Inside the Simulated Laboratory space.
Herman and The Herta were communicating. More precisely, The Herta was questioning Herman with visible confusion:
"You're saying that in just that short span of time, you already reached cooperation agreements with the Xianzhou Alliance, the Interastral Peace Corporation, and even the Family?"
"I didn't expect your silver tongue to be this impressive!"
Herman replied calmly, "It's not that I'm skilled at social maneuvering. It's clearly the Soul Gem blueprint you designed that tempted the major powers of the universe."
The Herta looked unconcerned. "That half-finished blueprint? It can't even transform a girl into a magical girl yet."
"Being able to amplify a Path and magnify Path energy is already an extraordinary invention in this universe," Herman said seriously. "According to your colleague—the 76th Seat of the Genius Society and ruler of Planet Screwllum, Screwllum—only the Light Cones of the Garden of Recollection, the Ambrosial Arbor of the Xianzhou, and the Crimson Moon of the Borisin Warhead can accomplish something similar..."
"In that case, the temporary blueprint I created using World-Shaking Wisdom really is remarkable. As expected of me." The Herta placed one hand on her hip and revealed a proud expression that clearly said, 'See how amazing I am?'
Herman smiled faintly and listed, as if counting treasures, the prices each faction was willing to pay in order to secure this cooperation:
The Xianzhou's Delve technology.
The Interastral Peace Corporation's material warehouses.
The Family's labor force.
The Herta's eyes grew brighter and brighter as she stared at Herman, her willful human-shaped cheat.
"You're saying the Xianzhou Alliance's spatial technology, the IPC's materials, and even the Family's manpower... are all mine?"
Herman nodded. "Next, representatives from the Xianzhou Alliance, the Interastral Peace Corporation, and the Family will come to The Blue to discuss the Soul Gem project."
"Once the cooperation is finalized, the resources, technology, and even manpower will all be at your disposal."
"Well done."
The Herta's eyes sparkled. The way she looked at Herman changed. "I originally thought you, this humanoid cheat, could only help me handle trivial matters of daily life and provide buffs. I didn't expect your capabilities to be so outstanding!"
"Now, as long as the Xianzhou's Delve technology is secured and the IPC supplies materials, I'm confident I can create an even more perfect Soul Gem!"
Herman smiled faintly. "It's more than that. With the cooperation of the Family, once the new version of the Soul Gem is complete, transformation experiments on living subjects can be conducted within dreams. That way... even if something goes wrong, no one will actually die."
"Transformation experiments within dreams?" The Herta looked at Herman deeply and sighed. "I never expected you, a humanoid cheat, to actually consider the safety of human test subjects. You're becoming more and more like a real person."
Herman was speechless. "I am a real person."
This time, The Herta did not refute him. She found herself wondering what exactly Herman was. Was he truly human?
If Herman counts as a person... then doesn't that mean a man has already seen everything about me?
That absolutely would not do.
He was just a humanoid cheat...
Yes. From now on, whether it was bathing or other daily matters, she needed someone else to handle them.
Wait. Hiring someone would be too troublesome. Facing those fools every day—being stared at with reverence or even jealousy—was not a pleasant experience.
Why not research puppets instead? Let puppets handle daily trivialities.
Once the idea of developing puppets resurfaced in The Herta's mind, she immediately turned to Herman.
"I have inspiration. I'm continuing my experiments. If you have nothing to do, get out and don't disturb me!"
Herman did not object. After all, The Herta was his hardworking research engine. As long as she continued conducting research, he would obtain a steady stream of research points.
Whoosh.
In an instant, Herman disappeared from the Simulated Laboratory space.
At that moment, The Herta began pondering what kind of puppet to create.
A steel mechanical puppet? No... too ugly. It didn't fit her aesthetic.
A biochemical clone puppet?
Also not ideal. Although she had some knowledge of DNA technology, her technical accumulation was far from sufficient.
Then what exactly should she create?
After deep contemplation, a flash of inspiration crossed her mind. World-Shaking Wisdom activated.
Of course—I can create myself. Or rather, a Herta puppet!
The puppet would be constructed from special materials, and its AI personality would perfectly imitate her own.
In that case, the resulting Herta puppet would be the most similar to The Herta—and therefore the most perfect puppet!
After all, the future Herta puppet would possess a face similar to hers!
Once that thought formed, The Herta did not hesitate. She directly activated the Simulated Laboratory, generating various simulated special materials and beginning the construction of the Herta puppet.
...
Meanwhile, outside the Simulated Laboratory space, Herman heard the sound of a doorbell.
His brows lifted slightly.
At this time of day... could it be Jade of the Stonehearts? Or an envoy from the Xianzhou? Or perhaps someone from the Family?
Their efficiency was that fast?
Or was it that the star rail once pioneered by the Aeon of Trailblaze, Akivili, allowed for such rapid transit?
Herman swiftly took control of The Herta's body and opened the dormitory door.
He quickly discovered that the visitors were Patavia and Lanvelle.
"It's you two? Didn't you just leave? Why are you back already?"
Herman's tone was calm and casual, though there was a trace of confusion beneath it.
Patavia took a deep breath and asked with a complicated expression, "I learned from the Strategic Investment Department of the Interastral Peace Corporation that, aside from Solitary Waves Theory, Miss Herta has another new invention—and that she intends to engage in deep cooperation with the IPC. Is that true?"
Herman replied evenly, "It's true."
"The Soul Gem project—jointly developed by the Xianzhou Alliance, the Family of Penacony, and led by the IPC—was just approved within the company... and it's actually real?!"
Patavia's heart shook violently.
In the past, she had often heard mediocrities from the Intelligentsia Guild speak about the vast gap between genius and ordinary people... but she had never truly grasped it.
Now, it was different. She finally understood the disparity.
How long had it been since The Herta solved the Fourth Cosmic Conundrum, Solitary Waves Theory?
Counting the total time, it had not even been a week—less than five days.
And within such a brief span, Miss Herta had produced a new invention—one capable of prompting the Interastral Peace Corporation to take the lead, bringing in the Family of Penacony, and even attracting the Xianzhou Alliance to invest.
Such talent was completely beyond Patavia's imagination.
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