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Inside the Herta Space Station, not long after Madam Herta had finished her conversation with Hiroshi and put down her phone, she resumed her frantic tasks. Soon, continuous explosions and the alarm sounds of Herta Puppets echoed from the kitchen.
"Warning! Warning!"
"Bang! Bang!"
Smoke billowed, flames erupted, and one Herta Puppet after another was blown to pieces, declared scrapped. Finally, after an unknown period under these chaotic circumstances, a barely presentable, somewhat charred cake—emitting wisps of black smoke—was freshly baked.
Madam Herta picked it up, staring at it intently with a grave expression. After a long moment, she closed her eyes slightly and sighed. Sigh... let's just forget it. If that little fellow sees me in such a sorry state, my invincible image in his heart will definitely be damaged, won't it?
Just as she was about to destroy the thing called a cake, a clear voice entered her ears after a door opened. "Madam Herta, I'm back!"
Herta's heart immediately jumped, like a child who had done something wrong and feared being discovered. Oh no! Why is he back so early? I told him to come back later! I haven't had time to clean up yet. If he sees this, I'm done!!! No! I have to find a way to hide it!
Having made up her mind, Madam Herta quickly walked out of the kitchen and headed towards the door. Meanwhile, Hiroshi, who had just returned—still carrying the lingering warmth of his time with Asta—immediately smelled a burnt odor and couldn't help but grumble to himself.
Ahem... why does it smell like gunpowder? Could it be... Madam Herta was researching bombs in her room? Is she alright? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but start worrying about her safety and called out loudly. "Madam Herta, where are you? Are you alright?"
However, he didn't know that she was only separated from him by a door at that moment. She quickly changed into a new outfit, tidied herself up, and then sprayed some perfume. After sniffing herself and confirming there was no burnt smell, she finally stepped out confidently, acting as if nothing had happened.
"Such a fuss, what could possibly be wrong with me?"
Upon seeing her, Hiroshi quickly ran to her, looking her over from left to right. Only after confirming she was indeed unharmed did he relax. "Madam Herta, why is there such a strong burnt smell? The direction... seems to be the kitchen..."
As Hiroshi spoke, his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the kitchen behind her. Seeing this, Herta's pupils constricted. She quickly used her body to block him, explaining guiltily. "What you smell is from a chemical experiment I was doing. I cooled it with water in the kitchen, which caused a strange odor, but it's fine now."
Then she awkwardly tried to change the subject, attempting to divert his attention while sighing helplessly in her heart. Sigh... I wanted to personally bake him a cake to celebrate his birthday and give him a surprise. I didn't expect something that's usually easy for him to be so difficult for me... But what should I do next? I can't really not prepare anything; he'd be sad, wouldn't he?
And he asked me that question earlier... But what does he like? Hmm... Thinking it over, it seems he only smiles when I don't resist at all and let him do as he pleases. But this... can't really count as a gift, can it?
Just as she thought of this, a sudden flash of inspiration struck her. Aha! I've got it, I can do this! After making up her mind, she cleared her throat twice and said to Hiroshi. "By the way, I remember... today is your birthday?"
"Eh!?"
Hearing Madam Herta's words, Hiroshi froze in place, looking utterly astonished that she would remember this day. Although he had told her all his information when he first arrived, what was Herta's status? Even the chairman of the IPC wouldn't make her care so much. The only other person who might share this detail was her friend Ruan Mei. Yet, she now remembered his birthday, which showed how much she valued him.
Hiroshi, who had come to his senses, immediately wore an expression of ecstatic joy. "Um... it's alright, Madam Herta, you don't have to worry about it..."
"Since it's a birthday, how can I not care? You wait here and don't move, I've prepared a gift for you." With that, Madam Herta walked into the laboratory, leaving a bewildered Hiroshi behind.
He stood there, stunned. Madam Herta actually prepared a gift for me! And it seemed she put thought into it. He would have been happy just knowing she remembered... Oh right! She said she did a chemical experiment earlier, so I might as well clean up now. Thinking this, he walked inside toward the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Herta had already entered a peculiar machine and was undergoing a transformation of her body. After some time, as the machine's metal door slowly opened with a steam engine-like sound, she slowly emerged.
She had shed her previous mature form, transforming into a petite l*li with the same physique as her puppets. Her previous clothes appeared extremely oversized, as if they could swallow her whole, hanging loosely on her body. Not only that, she had also adjusted her physique to the most sensitive level. One could say that even an ordinary person could now threaten her life.
She walked to the mirror and circled it once. Seeing her current state, she nodded in satisfaction. "Hmm, the effect is quite good. This way... that little fellow should be very satisfied, right?"
At this moment, in the laboratory, Hiroshi arrived, ready to clean up the scene. When he saw the neatly arranged instruments with no signs of activation and the spotless floor, he was immediately confused.
Hmm? Didn't she say she did a chemical experiment? Has everything already been cleaned up? But this smell... was it only a problem when cooling in the kitchen? I'll go take a look...
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