Space Station.
After handing over the simulated universe matters to Screwllum, Herta closed the monitoring screen and switched to remote-controlling the puppet located near the Master Control Zone.
She glanced at the coordinates sent by Himeko and walked in that direction.
When she arrived at the destination, the others were already there, and a few lingering comments about her were still floating in the air.
"I've only been gone for a few months, and the Space Station has already turned into this mess?" Herta's gaze settled on the gray-haired girl.
"You're finally back. Stelle, let me introduce you. This is the true owner of the Space Station, Genius Society #83, Herta."
"If you're going to introduce me, do it properly. Why mention the Society? I have so many extraordinary achievements; any of them sound better than #83."
"Pfft... Genius Society." Stelle failed to stifle her laughter.
"Laugh if you want. That old ghost Zandar came up with the name. Do you think I like it?"
Herta's gaze seemed to pierce right through Stelle.
"So the Stellaron has become you now, right? Then I'll have to take a good look. Tsk, amazing. To contain this unactivated Stellaron and save the Azure Star from disaster, I built an entire Space Station."
"And now you're telling me someone went back to basics and just stuffed it into the body of a brat like you? How was it done?"
"Indeed, this Little Fellow's constitution is quite strange." Himeko also showed a hint of investigative interest.
Stelle looked at Himeko, then at Herta, and protested weakly, "Do you two really have to discuss me right to my face?"
"What's wrong with that? Let me tell you, brat, the Stellaron inside you is my private property. It was the raw material I intended to study for an important project."
Herta didn't think there was anything wrong with her behavior and tilted her chin up as a matter of course.
"Now that the item is in your body, there's a piece of good news and a piece of bad news. I'll say them, you listen."
"The good news: The Stellaron has activated safely and is performing stably. This is a result I'm happy to see. Although it was achieved by someone else, I don't plan to take it back. It's yours now."
"The bad news: I've lost my research material, and my plan is forced to be shelved. I'm very unhappy. Therefore, I must conduct some research on you."
Stelle looked puzzled. "What kind of bad news is that?"
"Ha?"
Herta looked at her as if she were an idiot.
"Isn't my unhappiness the biggest piece of bad news? Do you have any idea how important my project is?"
"I really don't."
"Listen, I originally planned to analyze the power of the Stellaron to find the person most important to me."
"Normally, I might not bother arguing with you, but this matter is absolutely non-negotiable—unless you can return an unactivated Stellaron to me."
"I get it. It's bad news for you, not for me."
Stelle realized, then said with some difficulty:
"But I don't know why I woke up carrying this thing either. You can't bully a child who was just born not long ago, can you?"
"Humph, see for yourself."
Herta made a swiping motion with her hand, pulling up a surveillance clip full of static.
In the footage, a voluptuous woman in a long coat pressed the Stellaron into the gray-haired girl's body.
Beside her was a girl with a single turbo ponytail, blowing bubble gum while operating something.
"Stellaron Hunters Kafka and... Silver Wolf?"
Seeing the faces of these two, Himeko was stunned.
She truly hadn't expected that it was this pair of galaxy-renowned wanted criminals who had planted the Stellaron inside Stelle.
Herta casually dismissed the recording.
"Brat, I don't care what your relationship is with those two, and I'm even less interested in what the Stellaron Hunters do."
"Ownership of the Stellaron in your body belongs to me. Reclaiming it would be natural, reasonable, and legal."
"But who told the perfect Ms. Herta to be so kindhearted? I'll allow you to run around with it, but when I need to study you, you cannot refuse."
Stelle scratched her head, actually finding this logic damn well-reasoned.
Himeko pondered for a moment and asked softly, "Herta, am I to understand that you're allowing her to choose to come with us?"
"Of course. It's convenient for you to return to the Space Station anyway." Herta let out an arrogant huff.
"If I may ask, who is the person you're trying to find using the Stellaron?" Stelle asked curiously.
"What business is it of yours?"
"How is it not my business? If I board the train with Himeko, what if we happen to run into them on the way?"
"Brat, do you know how big this universe is and how hard it is to find one person?"
Herta looked as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world and scolded unceremoniously:
"Even a genius like me has no clue. A child who was just born not long ago should just save it. However—"
Herta suddenly drew out the last word, looking Stelle up and down again.
"However what?" Stelle felt her skin crawl under the gaze.
"However, you can help me with another matter. Come to my office immediately."
"...I say, you wouldn't be lusting after my body and trying to impose some 'unspoken rules' on me, would you? I'm not interested in puppets..."
"??!"
Herta was stunned for a moment, and then a 'kind' smile appeared on her face.
"Do you know what Diamonds are?"
"I do," Stelle answered honestly.
A massive heavy hammer abruptly appeared in Herta's hand. Then, a huge purple Diamond flew straight toward Stelle's face.
"Then you must have never seen a Diamond this big! It's a gift for you!!"
"Aahhh-oh-ho-oh-whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho—!!"
In the Master Control Zone, a bizarre scene that left people dumbfounded was unfolding.
Ms. Herta's puppet was wielding a giant hammer, chasing a gray-haired girl and pounding away, causing bursts of howling.
No one dared to stop it.
Himeko watched the two—one chasing, one fleeing—and helplessly pressed her hand to her forehead.
Before long, Herta dragged Stelle back to their original spot and tossed her onto the ground.
"Even if a newborn child doesn't watch their mouth, there has to be a limit. Don't make those kinds of jokes in the future. This genius only has research-related interest in you."
"Ouch... That was ruthless. You are definitely the most ill-tempered person I've ever met!" Stelle stood up, rubbing her backside.
"You should thank your lucky stars you can still stand and talk to me. Ill-tempered? Wait until you've met the other members of the Genius Society; then you'll know how much I'm indulging you."
Herta put away the hammer and gave a cold snort.
"Some geniuses would sell you out, and you'd still have to say thank you through your tears. You there, Himeko, right? When are you departing?"
"I'm not sure yet. In a few days."
"Fine. Brat, come over as soon as you've finished packing. Don't dawdle. There will be benefits for helping me."
After saying that, Herta just stood there, motionless for several seconds.
"Then you should at least tell me how to get to the office! Honestly." Stelle's teeth itched with frustration.
Herta didn't respond.
"Hello?"
"Hello, hello, hello? Hellooo?"
"Hello, I am currently away on business and will not be contacting you later." Herta's puppet issued an emotionless automated reply.
"???"
Stelle felt as if her head were filled with flying question marks.
"Go on. That's just Herta's personality. She's not actually a bad person. Follow that corridor to the end, and that's her private office," Himeko reminded her kindly.
"It's still Ms. Himeko who cares about me..."
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