She couldn't help but raise her hand to rub her temple, sighing, "Ugh... being Rupert III is truly frustrating. I can't even summon someone?"
The system puppet's reddish-purple inverted cross eyes seemed to flicker subtly. Its tone remained steady, but the content changed slightly: "Reporting to master, the system did not state 'cannot'. The method to achieve your goal depends on your 'will' and choice."
Madam Herta felt her mouth twitch again.
(This system... is it becoming more 'flexible' and more prone to riddles?)
She stared at the system puppet, finally waving her hand helplessly, "Alright, alright... I'll think about it some more."
And so, the current scene unfolded—Madam Herta decided to personally enter the Paradise to conduct an on-site investigation and assess the situation.
Stepping into this familiar yet strange data space, feeling the atmosphere that was no different from her "memory," she actually had a slight illusion of "being home."
(After all, when I played Honkai Impact 3rd in my previous life, the days of coming back to 'work' every week are still vivid... Now, it's gone from a phone screen to an immersive virtual reality experience.)
Then, she saw a striking pink strand of hair on the sofa, and a figure that exuded an incredibly dazzling charm even when just lying there.
(It's Elysia!)
Madam Herta immediately confirmed the person's identity in her heart.
She was about to go forward and speak, but the moment she truly saw Elysia's face, her heart inexplicably tightened. A complex emotion, a mix of "nervousness when approaching home" and "a fan meeting an idol," quietly emerged.
As a result... her footsteps didn't stop. She just walked past Elysia, expressionlessly and directly!
(Wait! What am I doing?! Wasn't I supposed to talk to her?! How did I just walk past her?!)
(But if I turn back now... will it look silly? Too deliberate?)
Intense embarrassment and a subtle awkwardness made Madam Herta choose to maintain her aloof (?) facade, biting the bullet and continuing towards the bar.
Until that clear and familiar call, like celestial music, came from behind her—
"Um—?"
Madam Herta's footsteps stopped in response.
(Fortunately, she called out to me... otherwise, if I had really just walked past, wouldn't that have been even more embarrassing?)
Perspective returns.
Facing Elysia's unguarded, curious inquiry, faint ripples seemed to spread in the depths of Madam Herta's purple-black eyes, which lacked highlights.
(Tell the truth directly? Or make up an excuse?)
A mischievous thought, like a bubble quietly surfacing, rose in her heart.
She didn't answer immediately but took a step forward, closing the distance between herself and Elysia.
They were very close, so close that Elysia could clearly see the lightless deep sea in the other's eyes that seemed to swallow everything, and her own slightly startled reflection within it.
"Madam Herta."
She calmly stated her title. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a peculiar penetrating power.
Then, before Elysia had fully processed the name, she uttered the next few words as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact:
"...Herrscher of Corruption, please guide me."
At the same time, she extended her hand, clad in a grey silk glove, towards Elysia, seemingly inviting a handshake.
Elysia's smile remained bright. Almost instinctively, she reached out and gently took the other's hand.
"Madam Herta? Your name is truly unique ♪~"
Her smile was like the warm sun of spring, attempting to melt the inherent chill in the other's words.
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