A few days later.
Inside Herta Space Station.
The Astral Express crew once again set foot here.
Asta had received the news and came to greet them early, but when she saw the entire Astral Express pulling in, she couldn't help but freeze:
"Huh? Everyone came?"
Himeko asked:
"Asta, if something's up at the space station, why not contact me or Welt directly? These three youngsters are way too unreliable. Every time we have to turn the train around and go pick them up from outer space—it's really giving me a headache."
"What?"
Asta was slightly stunned: "It was that much trouble? I thought they were pretty well-organized when it came to travel plans."
"Heh, I wish that were the case."
Under Himeko's terrifying gaze, March 7th and Dan Heng quietly took two steps back, leaving Zeig standing at the very front.
Himeko's brows furrowed slightly. In her line of sight, Zeig's big cerulean eyes were blinking innocently.
"I'm talking about you! Stop blinking!"
Zeig immediately held his eyes wide open without moving, until bloodshot veins slowly filled them.
"Why didn't you notify us before heading out? Is drifting around in outer space that fun?" Himeko questioned, growing angrier the more she thought about it.
These past few days, if she let her guard down even a little, the train would be short a person.
In the end, they'd have to turn back to pick them up from outer space—it was driving Himeko crazy.
Dan Heng and March 7th stayed silent.
March 7th always forgot every time she went out.
Dan Heng had gotten used to directly crossing through light veils, so he forgot too.
As for Zeig…
His medical file was still recorded in the space station's medical department.
"So what exactly is the reason you've been coming and going like this? Was the Simulated Universe invaded again?" Himeko asked in confusion.
She vaguely remembered that last time the Simulated Universe had been invaded by a wisp of consciousness from the Destruction Aeon, causing the whole thing to collapse internally.
After the crisis was resolved, Herta had started maintenance work, and the Simulated Universe had been closed to the public.
"Ah, that." Hearing this, Asta immediately understood the full picture.
So it was because Zeig and the other two left without saying anything, but that wasn't really the space station's fault.
"But Himeko, you guys came at the perfect time. Today a very important guest is coming to the space station." Asta changed the subject.
"Oh?" Himeko raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Anyway, why don't you all stay at the space station for a few days? You can look around. During your stay, all expenses are on me, okay? Himeko, calm down a bit too." Asta smiled.
"Sigh, I'm really done with this." Himeko helplessly rubbed her forehead.
"Fine then, we'll stay at the space station for a while. Asta, tell me the full story. I don't dare trust those three anymore."
"Sure thing."
Asta led Himeko inside while chatting.
Leaving only the three culprits behind.
And so.
The blame-shifting began.
March 7th struck first:
"Zeig, this is all your fault! You're the one who opened the door—why didn't you notify them before leaving every time?"
Zeig immediately denied it:
"Tch, how can you blame me? Who was it that just left directly back then? Dan Heng, this one's on you, right? As the brains of the team, you never notify anyone either? Look how mad you made her!"
Dan Heng remained expressionless and said in a low voice:
"I was dragged away by you. The moment we went in, I didn't even have time to pull out my phone…"
Zeig laughed:
"I was just excited! Every time we come here we get a huge pile of credits!"
When they came to help, Herta would pay a reward—though it didn't seem to come from her own pocket.
"Even though there's that aspect, I'm more curious about one thing." March 7th crossed her arms:
"Aren't you pretty loaded? Dan Heng and I are broke, sure, but why were you so excited?"
Zeig shoved his hands in his pockets and walked inside, leaving only his back to the two:
"Money is just an external thing. You think building your dad was cheap?"
"The space station reimbursed part of it, didn't they?" March 7th called from behind.
"Yeah, they reimbursed 9.01 billion. I paid 990 million."
"?"
March 7th paused, then reacted:
"That basically emptied your wallet? No wonder when you were shopping online back then, you picked everything based on cost-performance. So that's why."
March 7th suddenly realized:
"Oh~ And also! Last time at that banquet when you and Sampo went wild, I was wondering—clearly you weren't short on money, so why swipe stuff like him? I thought you were having another episode, but turns out you were just broke."
"Tch, I'm not sick!" Zeig shouted.
A few minutes later.
In the corridor beside the master control cabin section.
Zeig sat on the ground, arm slung around Peppy's shoulders in a heartwarming scene.
"General Peppy, miss me?"
"Woof woof~"
"No can do, I'm broke too."
"Woof woof woof!"
"Oh? You serious?"
"Woof woof woof woof~"
"Alright then, sorry to trouble you, General."
Under March 7th and Dan Heng's watchful eyes, Peppy stood up and hopped away.
"What did you say to her?" March 7th's pink-blue eyes widened. What Peppy just said—how could anyone understand that?
Dan Heng stroked his chin and analyzed for March 7th: "In the conversation just now between Zeig and Peppy, he mentioned the key point of 'no money.' Therefore, I deduce that Peppy went off to do something related to that."
March 7th nodded—Dan Heng made sense.
Soon, Peppy came running back, holding a dog bowl in her mouth with some leftover kibble inside.
She sat next to Zeig and barked excitedly: "Woof~ Woof woof!"
Zeig nodded in gratification and praised: "General Peppy is truly loyal! I have nothing to repay you with, so allow me to share this meal with you as a sign of respect!"
"Woof~"
One person and one dog, shoulder to shoulder, began eating from the same bowl of dog food!
"???"
The crunching sounds made March 7th's mouth twitch uncontrollably.
Dan Heng couldn't help but close his eyes, unable to bear watching.
"Hey, what are you doing? Do you really have to fight Peppy for food?!" March 7th shouted.
"The bond between me and General Peppy—how could you possibly understand?" Zeig's voice was extremely resolute.
"Woof woof~"
They ate the dog food at lightning speed—the two couldn't stop them even if they tried!
Passersby kept glancing over, and upon seeing the scene, all expressed extreme shock!
"This—this is Brother Zeig! Who? Who drove my Brother Zeig to this state?!" one staff member roared.
"Ah, it's really Brother Zeig?! I didn't even recognize him just now. Brother Zeig, what happened to you? Why are you eating from the same bowl as Peppy?!"
More and more people gathered.
Especially Wen Shiling, whose small figure was tugging at Zeig's shoulder, desperately trying to stop him:
"Young Master Zeig, calm down!!"
Unfortunately, it was useless—Zeig's body remained immovable like a mountain.
Finally.
The bowl of dog food was emptied.
Zeig and Peppy each sat on the ground and let out satisfied burps!
…