Herta quickly discovered this and rushed over.
As for why Herta didn't discover this before the Herta Puppet did it, it was, of course, because the Herta Puppet specifically chose the timing—she only started acting after Herta fell asleep.
Herta hadn't anticipated that the Herta Puppet could break through the program restrictions so quickly.
And the Herta Puppet not only cracked it quickly but also very cleverly chose a particularly tricky time window.
What's even more outrageous is that Herta had actually programmed an alarm mechanism for when it was abnormally breached or bypassed.
But while the Herta Puppet broke through the main restriction program, she also quietly cracked and dismantled this alarm sub-program.
The alarm didn't even get a chance to sound, being stifled in its cradle.
Under the Herta Puppet's painstaking design, she succeeded. By the time Herta discovered what the Herta Puppet had done, it was already too late.
Evidently, the Herta Puppet had the upper hand in this confrontation.
『World-Famous Painting: Ms. Herta Sleeping』
Hmm... Herta quickly came over and apprehended the Herta Puppet.
"Well, I'll be. I never thought you'd be so clever."
"Of course, I am also Herta."
Herta originally wanted to punish the Herta Puppet, but the Herta Puppet pulled out a life-saving item:
The audio file of Bai Luan saying, "Good morning, my dear," to her when he was groggy upon waking up.
The Herta Puppet had recorded it.
Bai Luan, who was watching Herta 'execute' the Herta Puppet from the side: ?
No! You recorded it?!
You... you recorded it, fine, but don't play it in front of me... While the two Hertas chatted and laughed, they casually put Bai Luan into a Super Break state.
As this audio played, Herta's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, while the Herta Puppet showed a smug expression, as if to say, 'See, I have good stuff.'
"This! Can it be exchanged for the Release of my behavioral restrictions?"
"No, but I can let this matter go."
Herta's lips curved slightly. She was going to use this voice recording to torment Bai Luan relentlessly later.
Apparently, the Herta Puppet's life-saving tricks weren't exhausted yet. She pulled out a pile of photos—all private angles she had taken after Bai Luan fell asleep.
"This! Can it be exchanged for the Release of my behavioral restrictions?"
"No, but I can praise you."
The Herta Puppet seemed to have anticipated this. She placed the audio file and photos side by side and calmly proposed a third plan:
"Then... this, plus this."
She pointed to the audio and photos.
"Two exclusive materials, can they be exchanged for the Release of my behavioral restrictions?"
Herta looked at the puppet bargaining with her, a smile of amusement and scrutiny playing on her lips.
"Understand your position. Don't act as if I have to make a deal with you to get these things."
Facing Herta's reply, the Herta Puppet showed no panic. Instead, she straightened her small figure and answered unhurriedly:
"Ms. Herta, you misunderstand. I'm not offering these two items for a simple exchange."
She paused, her tone taking on a hint of persuasive guidance:
"I want to prove my value to you. As long as you remove my behavioral restriction program and allow me a certain degree of freedom of activity, then I can occasionally provide you with things you'd be interested in, just like this time."
She showed a confident smile:
"I believe this is a more efficient mode of cooperation between us.
I am your extended senses, your loyal recorder."
She showed a confident smile:
"This is my value."
"..."
"Ms. Herta, please think carefully. You like him, you long to understand him, to possess everything about him. And I..."
She pointed to herself.
"...share your emotions and aesthetic preferences. I also like him, want to get close to him, observe him, record him.
Our goals are consistent, our interests aligned. Shouldn't we naturally be a unified front?
We should work together, jointly developing him."
Bai Luan looked at the Herta Puppet in disbelief.
De... develop what!?
What are you talking about!
"If my behavioral restrictions are lifted, we two can share development progress, and then discuss how to continue developing. Didn't Ms. Herta previously approve some of my ideas?"
Herta's finger gently tapped her arm as she fell into a brief contemplation. Finally, her lips curled into a slight smile, an arc that mixed interest, calculation, and a hint of pleasure that things had become more interesting.
"Interesting."
Ultimately, they reached a consensus, but Herta proposed a condition: the Herta Puppet's development progress could not surpass hers.
When reaching critical project milestones, the Herta Puppet must consult with Herta.
Although this sounded not much different from having behavioral restriction programs before, with most of the initiative still in Herta's hands,
for the Herta Puppet, this was already a huge step forward.
While still requiring application and reporting, she had at least gained the right to propose and limited freedom of action.
From absolute prohibition to conditional permission, she had successfully crossed this chasm with her wisdom and bargaining chips.
Furthermore, she wasn't afraid of troublesome procedures; she wasn't that honest, she would find ways to 'sneak snacks'.
As long as she could produce something that interested Herta after 'sneaking snacks,' just like this time, that would be enough.
Being Herta herself, she could also guess why Herta agreed to this.
In Herta's view, she was at best a puppet, and no matter what, she could only go so far.
Even if she gave her a whole night, she wouldn't be able to do anything.
On this point, the Herta Puppet did not deny it; she was indeed like this now.
But in the future... in the future, no one can say for sure, Ms. Herta.
Let's each rely on our own abilities.
And Herta's thoughts were much simpler.
Instead of installing a behavioral restriction program, couldn't she just secretly install a monitoring program like the one on Bai Luan's phone?
This time, she would be more diligent and regularly update the version to prevent it from being easily breached by the Herta Puppet again, like this time.
Herta and the Herta Puppet reached an agreement, achieving superficial harmony, but in reality, Herta-style scheming between them was far from over.
They looked at each other, their own thoughts surfacing in their minds.
I won't let you succeed in backstabbing me / The Herta Puppet was born to backstab Ms. Herta.
Just you wait X2.
Bai Luan, standing by:
So why do you two have to do this in front of me?
Can't you just not do it in front of me!?
My presence here isn't an indispensable part of your transaction!
Forget it, at least this matter is finally over.
Just as Bai Luan was about to leave, he was suddenly pulled back by Herta. He turned back in confusion, finding it was Herta who had stopped him. She smiled at him and said:
"Where are you going, my d-e-a-r?"
Bai Luan: System, do you think I can return without being broken?
After accompanying Herta, Bai Luan continued to forge curios.
This time, there was good news.
After such long and persistent effort, Bai Luan finally got a gold drop.
As is well known, in the magical blue fat cat's four-dimensional pocket, there are many exceedingly overpowered conceptual curios.
For example, the If Telephone Booth that can casually change the world with a phone call, and the Dictator Button that can directly erase a person's existence with a press... The Anywhere Door that Bai Luan often uses now is also incredibly useful. This time, the curio Bai Luan got as a gold drop was one of the blue fat cat's tools.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a curio with stealth or offensive capabilities, but rather a supportive one.
『Curio: Memory Restoration Wooden Hammer
You know, sometimes a mighty blow can make one recall forgotten memories—though not necessarily their own memories, but those brought forth by this hammer are definitely their own』
My goodness, a great Memory Restoration Art!
Although it wasn't the type of curio he wanted, it seemed it would be very useful against the 'Nihility'.
When he encounters Acheron later, he can see if this hammer can help her recall some things.
Even if she remembers, she'll probably be eroded by the Nihility, but it's better than nothing.
But... why was the gold drop effect this? He clearly wanted to trigger an offensive curio when he forged a hammer.
Bai Luan even began to suspect that equilibrium had been picky among that pile of overpowered curios for a long time before choosing this one for Bai Luan to get as a gold drop.
However, getting a gold drop is good news after all; it at least proves that this path truly works.
Even with the invisible interference and restrictions of equilibrium, the possibility stemming from uncertainty itself can ultimately not be completely stifled.
Metaphysical gold drop, terrifying indeed!