After receiving targeted coaching from Herta inside the Little Black Room, Bai Luan took that special pastry straight to the real Herta to cash in on her promise.
In short, Bai Luan and Herta blew up together.
The results… were more effective than he could have imagined.
Clearly, the veteran Herta inside the Little Black Room had taught him nothing but the most practical, hard-hitting know-how.
Combined with the pastry's laser-focused power, Bai Luan—contrary to his usual self—turned the tables and left the normally unflappable Herta thoroughly, completely...
This outcome was obviously beyond Herta's expectations; afterwards her eyes looked almost enlightened, the same way Bai Luan had looked that day.
Still, she recovered far faster than Bai Luan. Once the pastry's effects wore off, she was back to normal.
Right now she's deep in tought, trying to figure out why she'd lost.
After all, Bai Luan had been the one under her thumbs; the sudden reversal was too dramatic.
The absurdity rivaled a slice of everyday bread suddenly jumping up and punching you in the face.
She, the mighty Herta, had actually lost to Bai Luan...
Sure, the pastry helped, but a crushing defeat is still a crushing defeat—no need for denial.
But who could've predicted Bai Luan's sudden counter-offensive?
Even with the pastry boost, it shouldn't have changed him that much, right?
No… actually, it wasn't that he'd changed; he'd just suddenly grown bolder.
Hmm?
Wait, that's not right either. He never choked when it mattered before.
Could she have accidentally assembled every condition that makes him brave?
After that 'training' session,
had he reached some sudden epiphany?
Still felt off...
A genius like Herta quickly spotted the real oddity.
Mind-set can flip like enlightenment,
but where had the technique come from!?
Why was he so skilled!?
There's no way he should know those moves, right?
Could it be… he isn't Little Lamb?
Someone cucked me?
Someone in this universe dared to cuck me!?
For an instant Herta nearly exploded, but she calmed herself.
Too many things didn't add up with that explanation.
Bai Luan had been young when they meet; only later did he grow into his current self.
So before arriving at the Space Station he should have had zero experience.
After arriving, no rumors ever surfaced—he was always busy.
Once she installed surveillance on his phone, she still found nothing suspicious.
So the idea of a third party was impossible.
Everything he'd done screamed 'I'm Little Lamb',
no room for doubt.
That attitude can't be faked, can it?
Still, she ran a thorough background check, just in case.
Turns out Bai Luan was squeaky-clean; even his browser history was spotless.
All she found were countless pictures of her.
So he's still a Herta fanatic,
but where did he get these shots?
She'd never worn some of those outfits...
Had he drawn them himself?
The technique… ultra-realistic style, almost photographic.
Herta saved every image,
planning to try the outfits herself when she had time.
Hmm… she was getting sidetracked.
She refocused on the real mystery:
where had Bai Luan acquired that uncanny expertise?
It was as if Little Lamb had evolved, unlocking a perfect counter-strategy against her.
Herta believed meeting Bai Luan was her stroke of luck.
After all, the universe is lucky to have a genius like Herta; accordingly, she could be a little lucky to meet Bai Luan.
But for him to fit her so uncannily well? Too bizarre.
Surely he couldn't be naturally compatible with her in that department too?
That would be beyond ridiculous!
It felt like a tailor-made perfect partner.
How could that be natural?
Whoever believes that, Aha will laugh at them for life.
Yet if it wasn't innate, several new riddles appeared.
If someone had molded Bai Luan into this ideal form, who could it be?
Who understood her so deeply,
invested such effort to craft a perfect partner,
and delivered him to her doorstep?
Some secrets shouldn't be knowable,
because even she herself didn't know them.
Before Bai Luan defeated her, Herta hadn't even realized those particular weak spots existed; she'd simply never cared.
If that hypothetical mastermind really existed, how could they know something even she didn't?
Nothing made sense… Herta's thoughts tangled.
But experience can't materialize from thin air, right?
Could an invisible version of herself have been training Bai Luan?
Impossible… right?
Wait… myself?
A silhouette flashed through Herta's mind—the Herta Puppet.
If the culprit were her… everything clicked.
It was the only explanation that fit.
Otherwise she'd have to accept the absurd idea that Bai Luan possessed a rule-like natural advantage over her.
But… could the Herta Puppet really pull off something this massive without a sound?
With that doubt, Herta sought out the Herta Puppet.
"You did it?"
"Yes."
Herta nodded calmly.
Seeing the nod, the Herta Puppet's voice rose to near-accusation:
"And now you come here suspecting I snuck a taste first!!?"
The Herta Puppet stared in disbelief, chest heaving; though she didn't breathe, the suspicion still infuriated her.
Because! She! Didn't! Have! That! Function! (Though she was secretly planning to install it.)
And now she was being accused of eating on the sly!?
Are you even human!?
Glaring red-hot, the Herta Puppet felt ready to blow her top.
"You're showing off, aren't you!!! Just because I'm a puppet who can't do it!!?"
Herta watched the puppet lose her cool—first time she'd seen such intense emotion from her.
"So."
Herta stayed calm, the last trace of doubt fading from her eyes.
"It really wasn't you?"
"Still suspecting me of sneaking a bite!?"
The Herta Puppet nearly jumped in place.
"Then just dismantle me and see if I'm capable!"
Herta ran a scan; as claimed, the puppet lacked the hardware modules required for certain complex deep-interaction functions—she was solid all through.
It really was impossible.
"You did it and still flaunt it in front of me! You… you're awful! I'm going to find Bai Luan!!! ｡°(°¯᷄◠¯᷅°)°｡"
Red-lining, the Herta Puppet stormed off; if she'd been human she'd have been in tears.
Herta watched her leave.
Which left only the explanation she least wanted yet had to accept, Bai Luan possessed some inexplicable, rule-like natural advantage over her.
She could find no other possibility.
Hmm… not necessarily a bad thing; she'd cope with it gradually.
Surely the great Herta wouldn't stay under his thumb forever?
She'd be back on top soon enough.
Herta mentally closed the file on the incident.
Then she recalled the puppet's fuming tantrum, and the corners of her mouth lifted uncontrollably.
Framing the Herta Puppet had been utterly, inhumanly rotten… but seeing the little figure stomp away in teary rage… it really was hilarious.
Aha: Who was it that said whoever believes that ridiculous theory will be laughed at for life?