The Synesthetic Anchor wasn't a large device— it actually looked more like an injector.
So even a hundred of them wasn't particularly heavy.
Well… for a Pathstrider, at least.
For ordinary people, carrying a hundred anchors would require some care.
But Asta was not ordinary.
In less than ten minutes, she arrived hugging an entire crate of them.
And the moment she entered, she saw two Hertas standing there.
At that moment, she finally understood.
Someone had pretended to be Madam Herta to give her orders.
She stared at the two identical puppets with a deeply wronged look.
Puppets had no distinguishing features she couldn't even tell which one was the real Herta.
"Mr. Su Ran, if you need anything next time, you can contact me directly.
There's really no need to trouble Madam Herta."
She had thought it was some emergency research request.
But no turns out it was the other genius again.
"That won't do," Su Ran refused instantly.
"You're Herta's rich patron.
How could I bypass her and go straight to you?"
This wasn't his rich woman.
He couldn't just use her as he pleased.
And asking Asta was the same as asking the IPC for help.
Asking Herta was different.
He still didn't want to get too entangled with the company.
"Ha. Good. At least you know your place."
Herta nodded with satisfaction.
This guy was usually arrogant and shameless seeing him follow any rule was rare.
"But also," Su Ran added, "asking Herta for help doesn't create any debts.
But asking you definitely does."
Herta: ???
Oh?
So that's how you want to play?
She had finally begun to waver emotionally and this was what she got in return?
Herta bared her teeth at him, very nearly lunging forward to take a bite.
Whether it was rude or not wasn't something she cared about.
She never cared about appearances.
"But would this not trouble Madam Herta too much?"
Asta asked carefully.
"She already has many important experiments to conduct."
Though Su Ran's explanation was flattering, Asta also sensed… other implications.
It sounded as if Su Ran deliberately avoided dealing with the IPC and preferred to freeload through Herta.
Of course, this was just Asta's imagination.
She didn't dare assume she understood a genius's mind.
Maybe he simply wanted to interact with Madam Herta?
After all bickering pairs were a classic romantic trope.
And as someone who loved shipping characters, Asta was internally thrilled.
"Important experiments? Like what?"
Su Ran looked curiously at Herta.
Aside from the Simulated Universe, what other experiments did she even have?
"Researching you.
What do you think—important or not?"
Herta rolled her eyes.
Aside from her universe simulation, what else could be more important than studying him— and the things he created?
He had promised her bombs.
He brought absolutely nothing.
"Important indeed.
Then keep working hard."
Su Ran wasn't going to stop her research.
But he wasn't going to offer himself for study either.
Even the Erudition Aeon couldn't fully analyze him.
What could Herta find?
"Hey! Your space station is still completely empty.
Are you sure you don't want me to send a few people over?"
Right now Su Ran's station was just…
an empty shell.
Aside from Herta's puppet and a fully equipped lab of stolen equipment, there was nothing there.
"What if you seize it for yourself one day?" he said.
Herta snorted.
"So what?
Just marry me and the whole thing becomes joint property."
Asta covered her mouth, barely containing her excitement.
She stared unblinkingly at the scene.
Her only regret was that Su Ran wasn't using his real human body.
Otherwise she might have fainted from joy.
For a hardcore shipper like Asta this was perfection.
"But my talent is obviously better than yours.
Why am I the one who has to marry?"
Herta nodded seriously.
"That's fine too.
I can marry. Same result."
Order didn't matter.
She only wanted to research Su Ran and his creations.
"My bride price is one hundred billion credits."
Su Ran named the price shamelessly.
Herta waved it off.
"No problem.
Asta has that much."
Asta scratched her cheek awkwardly.
She liked watching drama not being dragged into it.
"If Asta can afford a hundred billion credits," Su Ran mused, "then why wouldn't I just marry her instead?"
Asta's face instantly went bright red.
"Because she's not as pretty as I am,"
Herta declared proudly.
Neither of them ever reasoned properly.
Now it was just a battle of shamelessness.
"Then if I wanted someone pretty, why not go for Idrila, the Pure Beauty Aeon?"
A Pure Beauty Aeon a cosmic embodiment of perfection.
If she had a humanoid form, wouldn't she completely crush Herta?
"But Idrila disappeared ages ago.
She might even be dead."
Herta admitted she had no confidence competing with an Aeon of Pure Beauty.
"Then I'll just look for her in version 3.0."
Su Ran said casually, and teleported the crate of Synesthetic Anchors back to his own space station.
Just as he was about to log off, Herta lunged forward desperately.
"Take me with you!"
"..."
"Next time for sure."
And he logged out instantly.
Bickering with Herta was a waste of time.
Better to return to his little rich woman.
"You bastard! You absolute bastard!
Running away again!"
Staring at the now-motionless puppet, Herta stomped her foot furiously.
"'Next time for sure'?
More like next time my foot!"
He remembered her only when he needed something.
And the moment he got what he wanted he vanished.
"Scumbag!"
Herta cursed him viciously.
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