Baiheng nervously raised her eyes, meeting Black Herta's face, which was now right in front of her.
That face was unrealistically beautiful—long gray-white hair, purple-black eyes—lacking vitality yet possessing a breathtaking beauty. Especially those lifeless eyes, which seemed to see through everything, made her feel utterly exposed.
Under the dual pressure of beauty and imposing presence, Baiheng's brain seemed to stop working. As if possessed, she mumbled in a voice so low only she could barely hear it:
"M-Master..."
Although the voice was small, it was clearly audible in the silent System Space.
After hearing it, Black Herta's inner self immediately set off electronic fireworks—[Ding! Pleasure Mission complete! Core Restoration progress +2%!]—but outwardly, she merely paused imperceptibly.
Then, very decisively, even somewhat ruthlessly, she turned directly, walking with elegant steps toward the panel in the distance, leaving Baiheng with a mysterious, skirt-swaying back view.
It was as if she wasn't the one who had just made that embarrassing demand.
Baiheng stood frozen, watching Madam Herta's retreating figure. Her brain was still processing the extremely embarrassing scene, the heat hadn't left her face, and she felt like a cooked shrimp.
(Internal monologue: I—I really said that just now?! Oh god... Jingliu... Dan Feng... Please don't ever find out...)
Meanwhile, Black Herta walked up to the panel and looked at the 2% progress bar that had genuinely increased, feeling a small surge of internal elation.
(Internal monologue: Done! 2% acquired just like that, how easy! And... cough, cough, that soft "Master" just now, combined with her anxious little expression and twitching ears, was actually... kind of stimulating? That Aha guy, even though he's the God of Elation, occasionally manages to pull off something good.)
With a hint of imperceptible satisfaction on her face, she refocused her attention on the panel.
A long list of names was displayed on the screen, radiating a faint golden light:
[Summonable Units (Requires meeting the conditions of "Submission" or "Deep Acknowledgment" to unlock):]
Cyrene
Phainon
Anaxa
...Cipher
Aglaea
..."Is this what's recorded in the database?"
Black Herta rubbed her chin.
Just now, while Baiheng was still unconscious, she had a detailed "discussion" with the System and finally figured out that this summoning mechanism wasn't so simple.
It wasn't that she could summon anyone she wanted. The prerequisite was that the target had to "submit" to her, or at least grant "Deep Acknowledgment."
Black Herta felt the situation was difficult, even thinking that this setting was full of perverse humor.
"Submission"? That sounded like something only an evil villain would pursue.
[Such are the rules, Madam. The acquisition of power is never cheap.]
The System responded in a cold, electronic voice.
"Then how do I make them submit? I can't rely just on my face, can I?" Black Herta rubbed her smooth chin.
She asked, holding onto a final thread of hope.
The System's answer was concise and extremely hardcore:
[Option One: Physical Persuasion. Defeat the target unit in a Simulated Combat Environment, forcing them to acknowledge your absolute power. Note: During this process, you cannot use "Rupert III" authority or Envoy-level power, and can only rely on the basic attributes of your current avatar and mastered Non-Authority Skills.]
Black Herta's mouth twitched. "...How am I supposed to fight?"
She looked at her Lolita Attire, which seemed only suitable for tea parties or casting magic, and then imagined the scene of engaging in close combat with Phainon and Mydei... She felt numb.
[Option Two: Mental Persuasion. Gain the target unit's Deep Acknowledgment through communication, Ideological Resonance, fulfilling their obsession, or meeting their specific conditions.]
"...So, I have to rely on Verbal Persuasion?"
Black Herta pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling that the road ahead was fraught with difficulties.
Whether defeating them physically or persuading them mentally, neither seemed easy.
Just as Black Herta was getting a headache over the list, pondering which "soft persimmon" to start with, Baiheng, not far away, finally recovered from the residual embarrassment.
She patted her still-hot cheeks and secretly glanced at Black Herta's back.
Simply standing there, her figure tall and straight, gray-white hair cascading like a waterfall, and her black-and-purple dress outlining an elegant silhouette, she was a sight to behold, possessing a mysterious and unique beauty.
It made her feel that this "Master" was truly... very charming.
She mustered her courage and spoke softly: "Um... um..."
The address got stuck again.
Did she have to call her... "Master"?
Just thinking about it made her face heat up again.
Black Herta did not turn back; her gaze remained on the panel. As if mentioning it casually, her voice came across flatly: "Iron Tomb, Herta... those are past names, past descriptions. Now, this body is Black Herta. You may address me as... Madam Herta."
She offered this option proactively, mainly because she felt constantly using the title "Master" in non-essential situations was too embarrassing and detrimental to the dignified image she was trying to maintain (which didn't truly exist).
Besides, the mission was complete, so the embarrassing "Master" segment could temporarily conclude.
(Internal monologue: Although hearing her say it was satisfying, I can't keep making her say it; even my thick skin has limits!)
Feeling as if she had been granted a general amnesty, Baiheng immediately complied, her tone much lighter: "Understood, Madam Herta!"
However, the instant Baiheng's voice faded—
[Warning: Detected failure to continuously use the designated title. The status of the "Fox Girl's Submission" mission is judged as 'Not Maintained,' and the 2% restoration progress is temporarily frozen. Please ensure the target unit consistently uses the title 'Master' even in non-instructional daily communication to maintain the continuous supply of Elation Energy.]
Black Herta stared dumbfounded at the 2% progress bar on the panel, which had just been credited but was now grayed out and labeled (Frozen).
(Internal monologue: ...What the [CENSORED]?! What does this mean?! They can take it back?! Aha, are you a pervert?! I have to be called 'Master' constantly?! What kind of sick, sustained mission is this?!)
She felt a vein throbbing in her temple.
After internally raging about this perverse setting, Black Herta sighed helplessly.
Forcing down the urge to smash the system panel, she turned her head expressionlessly, her purple-black eyes locking onto Baiheng, who was still slightly cheerful about being able to use a normal address.
Baiheng was startled by the sudden stare, and her heart skipped a beat.
Madam Herta asked in her emotionless tone, clearly and with an undeniable edge:
"What did you call me?"
Baiheng didn't react immediately, blinking her azure eyes. "Ms... Madam Herta...?"
Black Herta said nothing, just stared at her silently, her gaze seeming to say, "Try saying that again."
Baiheng finally understood the issue.
!!!
Her face instantly flushed scarlet, even more so than the first time.
She lowered her head, twisting her fingers in the corner of her clothes, her white fox ears drooping down. She spoke weakly again, in a voice slightly louder than the first time, but still full of embarrassment:
"...M-Master..."
[Ding! Status of 'Fox Girl's Submission' restored. 2% restoration progress unfrozen and reapplied.]
Hearing the pleasant notification sound in her mind, Black Herta turned back contentedly (while internally weeping tears of joy) and continued studying her summoning list, acting as if nothing had happened.
Only Baiheng remained rooted to the spot, her mind filled with silent, groundhog-like screams, feeling that her Fox Life had just opened a strange and deeply embarrassing new chapter.