"…He's someone I care about. Don't kill him yet…"
Sally made sure to reframe the scenario to give Bob the best chance of survival.
Ultimately, Rowena was still at Sally's service, since as a future Ice Queen, the ARSES were an elite ops squad that she would eventually personally oversee. There was no doubt that a lot of dangers, people with bad intentions, did indeed exist in this world, hence the need to be prepared… that said, she didn't think Bob was one of them, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"He said he would show me what he meant when we meet at the University Research Centre. I'd like you to come with me, he did say I could bring a friend after all."
"So let me get this straight… This guy, someone you… 'care for'" - Rowena kept her voice carefully neutral at this point although since they knew each other so well, Sally could tell Rowena was barely holding back and concealing what was probably an infuriating smirk, like "Sure, whatever you say" but also with overtones of surprise like "You, Sally? …Caring about someone?!?! Really?"...
Sally couldn't help but feel her flawless cheeks tinge a little as this point registered, but she wasn't going to give her the satisfaction… humph.
"- so this guy, potentially has lots of other 'Hims' running around?!"
"He said he had 4 alter-egos, to be precise…"
Sally dropped the hypothetical, well they would find out soon anyway if it was real, she supposed!
Rowena's eyes widened in surprise, and then narrowed as she considered this unprecedented scenario, as she brushed a lock of her lustrous, raven black hair aesthetically behind her ear, considering the options…
Intelligence. If it were true, then this person likely possessed incredible intelligence and capability, possibly someone they couldn't control.
It was suspicious. But then again, Sally was an extremely brilliant judge of character… if this guy had managed to capture her interest and attention… well that also spoke volumes…
"Hmm… Let's take it to be true. Well the main thing is to assess his [Intentions]. Is he a positive force for good, or will it be a case of power corrupting, and he's either completely delusional, or just plain evil? We need to know his plans, his capability, and after that we can decide what to do… How does that sound, Princess Sally?"
His intentions… huh.
Bob had always been kind and caring… but what if he was becoming delusional or crazy?!
Worst of all… And here Sally's heart sank a little.
What if he did evil, whilst thinking that he was doing something good?!
That was getting a little far ahead though, Bob had done nothing to warrant this suspicion, sure he was crazy intelligent, and didn't always see or do normal things, but then again, normal and commonly accepted didn't always mean good or correct.
Thinking back to her medical researches, she had encountered endless opposition from Doubting Dennis' and Condescending Colins, many of the conservative establishment who all scoffed at her researches, saying it couldn't be done until she had proved them wrong with results, not that she even cared what they thought at the end of the day since her main objective was to actually help others, and it was true that, had she just done 'normal things' then hardly any changes would have taken place.
She thought of famous pioneers in History, like Louisa Pasturé, who had famously put her own body on the line in order to change the world for the better.
It was too early to say.
"He didn't trigger any suspicions from my [Intuition of the Ice Queen] and [All Nurturing Life], but at the same time, I may not be objective since I confess that this person did in fact Rizz me when I went undercover as Allie…"
Sally proceeded to mention about the encounter with Baddeus and how Bob had intervened causing her to relive some magical moments and her heart to flutter a touch, as well as to praise him for their subsequent date and ongoing online interactions…
"So yes, I'm hoping that you could help me have a more objective take, in case I'm in too deep…"
Rowena had to admit that from what Sally was saying, this mysterious guy seemed pretty good… but was he too good to be true?!
"Thanks Princess Sally for your trust, I would of course gladly come with you to this meeting, although that might mean you would have some explaining to do too? perhaps this is something to discuss with Empress Bing Qi Ling? Since it seems like an important matter involving yourself, and anything involving you would involve the Future of the Anti-Rizz Realm itself."
___
It was good advice, and so Sally now was relating to Empress the details regarding Bob's revelation and what she should do about it at the Winter Palace.
"… So Auntie, what should I do?"
Empress was enjoying a wo-manicure from Rowena - even though she was an assassin, she was of course still a beauty and skilled in various 'arts' - while she took in the details.
You have done extremely well, my dear. Empress said as she enjoyed the soothing and refreshing feeling course through her as the (nail) buff was applied.
"Well, first of all, it is a good sign that he was not secretive about this frankly incredible thing he has claimed to have invented.
He is clearly an incredibly promising person with potential that we have uncovered during your Undercover Operations as Allie."
"He even said you could bring a friend, and it does not appear that he has malevolent intentions…
But!"
As always, the Anti-Rizz Realm would usually lean towards taking a better safe than sorry approach.
"There is no reason for us to… show our hand…"
Yes, at this point, her hands were soaking in the carefully prepared moisturizing solution…
"Go to the meeting. Get more information! Is he the real deal? Test him with your abilities, to find put whether he would be truly beneficial to our cause, and if there is a possibility for a future… cooperation…"
Sally kowtowed. "Yes, Empress. It will be done."
With the appropriate glaze currently being applied, Empress was now examining her flawless nails and hands whilst she also examined the situation at hand.
Empress contemplated giving her favourite 'daughter' a hug, but eventually settled on asking Sally to approach and taking her hands in her flawlessly womanicured own, giving the sweet Ice Princess' delicate hands a very gentle squeeze for good luck.
"Well my dear, no matter what, take care of yourself… be careful. This Ice Empress only wishes you the best…"
"Thanks Auntie…" Sally appreciated the rare gesture of affection.
Indeed, she thought to herself. This matter would, indeed, require a Woman's touch…