"A deal?" Herta looked at Ron plainly, clearly lacking interest.
"A civilization spawned on a planet that has been lingering on its last breath for hundreds of years, invaded by the Antimatter Legion, and unable to solve a single Stellaron even with the IPC's help... has no meaning to me..."
"There are countless civilizations like this in the sea of stars. I've never seen any of them receive the favor of an Aeon, escape the flames of [Destruction], and be reborn from the scorching embers—"
As she spoke, she crossed her arms and scrutinized Ron, her tone already tinged with a bit of impatience:
"If you want to scam funding with empty promises, go find Asta. She occasionally has the interest to sprinkle some money on charlatans like you—I am very busy. If you don't leave in three seconds, I'm going to throw you out of the Space Station."
She clenched her small fist. The mechanical joints of the puppet made a crisp clicking sound under the force, making one doubt just how much strength Herta used and whether it would affect the service life of this puppet body...
But such things obviously didn't matter to Herta. She didn't care about these mass-produced puppet bodies. If she could scare off this annoying fellow, that would be best—
If it weren't for the experimental material capable of helping her test the Simulated Universe being right next to her, she would have directly thrown Ron out of the Space Station long ago, watching him turn into space junk in the orbit of the Blue Planet, just to avoid startling this useful humanoid Stellaron.
Oh, perhaps she wouldn't watch him off—Herta didn't have that kind of interest. She didn't want to waste a single bit of time.
But Ron just looked at Herta with a smile, not scared by her intimidation in the slightest.
Although Herta's perception of him had clearly become very poor, this wasn't important to Ron. It was even the change he had expected—
At least now Herta had started to pay attention to him, hadn't she?
Just now, Herta wasn't even willing to listen to half a sentence from him, treating him completely as air.
However, Ron didn't feel his dignity was provoked... Rather, Herta should be like this. He had prepared for this long ago.
As Member #83 of the Genius Society, a super genius who had visited the Aeon [The Erudition] Nous multiple times, Herta had the qualifications to despise everything... and she should despise everything.
So what if she despised everything? Her identity, her talent, her strength—everything supported her attitude towards the world, and everything told her that she was absolutely correct.
She should be like this.
But... this disdain also had a limit.
At least, when facing a fellow genius, even Herta should restrain her disdain.
"Alright, before throwing me out of the Space Station... Madam Herta, I hope you can listen to a sound. After you hear this sound, I think you will change your opinion of me slightly—"
Ron looked at Herta with a smile, speaking in a friendly tone.
But Herta just frowned slightly and held up three fingers:
"Three..."
Ron was unhurried: "I hope we can cooperate sincerely. If possible, I actually want to join the Simulated Universe project team, because there are some interesting questions that need the Simulated Universe to seek answers—"
Herta retracted one finger:
"Two..."
"If deep cooperation can be achieved, then afterwards I hope Belobog can share data with Herta Space Station, mutually benefiting each other, and exploring the truth of the universe together—"
Herta impatiently retracted the second finger, leaving one finger dazzlingly waving in front of Ron's face:
"One!"
".....—. ..."
Ron gently tapped the wall beside him. The metal panel emitted a crisp sound under the tap of his fingertips.
He mouthed a simple shape towards Herta. It looked as if he was saying—
"Tick-tock."
Stelle, standing to the side, looked at Herta's face full of gloom and the raised finger, then looked at Ron's smiling expression and strange behavior. For a moment, she felt a little panic in her heart—
It's over. Ron is really going to be thrown out by Miss Herta... What do I do? Should I send a message to Himeko now telling her to pay attention to receiving Ron, so Ron doesn't really turn into space junk?
She had a very clear understanding of Herta's temper... Every time she came to Herta Space Station to do Simulated Universe tests, she would be shocked by Herta's coldness.
Clearly, the text messages Herta sent her before she came were always very enthusiastic, but whenever she finished the required tests, Herta would treat her completely as air again. If she wanted to say something to Herta, she would be very impatiently "invited" out of the office...
Her main trait was being cold and ruthless.
Now that Herta said she would throw Ron out of the Space Station to become space junk, Stelle had absolute trust in this statement and didn't doubt it at all.
So, how exactly should she save Ron?
If Ron was kicked out of the Space Station and became space junk, could Pom-Pom really drive the train to Ron's side and fish him back onto the train...?
Or should she find a way to stop Herta now? But would she throw me out together with him...?
The girl who hadn't been born for long fell into such distress for the first time.
But her distress clearly had no necessity to exist any longer.
Herta retracted her raised finger, tilted her head slightly, and seriously scrutinized Ron in front of her.
"Alright, I admit I looked away. The puppet's visual sensors occasionally have this problem. Perhaps I should upgrade the configuration—but that's not what's important right now."
A hint of interest appeared in her eyes as she looked at Ron:
"Where did you hear that sound? Those idiots in the Intelligentsia Guild have no chance to hear such a thing. You definitely didn't hear it from them..."
"So, you successfully visited Nous? But the Club hasn't had any newcomers, and I don't see anything special about you... But it doesn't matter."
Herta muttered softly and snapped her fingers casually. The intelligent terminal beside her immediately popped up a light screen.
Although her mechanical joints looked stiff, they were extremely agile at this moment—she tapped around on the light screen at extremely fast speed, quickly completing a simple fine-tuning of a long string of settings.
The recording equipment of the Simulated Universe beside them flashed with dots of starlight, gradually waking up from its slumber. It was obviously fully activated under Herta's operation.
"What were the conditions you just mentioned? Data exchange and experimental assistance? No problem, I'll give it all to you. I accept this transaction request."
She turned to look at Ron and pointed to the recording equipment that had already started running:
"Go in. Prove to me what you just said."
She spoke, spreading her hands:
"Payment on delivery. No problem, right?"
"Absolutely no problem."
Ron stepped forward without hesitation, standing on the Simulated Universe's recording equipment under Stelle's puzzled and bewildered gaze.
The images on the light screen faded, and new text notes popped up on it:
[You successfully persuaded Herta, making her develop considerable interest in you.]
[Stelle, standing aside, was greatly shocked by the riddle-like communication between you two.]
[Her mind is currently full of confusion as to why you two suddenly successfully cooperated. This simple girl who hasn't been born for long is destined to be puzzled by this for a long time. She might even hug her quilt thinking about today's situation when sleeping at night...]
[But the simple girl's doubts are destined to have no one to explain them. You and Herta have completely focused your energy on the Simulated Universe.]
[She wants to understand the Aeons through your hands, and you want to complete the transaction with her... These are the goals you both want to achieve most right now.]
[Before you entered the Simulated Universe, Herta gave you a long-winded explanation of various precautions in the Simulated Universe and informed you of the settings she just simply modified—]
["I modified the opening settings of the Simulated Universe. Previously, in order to explore the connections between Aeons, the setting I gave Stelle was [The Trailblaze] Akivili, letting her act as an 'Aeon' to contact those simulated guys in the Simulated Universe."]
["But since you said you have your own way, I won't make these settings. I just adjusted the behavioral tendencies of all Aeons to 'Enthusiastic'—incidentally, I just imported the Astral Express's data on Jarilo-VI, temporarily simulating your hometown."]
["You will enter the Simulated Universe with your current identity. All settings are no different from reality... I look forward to your performance."]
The text on the light screen faded, and new notes popped up on the screen:
[Under Herta's operation, your consciousness was successfully entered into the device, transforming into a precise data stream, recast into your own body within another universe meticulously built by Herta and the other geniuses.]
[You open your eyes and find yourself standing on the streets of Belobog. The slight cold wind and the heaters by the street make you feel incomparably familiar. Standing on the intact Alexandra Plaza in the Administrative District, you can't help but produce a trace of illusion for a moment—]
[You feel like you just had a dream. Actually, Belobog did not experience Bronya's rebellion, and the Trailblazers of the Astral Express did not take away the Stellaron. None of this has started yet; you just slept.]
[But your memory tells you deeply that all of this has already happened in reality. You know clearly that you have merely entered Herta's Simulated Universe...]
["Perhaps the Simulated Universe can also be counted as another kind of reality? Even if this is just a virtual world composed of data streams, it looks no different from reality right now..."]
[You muttered softly, having a deeper understanding of the Genius Society's definition of "Genius."]
Projects like the Simulated Universe were things only these geniuses could operate. If Ron were to try researching the Simulated Universe from scratch, he wouldn't dare guarantee he could complete this research alone.
[However, now is not the time to lament the special nature of the Simulated Universe. You need to attract an Aeon and complete contact and communication with this Aeon...]
[Herta is still waiting for your proof, ready to record data—for your goal, you'd best not disappoint her.]
The text on the light screen faded, and new images were surfacing on it:
[In order to complete Herta's request, and also for your transaction and cooperation with Herta to proceed smoothly, you began to ponder the plan to attract an Aeon...]
[You possess multiple means to attract Aeons. Which one to choose? Which Aeon to choose? How to choose to obtain more knowledge from the Aeon?]
[You inevitably fall into deep thought for this, contemplating your choices—]
[1. Attract an Aeon by broadening a Path.]
[The "Salvation" trait will forcibly broaden a Path when you embark on it, and you can use the concept of "Salvation" to forcibly interpret this Path.]
[As long as it isn't a Path forcibly obtained based on other simulation traits, the effect of the "Salvation" trait will absolutely not disappear...]
[Unless it is an Aeon who is too cold, or whose Path deviates too much from the concept of "Salvation," the attention of the Aeon of that Path will inevitably be attracted by you the moment you step onto the new Path.]
[After choosing this option, you will make a Path selection, choosing which Aeon to attract.]
[2. Attract an Aeon with the blessing of a Miracle.]
[The reward trait "The Existence of 'You'" given to you by [The Elation] Aha in the last simulation is essentially a blessing from [The Elation] Aha. Although [The Elation] Aha did not rely on this blessing to find your ability after the Life Simulation Game rendered it harmless, this does not mean He will not discover this blessing after you attract His attention.]
[As long as you embark on the Path of [The Elation], you will inevitably attract the gaze of [The Elation] Aha. Because of this blessing, He will definitely travel thousands of miles to find you and have a long talk with you.]
[After choosing this option, you will attempt to embark on the Path of [The Elation]. You will have long contact with [The Elation] Aha. He will conduct various exchanges with you, perhaps allowing Herta to record enough data relatively satisfyingly.]
[3. Attract an Aeon through Research.]
[In this simulation, you have actually already successfully visited Nous once—although for some reason He did not hand you an invitation to the Genius Society, you have clearly been marked by this Aeon who seeks to know all things.]
[And every time you complete a miracle research, the power of [The Enigmata] Mythus will affect you, while [The Erudition] Nous will simultaneously take action to relieve your confusion... They are watching you, perhaps thinking about something.]
[Perhaps, as long as you complete more miracle research, you will attract [The Erudition] Nous and [The Enigmata] Mythus more times. Maybe through this, you can probe quite a bit of information useful for reality.]
[After choosing this option, you will attempt to carry out various scientific research in the Simulated Universe that you hadn't finished before. You will have the opportunity to complete various miracle researches, and attract a glance from [The Erudition] Nous and [The Enigmata] Mythus, or attract Them to visit in person.]
[That is knowledge Herta is very interested in. You will make Herta extremely satisfied in recording this data.]
Looking at the options on the light screen, Ron didn't hesitate at all and directly clicked the third option.
The reason was simple; purely because he didn't dare choose the second option.
[The Elation] Aha was a formidable existence capable of seeing through the simulation game. In this simulation, Ron had tried his best to avoid Sampo and [The Elation] Aha, never wanting to contact them. He didn't want to break his defense now, even inside the Simulated Universe.
As for facing the first and third options, the choice was very clear.
The first option was the most mediocre. Although it obviously wouldn't go wrong, the effect was clearly the weakest. It was estimated to be similar to when Stelle simulated [The Trailblaze] Akivili, and it would also expose his ability to broaden Path concepts. This option had absolutely no cost-performance ratio.
The third option was different. Not only was the effect the strongest, perfectly hitting Herta's needs, but he could also complete the research Ron hadn't finished before, treating it as doing scientific research in a different place within the Simulated Universe.
And the Simulated Universe was, after all, a simulation within a simulation. It wouldn't affect the ending of this Life Simulation Game. Herta could help him restart at any time—
That is to say, he could take the opportunity to use the Simulated Universe to complete various radical and dangerous experiments, completely disregarding the consequences, and completing these studies at the fastest speed...
Ron thought so, watching the options on the light screen fade, and new notes surfaced on it:
[You decided to choose to attract Aeons through research.]
[After all, [The Erudition] Nous and [The Enigmata] Mythus have always been paying attention to you. You feel that things should have a beginning and an end. It's better to use miracle research to tease Them more and see what exactly Their reaction is.]
[Holding this idea, you completed your various studies in the most radical way within the Simulated Universe.]
[These studies include but are not limited to the upgrade of Anti-gravity Modules, the upgrade of Sentient AI, research on materials left by the Antimatter Legion, and tracing the technology of Jarilo-VI's history...]
[You even began to research Divine Miracles—you requested the Lance of Preservation from the Cocolia in the Simulated Universe, which only the Supreme Guardians of past generations could wield, and researched the blessing from [The Preservation] Qlipoth upon it.]
[Because you completely didn't care about the consequences brought by the research, you conducted research wantonly. Radical research allowed you to get results quickly, opening new research extremely efficiently. One scientific research result after another was born under your hands, finally stored in your mind, becoming a small corner of your profound knowledge.]
[Because you conducted various studies at such high speed, even if the trigger probability of a "Miracle" is only one percent, it was still successfully triggered under your persevering efforts—]
[Out of tracing historical technology and the remnants left by history, your research on the remnants of the Antimatter Legion succeeded. You completely broke through common sense and lit up the technology tree of Antimatter Materials.]
[At the same moment you completed the research, a strange mist climbed onto your pupils, and the familiar ticking sound rang in your ears. [The Enigmata] Mythus and [The Erudition] Nous appeared simultaneously again. Everything was within expectations...]
Looking at the text on the light screen, Ron couldn't help but nod with satisfaction.
Sure enough, his prediction was correct. [The Enigmata] Mythus and [The Erudition] Nous seemed to be watching him for some reason. Every time he triggered a Miracle Event and completed a piece of miracle research, [The Enigmata] Mythus would come out to affect his cognition, wanting to destroy this research result.
And [The Erudition] Nous would come out to break this perceptual wall of fog, letting Ron regain clarity and returning his research results to him intact.
This should be enough to complete the transaction with Herta... He didn't expect to be able to complete so much research relying on the Simulated Universe. Remembering these things would save a lot of trouble next, and the path to researching the Stellaron would be much simpler...
Ron thought thoughtfully, but before he could think about the next action plan, he saw another line of notes jump out on the light screen—
[But everything stood still at this moment.]
Looking at the text on the light screen, Ron couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
Everything stood still at this moment? What's the situation?
Did [The Erudition] Nous and [The Enigmata] Mythus start fighting? Did the two Aeons fight until the edge of the universe, grinding the Great Dao to oblivion?
Ron looked at the light screen in front of him in total confusion, watching the notes on the light screen continue to pop up:
[A burst of mist generated in front of you, blurring your vision and blurring this world.]
[In a trance, you seemed to see everything being erased, and everything being redrawn on paper.]
[You shake your head, shaking the grogginess out of your mind, letting yourself regain clarity—]
The text on the light screen faded, and new images were surfacing on it:
On the screen, Ron saw a magnificent library. He was standing in front of the exquisite and heavy gate of the library. The gate slowly opened, seeming to welcome his arrival.
He looked up and saw the entire sea of stars flowing above this library. Countless galaxies were twisted together under the traction of slender threads, stirred into a gelatinous state like galactic sludge, flowing slowly.
In the center of the library hovered an ancient staircase. The staircase went straight into the sky, penetrating that heavy sea of stars, disappearing into the darkness among the twinkling stars, with no end in sight.
Countless huge and towering bookshelves led to the sky just like this spiral staircase. Heavy books were stuffed onto the bookshelves one after another, packed tightly, completely unable to see any gap.
A fastidiously dressed little old man was walking quickly down the stairs, a heavy book tucked under his arm. It was unknown from which part of these endless bookshelves he had pulled it—
He was holding a quill pen stained with ink in his hand, walking angrily to Ron, spreading the book open and scribbling on it.
"Why are you working so hard on those studies? Wouldn't it be finished if you just honestly followed that Masked Fool's script?"
This little old man scolded angrily: "Because of these studies, do you know how much history I changed for you?"
"How can a human body measure the universe? Observing reality is observing terror. Have you not realized this fact yet, kid!"