Herta hadn't expected Oliver to suddenly bring up the past.
Fortunately, she was narcissistic enough that if she wasn't embarrassed, others would be.
"Ahem, this genius has too many things to remember every day; I truly don't recall who said that."
She feigned seriousness, wanting to quickly gloss over the topic.
"I remember it was a member of the Genius Society, a scholar who solved the mystery of the Imaginary Overflow," Oliver said.
Oliver also displayed a look of confusion: "I remember she also said that if she begged me to be friends, she would be an idiot."
Herta waved her hand, flat-out denying it: "I don't know. There are so many people in the Genius Society. I don't know who solved the mystery of the Imaginary Overflow."
At that moment, a recording came from the fourth mirror.
It seemed that Herta throwing the staff and piercing the mirror had caused a malfunction, playing the recording of the recent experiment.
"What qualifications?"
"Do I need to remind you again? I am Herta, Genius Society member 83, the scholar who solved the mystery of the Imaginary Overflow..."
"Even if I jump down from here and die outside, there's no way I'd be friends with you!"
"Beg you? Dream on! If I begged you, I would be—I would be an idiot!"
Herta's recording echoed in the laboratory.
It was as if it were slapping The Herta across the face!
"the fourth mirror—"
Her face turned black with rage.
She had originally intended to feign ignorance, gloss over the matter, and find a way out gracefully.
Who knew her own magic mirror would embarrass her at this moment, leaving her unable to save face.
"Ugh~~"
The Herta suppressed the resentment in her heart and forced a smile. "Yes, yes, yes, I said it all, alright. I admit I underestimated you. Tell me how you want to cooperate."
She was already being very considerate.
She was humiliated, given no way out, yet she could still smile and discuss.
"I'm feeling wronged right now, and I don't want to cooperate with you. Goodbye."
Oliver turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.
Are you kidding? After all that mockery earlier, if he didn't teach her a lesson now, what would happen in the future?
The Herta's heart churned when she saw Oliver refuse her!
How could he refuse?
I am The Herta herself, a genius admired by the stars. How could he not care?
My beauty, my worth, my abilities—which one isn't at the top tier of what people pursue?
"Are you really going to give up the chance to be friends with me?"
The Herta shouted.
Oliver shook his head. "No, I think the other geniuses of the Genius Society probably also want to meet Nous, and they probably won't let me feel wronged."
With that, Oliver was about to leave.
"Hey?! Wait! Wait!"
Herta panicked and rushed over, grabbing Oliver's arm. "They don't want to meet. The people in this broken club don't interact at all and are difficult to deal with. I'm the one who loves making friends the most."
"I admit, I spoke a little too loudly just now."
She was truly afraid Oliver would leave.
Not to mention her own desire to meet Nous.
If Oliver really had a way to attract an Aeon, and all the other geniuses met Nous but she didn't, wouldn't that be a failure?
It would be better to secure Oliver, so she could ask questions to an Aeon anytime. The thought of being one of the only two people who could meet an Aeon whenever they wished was exhilarating.
For this, Herta admitted her mistake for the first time in history.
Her first time was gone so carelessly.
"Hmm, please speak more pleasantly in the future. My eardrums are quite sensitive and can't handle harsh words."
Oliver poked his ear.
Watching Herta's impatient look, his little bit of mischief was finally satisfied.
"Friends, huh…"
He deliberately drew out the words, enjoying Herta's tense, breathless expression. "It's not entirely out of the question. But…"
Herta's eyes instantly lit up astonishingly, and her body tensed even further. "But what? Please tell me quickly. Space Station resources? Knowledge base access? Top-tier experimental samples? Or credits? You pick!"
Oliver gently shook his head, the smile on his face deepening a few shades, carrying an air of knowing everything. "These… don't hold much appeal for me."
"Then… then what do you want?"
Herta pressed eagerly.
She was already mentally prepared to hear an outrageous demand.
After all, attracting an Aeon's attention was something that could make countless people go bankrupt to ask Oliver for help.
No wonder Oliver said he didn't care for other things.
But for Oliver to use this condition to become friends with her, he was clearly after something of hers.
Or was it Herta herself?
Oliver pointed at Herta. "I want you…"
Before he could finish, Herta's expression immediately changed drastically. Sure enough, Oliver was lusting after her body!
Herta took a step back. "Don't even think about it! I'm not that kind of casual woman."
Oliver stared at her expressionlessly and said calmly, "Casual what? I want you to help me with the network defense engineering for a planet."
"What? Network defense? That's all?"
Herta's voice suddenly rose. "You attracted an Aeon's attention just for… for a broken firewall?!"
Her beautiful eyes widened, filled with disbelief, utter absurdity, and a strong accusation of "you're wasting precious resources."
"Do you know what level of phenomenon that was just now?! That was the will of an Aeon descending! That was the key to touching the origin of the universe! You actually… actually used it to exchange for a firewall?!"
She excitedly spun around a small half-circle, rubbing her slender fingers hard against her temples, trying to digest the impact of this huge disparity.
Her expression was like a miser seeing someone exchange a priceless heirloom for a piece of bread.
"'What's wrong?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow, watching her frantic state with leisure. "Ms. Herta, do you think this deal… isn't worth it? Or rather, you can't do it? Should I get Screwllum to help?"
He deliberately put a subtle emphasis on the words "can't do it."
"Worth it? Worth a f***…"
A curse almost slipped out, but she swallowed it back down.
Herta took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling violently a few times. The fervent glow in her eyes was finally replaced by a complex emotion mixed with grievance, unwillingness, and helplessness.
She bit her lower lip, glaring fiercely at Oliver, her gaze as if she wanted to devour him whole.
Are you kidding me?
You, Oliver, are using the condition of meeting an Aeon to exchange for a shoddy firewall today.
Tomorrow, you'll dare to exchange it for drones with the Corporation!
If The Herta can take advantage today, others can take advantage tomorrow.
At that time, if any Tom, Dick, or Harry can meet an Aeon, what value would her status as an Aeon's supplicant have?
The most difficult and valuable thing in the eyes of billions seemed worthless to Oliver, something easily obtained.
"Worth it!"
The word was almost squeezed out from between Herta's teeth, carrying a tragic grandeur like a warrior severing his own arm. "There's nothing this genius promises that I can't do! No helpers needed!"
Oliver gave a suspicious look. "What if your defense is breached by the Stellaron Hunters? I heard that wanted criminal named Silver Wolf, who stole the Corporation's money, is very powerful."
"What do you have that's worth the Stellaron Hunters targeting?" Herta said dismissively. "Besides, the Stellaron Hunters' technology can't breach my defense."
Of course, putting aside that Mysteriousness person, Silver Wolf alone truly couldn't do it.
Oliver asked again, "What if?"
Herta impatiently waved her hand. "There's no 'what if.' If it really gets breached by the Stellaron Hunters, I'll work for you for free for a hundred years, alright?"