S.P.E.C.T.O.R-Chapter 522: Emma Hopkins discussion

“Erkath recommended someone?” Adam replied in surprise before asking, “Who?”

“It’s a bit outside the box and I’m not sure if it’s possible, but when I was discussing this with Erkath before she suggested that Emma would be a good candidate,” Rowena replied.

“Emma?” Tephe asked curiously.

“Are you referring to Emma Hopkins from Earth?” Adam asked.

“Oh, you're talking about that viewer in your chat?” Stacey enquired.

“The one with the username C E O Hopkins?” Tephe added.

“Yes, her,” Adam replied before asking, “Why did Erkath recommend her?”

“Erkath and Emma have apparently been discussing and exchanging business ideas since Spector gave them direct messaging capability, as well as Erkath asking Emma’s advice on how Earth fashion brands advertise and sell their products.

Also, according to Erkath, Emma is a very famous and capable entrepreneur who has numerous successful businesses under her name, while at present Erkath only has Erkath Fashion, though thanks to advice from Emma, she is considering expanding her portfolio.”

“Spector, do you have any information on this Emma Hopkins?” Adam asked.

“Affirmative,” Spector replied before the holographic screen showing Jessie’s information switched to display a picture of Emma, along with her information that it had acquired while on Earth.

[[Name:]] Emma Hopkins

[[Age: 39 (Earth Calendar)]]

[[YOB: 1985 (Earth Calendar)]]

[[Race: Earthling (100%)]]

[[Species: Humanoid]]

[[Home Planet: Earth (Milky Way Galaxy)]]

[[Birth Planet: Earth (Milky Way Galaxy)]]

[[Registered Ship: N/A]]

[[Convictions: Speeding.]]

[[Mercenary Hall Rank: None]]

[[Bounty Hunter Guild Rank: None]]

[[Additional Information: CEO and Owner of Hopkins Conglomerate that includes multiple businesses under its banner, including Hopkins Bank, Hopkins Property, Hopkins Holidays, Hopkins Automobiles, Hopkins University, Hopkins Entertainment, Blue Lagoon Club. (Click here to see more.)]]

“Quite the resume,” Stacey remarked as she read the information.

“She even has the Click here to see more button like that Jessie person before,” Tephe remarked.

“I wonder why everything has the name Hopkins except that Blue Lagoon Club,” Rowena wondered.

“According to the information I gathered from Earth’s World Wide Web, the Blue Lagoon Club is Emma Hopkins first successful business franchise,” Spector reported.

“She probably chose not to change the name since it’s such a well-known club,” Adam responded.

“You know it?” Stacey asked.

“I killed one of the individuals for Jessie’s death there,” Adam replied, causing all three girls who were awake to look at him with concern before he continued in a nonchalant tone, “But even before that, I had heard of the place. It was famous in the city I grew up in.”

“So you’ve actually met this Emma Hopkins?” Rowena asked curiously.

“She did mention that in the stream chat, Rowena,” Tephe pointed out.

“I know. But I don’t know her and so I can’t take her at her word, unlike our dear Adam here,” Rowena replied.

“I only met her twice, the first time I only spoke a few words to her since I was busy…. Negotiating with some bigshots. The second time was because one of her employees sold information they shouldn’t have and so I went and gave her a warning,” Adam explained.

“Well, seeing as she is always in your chat and apparently did a background check on you, you must have left an impression,” Rowena stated happily.

“Isn’t she also the one who informed us that some people back on Earth are still framing you for Jenny’s murder?” Stacey asked cautiously.

“The heads of the five families, yeah,” Adam replied.

“What are these five families you speak of?” Rowena asked.

Adam thought for a moment before saying, “I guess they're in a similar position to the nine families you told me about that rule over the Reynard Galaxy. Except that while the nine Nogitsune families are public in the use of their power, the five families back on Earth do it more subtly and from behind the scenes, though it’s an open secret that they have their fingers in everything.”

“I see,” Rowena said while nodding in understanding before asking, “Is this Emma related to any of the five families?”

“No,” Adam replied before continuing, “The names of the five families are Zhao, Flemming, Keita, Williams and….” At this point, Adam stopped speaking for a moment to clench his jaw before saying in a cold tone, “Morose.”

“Morose is the surname of the one who killed Jenny, or so Emma told us in the chat,” Tephe said in a sad tone.

Maya, who had been asleep on one of the other chairs while the three of them were playing their game, had long since woken up and been listening to the group's conversation and as she saw and heard Adam’s reaction to the Morose name, she tilted her head slightly.

Adam took a slow breath to calm himself down before replying in a much calmer tone, “That's right.”

“Going back to the original topic,” Stacey interrupted as she didn’t want to prolong the conversation on Jenny’s death since she could tell it was affecting Adam.

“This Emma certainly has the qualifications, but there are a few issues I see,” She continued.

“You mean that she’s on Earth?” Adam replied with a smirk.

“That’s not really an issue for you anymore, though, is it, babe?” Stacey replied with a smile.

“I suppose not,” Adam replied.

Stacey ran her hands over his chest slightly before saying, “No, the issues I see are: first, that she might not even want to leave Earth, especially since she has an entire business enterprise to run and operate.

Second is her lack of understanding of the known universe. She might be brilliant at business, but that’s Earth business, where she does dealings and negotiations with others of her own race, not aliens.

Third, can we trust her? I know Erkath recommended her, but we don't know her and even Adam has only met her twice.”

“She seemed a decent enough person when I met her before. But she might have just been acting since she knew I have the power to kill her if I so choose to,” Adam replied before adding, “Plus, you can’t build a business empire like hers on Earth by playing by the rules and being nice.”

“Hmmm,” Rowena replied as she fell into thought for a few moments before speaking again, “I personally only see the first point as a major issue.”

“Why?” Stacey asked curiously.

“Well, for the second point, we just have to give her a capable assistant and co-workers, such as Jessie, for example. She might have an extreme criminal record that makes her a bad fit to be the face of the company, but as you said yourself, she’s a successful businesswoman in her own right and could therefore advise Emma.

Also, I’m sure Erkath would be happy to continue exchanging advice with her and thereby helping her grow and learn how to conduct business in the universe. Also, I trust Erkath’s opinion of people.

After being a Universal Senator, she has developed a good knack for reading people and if she likes someone, then that’s good enough for me,” Rowena finished before giving her granddaughter her signature smirk and saying, “But if you want extra assurance that she wont betray us, then just add her to the harem.”

“Grandmother,” Stacey sighed while rolling her eyes.

“She isn’t joining before me,” Tephe said adamantly.

“Now look what you’ve started,” Stacey said as she shot Rowena an accusatory glare, causing Rowena to just wink at Adam in response.

“I have a suggestion regarding the first point,” Spector suddenly stated.

“Oh?” Adam replied curiously.

“I can construct a subspace relay point and deploy it within the Milky Way Galaxy, thereby connecting Earth with the Universal Subspace Network. Emma Hopkins would then be able to monitor and manage her Earth businesses from anywhere in the universe. Also, this would give your Earth viewers more access to the stream, such as being able to partake in polls and bets,” Spector explained.

“That would certainly fix the issue, but also lead to another one,” Rowena replied.

“Such as?” Adam asked.

“Spector is suggesting giving Earth access to the Universal Subspace Network and, through that, the rest of the universe before it’s ready and without going through the proper procedures and channels,” Rowena replied before adding, “Which could be dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Adam asked.

“Right now, Earth does not seem to be advanced enough to gain access to the Universal Subspace Network by itself,” Rowena replied before asking, “Am I correct in that, Spector?”

“Affirmative,” Spector replied.

“This is why Spector is suggesting that it constructs a subspace relay point, but that comes with its own dangers,” Rowena continued. “As you know, access to the Universal Subspace Network is normally handled by the organisation in charge of constructing and maintaining subspace relay points.

Our problem here is that they would not be in charge of doing that; Spector would. Also, there is the fact that once the relay point comes online, it will send out instructions on how to access it across the entire galaxy.

Earth itself is far outside the known universe and is nowhere near the jumpgate network. To connect it to the network, several new jumpgates would have to be created and installed between Earth and its nearest jumpgate, which seems to be in the Sandanar Galaxy.”