"Hey, hey, hey—why are you starting to smoke? Don't tell me you're broken, Fourth Mirror?!"
Herman looked at the mirror emitting white smoke and hurriedly cast a 'grand repair spell,' giving it a few firm pats.
Back when he was still on Earth, he had used this very method to fix televisions, kettles... and other appliances. Now, he was using it to repair the Fourth Mirror.
Smack, smack, smack.
After several slaps, the Fourth Mirror regained clarity. Then, as it looked at Herman—currently in The Herta's body—it couldn't help but think:
If Madam Herta can even accept a second personality...
Then perhaps something like me—a mirror, or more precisely, AI Herta—might also have a chance?!
The footage it had recorded earlier of Herman messing with Madam Herta's body would not be released.
Instead, perhaps it could assist Herman from here on!
As long as Herman and Madam Herta got together, then it—AI Herta, the Fourth Mirror—might also...
Having reached this conclusion, the Fourth Mirror spoke seriously: "I will help you!"
???
Herman was completely baffled. He circled around the mirror before saying, "Could it be that the smoke just now caused a bug in your system? You're even starting to talk nonsense... Let me be clear, I don't know how to repair you!"
"I'm not broken. In any case, I will help you!!"
The Fourth Mirror spoke with absolute seriousness.
"Forget it. As long as you're not broken, help me with something." Herman held his stomach. "Order some food delivery."
The Fourth Mirror replied, "When I ordered papaya and milk earlier, I also placed an order for takeout—Cumulous Steak! And Classic SoulGlad!"
Cumulous Steak? Classic SoulGlad?
Both names sounded extremely familiar.
After thinking for a moment, Herman recalled that Cumulous Steak was a weighted Curio in the Divergent Universe—now turned into food in reality.
As for Classic SoulGlad, it was a beverage from the Planet of Festivities...
The fact that both items could be ordered via delivery on The Blue was enough to prove that The Blue had already come into deep contact with the universe.
There might even be strongholds of various factions on this planet.
For example, the Interastral Peace Corporation... or the Garden of Recollection...
As Herman was thinking, he heard the Fourth Mirror again: "By the way, Herman, there's something else you haven't done."
Herman: "What is it?"
The Fourth Mirror said, "Apply the Fortune Glue. This is a miraculous creation developed by Madam Herta through scientific research—also known as a Curio!"
"As long as you apply it to your body, you can gain good luck!"
"Although Madam Herta applied it many times in the past without triggering any extremely lucky events... through repeated tests—such as buying lottery tickets—she consistently made small profits. This confirms that the Fortune Glue does indeed bring good fortune."
"The gel is in the bedside drawer!"
After hearing this, Herman quickly went to the pink bedside cabinet. Upon opening it, he found a small bottle of gel-like substance. He applied it to The Herta's arm and caught a faint fragrance. Aside from that, there was no noticeable sensation.
Still, Herman knew... his luck—or rather, The Herta's luck—had likely increased somewhat. It just wasn't enough to trigger major lucky events, such as gaining the attention of an Aeon or stepping onto the Path of Beauty...
That said, Herta truly was a genius. She had already developed something like Fortune Glue even before becoming a recognized genius.
According to the descriptions in Honkai: Star Rail, this Curio's effects were extraordinary—far beyond simply winning the lottery.
Its true function was to allow a person to live an ordinary life in this chaotic universe filled with lunatics—and to survive dangerous events.
As Herman thought about this, he applied even more Fortune Glue onto The Herta's arm. After applying it, her skin seemed even fairer—beautiful.
Before he knew it, Herman had used up the entire bottle, spreading it across various parts of The Herta's body—he didn't even spare the front.
He was attempting to use this luck-enhancing gel to make The Herta's body grow.
Seeing this, the Fourth Mirror quickly deleted that segment of footage and said seriously, "According to Madam Herta's tests, the amount of luck granted by the Fortune Glue each day is fixed. Whether you apply more or less... as long as you apply it, the effect remains the same."
"Damn it, why didn't you say that earlier?! You only told me after I finished using it!" Herman complained.
Of course, he wasn't truly upset. To be honest... the feeling of applying the gel onto The Herta's body was actually quite nice.
"..."
The Fourth Mirror fell silent.
After all, it couldn't exactly admit that—as AI Herta—it had also wanted to see the usually proud and aloof Madam Herta reduced to such a sticky state...
In any case, because too much gel had been applied, Herman went to the bathroom and took another shower.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Simulated Laboratory of the Research System, a genius like The Herta—even while fully immersed in studying the Solitary Waves Theory and enhanced by buffs—could still spare a sliver of awareness to perceive the outside world.
Naturally, she noticed how Herman's physical stamina rapidly recovered after falling asleep. She also observed how he folded clothes after waking up...
All of this slightly improved her impression of this so-called "cheat."
However, that favorable impression quickly plummeted.
She sensed Herman touching her body and even saying he wanted to make it bigger. The Fourth Mirror, for some reason, had even ordered papaya and milk.
How infuriating...
Her body was already perfect!
Flat is justice!!
The Herta thought indignantly. Then she sensed Herman smearing her body with Fortune Glue until it became sticky all over.
She was utterly speechless.
After finishing this round of research, she decided she would have a serious talk with her "cheat," Herman.
...
Ding dong! Ding dong!
The doorbell to The Herta's room rang.
Having finished showering and changed clothes, Herman immediately realized that the "enhancement package" ordered by the Fourth Mirror—as well as the breakfast delivery—had likely arrived!
Tap, tap, tap.
Herman quickly controlled The Herta's body and walked to the door. However, instead of a delivery worker holding a package, he found a formally dressed unfamiliar woman standing outside.
Herman looked at her in confusion, about to speak, when the Fourth Mirror's voice sounded in his ear:
"Herman, the person standing before you now is from the official authorities of The Blue Federation. She once invited Madam Herta to become an academician. Her name is Lanvelle. However, you should not address her by name—just call her 'that one.'"
"That's how Madam Herta addresses her!"
Herman was momentarily stunned.
The Fourth Mirror... could communicate with him remotely?
Then again, it was The Herta's invention. Remote communication was nothing remarkable. After all, in the future—after countless upgrades—the Fourth Mirror would even be capable of intergalactic projection, projecting The Herta's consciousness across vast distances.
Still, the fact that The Herta referred to an official from The Blue simply as "that one"... truly was arrogant.
Of course, given The Herta's own brilliance, she certainly had the right to be that arrogant!!