Seeing the attitudes, expressions, and even the way they looked at her were identical, even Tingyun—so perceptive under normal circumstances—stood frozen, at a loss. She had no other methods left to determine who the real Herta was. Both women's attitudes toward Ruan Mei seemed utterly genuine.
She had to admit: Herta had been bold, letting Sparkle inherit all of Yu Qingtu's memories.
Tingyun sighed. "Benefactor Ruan Mei, I'm not capable enough. I truly cannot tell which is the real Madam Herta."
Seeing even Tingyun stumped, Ruan Mei addressed the two Hertas. "Herta, Sparkle, this farce can end now. The Path of Elation has been walked enough."
Both Hertas replied in unison. "I haven't been walking the Path of Elation! And Sparkle, stop pretending, or afterward I will not go easy on you!"
They even said the same threatening words. Ruan Mei closed her eyes, letting them bicker.
Asta brewed a cup of fresh tea and carefully offered it to Ruan Mei. "Madam Ruan Mei, this is fresh tea from the blue planet."
Ruan Mei nodded and accepted it. "Thank you."
Asta quickly waved her hands. "No need to thank me. Oh, let me try to find the real Madam Herta."
"Yes."
Asta called Peppy over. Peppy examined both Hertas, sniffing their auras, but finally shook her head.
"Woof." (No use. Their auras are identical. I can't tell.)
Asta didn't push further. She stepped forward and studied the Hertas closely.
"Those amethyst eyes—that's Madam Herta. The material of the magic hat, the magic key—that's Madam Herta too."
Just as she lowered her head to look for other differences, Ruan Mei coughed lightly.
"Asta, an Emanator of Elation personally blessed by Aha will have no differences in appearance, mannerisms, or attire. As for Path power, only Aha or Nous could distinguish them."
Asta nodded helplessly. "Then let me ask something." She turned to the Hertas. "Madam Herta, at the Luofu, what wish did you promise me?"
Both Hertas paused. "Asta, you never told me your wish. You were still thinking about it. How could I have promised anything directly?"
"Right, Asta, don't waste my time with these nonsense questions."
Their attitudes were perfectly in character. Asta scratched her head ruefully. "I can't tell either. But Sparkle's abilities are quite impressive now."
Ruan Mei shot her a cold glance. "Asta, what are you saying?"
Asta realized she had spoken her true thoughts aloud. "Sorry, sorry! I misspoke. I'll call Herta Ninety-Nine and Herta #3156 and the other puppets."
---
Minutes later, Herta Ninety-Nine arrived with Herta #3156, who was still serving her punishment. When they saw the two Hertas, every puppet—including Herta Ninety-Nine—stared in disbelief.
Each puppet could sense that both Hertas had remote praise mode terminals. It was impossible to distinguish them through their usual systems.
Herta Ninety-Nine recovered first. "Madam Ruan Mei, Asta, what's going on? Two identical Madam Hertas? This is absurd."
Asta sighed. "As you can see. I called you here to help tell the real from the fake."
Herta #33 started praising, "Both Madam Hertas are unmatched in the universe—"
Bam. Both Hertas frowned. Herta Ninety-Nine knocked her out with her magic hammer and dragged her away. "She can't read the room. I've taken care of her."
The left Herta crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Herta Ninety-Nine, you're the Deputy Chief of Herta Space Station now, aren't you?"
Herta Ninety-Nine nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes. Thanks to Madam Herta's kindness, I've made it this far. I can never repay it."
The left Herta crossed her arms. "Then tell me, am I real or fake?"
The right Herta sneered. "That one over there is Sparkle, Herta Ninety-Nine. You'd better choose carefully, or that future as governor of the blue planet is out of the question."
The left Herta smirked. "Yes, Herta Ninety-Nine, you decide. Of course, you know better than anyone—if you're wrong today, you'll spend the rest of your life back on the platform counting stars."
The right Herta murmured, "Oh, that reminds me. Asta mentioned you counting stars on the platform."
Herta Ninety-Nine froze. Both Hertas are threatening her! One wrong word, and she'd be back on the platform tomorrow, her progress halted.
Tears welled in her eyes as she poured out gratitude. "Wuwu, without Madam Herta, I would never be where I am today. Madam Herta's kindness is beyond repayment. Madam Herta, unmatched in the universe..."
She praised them endlessly, but both Hertas remained unmoved. She shot pleading looks at Ruan Mei, but Ruan Mei had closed her eyes, indifferent.
Just as she ran out of praise, Herta #3156 spoke up. "The Herta on the right is Sparkle."
In that instant, everyone's eyes turned to the right Herta and Herta #3156. The left Herta was delighted; the right Herta was shocked.
The right Herta: "You... Herta #3156, do you know what you're saying?!"
The left Herta: "Herta #3156, not bad. You could still see that I'm the real one. Herta Ninety-Nine, Herta #3156's punishment is halved for meritorious service."
Herta Ninety-Nine started to nod, but caught the right Herta's glare and held back.
The right Herta: "Herta #3156! I know you have a grudge against me, so you're calling me fake, aren't you?"
Everyone realized: Herta #3156 had recently crossed Herta, so her words might be biased.
Asta asked the right Herta cautiously, "Then are you the real one, and the left one is Sparkle?"