Nero and Stelle accepted Ruan Mei's apology.
Getting Ruan Mei to take such a step was already enough for Nero. After all, he didn't believe that someone as rational as Ruan Mei, to the point of being almost devoid of humanity, would sincerely apologize.
To Ruan Mei, this was probably like placing a puzzle piece where it belonged because the puzzle needed to be completed.
He had no idea how she had developed such a personality from childhood until now.
In any case, after accepting the apology, Stelle decided to hear Ruan Mei out for the sake of the reward she mentioned.
"When I arrived at the space station, I borrowed Herta's Creation #29, Sserkal's Phase Flame. I hoped to gain inspiration from the research results of other members."
"I did gain some inspiration and attempted to cultivate life on the space station."
"In my imagination, they would be a completely new form of life... born as geniuses. I planned to name them after Genius Society #8, Ruan..."
"But I don't know where things went wrong. They developed self-awareness, yet had nothing to do with being geniuses."
"Also, my free-range style of education seems to have had the opposite effect. A few days ago, during a containment breach, several newly cultivated lifeforms escaped and scattered throughout the space station."
"I don't want Herta or Asta involved in this matter. It has nothing to do with them, and the more people who get involved, the more troublesome it becomes."
"So... I hope you... both of you can help me recover those little lifeforms."
Ruan Mei had originally intended for only Stelle to handle this matter. But now that Nero happened to be here as well...
She considered it a good opportunity... a good opportunity to observe the embodiment of fragmented Beauty.
For geniuses, Nero's existence had inevitably become an interesting topic.
But because of Nero's unique nature, the geniuses couldn't carry out any normal research process on him.
Even opportunities to observe him were already... well, actually there were quite a few opportunities, since Nero often communicated with Herta.
But things like taking something apart, analyzing it, and rebuilding it as they would with other research subjects were impossible.
"The station's researchers probably still think they're just outside visitors," Ruan Mei continued. "I don't want to show myself and alarm more people, causing unnecessary trouble.
"So, please help me. They only need a place for containment after being recovered. The researchers in the Ecology Department should be familiar with this and can give you suitable recommendations."
After agreeing to help Ruan Mei, Stelle and Nero first took the dog for a walk before heading to the Ecology Department to ask about containment locations.
"What? A place on the space station used to contain dangerous experimental subjects?!"
After hearing Stelle's question, the Ecology Department researcher stared at her in shock, as if looking at a dangerous criminal.
"Why would a normal person ask about that... Wait, did someone send you here to get information out of me?"
"I haven't been running any side business on the space station. I don't know anything about special storage locations, and I've definitely never resold scrap metal, rare treasures, abandoned curios, or anything like that."
"And most importantly, I absolutely did not use that money to organize a Nero photo appreciation club!"
Stelle narrowed her eyes as she looked at the suddenly panicked researcher, whose face had turned red.
"I haven't even said anything yet. Why did you confess everything already... And what exactly is this Nero photo appreciation club? Explain it clearly!"
Stelle pulled out her black baseball bat and shoved it against the researcher's face.
"Ah! I accidentally said it... No... I didn't do anything, I don't know anything. Hero... no, that's not right, big sister, spare me!"
"If you've got enough photos to hold an appreciation club, does that mean you've secretly taken a lot of them?" Nero walked over from behind and looked at the researcher.
"N-No... um..."
The researcher looked like he wanted to argue at first, but gave up the next second and immediately dropped to his knees to apologize.
"I'm sorry, Nero! It's true!"
"You really have no backbone at all..." Stelle looked down at the kneeling researcher with extreme disgust.
But since he was facing Nero, there was nothing that could be done about it.
'Forget it.'
"Oh, it's okay. It doesn't really affect me anyway," Nero said to the kneeling researcher.
"As expected of Nero, you're too kind! Thank you for your forgiveness!"
The researcher was so grateful that he looked ready to cry.
As a result, Stelle looked even more disgusted.
It hadn't been like this the last time they visited the space station. How had the Nero virus spread even more throughout this place after only a short time?
If this continued, the space station would collapse sooner or later.
"Anyway, we're here to deal with the trouble that's appeared on the space station. There should be quite a few little monsters running around, right?" Nero asked.
"That's right! As expected of Nero, you noticed it as soon as you came back!"
The Ecology Department researcher instantly became energetic and spoke with full enthusiasm.
"The space station is a complete mess right now. It was already chaotic because some important figure is coming, and then a bunch of little monsters appeared out of nowhere."
"How about this, Nero? I'll take you to the Storage Zone. It might be helpful."
"Okay, please lead the way," Nero said.
"No problem, no problem! It's my honor to help you. Please follow me."
Soon, Stelle and Nero followed the researcher to a room in the Storage Zone.
As soon as they entered, they saw that the room was packed with people.
"Alright, thank you. You can go back to work now," Nero said.
"Okay, Nero. No problem, Nero. Goodbye, Nero!"
After repeatedly saying his farewells, the researcher turned around and left. But the moment he turned away, an unwilling expression appeared on his face.
'Damn it. I thought I'd get to introduce more things to Nero, but I have to go back to work already.'
'But it can't be helped. He's the one who told me to go back.'
'And thinking about it carefully, my work is actually very meaningful. The space station can only keep running if the researchers do their jobs properly.'
'If the space station can't keep running, then Nero might not be able to "return to Herta Space Station" in the future.'
'If Nero can't return to Herta Space Station, then wouldn't I never have a chance to see Nero again?'
'No, that future is too terrifying!'
'I have to work hard!'
The researcher's expression changed once again, gradually shifting from unwillingness to excitement. Then, as if pumped full of energy, he rushed back to his workstation.
Stelle watched the entire process.
'There's no saving him anymore...', she thought.