Inside the Herta Space Station, Arlan was leading the security team as they organized the research materials around the docking platform.
Asta had also changed into a more formal outfit, waiting there to welcome an important guest.
"What's going on? Is another big shot coming to the space station?"
"No idea. I heard it has something to do with the Astral Express."
"The Astral Express? That can't be right. We don't usually make this kind of fuss for them."
"Exactly! Even Miss Herta's puppet came out personally to greet them. This has to be someone important."
"Shh! Keep your voices down. Director Arlan is looking this way."
"I've got some insider information. I heard Screwllum is coming."
"That's hardly insider information. Screwllum visits all the time. Miss Herta wouldn't make such a big deal over that."
"...Then I've got nothing."
The platform buzzed with speculation as researchers eagerly waited to see who was arriving.
Screwllum certainly held an extraordinary status, but he was practically a regular visitor to the station. Never before had Herta treated his arrival with such importance.
Just then—
"All right, the Express has confirmed its arrival time. Get ready."
"Screwllum's personal spacecraft will dock first."
"Prepare to receive our guests."
As Asta finished speaking, the platform immediately fell silent.
She glanced curiously toward Herta's puppet.
"That's strange..."
"Shouldn't Screwllum have come together with Evan?"
"Why isn't he here yet?"
"Did something happen again?"
Herta's puppet stared impatiently toward the docking bay.
Before long, a sleek personal spacecraft descended onto the platform.
Moments later, the Astral Express arrived as well, gliding smoothly into its berth.
"So this is the Herta Space Station."
"So this is where Stelle was born?"
Evan looked around curiously.
In the game, the station had seemed rather ordinary.
But standing here in person was an entirely different experience.
Beyond the enormous transparent observation windows floated a magnificent blue planet.
It was so close that it almost felt within reach.
That azure world resembled the Earth from Evan's previous life—and the one Welt had once lived on—as though they had been created from the same blueprint.
A thriving world, vibrant with life.
"Welcome back, Miss Herta."
Screwllum carried Chadwick's life-support container as he stepped off the ship.
However, Herta barely spared him a glance.
She still seemed slightly annoyed over what had happened in the Simulated Universe not long ago.
Previously, the two had argued over a minor issue.
Unable to win the debate, Herta had simply called Screwllum an "idiot."
The irony that a Genius Society member couldn't even insult someone properly still amused everyone who knew about it.
Without acknowledging Screwllum, Herta walked right past him.
She seemed to be searching for someone.
Then—
A familiar voice rang out behind her.
"Hey, shorty."
"Looking for me?"
"I'm over here."
"..."
"...!!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT?!"
Before Herta could react, Evan suddenly appeared behind her.
Her puppet barely reached his chest.
Naturally, he reached out and vigorously ruffled her hair.
The moment that happened—
Everyone on the platform, including Asta, froze in shock.
They're done for...
He's absolutely done for...
Who didn't know that Miss Herta hated being called short more than anything?
Even though this puppet was modeled after her younger self, she absolutely despised anyone using that nickname.
After retreating several steps, Herta glared at Evan with obvious disgust.
"Hmph!"
"I'm your senior, Eighty-Fifth."
"Is that how you treat your elders?"
"You irresponsible slacker!"
Seeing that Herta had merely backed away instead of swatting his hand aside, Evan smiled before shifting his attention elsewhere.
Standing nearby was a young girl with pink hair dressed in an elegant pink outfit.
Beside her stood a serious-looking young man, vigilantly protecting her.
At his feet sat a fluffy white dog, quietly observing Evan with curious eyes.
Asta.
Arlan.
And...
Peppy.
After briefly glancing at the trio, Evan returned his attention to Herta.
"So this is our first real meeting, Shorty."
"The Genius Society banquet doesn't count."
"I told you to stop calling me short!"
"I'm not short!"
"If my real body were here..."
"I'd beat you senseless!"
Watching Herta's puppet actually react like a sulking little girl left Asta completely stunned.
This was...
Her teacher.
The famously arrogant Herta.
And yet...
She was actually being completely overwhelmed by this newcomer.
How was that even possible?
"All right."
"There's no need for everyone else to stay."
"Dismiss them."
"...Understood."
At Herta's command, Asta immediately understood.
She quickly dispersed the researchers and security staff.
After giving Evan one last curious glance, she quietly left the platform as well.
Soon, only Evan, March 7th, Dan Heng, Stelle, Screwllum, and Herta remained.
Even Evan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Asta truly was born to manage logistics.
No one actually knew just how wealthy she was.
But one thing was certain—
Her family belonged to one of the factions controlling the Interastral Peace Corporation from behind the scenes.
And the IPC possessed perhaps the most terrifying authority in the galaxy—
The right to issue Credits.
Yes.
The very currency used throughout the universe.
For a family like Asta's...
Credits were little more than numbers on a screen.
She studied directly under Herta, was likely backed by an Emanator of Preservation, and was arguably the richest young woman in the entire universe.
There had once been a Foxian con artist on the Xianzhou who attempted to scam her.
Asta casually transferred 200 million Credits on the spot.
The scammer immediately panicked and returned every single Credit.
She simply had too much money to spend.
The undisputed richest girl in Star Rail.
Kind-hearted.
Gentle.
Adorably soft-spoken.
Someone it was difficult not to like.
Pulling his thoughts back, Evan followed Herta into her office together with the others.
Herta's office was, surprisingly, rather ordinary.
Dominating the room was an enormous quantum supercomputer—the very core of the Simulated Universe.
The Simulated Universe consumed a tremendous portion of the Herta Space Station's computing power, with Screwllum providing the technical framework that allowed it to simulate even the Aeons themselves.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason everyone had gathered today.
"This is Dr. Chadwick's life-support apparatus."
Screwllum carefully placed the device onto the table.
"After two Amber Eras, Dr. Chadwick has finally obtained his freedom."
"He is now here with us."
There was no body left inside.
Only a faint cluster of memories remained.
Even that was incomplete.
Before Chadwick had died, the IPC and the Family had reached an agreement, extracting and preserving his consciousness within memoria.
Two Amber Eras had passed since then.
"It is time to grant this genius the death he was denied."
"What a miracle..."
Herta rested her chin on one hand as she quietly studied the lingering memories.
"To think he resisted the IPC for centuries with nothing more than that tiny fragment of self left inside."
"I truly wasn't wrong about him."
"Science and technology themselves possess neither good nor evil."
"For hundreds of years, he spent every day atoning for a single decision he made in his youth."
Screwllum lowered his head slightly.
"I regret that I was never able to meet him one last time."
"The Imaginary Implosion Pulse..."
"What an extraordinary invention."
"It is finally time for him to return to eternal rest."
Silence filled the room.
Every member of the Genius Society had once been acknowledged by Nous, the Aeon of Erudition.
To ordinary people, receiving an Aeon's gaze was the greatest honor imaginable.
Chadwick had been both a genius...
...and an ordinary man.
For one mistake made in pursuit of knowledge, he had borne the weight of guilt for two entire Amber Eras.
At last...
He could finally be free.
"I'll do it."
Evan stepped forward and gently rested his hand upon the life-support device.
Rather than preserving a body, the machine's true purpose was maintaining the final fragment of Chadwick's consciousness.
It was then—
A sharp notification suddenly echoed in Evan's mind.
[Ding!]
[A Lost Genius Treasure has been detected.]
[Would you like to claim it?]
A Lost Genius Treasure?
What was that supposed to be?
Without hesitating, Evan pressed the shutdown switch on the device while simultaneously claiming the treasure.
Immediately—
Another notification appeared.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations!]
[You have obtained the Lost Genius Treasure!]
[Golden Treasure successfully opened.]
[Reward acquired: Dr. Chadwick's lifetime masterpiece — Complete Imaginary Implosion Pulse Technology.]
Evan's pupils contracted.
Complete...
The complete technology?
Not merely a blueprint.
Not fragmented research.
Not theoretical notes.
But every piece of knowledge Chadwick had accumulated throughout his life.
In an instant, countless equations, theories, engineering principles, and applications flooded into his consciousness.
The complete framework behind the Imaginary Implosion Pulse unfolded before him with astonishing clarity.
Even Evan, who already possessed the Authority of Reason, couldn't help but pause.
No wonder the IPC had imprisoned Chadwick for two entire Amber Eras.
No wonder they refused to let even his consciousness disappear.
This technology...
Possessed the power to alter the balance of the entire universe.
It wasn't simply a superweapon.
It represented an entirely new understanding of Imaginary energy itself.
Used correctly, it could revolutionize countless fields of science.
Used incorrectly...
It could erase civilizations in an instant.
Evan silently closed his eyes.
He now understood why Chadwick had chosen to erase his own memories.
Some knowledge...
Should never fall into the wrong hands.
The office remained quiet.
No one noticed the torrent of knowledge that had just entered Evan's mind.
To everyone else, he had simply closed the life-support system.
The faint cluster of memories suspended inside the device gradually dissolved into countless particles of light.
Like drifting stardust...
They quietly scattered into the universe.
Screwllum removed his hat and bowed respectfully.
"For your lifelong pursuit of truth..."
"For your unwavering resolve..."
"And for the burden you carried alone..."
"Farewell, my friend."
Even Herta, usually indifferent to sentiment, lowered her gaze.
"...Goodbye, Chadwick."
No applause.
No ceremony.
Only silence.
For a genius who had sacrificed everything to prevent his greatest invention from becoming humanity's catastrophe...
There could be no more fitting farewell.
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