"Stellaron?"
Upon hearing the word, the Astral Express crew instinctively turned their gaze toward Herta.
"What are you looking at me for?" Herta frowned, feeling their gaze.
What does it matter if it's stellar or nuclear? How is this my problem? Why is everyone looking at me?
Herta's expression seemed to convey these thoughts, prompting the group to avert their eyes.
"The Stellaron... Penacony is a vital interstellar hub, seamlessly connecting all corners of the galaxy. It seems..." The group, originally wanting to see Herta's personal attitude, quickly retracted their probing thoughts under her piercing gaze and refocused on Gallagher.
"Hey, Little Herta, want to join the fray?" Lumina nudged Herta, her body bumping against hers, showing no interest in the others' discussion.
Herta glared at Lumina, then mimicked her earlier gesture, bumping back.
Very naturally, she reached out and shook her hair, asking, "Intervene? What kind of intervention? The mastermind behind the scenes?"
"The mastermind behind the scenes?" Lumina lowered her head to examine Herta's slender, jade-like hand. "Not exactly a 'big, dark hand.' More like white with pink, pink with tenderness, and nails painted with purple polish. This is top-tier food... wait, no, this is a superior jade hand."
After appraising Herta's hand, Lumina gave it a sincere thumbs-up, bestowing the highest praise upon the delicate appendage.
"You sound like a culinary connoisseur," Herta remarked, her small eyes slightly lowering. Lumina's gaze on her hands made Herta feel very presumptuous.
"Delicious... I mean, beautiful!"
Herta: ...
Rolling her eyes speechlessly, it was clear this guy had suddenly gone mad again for no apparent reason.
Since this was typical Lumina behavior, Herta paid little attention, shaking her head and saying casually, "I came to Penacony solely for the Divergent Universe project. The whole 'Stellaron' thing has nothing to do with me."
"Mm... of course." But then Herta's tone shifted. "If you insist on me meddling, I might consider lending you a hand."
Herta's tone was so matter-of-fact, as if her words were the most ordinary thing in the world.
But was that really the case?
On the surface, it certainly seemed so. As for her inner thoughts, only Madam Herta herself could know them.
"Alright, alright~"
Coincidentally, Lumina was one of those "few."
Seeing Herta's disingenuous demeanor, Lumina could only respond with a fond, "Alright, alright~" What else could she do?
Sensing the hint of fondness in Lumina's gaze, Herta's brow furrowed, a flicker of anxiety crossing her face. "Don't misunderstand," she said urgently. "The Stellaron isn't called the 'Cancer of All Worlds' for no reason. It constantly corrupts everything it touches."
"If we allow the mastermind hiding behind the scenes—the one orchestrating events on Penacony—to freely wield the Stellaron's power, it will only lead to disaster, plunging the entire planet into chaos and destruction."
Look, she's getting worked up~
As Lumina observed Little Herta's flustered state, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in her eyes.
As the Erudition Emanator of Herta Space Station and having conducted extensive research on the Stellaron for years, Lumina couldn't believe she would still be so affected by a mere Stellaron to speak this much.
If that was ruled out, what was the real reason behind Herta's excessive talking?
Because she's flustered, of course! Trying to hide something.
And what was she trying to hide? It was obvious: that tsundere attitude of hers.
Little Herta, you're such a little tsundere, Lumina thought, stifling a chuckle. A knowing smile spread across her face.
"Hey, what's with that expression? Are you thinking about nonsense again?" Herta interrupted Lumina's thoughts, her face impassive.
"Not at all. I'm just pondering some facts," Lumina replied with a smile, her tone as indulgent as ever.
Herta: ...
I hate this tone, Herta thought fiercely.
Clenching her fists, she barely restrained herself from punching Lumina. Taking a deep breath, she huffed coldly, "You little sister-obsessed maniac! Drop that tone right now! I'm not your little sister!!!"
Herta's voice carried an unspoken fury, whether because Lumina treated her like a daughter or because Lumina treated her like a little sister.
"Respected and beautiful Madam Herta," Lumina said, "I, Lumina, sincerely apologize for offending you with my earlier actions."
"But I must say, I have never seen you as a child, nor as a younger sister."
"In my eyes, you are the most radiant star in the cosmos—so beautiful, so dazzlingly brilliant!!!"
Faced with these words, Lumina, who doted on Herta beyond measure, naturally chose to grovel and apologize at lightning speed, heaping lavish praise upon Herta.
Herta: ...
Faced with Lumina's lightning-fast groveling and blatant flattery—a complete package deal—Herta gritted her silver teeth, itching to raise her key-shaped staff and pry open Lumina's skull to see what exactly she was hiding inside.
However, sensing the numerous presences around them, Herta temporarily suppressed this impulse.
Restraining her restless hands and fingers, and suppressing the urge to beat Lumina senseless, Herta regained her composure.
"Think whatever you want," she huffed coldly, resigning herself to letting Lumina's thoughts run rampant in her mind.
Hmm... It wasn't that Herta had suddenly come to an understanding. Rather, she knew she couldn't defeat Lumina in a direct confrontation and would only be annihilated if she rashly attacked.
So cute~
Although Madam Herta's main body was less conventionally cute than her puppet form, possessing more emotional depth, Lumina still found the main body far more endearing.
"You have good taste," Lumina said aloud, not bothering to keep the compliment to herself. Madam Herta heard it immediately.
Madam Herta visibly preened at Lumina's sincere praise.
Seeing Herta's reaction, Lumina smiled indulgently and said, "The Stellaron Event is the Astral Express's affair. I won't interfere directly."
"But I'll provide a safety net..."
"If things truly reach an irredeemable state, I'll step in!"
Lumina declared with regal authority.
Initially, Lumina had been puzzled by the invitation she received. Now, she suspected Gallagher had invited her as a last resort, fearing the situation might spiral out of control.
Acting on this hunch, he had sent out an invitation, unsure if it would even be answered...