"I'll never smoke again."
Before leaving the conference room, Absolute Shadow specifically walked over to Stella and said that with great solemnity.
Her face was full of self-reproach, and the way she looked at Stella even carried a hint of maternal tenderness.
The other Mecha Girls left one after another, leaving only Stella, Imperial Scale, and Purple Lightning, who had been quietly watching the drama unfold, in the conference room.
Derek Su leaned in close to Stella and stared straight into her eyes.
Under that sharp gaze, Stella gave an awkward little smile, her eyes darting around like a loach trying to escape through mud.
The actress's disguise could no longer protect her. In front of Derek Su, she could not hide a thing.
"Master, if you keep looking at me like that, I'll get shy!"
Derek Su just stared at her without saying a word.
Stella could only blush, pout her red lips, grab Derek Su's arm, and sway it back and forth, pulling out her ultimate cute act.
But the cute act that usually worked every time failed today.
"Stella!" Derek Su reached out and tugged at Stella's soft cheek, staring into those bright blue eyes that were full of panic while still trying to look innocent. He gave a wicked grin. "You played tricks on Absolute Shadow and Tunbao. I can't just let that slide. As punishment, you're not allowed to eat pineapple for half a month!"
Trying to fool her own master?
He was Derek Su, master detective. He could see straight through Stella's little schemes at a glance.
And yet...
Stella did not resist even with her cheek being pinched.
She looked at Derek Su and said tearfully, "Then does Master know why I wanted Absolute Shadow to quit smoking?"
Derek Su froze. Could there be another reason?
"Why?" he asked.
"Because secondhand smoke is bad for humans." Stella pinched the corner of her clothes with her small hands and looked at Derek Su with a soft voice. "That day, when Absolute Shadow was smoking, you coughed. You didn't say anything, but I knew you didn't like that smell. Absolute Shadow was busy handling documents at the time and didn't notice. Master definitely wouldn't bring it up with Absolute Shadow yourself, so I had to do it... I was actually protecting Master's health. I... I want Master to live a long life!"
Derek Su heard that, looked at the hurt in Stella's eyes, and felt his heart jolt.
So... so Stella had done it for his sake!
No, wait!
There had to be a trick!
He bit the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to stay clear-headed, then asked, "Then putting chili oil in Tunbao's nutrient solution was definitely a prank, right?"
To his surprise, Stella openly nodded and admitted it. "The first time I added chili oil, it was a prank. Later, I found out Tunbao really likes spicy food, but she was too embarrassed to say anything. There isn't any spicy nutrient solution on the market, so I secretly made some for her~ I'm so good to her, so isn't it fine if she helps me take the blame a little?"
Uh...
Derek Su's brain overheated. He had nothing to say.
So beneath one simple prank, there had actually been so many warm, thoughtful little intentions.
But as Stella's pilot, as the pilot who had signed a Core Contract with Stella, he had not noticed a single one of them.
He had thought everything Stella did was just childish mischief...
"I really deserve to die!"
In the end, he could not hold back and slapped himself across the face.
Looking at Stella's innocent face, and the disappointment that seemed hidden in her eyes, Derek Su felt too ashamed to face her. He had failed to notice the little details from his own Mecha Girl. As a pilot, he was unqualified.
"I'm sorry, Stella. I take back the punishment."
Derek Su withdrew his hand from Stella's cheek, unable to look at her sorrowful eyes. Flustered, he backed away two steps. "Well, you, Imperial Scale, and Purple Lightning should rest here for a bit. I'm going out to reflect. Just... reflect for a while..."
After saying that, Derek Su fled.
He even left through the hole Tunbao had smashed open.
After Derek Su left, the conference room became somewhat quiet.
Stella sat there, no longer flustered at all. She was calm, composed, and steady as a rock. This move had mainly solved Derek Su's secondhand smoke problem. As a bonus, it had also resolved Tunbao's dietary issue and successfully made Absolute Shadow quit smoking. A smooth little combo, clean and seamless. She hid her achievements and reputation well, fully displaying the bearing of a grandmaster!
Facing the probing looks from Imperial Scale and Purple Lightning, she said only one thing.
"When are you two signing a Core Contract with master?
Do you need me to help set it up?"
The moment she said that, Imperial Scale and Purple Lightning were stunned stiff for three full seconds.
Purple Lightning's pretty face flushed red. She lowered her head and stammered for a long time before finally squeezing out, "I-I haven't brought in my clothes yet!" Then she fled in embarrassment.
Now only Stella and Imperial Scale were left in the conference room.
Because of what happened with DL-02 today, Stella guessed Imperial Scale might delay signing the Core Contract for a while.
After all, DL-02 had ruined the mood, and Imperial Scale had also agreed to a match against DL-02. Most likely, the Core Contract would not be signed until after the Mermaid Bay Advanced Race.
However...
"We'll wait for master to come back."
Imperial Scale said calmly, "We'll sign it tonight."
She did not care about DL-02. Signing the Core Contract could not wait.
Once the Core Contract was signed, "Father" would completely and utterly be her "Father." The kind no one could take away.
"Oh~ As expected of the Rebel King." Stella narrowed her eyes, stroked her chin, and let her gaze drift, revealing a smug little expression. "Truly extraordinary. In that case, this King doesn't need to give you an assist~" She stood up and stretched. "Who knows where Tunbao ran off to? I'll go look for her."
With that, she left the conference room.
Imperial Scale silently watched Stella's back.
Extraordinary?
The corners of her mouth curved slightly.
Same to you~
"Godmother" really was adorable.
...
Meanwhile, Derek Su wandered aimlessly outside, weighed down by guilt.
Before he knew it, he had arrived near the Haitang Black Market.
"It's been a while since I last saw Boss Xavier."
He muttered to himself, thinking that since he happened to be here today, he might as well pay a visit and maintain the relationship.
Just as he reached the entrance, he saw the arena owner carrying out an advertising board.
On it, written in bold, explosive red letters, were the words:
[Underground Black Market Exchange Tournament. Waiting for You to Join!]
[Give It Your All and Forge a Blood-Pumping Legend! Let us witness the birth of glory through brutal, flesh-to-flesh combat. Every heavy blow is a display of power in motion, and every roar is an eruption of passion! On September 27, join us at the Haitang Underground Black Market and cheer for over a hundred Mecha Girl warriors. We guarantee that among them, one will surely set your blood on fire!]
"The ad copy for an illegal tournament sure is intense." Derek Su walked a little closer with interest.
When the arena owner saw Derek Su approaching, a smile immediately spread across his face.
"Well, if it isn't Boss Su. What brings you here?"
Seeing Derek Su staring fixedly at the advertising board, he assumed Derek Su was interested in the underground tournament.
So he immediately began promoting it. "Boss Su, let me tell you, this tournament is different. This is an exchange tournament jointly organized by almost every underground black market in Tianyuan City. On average, each underground black market will send several Mecha Girls to compete. Why not place a bet on our Haitang Black Market? Guaranteed win!"
Derek Su's attention was not on the owner's words.
His gaze was completely drawn to the Mecha Girl photos on the advertising board.
Below the passionate ad copy were the names of various underground black markets, along with photos of their main Mecha Girls.
His eyes locked firmly onto one particular photo.
[Photo] Blaze
Blaze?
No, she looked too similar.
Derek Su's pupils shrank, and he quickly took a photo out from his pocket.
In the photo, a heroic Mecha Girl wore a fiery-red racing suit, her long red-and-black hair falling behind her.
On the advertising board, the girl wore a tattered racing suit. One eye was hidden beneath her hair, and deep cracks marked her cheek.
Her face was haggard, and her golden eyes were filled with indifference.
The two were identical.
She was not Blaze...
She was Crimson!
...
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