Sylvia understood Mei's intent, and in truth, she was quite happy for Mei to find ways to unwind.
The only thing she hadn't decided yet was whether to have the express train rendezvous with Himeko's train at Belobog or head somewhere else entirely.
"I'm not sure. I heard they're hosting some kind of offline gaming tournament in Belobog; the Luofu is calm and quiet; and it seems like The Blue is heading into a holiday season, too."
As for her own planet, she'd checked the progress reports from the engineering team.
They had reached the stage of restoring the ecological circle.
While there were a few modular building complexes in place, there wasn't really anything fun to do there yet. Besides, since Topaz had personally approved the project, Sylvia didn't need to go over and oversee the work herself.
All in all, it was worth a visit, but it hardly counted as a vacation spot. After all, the place was currently swarming with construction starships and automated machinery buzzing to and from.
"Before we decide, let's see what kind of news Robin actually managed to dig up. Otherwise, I won't be able to rest easy."
"You worry too much. With Robin's status in Penacony, she won't run into any real danger. At worst, she'll just end up under house arrest."
Mei said it lightly, but if a real crisis were to happen, Sylvia knew Mei would be even more anxious than she was.
Just then, Sylvia's phone lit up.
Surprisingly, Herta had sent a message first.
Herta? Is the Simulated Universe getting an update?
Sylvia couldn't think of any reason Herta would contact her other than the Simulated Universe.
[Herta: You there? Ruan Mei is looking for you. I shared your account with her.]
[Herta: You should find some time to come test the Simulated Universe.]
[Herta: Don't just wait for the new versions; get to testing the base version for me, too.]
Ruan Mei is looking for me?
Sylvia blinked, remembering they had indeed made an appointment some time ago. Had there been a breakthrough regarding the Permanence?
But as for Herta…
[Sylvia: Beg me, and maybe I'll go.]
[Herta: Testing me, are you?]
[Herta: Please.]
After sending that, Herta went offline. Sylvia couldn't help but laugh; Herta really would do anything for the sake of her own interests.
But then again, Herta's favorability rating hadn't budged at all—no signs of dropping, but certainly no signs of rising either. A stagnant pool, just like Ruan Mei's.
Perhaps all geniuses were like that; in their eyes, geniuses were one species, and everyone else was something entirely different.
Soon, a message from a new account arrived:
[Ruan Mei: Sylvia? I got your account from Herta.]
[Ruan Mei: I heard you have a barren planet under your name. I plan to go there to conduct my research on the Permanence.]
[Ruan Mei: Send me the address.]
[Sylvia: [Link]]
[Sylvia: It's still under construction over there. When are you planning to head over?]
[Ruan Mei: It's not far. I should be able to arrive in four days.]
[Sylvia: Alright.]
[Sylvia: Do you need me to set up a lab for you?]
[Ruan Mei: No need. I'm afraid I wouldn't be used to anything built by someone else.]
To think Ruan Mei actually carved out time to follow through on their agreement. Sylvia felt a brief, genuine touch of warmth.
Of course, it was only for a moment—this was Ruan Mei, after all. The blunt, heartless remarks about "compensation" they had discussed previously had given Sylvia a very profound understanding of Ruan Mei's emotional detachment.
Still, she was a guest. With that settled, the next destination after leaving Penacony was effectively chosen.
Sylvia handed the chat log to Mei and said, "Mei, there's no choosing now—we're heading to our planet. Ruan Mei plans to conduct her experiments there."
"Works for me. Besides, it'll be nice to go back and take a look."
Mei reached out, gripped Sylvia's calves, and pulled her legs up onto her own lap. Pulled half-around by the motion, Sylvia laid her phone on her stomach and stared at Mei, completely speechless.
"…What are you doing?"
"Nothing at all," Mei replied.
But her hands were telling a different story. Those hands were clearly prone to some sort of fetish; not only were they tracing and stroking the black silk covering Sylvia's legs, but they were also lingering, savoring the subtle indentation where the fabric pressed into her skin.
"Are you trying to suggest that your hands have a mind of their own?" Sylvia asked, fixing her golden eyes on Mei's hands.
Is this woman a closet pervert? Her past experiences must have kept those urges under wraps, but now that she was by her side, it was as if a switch had flipped, and years of suppressed desires were finally bursting forth.
It wasn't as if she wasn't allowed to touch. They were close enough now—if she really wanted to, it wasn't like Sylvia could run away.
Sylvia couldn't help but roll her eyes at her. Playing the fool with me, are you?
Unfortunately, Mei had thick skin. She smiled a bit sheepishly, and Sylvia wondered if her entire head consisted of nothing but cheek.
"It's just... I felt that being too intimate while waiting for news wouldn't be right," Mei explained.
"..."
Listen to the absolute nonsense coming out of your mouth.
Sylvia grabbed a throw pillow and swung her arm around—thwack—the pillow slammed right into Mei's forehead.
"Then stop touching me."
"Mmph... didn't I just say no?"
Mei's face flushed red from the pillow strike, yet she sniffled, her hands already firming their grip on Sylvia's soft calves, starting to pull at the boots.
"So the only thing refusing is your mouth, then?"
Sylvia watched as her right foot, encased in black silk, was pulled right out of the boot by Mei. Taking advantage of the moment Mei let go, she lifted her leg and planted her foot right on Mei's face.
"Mmph..."
Being stepped on by a dainty, beautiful foot in a silk stocking, Mei only let out a muffled sound, making no attempt to resist. Instead, she leaned into it, letting Sylvia press her back against the arm of the sofa.
Though wearing boots, Sylvia barely walked and never perspired; there was no odor, only the faint, natural fragrance of her skin.
Seeing Mei pinned down, Sylvia felt a surge of confidence and couldn't help but scoff.
"Hmm? So only the mouth is being stubborn?"
"..."
Mei opened her mouth to explain, but the gesture looked more like she was trying to bite that small foot.
Her lips and teeth grazed the silk, and realizing the impropriety, she tried to close her mouth—but the movement only caused her teeth to drag along the heel, making it look exactly like she had bitten her on purpose.
Sylvia stood frozen, stunned by the sight.
Mei, on the other hand, was silently nodding to herself. As expected, even her feet are adorable because they belong to Sylvia.
But this really is inconvenient for talking.
Thinking this, Mei reached out to grip Sylvia's slender ankle. The slightly protruding bone and the delicate tendon—she had them herself, yet they were unexpectedly intoxicating.
Mei pulled herself up from the sofa, bringing Sylvia's right leg up with her.
Refusing to be toppled over, Sylvia propped herself up with her hands, pulling her thigh tightly against her chest, glaring back just as fiercely.
Mei leaned in, her palms sliding from the ankle to the sole, her thumbs pressing into the arch as she captured Sylvia's silk-clad foot. With a gentle push of force, she forced Sylvia's leg straight against her upper body, inevitably lifting the already short skirt into a suggestively compromising position.
"I think you're the one being stubborn today, aren't you?" Mei stared down at the Sylvia pinned beneath her.
Though her new attire and abilities were indeed quite aggressive, there was no need to get so carried away. And you call yourself a queen? A queen who gets pinned down by me in a few moves~
Mei thought this, her thumbs subconsciously tracing the indentation of the sole through the silk.
The ticklish sensation made Sylvia instinctively try to pull her leg away, but no matter how she twisted her waist, she couldn't overcome Mei's strength. She was pinned down, and though she was still baring her teeth, she looked more like a cornered kitten than a threat.
Adorable, Mei thought. I could watch this all day.
Mei kept one hand lovingly wrapped around Sylvia's foot while her other hand reached up to Sylvia's face, her index finger dancing between those lips.
Seeing Sylvia's indignant, helpless expression, she couldn't help but murmur:
"As punishment, why don't you be a little sweeter and call me 'Big Sister'? Then maybe I'll let you off~"
"…Not a chance!"
"Mm-hmm~"
Mei hummed, her eyes filled with provocation. Just as Sylvia opened her mouth to protest, Mei leaned down and fiercely sealed those defiant lips.
"Mmph—!!"
Mei ignored the muffled protests, determined to punish this person who went around dancing with other women.
Dancing with Robin had been one thing, but that Black Swan—not only had she danced with her, she'd been so suggestive.
Mei hadn't brought it up, but that didn't mean she'd let it go. Mei never forgot anything related to Sylvia, and she was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to pay her back.
For nearly ten minutes, she demanded everything. Mei's hands were far from idle; the once pristine and composed Sylvia was now in complete disarray.
Mei, however, was quite satisfied with her masterpiece. This outfit was indeed luxurious, but it certainly felt good to be the one doing the "bullying."
"Going off and dancing so suggestively with women behind my back... you, really, you never learn, do you?"
Seeing Sylvia flushed and panting for air, Mei took the initiative.
She didn't really want to push it to the end, but collecting some interest—and watching Sylvia, though unwilling, have to cooperate because she knew she was in the wrong—was an exquisite experience.
For a moment, Mei almost understood why so many people were into these strange "tags" and "plays." It all came down to wanting to see more intense displays of emotion.
"…What 'hooking up'? Black Swan was the one who came to me! And I already explained that to you! Don't you dare take this out of context!"
Sylvia panted, wanting nothing more than to flip Mei over and give her a good spanking. Just you wait. I'm keeping score of this debt. Once my strength surpasses yours, let's see where you can run.
Mei's mouth twitched into a suppressed smile.
Once Sylvia's expression fell, she knew exactly what she was thinking. All she could say was that the imagination was beautiful, but those dreams would stay dreams.
Meanwhile, while Mei was busy "disciplining" Sylvia in the room, oblivious to the world outside—
Within the Dreamscape, Robin stood in the residency of the Bloodhound Family, staring at a Dream Bubble. The person who had brought it looked like any ordinary citizen of Penacony; Robin couldn't even tell which family they belonged to.
"…Are you someone sent by my brother?"
"Interpret it however you wish."
The woman neither confirmed nor denied it, merely gesturing for Robin to accept the current reality.
"I've memorized the contents of this data. If this is true, then we're in real trouble..."
Robin's expression darkened. The situation with the Stellaron was far more complex than she had imagined.
Though she'd had her suspicions, seeing the actual data filled her with dread for the coming challenges.
It wasn't that the Stellaron couldn't be removed—it was that the person actually controlling it wasn't even in Penacony.
Even the Dreammaster was currently incapable of directly manipulating the Stellaron. And once the Stellaron was disturbed, the main family, residing on the other side of the galaxy, would immediately sense the shift.
The most direct result would be a head-on confrontation with the main family. That was a far more terrifying enemy.
And there was one glaring fact: although the families of Penacony had been accepted by the IPC and the Family to establish Penacony, so much time had passed.
Each branch's leadership had changed hands, and the members had turned over countless generations. The connection between the two sides… wasn't actually that frequent.
In fact, one could say that Penacony had become quite independent. Robin didn't even know much about the state of the main family.
But knowing that the Stellaron itself was under the main Family's thumb, Robin's impression of them soured instantly.
"I always thought the Family was researching the Stellaron to aid worlds suffering from disasters, but… sigh."
"The Harmony embraces its family, but it also embraces too many conflicting wills. This is unavoidable, even Mr. Gopher Wood is powerless against it."
The woman standing beside Robin offered a word of comfort, though it sounded more like a persuasion.
"Supporting the weak with the strong—that is the pursuit of Harmony. The path they are taking now is absolutely wrong!"
Robin was furious. This only hardened her resolve to take the Stellaron and change the status quo of Penacony.
But one thing at a time. Robin realized that she couldn't force the issue with the Stellaron.
At the very least, she couldn't continue these high-profile probes like she had today. If she did, she wouldn't mind the consequences, but Sylvia would definitely be targeted by the Family.
Once she returned, she would have to sit down and discuss this with Sylvia. Their next steps required very careful planning.
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL