"I guess so?"
Caelus himself wasn't entirely sure if his species was human anymore. Although his appearance was no different from a normal human's, according to what Herta and the others had said, his current body seemed to have been fabricated by Kafka and her associate.
So, was he considered an artificial human?
Herta hadn't expected such an answer and was momentarily speechless.
"Who doesn't even know their own species?"
Caelus just spread his hands helplessly.
"I can only remember my own name. Are you seriously expecting me to know whether I was born from a mother?"
The corner of Herta's eye twitched. She was almost laughed out of anger by his statement, but she quickly changed the subject.
"I've never seen a case like yours before. It's quite interesting. Himeko, can I use him for research?"
Himeko smiled and shook her head. She wasn't Caelus's guardian.
"You'll have to get his consent for that."
Herta immediately turned her gaze to Caelus, her eyes filled with eager anticipation.
"So? Are you willing to cooperate with me for some... human experiments?"
The others expected Caelus to show some resistance at the mention of "human experiments," but he simply blinked and uttered a sentence that took everyone by surprise.
"How much does it pay?"
The people around them looked astonished, but Herta simply nodded with a look of appreciation.
"You've got a good head for business. Not bad, kid. Name your price. Asta's paying for it anyway."
Standing behind Herta, the corners of Asta's lips twitched into a wry smile, but she didn't refute Herta's words.
Seeing Herta agree so readily, Caelus thought for a moment before stating his terms.
"I need some of the materials stored on the space station."
He wasn't sure if materials like Netherite Ingots or Smithing Templates even existed in this world. It was better to go to the station's warehouse and pick them out himself. With the JEI item manager mod, he wouldn't have to worry about missing anything useful.
Herta agreed without the slightest hesitation.
"No problem. Take your pick."
Sure, most of the materials in the station's warehouse were rare and valuable. But compared to Caelus, a being with a Stellaron inside him and who was brimming with all sorts of unsolved mysteries, those materials were nothing.
After settling the deal with Caelus, Herta turned and headed straight for the lab, not forgetting to leave a parting word.
"I'm going to make preparations now. Little Stellaron brat, you can wander around the station for a bit, or just go straight to the warehouse."
After Herta left, Asta walked up to Caelus, ready to take him to the warehouse area to fulfill their agreement.
"Mr. Caelus, please come with me. I'll take you to the warehouse sector."
But March 7th, who was standing nearby, eagerly volunteered.
"Let me take him, Asta! The station was just attacked by the Antimatter Legion, and you have a lot of things to deal with. Just leave this little task to me. Besides, I know the way."
Asta thought about it and realized March had a point. She truly did have a lot of official business to attend to. She nodded at March 7th.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you then, March. I'll grant you access to the warehouse area in a moment. You two can go whenever you're ready."
"Great!"
With that, March 7th grabbed Caelus's arm and started walking.
"Let's go, Caelus!"
Seeing her excitement, you'd think she was the one who had just struck a deal with Herta.
---o---
March 7th led Caelus on a winding path through the space station until they arrived before a tightly sealed metal door. A camera above the door detected their approach, swiveled to face them, and scanned them with a red beam of light that quickly turned green.
A synthesized electronic voice followed.
"Welcome, Nameless One March 7th and temporary station personnel Caelus."
The previously sealed metal door clicked and slowly slid open. Once it was fully retracted, the two of them stepped inside.
Upon entering the warehouse, the first thing they saw were rows upon rows of cabinets holding various materials and goods.
March 7th walked ahead, pointing things out for Caelus as she went.
"This area has the living supplies for the station's staff, over there are the materials the researchers often use in their experiments, and that row over there has some mechanical parts."
Caelus followed a step behind March, scanning the rows of shelves. He hadn't walked more than a few steps before he suddenly stopped.
March, who was in front, noticed the footsteps behind her had ceased. She turned around to see Caelus's gaze fixed on one of the money trees displayed on a counter of potted plants.
"These are some plants Asta prepared for everyone on the station. Do you really like this money tree that much?"
Caelus's eyes were glued to the money tree, practically glowing.
It was hard for anyone to think he didn't like it.
"Yeah. For me right now, it's incredibly important!"
Caelus reached out and took the money tree in his hands, his voice trembling with a hint of excitement.
Even though he was in a high-tech space station, none of that advanced technology was of any direct use to him!
To get stronger, it all had to start with a tree!
March, however, just scratched the back of her head in confusion.
"It's that important to you? Caelus, a money tree is just for good luck... it doesn't actually bring you money..."
As March was rambling, she saw Caelus place the potted money tree on the floor. Then, a large femur suddenly appeared in his previously empty hand!
March froze for a second, then quickly recognized it. It was part of the remains of the Antimatter Legion soldiers they had dealt with in the corridor!
What was he going to do with it?
Before March could figure it out, she watched as the large femur in Caelus's palm instantly vanished, replaced by a pile of white powder.
March blinked in confusion. She raised a hand and rubbed her eyes with the back of her knuckles, thinking she was hallucinating. But after rubbing them, the pile of white powder was still there in Caelus's hand.
Then, right before her eyes, Caelus sprinkled the powder onto the money tree. Before March could even process his intentions, the tiny money tree suddenly began to grow. In what felt like the blink of an eye, it had transformed into a nearly five-meter-tall, perfectly square tree!
March stood there, stunned, her mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.
"Cae-Cae-Caelus, how did you do that?!"
Caelus raised a hand and began punching the tree, not forgetting to explain to March in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Bone meal is a type of fertilizer. Isn't it common sense that fertilizer accelerates plant growth?"
Is it common sense for a few dozen grams of bone meal to make a tree that shouldn't even grow this big shoot up to four or five meters in less than half a second?
March felt as if her entire worldview was being challenged.