["Memory… dissipate?" Stelle was momentarily stunned.]
["There are no airtight walls in this world. Because of some past events I don't wish to mention, it's difficult for me to trust anyone besides myself. If I don't want secrets to leak, the most thorough method is to destroy them. The aftertaste of the Truth Serum will make you forget this short period of time we spent together."]
["It won't take effect immediately, but through a slow, hazy process — like the fresh fragrance of lotus leaves, plum blossoms, glutinous rice, and sugar frosting."]
["This way, the bonds between lives will be erased. Friendship, secrets, entanglements, deception — all will vanish into thin air." Ruan Mei smiled faintly.] "This will make us… feel much lighter."]
["If you want, I will do it."]
["Mm, I believe you." Ruan Mei looked out the window at the azure planet.] "Occasionally, I will remember #55 Yu Qingtu. Every time we said goodbye, she would always prepare some delicious drinks for me. I hope I don't run into #4 Polka Kakamond, otherwise it might be troublesome."]
["I wonder when the next Genius gathering will be. Stelle, is there anything else you want to say to me?"]
["Do you trust me now?"]
[Ruan Mei closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly shook her head.] "…It's difficult for me to answer. Thank you, my assistant lady. But if there's a chance, and if you're willing — after we meet again, we can go to the 'Unowned Land' together and sail upon the tranquil glaciers."]
["But in that case, it would no longer be an 'Unowned Land' for the two of us. What a difficult problem."]
[…]
[The scene shifted. Ruan Mei, having left Stelle, arrived alone at the containment laboratory below.]
[Her fingertips brushed across the cold paper of the experimental records. She picked it up, intending to examine it carefully, when she suddenly felt a faint touch on her ankle—]
[When she looked down, Azuki Gray was rubbing against her fair ankle, while Cheese Sweetheart was blinking its round eyes. Its steamed bun-like body was bouncing vigorously, clearly very excited about her arrival.]
[The corners of Ruan Mei's lips unconsciously lifted.]
[She gently put down the notebook, turned her back, and elegantly folded her hands behind her. No one saw her fingers behind her back gently curling, guiding the two little ones to follow closely.]
[The Cat Cake and Cheese Sweetheart hopped joyfully, leaving a trail of passing marks on the laboratory floor as they chased that eternally rational yet now soft silhouette, disappearing into the halo around the corner.]
——
Dragon Raja.
"So, this is their way of breaking up?" Chu Zihang asked.
"Your question has a premise — that they were even dating." Caesar sighed. "—But clearly they weren't. Not only that, this Miss Ruan Mei even plans to make the other party forget everything about her."
"But didn't Ruan Mei call her 'darling'? Whether now or in the movie, that term is usually only used between lovers. Could there be another meaning?"
"…There was no meaning at all. Ruan Mei just said it casually. Look, once the cooperation ended, she started calling Stelle 'assistant lady'."
Caesar even started feeling it was unfair for Stelle. To help her with one favor, Stelle nearly lost her life, only to end up unable to keep any memories of their time together. No matter how you looked at it, it was a huge loss.
However, seeing that she still took away her own creations in the end, Caesar felt she wasn't as heartless and irresponsible as he had imagined — perhaps she still didn't understand what "love" was, but when she saw the two little ones rubbing against her, the iceberg in her heart should have melted at least a little, right?
——
[Stelle went to Asta's place, intending to tell her that Ruan Mei had left. Suddenly her phone rang. When she opened it, an anonymous chat group called "Herta Patrol Team" was busy chatting.]
[The content posted by the group members was unusual, mainly involving a major incident that had just happened inside the space station, and many people were demanding accountability.]
[Someone named "Bill Gaiva" posted a news brief. Stelle opened it without thinking much, but upon seeing it she nearly dropped her phone in fright.]
["Herta Lady Exclusive Fast News — Hello to all you anti-fans! Breaking emergency news now."]
["Recently, the great Genius Society #83 Lady Herta went missing after being attacked on the space station. As of now, no organization has claimed responsibility for this incident."]
[On the screen, a man was frantically pointing at reporters, venting his anger.]
["A large number of anti-fans have issued strong protests and severe condemnations against the management's negligence and inaction."]
[The group was in an uproar over Lady Herta's disappearance. It was clear the entire space station had been thrown into chaos because of Herta.]
——
Baki.
"Lady Herta missing? Was she kidnapped?"
Retsu Kaioh widened his eyes. He really couldn't imagine how many people in this universe would dare kidnap an [Erudition] Emanator. It was like someone on Earth daring to kidnap Yujiro Hanma — setting aside whether it was possible, the motive itself was a mystery.
Kidnapping Herta — did they want the Emanator to wipe out the kidnappers in one go?
"Hahahaha, I'd actually like to see who has the guts to challenge an Emanator." Yujiro Hanma bared his fangs in a grin. "This counts as provocation, right? With Herta's personality, she'll definitely accept."
"But wasn't it just her puppet that got kidnapped? Not her true body. No one has seen what her true body looks like yet."
Miyamoto Musashi lowered his head and took a sip of tea, speaking slowly. "I don't think this is an ordinary 'kidnapping.' Assuming someone really dared to act against Herta, her true body would definitely locate the puppet's position immediately and quickly eliminate the opponent… With her power, it shouldn't be difficult."
"Indeed, I can't imagine Lady Herta suffering a loss at all." Kaoru Hanayama suddenly said. "Everyone, is there a possibility that the kidnapper isn't human?"
Tokugawa asked seriously, "Hanayama, do you have any basis for saying that?"
"No basis." Kaoru Hanayama shook his head honestly. "I just feel that normal humans wouldn't do something like provoking an Emanator. If the opponent really has strength comparable to Lady Herta, why would they secretly steal her puppet?"
——
[Stelle was about to head to Herta's office to check the situation when her vision suddenly went black and she lost consciousness. When she opened her eyes again, Screwllum and Asta seemed to be discussing something in front of her.]
["Mr. Screwllum, this was a premeditated attack…"]
["Conclusion: The enemy's target is the space station. But the method… we still don't know."]
[Asta was about to continue when a familiar male voice suddenly interrupted her.]
["Correct."]
[As the voice fell, a tall and upright young man slowly walked over. His golden pupils flowed with faint light in the darkness, like undying stars in the night sky.]
["This is also why we need her."]