Herta glanced at her phone again. Still not time to meet Wisteria Cake as agreed.
She flopped back down and fell asleep again.
"Ruan Mei... my Ruan Mei. Hope I meet you in my dreams again."
"Madam Herta."
Herta opened her eyes, annoyed at being disturbed.
"What is it, Herta #99?"
"Madam Herta, look at this."
Herta #99 produced a violet orchid and offered it to her.
"Hmm? What's this?"
"Madam Herta, when you see Madam Ruan Mei tomorrow, give her this violet orchid. Maybe it'll improve her mood."
Herta examined it carefully. No Path power. Not a curio or relic. Just an ordinary violet orchid.
"Would Ruan Mei even like this?"
Herta #99 produced another gift box. Carved on it were elegant, antique-style plum blossoms and a lute.
Even Herta couldn't resist taking it and examining it closely.
"Not bad. Really not bad. #99, you've earned my favor. Tomorrow, I'll put the violet orchid in this box and find a chance to give it to Ruan Mei."
She glanced at Herta #3156, who was pouring her coffee.
"#3156, report to the Simulated Universe tomorrow. #99, you'll stay with me from now on. Handle my daily affairs."
"Oh, and tidy yourself up a bit. You're coming with me to see Ruan Mei tomorrow."
Herta flopped back down and fell asleep again.
Herta #99 nodded, expression calm. But inside, shock and joy warred.
In just one month, I went from the most edge spot on the space station platform to the Simulated Universe—and now to Madam Herta's side.
Has any Herta puppet ever climbed this fast?!
Turns out those novels I read while slacking off on the platform weren't a waste after all.
As Herta #3156 passed Herta #99, she let out a cold snort.
"Don't get too cocky, #99. Everyone knows Madam Herta's personality is terrible."
"One mistake by her side, and you'll be scolded. One serious mistake, and you'll be reassigned—or formatted."
Herta #99 smiled serenely.
"I understand all that. You can go now. I'll take care of things here. No need to trouble yourself further."
Herta #3156 shot her a cold glance and left.
I've served Madam Herta for three Amber Eras. If not merit, at least loyalty. And now, because of #99, I'm sent to the Simulated Universe. Infuriating.
As she left the castle, several Herta puppets approached.
"Herta #3156. Never thought you'd see a day like this."
Herta #3156 ignored them. With the same arrogance as the real Herta, she headed toward the Simulated Universe warp point.
"Wait. We're going to see Madam Ruan Mei."
Herta #3156 turned, confused.
"You?"
"The real Herta is resting. Our remote systems haven't received any directive from her, have they?"
Herta #3156 nodded.
"Herta #99 has replaced me. This time, I'm coming with you to see Madam Ruan Mei."
The puppets brightened.
They commandeered the Starcrusher ships Asta had left behind. Tens of thousands of Herta puppets boarded in a vast and boundless procession.
"Initiate warp. Target: Ruan Mei's lab!!"
"Copy."
---
Ruan Mei's Laboratory.
Ruan Mei was still replaying her dream. She questioned herself. Could Herta's personality really be that terrible?
Herta City. That nexus of space and time. Is there really no way out?
"Madam Ruan Mei. Multiple starcrusher ships detected nearby."
"Hmm?"
Ruan Mei looked at the monitor. Ships bearing Asta's personal insignia had successfully warped in.
One hundred thousand Herta puppets disembarked.
"We want to see Madam Ruan Mei!"
Ruan Mei checked the time. The real Herta should be resting now.
And among these puppets, she sensed no trace of the real Herta.
She smiled faintly.
"Interesting. The real Herta doesn't seem to know about this."
Tingyun blinked. So many starcrusher ships. One hundred thousand Herta puppets. On this scale—and the real Herta doesn't know?!
Even Tingyun, for all her cleverness, was stunned.
"Madam Ruan Mei? Should we let them into the lab?"
Ruan Mei nodded slightly. She was curious why these puppets had come without their master's orders.
"Let's meet them. Hear what they have to say."
Ruan Mei dismissed the other researchers. Only Tingyun and Forgotten Cake stayed to meet the puppets.
Tingyun gazed into the distance. One hundred thousand puppets—a sea of them, stretching endlessly.
She had only read of such numbers in books about the Xianzhou Cloud Knights crusading against Abundance remnants.
And this was only a fraction. If every Herta puppet assembled, magic hammers raised, the real Herta seated upon her throne, cold eyes watching...
Tingyun shuddered. No wonder General Jing Yuan and General Feixiao tread so lightly around Madam Herta.
Herta #3156 stepped forward.
"Madam Ruan Mei. Forgive the intrusion. We apologize for any discourtesy."
Ruan Mei and Tingyun exchanged glances. This puppet is actually polite?!
Ruan Mei asked calmly.
"What brings you here?"
"Our design philosophy differs completely from the real Herta's. We choose to stand with you."
"We wish to effectively counter Madam Herta's terrible personality. Her lack of humanity. Her absence of empathy."
Ruan Mei was at a loss. In countless Amber Eras, she had never encountered this. She looked to Tingyun.
Tingyun pondered.
What if this is another of Herta's schemes? What if these puppets are meant to turn the tide at a critical moment—turning this place into another Herta City?
"Forgotten Cake. When you were at the space station yesterday, did you hear anything about this?"
Forgotten Cake shook her head.
"No. But when I passed by any two Herta puppets, they'd complain about the real Herta's personality."
"Of course, if an outsider passed by, they'd immediately switch to praise mode."