But on the contrary, there are abnormally many humans with highly concentrated inae affinities. That is, people with one extreme and multiple high affinities, for example.

  We expect that about 5% of all human wielders will possess at least one extreme affinity. In comparison, less than half a percent of Itokin wielders possess an extreme affinity in any category.

  In your ‘fathers’ message to us about your history. He mentioned that humans have a very high compatibility with the Vikea genome. We expect that whatever is causing this compatibility is also responsible for a large portion of humans being able to control inae.”

  This is big news.

  In summary, most of humanity will be able to wield Inae, albeit not very well. But, there will be quite a few humans that are extremely powerful in wielding inae.

  This is big, like, really big news.

  Just having a few strong inae wielders is enough to change the entire nature of a civilization, and even the universe itself (See, Spacenullficiers, voidliths, the sanctum, and other such examples).

  Ray:”So, what you're saying is. I am one of the few humans unable to manipulate inae. That Ko here gets to be all special and is actually not that abnormal when it comes to humanity?” She seems to have a small frown on her face. I bet she really wishes that she had magical powers too. But this highlights an important point, how will humanity react to this? How are we going to handle this clear divide that will be created within society.

  Humanity is still very new to the whole everyone gets along thing. While other species also had issues with working together in their civilization's infancy, humanity is only barely out of that period.

  A revelation of this type could easily cause humanity to regress into its old ways, if we are not careful about it.

  “Hmm, Lady Ray, it does unfortunately seem that way.”

  Ko:”This is going to be a massive headache. In very many ways.”

  But, I'm sure no matter how much of a headache this will be, Ray and I can overcome it together. Though, I might have to soothe her disappointed soul at not having magical powers.

  Anyways, we will persevere and overcome any obstacles together. Whether it be humanity being great wizards, or giant space dragons. So, bring it on.

  End of Chapter 67 | Contractual Arrangements

  Next: Chapter 68 | Branch of Humanity