Once everything had calmed down, Herta finally withdrew her magic key. She casually smoothed a strand of hair and sighed.
"Sigh. This time, Silver Wolf won't just be crying and whining."
Ruan Mei turned to look at March 7th and the others.
"Please excuse her. Herta can be quite persistent like this sometimes."
Excuse her?! March 7th thought, her eyes wide. She just shook the entire Luofu!
When Herta's gaze also shifted toward them, March 7th, Yunli, Yanqing, and Master Gongshu quickly shook their heads.
"Ma... Madam Herta, this isn't 'being persistent' at all! This is clearly the precious spirit of truth-seeking that defines genius research!"
Seeing even Master Gongshu groveling like this, March 7th and her two little masters nodded frantically.
"Yes, yes! Geniuses should make genius choices in pursuit of truth!"
"This is our first time witnessing such power—even crazier than Phantylia!"
"Senior Herta, fighting the Stellaron Hunters to protect the Xianzhou—we juniors should learn from your example!"
Herta walked over to Ruan Mei, casting only a sidelong glance at the others. She said softly,
"Sigh. Such is the way of geniuses, wouldn't you agree, Ruan Mei?"
(Translation: Everyone else praised me. What about you?)
Seeing Ruan Mei's calm, composed expression unchanged, Herta pressed on.
"The power of the Erudition Path is certainly formidable. But it depends on who wields it."
(Praise me already!!)
Ruan Mei cast a cool glance at Herta.
Herta immediately began overthinking.
That look... I must have affected the entire Luofu with my power. Caused some damage. But I didn't deal with the aftermath. I failed in my responsibility as a genius.
Herta snapped back to reality. Feigning composure, she cleared her throat and tossed a purple gold card to Yunli.
Yunli fumbled to catch it.
"Ma... Madam Herta? What's this?"
"Assess the damage caused by my power on the Luofu. Use this card to cover it. Understand?"
Yunli blinked. She's cleaning up the aftermath?
"Don't hesitate. Find someone qualified to tally it up."
"Alright then."
Yunli quickly contacted Huaiyan and Jing Yuan. Jing Yuan instructed the Six Commissions to report their losses.
"Ma... Madam Herta. Over one hundred thousand jade abacuses damaged across the Luofu. Skiffs damaged... the total comes to this number."
March 7th glanced at the figure and nearly fainted.
Yanqing's eyes went wide. How many flying swords could that buy?! I couldn't earn that much in five hundred years!
Even Yunli cautiously handed the jade abacus to Herta.
Herta glanced at it. Roughly the same as when Asta had reimbursed Topaz.
Yunli stepped forward to return the purple card.
"Madam Herta, my grandfather and General Jing Yuan said this was an accident. Part of it can be claimed through Interastral Peace Corporation insurance. Someone has already gone to—"
Before Yunli could finish, Herta casually swiped the card and cleared the entire amount.
Everyone stared in shock. Throwing away that much money?! That astronomical sum—she just swiped it like nothing?!
Herta nodded slightly, satisfied with their shock.
She turned to Ruan Mei. Now you'll finally praise me for my responsibility as a genius.
Ruan Mei, however, had already taken out plum blossom cakes and tea and was sitting nearby, gazing into the distance at the Arbor.
Herta gritted her teeth. She was about to go lecture Ruan Mei on the greatness of geniuses when—
A freshly preserved plum blossom cake was offered to her.
"Afternoon tea and dessert."
Herta closed her eyes with proud aloofness and gave a light snort.
"Passable. I'm not particularly keen on this plum cake anyway."
A faint smile crossed Ruan Mei's lips. She stepped forward and carefully adjusted Herta's magic hat.
Herta froze.
The plum cake slipped from her hand—but in a microsecond, she snatched it back mid-air, safe and sound.
"A genius's appearance."
"Ah?! Me?"
Ruan Mei nodded slightly and closed her eyes again. Herta sat down nearby, restoring the dignified repose of geniuses.
March 7th, meanwhile, could only stare longingly at the plum cakes on the table.
Just as she was about to approach, Yunli grabbed her and whispered,
"Are you crazy?! You want to go over there now?!"
March 7th scratched her head sheepishly and smiled wryly.
"I guess you're right."
"After we deal with Scotty, I'll take you to buy desserts. Got it?"
March 7th nodded quickly.
"But look at me—can't write, can't fight, terrible with a sword. Can I really beat Scotty?"
"Well... Yanqing, what do you think?"
Yunli looked at Yanqing. He shook his head helplessly.
"Hard to say."
"Then don't say anything."
Yunli sighed deeply.
"Sigh. To think our glorious reputations would be crushed before they could even spread across the Six Xianzhou ships."
"From now on, people will see us and say, 'Isn't that March 7th? The one who lost to Scotty?'"
"'And those two teachers of hers? That Yan guy, Jing Yuan's disciple, and that Yun girl, Huaiyan's granddaughter.'"
Hearing this, Yanqing gritted his teeth but felt powerless.
"Have faith in March 7th."
March 7th looked at Yanqing, on the verge of tears.
"Master Yanqing, but I don't even have faith in myself! Silver Wolf said she'd help me, but Madam Herta chased her off!"
"What if I really lose? I, March 7th, can take the humiliation—but what about you two?"
"I... I... Sigh."
Ruan Mei overheard their conversation from afar. March 7th really is amusing. A walking comedy.
But without Silver Wolf's help, will this timeline's March 7th actually lose?
March 7th sensed Ruan Mei's gaze. Their eyes met—and Ruan Mei immediately looked away, back toward the Arbor.
The Arbor mist drifted slowly by.
Over ten minutes passed. Then March 7th's voice rang out again—this time, with a plea.
"Madam Herta! Madam Ruan Mei! Can you help me beat Scotty? Please?!"
Herta didn't answer. She opened her eyes and looked at Ruan Mei, wondering if she would help.
Ruan Mei remained silent, eyes still closed.
March 7th looked at Yunli and Yanqing. The hope in her two little masters' eyes, the encouragement in their gazes...
Truth is, they still have long roads ahead on the Luofu. I can't let my failure ruin their reputations.
"Madam Ruan Mei... I... maybe I could assist in your research?"
Ruan Mei slowly opened her eyes and studied March 7th.
"Go on. I'm listening."
Sensing Ruan Mei's shift in attitude, March 7th recalled what Stelle had told her about Ruan Mei.
"I can run the Simulated Universe."
Herta shook her head first.
"You? No."
"Ah?! Then... then I have hidden power! Maybe it's connected to the Remembrance Aeon!"
Ruan Mei's tone was cool.
"That's your premise. What's your evidence? Your proof?"
March 7th scratched her head sheepishly again.
"Um... well... I drifted in six-phase ice. They say I crossed half the universe."
"And I woke up with amnesia. Maybe my real power is at least Emanator level."