[Herta]: Oh, right, since you don't have much to do in Penacony, why don't you contact the person in charge there and discuss the Simulated Universe Project?
[Herta]: That way, I won't have to waste time explaining everything when I get there.
[Lumina]: What do you mean I don't have much to do? I'm swamped! I'm perfectly busy!
[Herta]: Fine, I'll just handle it myself then.
[Lumina]: Go ahead. I'm too busy for that. No time at all.
Lumina stared at her own body slumped in the chair, radiating lazy abandon. Eyes wide, she blindly typed away.
[Herta]: Fine. See you later.
[Herta has logged off]
Seeing this, Lumina put away her phone, tossed her soft hair, and huffed softly, "Hmph! Trying to use me as a tool? Not a chance!"
-
Penacony, at the break of dawn, Dewlight Pavilion.
[Tsk, tsk, tsk. Denying it with your words, but your body's telling a different story, huh?]
[If you ever end up anything but a top, I'll eat Penacony whole.]
Watching Lumina verbally reject Herta while her body dutifully led her to the Dewlight Pavilion to discuss the Simulated Universe with Sunday, the System couldn't help but click its tongue repeatedly, issuing a confident prophecy.
"Friendship, sisterhood, mother-daughter bonds... and no other complicated emotions involved. What's with the 'top or bottom' nonsense?" Lumina scoffed at the message, ignoring it completely.
I'm not looking for a relationship anyway. Why does it matter if i'm a top or bottom?
Besides, even if I did find someone, I'd never be a bottom, right?
Me? A bottom? What kind of Penaconian joke is that?
I'm a stone-cold top, alright? This is the unwavering confidence of an Emanator of Abundance, eternally thriving, never tiring, with infinite endurance!
Pushing the thought aside—there was no need to dwell on it now—Lumina sensed the auras within Dewlight Pavilion.
"Hmm? Sunday and... Dr. Ratio?"
They seem to be engaged in some kind of shady deal. What if I barge in and interrupt them?
Lumina thought this to herself, but her body betrayed her thoughts. She strode into Dewlight Pavilion and quickly arrived at the room where the two were conducting their illicit business.
Knock, knock, knock.
Sensing the atmosphere within the room, Lumina, being the kind-hearted person she was, naturally didn't barge in.
To put it bluntly, she had absolutely no interest in teasing or toying with men.
If the room had contained two beautiful girls instead, Lumina would have quietly snuck in, recorded their conversation with an Image Stone, and then given them a good scare.
Not for any particular reason, mind you—Lumina simply wanted to see the expressions on their faces as they wanted to beat her up but were utterly powerless to do so.
[I think "scare" is more like "threaten," don't you?]
Given Lumina's past behavior toward Black Swan, the System had long since redefined her use of the word "scare" to mean something else entirely.
"You seem to have misunderstood me," Lumina said, shaking her head with a sigh as she read the System's comment. "Threatening people with their dark secrets simply isn't my style."
[Not your usual style, maybe, but what about your second, third, or fourth style?]
Lumina: ...
Ahem, it's alright. We have plenty of time in the future. I'll change your biased impression of me.
Hearing this, Lumina was momentarily speechless, as if the System had struck a nerve. She quickly changed the subject.
"Please come in."
Just then, Sunday's voice came from inside the room. Lumina ignored the System and hurried through the door.
"Hmm? Is that... Topaz?"
Inside the room, neither Sunday nor Dr. Ratio had made any attempt to conceal the objects on the table. Lumina's eyes immediately fell upon two glittering stones.
"Am I interrupting something?" Lumina asked, feigning ignorance.
Both Sunday and Dr. Ratio shook their heads. Sunday replied, "Not at all, Miss Lumina."
"It's merely a trivial matter, hardly an interruption."
From Sunday and Dr. Ratio's perspective, this was indeed a minor matter for Lumina.
To a true Emanator, both Aventurine and Topaz were likely no different from ordinary roadside pebbles.
"I see," Lumina said with a nod, her gaze lingering for a moment on the topaz and jade stones on the table. Without further comment, she took a seat.
"Miss Lumina, have you encountered another problem?" Noticing her arrival, Sunday and Dr. Ratio exchanged a glance, nodded, and set aside their work, focusing their attention on her.
"Herta and three other geniuses from the Genius Society are planning to establish a new Simulated Universe Project in Penacony..." Lumina explained concisely.
"Madam Herta and three geniuses from the Genius Society are coming to Penacony to launch a new project?" Sunday repeated.
"Not all of them. At most, Herta and Screwllum will be coming," Lumina corrected him.
"I see..." Sunday murmured, a hint of surprise crossing his features. He rested his chin in his hand, lowered his head slightly, and fell into deep thought.
Seeing Sunday still lost in thought, Lumina nodded and continued, "This is the result of our joint discussion with Herta and the other three Genius Society members."
"Though I don't know why Herta chose Penacony as the experimental site, if it was her proposal, there must be a good reason."
Lumina hadn't actually consulted the other three Genius Society members, but since Herta had already decided, she was confident her statement wouldn't be an issue.
"Hmm... This matter isn't something I can decide alone. We'll need to convene a Family meeting to discuss it thoroughly." After a moment's thought, Sunday shook his head, indicating he couldn't provide an immediate answer.
Having several geniuses establish an experimental site on Penacony would undoubtedly require consultation with the other Heads of the Houses.
"Alright, let me know if you have any updates," Lumina nodded, keeping her response concise.
She had already revealed her affiliation with the Family. The next move was up to Herta.
However, Lumina doubted that Harmony, with its all-encompassing nature, would reject the visit from Herta and the other geniuses.
Well, if anything goes wrong, I'll just pretend I did nothing wrong.
After all, this Harmony still harbored a trace of Order within it.
"Hmm... Mr. Sunday, may I temporarily take custody of this luggage bag?" Lumina's gaze settled on Aventurine's luggage bag, a faint smile curving her lips.
"Ah... I apologize, Miss Lumina. These are Mr. Aventurine's personal belongings. The Family has no authority to hand them over to anyone else."
Sunday's expression turned troubled as he faced Lumina's request.
"I see... they're Mr. Aventurine's personal items. My apologies for the intrusion," Lumina murmured, her face clearing with understanding.
"Mr. Sunday, and this gentleman..."
"Veritas Ratio. You may call me Ratio, Miss Lumina," Dr. Ratio introduced himself with polite formality, meeting Lumina's gaze.
Despite their divergent paths, Dr. Ratio held Lumina in high esteem, both as a scholar and as a physician.
Hearing this, Lumina smiled gently at Sunday and Dr. Ratio. "Very well, Mr. Sunday, Mr. Ratio. Please continue your discussion. I'll be going now."
With that, she rose, opened the door, and left the room.
"Let's resume where we left off."
Lumina's sudden visit, along with Herta's and the Genius Society's Simulated Universe Project, caused barely a ripple in the otherwise tranquil waters...
"So this is the Aventurine Stone?"
After leaving Dewlight Pavilion, Lumina gazed at the shattered Aventurine Stone in her hand, a slight smirk curling her lips. Her eyes gleamed with amusement, like a grand villain who had everything under control.
Since Sunday wouldn't give it to her, Lumina had no choice but to employ some... special methods to "borrow" it.
Hmm... Don't misunderstand. This isn't about targeting Aventurine. I simply want to use him as a stepping stone—with legitimate, coincidental, and perfectly timed reasons—to make contact with the Ten Stonehearts...
No ulterior motives here~