Inside Ruan Mei's secret laboratory.
At this moment, Hiroshi lay tired on the floor, looking gaunt, with sunken cheeks and eye sockets.
Even though he had long since become a Destiny Walker, he was no match for the successive bombardment of five Ruan Meis.
Meanwhile, Ruan Mei was quietly recording data on the side.
Hmm, it seems his ability can indeed take effect on multiple subjects simultaneously. This adds another method of utilizing him.
Then she fed Hiroshi a small pill. Suddenly, he felt his body, which had been hollowed out and lacked even a shred of strength...
...instantly become full of energy, as if he were a doll being pumped full of air.
So... so powerful!
Although Madam Herta also has potions for recovery, they are several times weaker than Ms. Ruan Mei's. As expected, is this a matter of specialization?
Feeling all his strength return in an instant, Hiroshi couldn't help but marvel in his heart.
"How is it, dear? Was it helpful in improving your ability?"
Hearing Ruan Mei's reminder, Hiroshi remembered to open the system panel to check.
He found that the emotional value remained at 2310. Compared to his experiences with Stelle and the Astral Express Crew, there was no growth at all.
Seeing this, Hiroshi shook his head in disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Ruan Mei, there wasn't..."
"Oh?"
Ruan Mei's sapphire-like beautiful eyes couldn't hide her surprise and interest.
As expected, it's not that simple? Interesting... But where exactly did the problem occur?
"dear, do you remember the scenes when you gained emotions before?"
Hiroshi recalled for a moment and said.
"It's... just when others have emotions towards me... the more people there are, the more emotions I collect."
Could it be that even if they are different and have their own consciousness, they are still considered the same person?
After listening to his explanation, Ruan Mei pondered to herself.
It seems... next time I should try with different subjects... Next, I'll use his ability again to improve my own train of thought.
Looking at the contemplative Ruan Mei, Hiroshi felt a bit touched.
Ms. Ruan Mei truly wants to help him; choosing to trust her didn't seem wrong.
"It seems today's experiment has to end here, dear. For the remaining time... will you be my exclusive 'kitten' once more?"
As she spoke, Ruan Mei wrapped her arms around his abdomen and chest, gently stroking him. Her red lips parted slightly, and waves of heat hit his earlobe.
"Mhm..."
After he agreed, the two of them walked together toward the large double bed at the very back... After a deep exchange with Ruan Mei, he returned to the interior of the Stellaron Hunters.
At this moment, only Silver Wolf and Kafka were in the hall; Firefly and Blade were out on a mission.
"Um... Kafka, I want to leave here for a while."
"Sure~"
Kafka agreed almost without thinking.
Seeing her agree so easily, Hiroshi couldn't help but feel surprised.
"Aren't you... worried that I'll leave and never return?"
Kafka smiled gracefully, her pink gradient eyes looking at him meaningfully.
"If there isn't even basic trust, how can we be called companions?"
"I believe you will definitely come back, because of our common goal."
So they had always trusted him?
He had thought that they didn't send someone specifically to watch him when they went on missions together because they felt he couldn't escape at all.
"But even if you really want to run away, it's fine. I can catch you and bring you back anytime!"
Silver Wolf added at the right moment, giving Kafka a mischievous look.
"When that time comes... Kafka, how about leaving him to me to deal with?"
"Hehe, no problem."
Kafka covered her mouth and chuckled, playing along with her joke.
"Uh..."
Hiroshi's mouth twitched.
Silver Wolf, that annoying brat, just when he was starting to feel some goodwill toward them.
"By the way, where are you going? I'll send you there directly."
Silver Wolf asked absent-mindedly.
"The Astral Express."
Hearing where he wanted to go, Silver Wolf was slightly stunned, but she didn't show anything.
"Have you thought of an excuse?"
Hiroshi nodded.
"Alright then."
As she spoke, Silver Wolf activated Aether Editing, summoning a digital wormhole that sucked him in.
After watching his figure disappear, Silver Wolf looked at Kafka with a relaxed expression.
"It seems everything is just like what's in Elio's script."
"Through contact with the Express this time, they will build deep emotions, and that Planet of Eternal Winter will also welcome a new life."
"Exactly. That way, when they face Zephyro's Lord Ravager army, he certainly won't stand by and watch them get into trouble."
"So, is that why you implanted a suggestion in Stelle back then, making her depend on that guy?"
Facing Silver Wolf's question, Kafka didn't answer directly, only giving a mysterious smile... Hiroshi, teleported by Silver Wolf, arrived at the Space Station's platform, near where the Astral Express was docked.
At this time, Stelle had also finished testing the simulated universe and happened to run into him on her way back to her room.
Seeing him, Stelle excitedly came to meet him, her golden eyes full of expectation.
"Great, we can finally go on an adventure together!"
"Yeah, and it's all thanks to you helping Madam Herta test the simulated universe."
Hiroshi showed a gentle smile, looking at her with a hint of teasing.
"Haha, you found out..."
Stelle smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of her head.
"Alright, let's go up. Don't keep everyone waiting too long."
After the two entered the Astral Express's Parlor Car, they found only March 7th there.
"Oh? You're here!"
"Miss March, where are the others?"
Not seeing anyone else, Hiroshi asked March 7th in confusion.
"Oh, Himeko and the others are with Station Master Asta and her group. It's been a while, so it's time for the Express to head to the next stop."
So soon... Hiroshi couldn't help but feel a sense of longing and expectation for what was to come.
He wondered how many system gacha pulls the emotional value gained from saving Jarilo-VI could get him?
If only... it could make me invincible!
"By the way, little brother, you don't have your own room here yet, do you? Come to think of it, there don't seem to be any other rooms left on the Express."
March 7th suddenly looked troubled.
"How about letting him stay with me? My place... is quite big."
Hearing Stelle's words, both March 7th and Hiroshi turned to look at her at the same time.
"Hmm... that seems like a solution. Let's go take a look."
Then the three of them went to Stelle's room. Compared to Dan Heng and March 7th's, this place was more than four or five times larger.
The decoration was also exceptionally luxurious, almost like a combination of a restaurant, a gym, and a game room.
"How is it? Not bad, right?"
Stelle proudly put her hands on her hips, looking at him with her beautiful eyes narrowed into slits.
"It... it really is..."
Hiroshi was slightly shocked.
Himeko and the others really do spoil Stelle...