Chapter 117 (1/2)

Shrouded in a sea of fog, the grandeur mansion was suspended in it. It was heavenly as well as surreal. In front of the mansion’s left wing was a small garden where Hao Ren and Raven 12345 were sitting across a fine tea table, facing each other. It was poetic as much as mystical. But the mansion owner was a crazy goddess.

Hao Ren felt the lady in front was sticking out like a sore thumb.

“The new tenant was transported by an outsourcing company, and the outsourcing company made a mistake in their astronomical unit calculation, causing the transport vessel to dock and discharge its passenger 895 light years from where it was supposed to land.” Raven 12345 with a cup of red tea in hand appeared elegant. “There is CCTV surveillance in the container of the space catapult, everything is monitored. I need you to get there, extract and bring him back.”

Hao Ren was riveted. Not until Raven 12345 shot a plasma ball at his head he gave a response. He gazed at the matter-of-fact face of the Goddess, sensing her seriousness he finally came back. “You meant you’re sending me into space?”

“There’s nothing surprising about that.” Raven 12345 put her cup down, adding a few teaspoons of granulated sugar from a sugar bowl as she continued. “Just like what I’ve told you, you’re my assistant, and I’m the Goddess of the universe. If the earth is only what I’ve to govern, what for I need an assistant? Since you’ve shown your worth for the last couples of mission, it’s time for more challenges. Before you do, you need to familiarize yourself with the universe, so this space trip’s just that—a paid business and leisure excursion. Nothing dangerous nor conspiratorial. Just free and easy. It’s an eye-opener. It’s a trip every inspector gets to experience before going full-fledged.”

Hao Ren was wide-mouthed. He knew Raven 12345 was right but somehow he had got an unreal feeling. But after a while he finally came to grip with it. “Don’t you think it’s a leap too far? I managed to come out alive from fighting a bunch of demon hunters on earth yesterday, now you want me to go interstellar? Haven’t you heard of transition period?”

Raven 12345 took a couple of sips before saying. “It’s not so much of a frog leap. Just an escape from the earth’s gravity. And for you, geosynchronous orbit and extra-galactic objects have little difference, you have never been there. At the same time, you mustn’t neglect your duty on earth. The universe’s your workplace, no matter which planet it might be. Earth’s just your familiar home base where the difference end.”

Something was on Raven 12345’s mind. There was a pause. Then she continued. “Everything happens on earth for a reason. A reason of which the purpose and meaning might extend far beyond earth itself. Every plan I have for you has a deeper meaning to it. All things you encounter are interrelated in some ways. For some reason, I’m not going to tell you now. You’ll understand why when you get more matured.”

Hao Ren stared at Raven 12345’s serious face in awe. He had never heard her saying such thing. “I’m a little surprised you become so serious.”

“Ya, me too.” Raven 12345 shrugged as she put aside her cup of tea which had turned mushy. “Someone said acting like that could inspire awe and confidence.”

Hao Ren: “…..”

“You’ll arrange everything for the interstellar mission?” Hao Ren rubbed his chin. He tried hard not to show his excitement as well as nervousness as to project himself as a mature. “The spaceship you last mentioned…”

“Oh, your personal space vessel? It’s coming soon but you aren’t going to use it. You can’t operate it.” Raven 12345 pointed to his MDT which was floating asleep in the air. “There’s now a bidirectional teleporting function in your MDT. Two preset destinations. One being my place—here, it saves you the hassle of looking for public transport; the other is Kuiper station, the first launchpad to interstellar travel. If you have your own personal space vessel, it will dock there too.”

No matter how hard Hao Ren tried, his heart was beating faster than he would want it to. He turned and looked at the MDT, tear started welling in his eyes. “Spatial shift? I’m getting the privileged treatment right now?!”