[Dad]: I know you're eager, but don't be.
[Sparkle]: You're stealing my lines!
[Dad]: Didn't listen to Dad, and now you're suffering the consequences, aren't you?
[Sparkle]: Oh, my dear Dad, your words, kicking me while I'm down, are truly chilling. If I didn't know you were a member of the Genius Society, I'd almost suspect you were the great God of Fun, here specifically to have fun at my expense.
[Dad]: ...So what's your plan? Go steal another mask?
[Sparkle]: Forget it. No mask is no mask. I'll just carve one myself. It's not like I'm going to the tavern anytime soon. The fun that was had at my expense by my colleague this time, I'm going to get it back from others, twice over!
[Dad]: Damn those Masked Fools!
[Sparkle]: So, Dad, when are you going to forge that Curio to help me locate where the fun is?
[Dad]: You haven't even coughed up the forging fee. Are you trying to get it for free?
[Sparkle]: But my travel expenses were scammed away along with my mask by my colleague! I did land a big job a while ago, but I haven't done it yet, so I'm a little tight on cash right now. How about... you send me a commission, and I'll complete it for you?
[Dad]: That... could work. I have someone whose show I am absolutely dying to watch!
[Sparkle]: You see? Isn't this a perfect match for my professional skills? Just tell me whose show you want to watch! If I even frown once, you can be the Masked Fool from now on!
[Dad]: Deal! But let me be clear up front: my fun-watching contests with that person have had mixed results. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it.
[Sparkle]: I can't handle it? If I can't handle it... whatever you say, goes!
[Dad]: If you can't handle it, then whenever I cause trouble in this world from now on, I'll say you put me up to it! And you have to admit to it!
[Sparkle]: Deal.
[Dad]: Sent the contract coin. Sign it.
[Sparkle]: Okey-dokey!
Although Sparkle guessed that the person this famous Curio Forger wanted to mess with was of high status, since they could have fun at each other's expense, the person was at most a member of the Genius Society... and Sparkle loved a challenge!
Even if she failed, it was just a matter of taking the blame. Pfft, a Curio Forger, a member of the Genius Society... when they decide to cause trouble, how bad could it possibly be? The worst they could do is probably mass-send some memetic scam advertisements. It's not like they could start an Emperor War like Rupert, right?
What was this? This was Sparkle's great victory!
The thought of getting her forging fee waived just by helping Chen Li watch one person's show made Sparkle feel light and joyous.
Still, having to find the forging materials herself was so annoying. Something with an [Elation] Entry... maybe she should go scam the mask off another Masked Fool!
Wait a minute, the person who scammed her mask... could they also be one of Dad's clients?
...
[Playing with Masked Fools is Fun] Entry Extraction in progress... Progress: 2/5 (Obtaining a Masked Fool's mask can increase progress.)
"The Aeon of Elation is really too much. Taking one of Sparkle's masks wasn't enough, he had to take a second one. Why is he so harsh on Sparkle?" Out of pity for Sparkle, Chen Li was now seething with righteous anger.
[Honestly, you didn't spare Sparkle either. The thought of Sparkle realizing she has to go up against the Aeon of Elation, choosing to surrender at the speed of light, and then having to face an endless number of scapegoat pots... I can't help but hum a little tune.]
To be honest, the task of going to find fun at the expense of the Aeon of Elation was of ultimate, hellish difficulty. If Sparkle had a Curio, she might have a chance of winning. But having to take all the blame for Chen Li was a feat that perhaps not even an Aeon could accomplish.
Because only the little sprite knew just how much chaos Chen Li was planning to unleash upon the Honkai: Star Rail universe! This child, Sparkle, even had the potential to become the Aeon of [Scapegoating].
"I believe in Sparkle. So what if it's the Aeon of Elation? Doesn't he also use the power of the Path of Elation? Sparkle uses the power of Elation, Aha uses the power of Elation. Who's to say Aha shouldn't fear Sparkle? I'd say their chances are 50-50," Chen Li said, full of confidence in Sparkle.
[...Then what about Sparkle's Curio?]
"Curio? What Curio? Sparkle hasn't even fulfilled my request. On what grounds does she deserve a Curio?" Chen Li tilted his head.
[You are now a qualified Masked Fool!]
"Speaking of which, I didn't expect the Aeon of Elation to be so easy to talk to," Herta said after successfully concluding the deal and closing the invitation space, stroking her chin with a hint of disbelief still on her face.
"Logic: This transaction was not equivalent. Query: Chen Li, is there anything special about the mask in your hand?"
"Nothing special. It's just the mask of an unlucky Masked Fool," Chen Li replied, having just signed the contract with Sparkle.
"Then what is the Aeon of Elation's true intention?" Herta was still pondering.
"Perhaps for the Aeon of Elation, sending us to the Aeon of Erudition, and making the Aeon who only answers questions with questions give us three straight answers, is in itself the fun. And don't forget, when the Aeon of Elation made the deal, he said he would 'express deliver' us to that pile of scrap metal. Do you understand the meaning of 'express deliver'? Believe me, it absolutely will not be a pleasant experience," Chen Li said.
"..." by Herta & Screwllum.
"Why are you two looking at me like that? Do you think my analysis is wrong?" Chen Li tilted his head.
"I don't know what Screwllum is thinking. I'm thinking... in a sense, the fact that you can understand the Aeon of Elation's logic means you really should go to a hospital for a check-up," Herta retorted.
"...Isn't that a little too hurtful?" Chen Li asked tentatively.
"Hurt your damn head," Herta said. (TN: This is a pun. The original says 番茄 (fānqié - tomato), which sounds similar to a common explicit insult, "TM个头" (tā mā ge tóu - your f*ing head).) The result was hilarious.
"I don't know why, but I suddenly feel a chill," Herta, in her puppet body, suddenly hugged her arms and shivered.
"Are you alright?" Chen Li asked with great concern.
"I'm fine. Now we just have to wait for the Aeon of Elation's response. Speaking of which, after seeing Unique Herta's performance, I'm also considering whether I should install an eating module in the Herta puppets."
"Oh, where is Little Herta now?"
"She's eating with Haruhi Suzumiya, who teleported to this world through Asta's Friends Circle terminal," Herta said, her puppet eyes momentarily losing focus.
"Under the influence of the machine spirit, Little Herta's eating is actually quite special. Even if she drinks water that's been drugged, as long as you trick her into thinking it's just hot water, she'll instantly return to normal. It's terrifyingly effective."
"Hold on, did you just say something outrageous? Why do you have that kind of drug?" Herta froze, staring at Chen Li in astonishment.
"They're leftovers from when I was building up my poison resistance by eating various poisons. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Besides, Little Herta was a puppet. As long as Herta didn't install any strange modules, she didn't have the necessary... functions.
[But what if she thinks she should have this function?]
"..."
"Forget it. I need to have Asta keep a closer eye on Unique Herta, to prevent her from inciting the other puppets."
"Speaking of Herta puppets, Herta, have you considered installing something like a connection network for your puppets?" Chen Li asked, pulling up an explanation of the Misaka Network and showing it to Herta.
"This thing... it's possible, but unnecessary," Herta shook her head. However, while she wasn't interested in the Misaka Network, she was interested in the encyclopedia function.
"Chen Li, what's our relationship like?" Herta suddenly asked.
"Close friends, sworn brothers, beloved family," Chen Li gave a thumbs-up.
"Then shouldn't you explain to me about... the plot?" Herta looked directly into Chen Li's eyes. Her spirited eyes were now like a precise scalpel, attempting to dissect everything in his heart.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because just now, when the other Herta puppet was taking Sirin to test her Herrscher of the Void authority data, I saw Sirin holding her phone, looking at it and comparing it to the staff members passing by, as if she was looking for someone. Guess what I saw on her phone's screen?"
"What did you see?"
"The Side Adventure Mission: [To: The Faint Star]."
"...Perhaps Sirin has reached that age. A young girl her age is easily moved by this kind of youthful, romantic storyline. So it's not surprising that she would want to provide a little help to the story's protagonist," Chen Li said, understanding Sirin's mentality.
The Friends Circle terminal had an anti-snooping mechanism, but it couldn't be used to look up this kind of encyclopedia content because it had no connection to the real world's internet. Otherwise, Haruhi Suzumiya would have long since discovered her own omnipotence through it. And an ordinary phone naturally couldn't block the prying eyes of a Genius Society member.
After sending Sirin a quick reminder through the Friends Circle, Chen Li looked at Herta with complete composure.
"You guessed right. From our world's perspective, everything that happens here is, shall we say, not just similar to a certain game, but practically identical."
"And then, you, the spoiler, arrived," Herta stated with certainty.
"Correct."
"I bet I'm the protagonist in that game... No, wait, according to the logic of most games, a character like me who starts out with god-tier equipment can't be the protagonist. But I can't have zero screen time either, so I must be an important supporting character." Herta had just made a judgment, only to refute it herself.
"You are indeed an important supporting character. Screwllum is too," Chen Li nodded.
"Logic: It is likely related to the Simulated Universe project. From a future perspective, the Simulated Universe project is an unavoidable key element," Screwllum analyzed rationally. He had faith in the Simulated Universe project. There were many members of the Genius Society, but four geniuses gathering together to work on a single project was extremely rare.
"A genius," Chen Li gave a thumbs-up.
"Isn't it time you took out the plot and let us see it?" Herta held out her hand to Chen Li.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because knowing you, you'll definitely cause trouble after seeing the plot," Chen Li shook his head directly.
If it were the plot of some other place, spoiling it wouldn't be a big deal. But the Herta Space Station was the starting point. Heaven knew what would happen if Herta, after learning the plot, secretly added some of her own personal touches to the Stellaron. Although the Stellaron Hunters didn't necessarily need the Stellaron from the Herta Space Station (but establishing a connection between the protagonist and Herta was important), Chen Li really wanted to see the drama of the one-year-old Stellaron baby wreaking havoc on the universe.
And watching the birth of the "protagonist" up close would surely yield some excellent Entries.
"Hachi-Li, you scoundrel... always slandering people. I'm the most empathetic genius among all the members of the Genius Society."
"But the encyclopedia says you're a genius with zero empathy. Though it does say you're mentally sound."
"Then the encyclopedia is wrong. And I feel your evaluation in the latter half of that sentence is tinged with a personal grudge. Does that sound like a compliment?"
"In any case, the peerless, goose-felling Lady Herta, I cannot give you the plot..."
"I can help Sirin solve that so-called 'To: The Faint Star' plot problem for her," Herta suddenly offered.
"You helping Sirin solve her problem has what to do with me?"
"Heh, I'm waiting for your next sentence," Herta sneered. When it comes to being stubborn, you and Sirin are two peas in a pod. As if I'd believe you.
"But I can tell you a secret."
"What secret?"
"The secret about why some of your research always runs into inexplicable problems at critical moments."
"..."
"..."
Ten minutes later...
"DAMN *******, I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Herta instantly went red hot, steam practically rising from her head.
Her current mood was like that of a single woman who had been subjected to fifty edging challenges in three days.
Her mentality had completely exploded!
---o---