"Alright, this concludes the interview. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Curio Forger." After a very long interview, Topaz let out a sigh of relief.
However, after using the voice-to-text function to review the current interview content, she felt that after all this time, she probably couldn't even edit together a single minute of footage that would pass censorship.
Forget it. Even if it can't be broadcast, it can be archived in the Interastral Peace Corporation's personnel files.
"You're welcome. Phew, that was exhausting."
"By the way, if I may ask an unrelated question, what do you need the star-destroying warships for, Mr. Curio Forger?" Topaz asked.
"Well, I was thinking that since Aeons are 'star gods'... I want to use these star-destroying warships to forge a star-destroying Curio." Chen Li, still in his Golden Homu King suit, rubbed his round Homu King face.
"Haha, Mr. Curio Forger, you have a great sense of humor."
"..."
"Haha, sir, that must be a joke, right?"
"..."
"Ha... ha..." Topaz felt she couldn't force another laugh.
Although she couldn't see the expression on Chen Li's face hidden beneath the costume, she could see the expression on Herta's face right next to him.
Hey, Lady Herta, why do you look so pensive!
"Haha, of course, it was a joke. How could a star-destroying warship possibly destroy a 'star god'?" Chen Li suddenly said.
"If [Star-Destroying] isn't enough, what if you add [God]?" Herta suddenly asked.
"..."
"..."
"Perhaps we should change the subject," Asta said, feeling that this topic was far too heavy—so heavy that even Topaz didn't dare to speak.
"Indeed. For example, Herta, want to bet me that a new member of the Genius Society will appear within ten days?" Chen Li smoothly shifted the topic.
He could make Vill-V behave for a while, but he was sure she wouldn't stay quiet forever.
"How is that possible? The last Genius Society member before you was Stephen, and that was... wait, it's only been a few years, hasn't it?" Herta suddenly realized.
"So, want to bet?"
"No bet," Herta shook her head decisively.
"Boring." Chen Li opened his palm, flicked the Compulsory Transaction Gold Coin he had been holding into the air, and then caught it.
"I knew you were up to no good, you brat! What are you doing with a Compulsory Transaction Gold Coin!"
"Hm? What Compulsory Transaction Gold Coin? This is a Merit Gold Coin." Chen Li caught the flying coin and popped it directly into his mouth.
This was the first time he had eaten the Praise of High Morality. The taste... was not bad.
"Like hell I believe you!"
"Anyway, is no one really going to invest in this project? This is a great opportunity to get someone into the Genius Society. I bet my friend can absolutely, definitely get in! After all, she's a genius of deception. So much of a genius that she can learn anything, simply by believing she can!" Chen Li said with utmost confidence.
"If you're that confident, you might as well go tell Aha the Elation. Maybe They'll invest in it," Herta said casually.
How do you know I haven't already told the Aeon of Elation? Aren't I telling Them right now?
A smile played on Chen Li's face. Of course, he wasn't implying that Herta, Asta, Topaz, or even Numby was the Aeon of Elation. Rather, he felt that Aha was constantly watching him, just like that big machine head, Nous. Chen Li wanted to take this opportunity to let Vill-V acquire a few more [Elation] Entries for him to forge Curios with, because the [Elation] Entry was truly useful.
And if Aha wasn't watching him? Then he was just putting on a show for the ghosts.
...
"What the hell! Wasn't your world on Tuesday yesterday? Why is it a day off today?"
When Chen Li saw the message from Haruhi Suzumiya, his entire mood soured.
His brow furrowed as he stared at his phone, trying to comprehend such niche vocabulary.
What do you mean, Japan is trialing a seven-day weekend system? Why does this system currently only apply to high school students? And what do you mean, your school just happened to be selected to pilot this system?
Outrageous!
Sunday! Come and see God!
The seven-day weekend system you've dreamed of has been realized! A part of Sunday's lifelong ultimate goal, achieved with ease...
Haruhi Suzumiya, as expected of you!
However, it wasn't impossible that something else had happened besides Haruhi changing the world. For example, Itsuki Koizumi might have thought that rather than letting the entire world fall into chaos by turning into a seven-day weekend system just because Haruhi wanted a day off tomorrow, it would be better to find a way to temporarily give all the students at her school a ten-day or half-month break. That way, the impact would be smaller.
How, you ask? For example, by blowing up the school.
Chen Li made this guess because although a seven-day weekend was absurd, when applied to Haruhi Suzumiya, it seemed almost mundane. Just like Tom, the world's greatest mouse-catcher, being unable to catch a mouse—it was just par for the course.
After all, this was the woman who, in order to experience the atmosphere of rushing to finish summer homework with everyone on the last day of vacation, caused the last month of summer to repeat a total of 15,532 times!
The Endless Eight! Utterly terrifying!
And the anime studio's method of padding out the series by repeating the same plot for eight episodes, only changing the clothes and slightly adjusting the dialogue each time, had left Chen Li dumbfounded! It almost made the Chen Li in front of the screen think he was caught in a genjutsu!
Damn those naturally evil Uchiha brats!
If Kyon hadn't finally figured out how to break the loop, that August might have repeated for all eternity. Where Haruhi was concerned, the world didn't need to be logical.
"...You've all come at the right time. I'm just about to shoot a promotional video here. I heard you have filming experience, Haruhi, so I need you to direct it. I'm willing to pay you 50 Star Stones as compensation," Chen Li said to Haruhi, who had arrived in this world with her entire brigade in tow.
It was possible to travel as a group through The Guide to Forging Curios, but it cost Star Stones. Chen Li was saying this to give Haruhi something to do, to prevent her from finding something for him to do.
"Filming a promotional video? Aww, I thought coming to another world would involve some kind of survival adventure. We even spent a whole morning preparing all sorts of props," Haruhi said, pointing to her brigade members, who, aside from herself, were all laden with bags and packs.
"This is the Herta Space Station, the territory of this world's top genius, Lady Herta. How could we possibly make you rough it in the wilderness?"
"A space station? So that means we're in space, right?" Haruhi's interest was instantly piqued.
"That's right."
"Can we go look at the stars?"
"You can."
"Will this giant space station suddenly transform into a super giant robot or something?"
"No! It has no other functions. It's just an ordinary space station. However, this station does store many Curios... not the ones I've forged, but magical items that originally existed in this world. Their effects might be average, but they are truly amazing," Chen Li said, expertly beginning to shut down Haruhi's wild fantasies.
What if, because Haruhi thought the space station could turn into a giant robot, it actually mutated? Then, when the Antimatter Legion invaded at the start of the story, what if the protagonist team was struggling against the Doomsday Beast, only to suddenly see the Herta Space Station stand up behind them, grab the Astral Express docked at the platform like a pair of nunchucks, and beat the Doomsday Beast to a pulp?
Although the possibility was low, it wasn't zero.
"Oh..."
"By the way, Haruhi, try and see if your Stance-Swapping Gun still works."
"Why do you ask? Let me try... okay, it works." Haruhi aimed directly at a nearby staff member who was about to eat a small cake and pulled the trigger. Just like that, Haruhi acquired a small cake.
"...Then try and see if this Curio works." Chen Li silently took out a long needle and handed it to Haruhi.
"What kind of Curio is this?"
"A barbecue Curio. Just pierce a steak with this needle, and it will instantly become cooked food," Chen Li said, taking out a steak and handing it to her as well.
"Let me try." Haruhi excitedly took the long needle and pierced the steak. "It really works! But it's so slow... it's not instant at all," she commented, watching as the steak slowly began to emit a fragrant aroma but cooked very slowly.
"This is a Curio I just forged. I misread the description just now. It slowly turns into cooked food," Chen Li said casually.
In reality, this was the Pain-Inducing Needle.
Seeing this, Chen Li was relieved.
Evidently, if Haruhi believed an item in her own world had the effect of a Curio, that item would continue to work even when brought to another world, though whether it would always work remained to be seen. But in another world, Haruhi's "wish-granting" ability was greatly weakened.
It existed, but it wasn't strong enough to be absolute.
This was good news, as it proved Haruhi would have a hard time causing too much chaos in this world. It wasn't that Chen Li didn't trust Haruhi, but because this world had a group of Masked Fools who loved to play tricks on others!
Masked Fools + Haruhi Suzumiya... hiss, why am I having such a strange nightmare?
"I'll go find Station Master Asta and have her find someone to show you around the station and find a suitable place to shoot the promotional video."
"Thanks for your hard work, Vice-Brigade Chief!" Haruhi stood on her tiptoes and patted the shoulder of the Golden Homu King.
"You're welcome."
Watching the backs of Haruhi and the others as they curiously toured the Herta Space Station, Chen Li tossed the die in his hand. He hoped Haruhi could spend an ordinary yet interesting day in this world, one that wouldn't cause trouble for anyone.
[1]
"...Useless whenever something important comes up. What's the point of having you?" Chen Li kicked the die, changing it to an [11], and then began to worry about where to get Elation points from again.
However, by utilizing this characteristic of the Elation Die, he also learned one thing.
That accursed Aeon of Elation is definitely watching me!
"Forget it. The problem should be solved now... right? I should still go check on the Wings of the Wind and Teacher Himeko's greatsword!"
---o---