"Why are so many people gathered here? Doesn't anyone have to work?"
"I don't know. I heard some big shot is coming."
"How big of a shot?"
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"
"Look, Station Master Asta is here."
"There seems to be some movement at the elevator entrance."
"Oh, is the big one finally coming?"
"The big one! Is coming!"
As the elevator doors slowly opened, a sharp and capable-looking white-haired woman, leading a small Trotter, walked out.
White hair, red clothes, and a summon at my side. The name's Topaz, and don't you forget it!
"Miss Asta, it's been a long time," Topaz greeted Asta, who was standing at the very front.
"Long time no see, Topaz. I know the purpose of your trip is likely related to Lady Herta's bill for this month, but before that, there is a more important matter to attend to." Asta gave Topaz a friendly smile, her gaze passing over Topaz and her pet, Numby, to land on the mascot costume behind her.
"It seems I may have been mistaken. I originally thought this was the Herta Space Station's new mascot, but now it appears we have a very important guest." As a senior manager of the Interastral Peace Corporation, Topaz naturally possessed the ability to read people. Seeing the importance in Asta's eyes, she glanced back in surprise at the mascot costume she had been poking with her finger in the elevator just a moment ago.
"My apologies, Miss Asta. I'm two hours and thirty-three minutes later than the agreed-upon time. But I notified Herta in advance, so I hope I didn't delay you?" Chen Li, wearing the [Golden Homu King] suit, asked Asta.
"Lady Herta has already informed me. Welcome to the Herta Space Station, Mr. Curio Forger," Asta said politely, giving Chen Li a welcoming gesture.
Every member of the Genius Society was a treasure to the entire universe. While not every member was an Emanator of Nous, the impact each one had on the universe was no less than that of an Emanator. The total knowledge of these geniuses might be less than a fraction of a percent of the Aeon of Erudition's, but their creations and knowledge could be shared with the entire universe, unlike the Aeon of Erudition, who spent its days thinking about who-knows-what.
"Genius Society Member #85, Mr. Curio Forger. I've long heard of your name." Realizing she was standing next to such a major figure, Topaz extended a hand toward Chen Li. Although they had already greeted each other in the elevator, it clearly wasn't formal enough.
"No need to be so polite. You certainly didn't hold back when you were pinching me just now," Chen Li complained.
"My apologies. It's just that your mascot costume is simply too adorable," Topaz said with an apologetic smile.
"Mr. Curio Forger, would you like me to show you around?" Asta spoke up at the right moment, alleviating some of Topaz's embarrassment. Anyone would be flustered upon learning that the mascot they had been poking for the last few minutes contained a member of the Genius Society. Fortunately, this particular member seemed to be quite good-natured.
"I'd appreciate that. I need to find a suitable place in the station to shoot the advertisement. By the way, this is your Friends Circle terminal. Herta asked me to bring it to you," Chen Li said, handing a phone to Asta.
"Of course. Thank you for bringing this terminal over."
"No need to be so formal."
"But why did you happen to be sharing an elevator with Miss Topaz, leading to such a delightful little misunderstanding?"
"Emmm... that's a long story. Although I know the Herta Space Station like the back of my hand... I don't know how to use the elevator," Chen Li said after a moment of deliberation.
"???"
When playing the game, Chen Li had indeed explored every corner of the Herta Space Station. While there were some hidden areas he hadn't entered, he still knew the general layout. The problem was, in the game, he could use an elevator with a single click, or even use a Space Anchor to teleport directly.
But in reality, you couldn't do that.
And then... Topaz just happened to walk by.
Although he didn't know what business she had at the station, Chen Li chose to follow her.
The reason he had appeared outside the Herta Space Station in the first place was because that rascal Herta had placed a puppet of herself outside and left the Friends Circle terminal—which Chen Li had given her yesterday to pass to Asta for the rendezvous—in the puppet's hands near the station platform. According to Herta, she thought it would be a great spot to film the ad, so she suggested Chen Li check it out first.
But Chen Li felt Herta was purely retaliating against him for installing several layers of verification—which could actually be bypassed—on her Friends Circle terminal, which led to him being sent out to the platform to "enjoy the breeze."
Although being teleported to the platform wasn't part of his plan, fabricating a Golden Homu King persona certainly was. He needed this image to acquire more Fiction Value.
And Topaz's appearance was clearly convenient for him. As a senior manager of the IPC, her influence was relatively broad. Through her promotion, the image of the Curio Forger being the Golden Homu King would become more deeply ingrained in people's minds.
It wasn't impossible to have the IPC openly help promote him. The Corporation certainly wouldn't charge him money, but he would owe them a favor. And while Chen Li could just refuse to acknowledge that favor... if he appeared at the Herta Space Station as the Golden Homu King, and the IPC wanted to get the scoop on him, not only would the Corporation owe him a favor and pay some copyright fees, they'd even have to thank him for the opportunity.
"Thank you."
See?
"You're welcome. Remember to have the fees sent to Screwllum's card later," Chen Li said.
"Of course... hmm, Mr. Screwllum?" Topaz paused.
"You might not believe this, but I don't have an IPC bank card. I don't even have many credits on hand. I usually just use other people's," Chen Li said with a helpless shrug.
On the Xianzhou, he used Danshu's. Danshu didn't mind him spending a few of her credits at all, and she minded even less now. Elsewhere... he hadn't tried yet. And after troubling Screwllum so many times, it was only right to give him some credits. Though Chen Li felt that Screwllum couldn't care less how many credits were on his bank card.
Screwllum: I'm not interested in money. To me, it's just a number!
"Would you like me to open an account for you? It will only take a moment," Topaz offered.
"No need, I'm not interested in money. How about... I discuss it with Herta later, and I'll just spend her money from now on." Chen Li thought this was an excellent idea.
"I would advise you not to have too high expectations for Lady Herta. The reason I'm here this time is to deliver her invoice. This is her bill from last month." As she spoke, Topaz opened a holographic screen.
Chen Li then watched in amazement as the bar graph representing Herta's bill shot up rapidly, eventually breaking through the top of the screen.
"May I ask, is that enough money to buy a star-destroying warship?" Chen Li asked in a low voice.
"If it's just a standard-class warship, you could buy three and still have some left over," Topaz said after a moment's thought.
"Topaz, you'd better just open a bank card for me. Use my current image," Chen Li said.
He was beginning to feel that Herta might be a bit too unreliable. The odds of Herta being able to support him were probably lower than the odds of finding the Heart of Africa in a trash can. Or perhaps...
"Of course, no problem," Topaz readily agreed.
Although in principle, opening a credit account required the person to be present with their true appearance, when it came to the IPC, members of the Genius Society were the principle.
"Just send the appearance fees and such to Screwllum's account. But... are you interested in doing some other business?" Chen Li suddenly asked Topaz mysteriously.
"What kind of business?" Although Topaz knew that no business involving the Genius Society was ever small, looking at Chen Li in his Golden Homu King suit, she couldn't help but feel a sense of surrealism.
"Does the Interastral Peace Corporation buy Miraculous Amber?" As he spoke, Chen Li took out a piece of Miraculous Amber the size of a human head.
"We certainly do buy... an amber shaped like the Amber Lord?" Topaz was already taking this transaction with a Genius very seriously, but now she realized she was still too inexperienced.
As is well known, Miraculous Amber, as fragments shed from the body of Qlipoth when he swings his celestial hammer, is a part of a divine body. It is nearly indestructible. Only chosen individuals with unwavering wills can, after long trials and tribulations, carve open the light condensed within. Let alone sculpting the amber into a specific shape.
"Name your price. What is the Interastral Peace Corporation willing to offer to acquire this piece of Miraculous Amber?"
"Any price you desire," Topaz said, mesmerized as she observed the amber in Chen Li's hand.
This was simply... a work of art!
"However, more than this piece of amber itself, we would rather purchase your technique for carving Miraculous Amber," Topaz added.
"I don't think you'd want to know how this piece was sculpted into the shape of the Amber Lord. Distance creates beauty," Chen Li said with a dry cough. Because if I told you how it was carved, you might not be so willing to buy it. It's like ordering takeout; you might not want to eat it after you've seen the restaurant's kitchen.
"As expected of a member of the Genius Society, easily solving a problem that has troubled the Corporation for a very long time. In that case, Mr. Curio Forger, what product do you desire?" Topaz asked directly.
The fact that Chen Li had presented this item meant he wanted to make a trade and likely already had something in mind.
"Star-destroying warships. Preferably the kind that have actually destroyed a planet. The more, the better. It doesn't matter if these warships are still functional. What matters is whether they have a history of actually destroying a star. Do you understand what I mean?" Chen Li said.
"In principle, the sale of such weapons of mass destruction is restricted. But right now, the principle is in your hands, so... we have a deal."
After all, was there anything in this world more dangerous than a member of the Genius Society or an Emanator?
---o---