"Weren't you the one trying to sell me out first?"
"Just because I tried to sell you, you want to sell me back? You're truly heartless!"
Saying this, Caelus grabbed a tissue, using it as a handkerchief to mimic a wronged maiden, voice thick with unshed tears.
"It seems this time it was my fault, brother. Had I known you were so narrow-minded, sister, so lacking in tolerance, I wouldn't have come, lest I offend your eyes and earn your disdain…"
His acting skills, honed to perfection under the influence of the Masked Fools' abilities, perfectly captured the delicate vulnerability of a wronged damsel, yet the passive-aggressive sarcasm dripped several times thicker.
"…"
Stelle clenched her fists, a vein throbbing into a cross shape on her forehead.
Even if the Stellaron-infused girl was advancing by leaps and bounds on the Path of Scrappiness, she had, after all, only been 'born' for a little over a day. When it came to sarcasm and passive-aggressiveness, how could she possibly compare to Caelus, who had mastered the art of understanding human nature?
"Cut the crap. I helped you just now. Give me half the crystals you got."
Stelle planted one hand on her hip, tilted her chin up slightly, and held out her small hand with righteous conviction.
"Who asked for your help? I could have opened it myself."
"I don't care! I put in the effort, so half the crystals are mine!"
Stelle, considering herself the older sister, began asserting the logic of an older sister—by directly grabbing Caelus's pocket and trying to snatch them.
"Crystals? What crystals?"
Watching the two grey-haired figures grappling, Herta raised an eyebrow. She'd been furious when she knocked them out and hadn't paid much attention.
Now she heard them mention it again.
"Sigh, well, it's like this."
Himeko sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, and recounted Stelle and Caelus's peculiar condition.
"It sounds somewhat like being infected by a memetic virus…"
A memetic virus could alter the victim's perception, essentially overlaying their worldview with a filter.
But a filter is just a filter; it couldn't make the victim see things that weren't objectively there, nor could it change the objective world. Furthermore, memetic conversions are typically fixed.
If a memetic virus altered their thinking to replace the concept of 'human' with 'treasure chest,' then everyone they saw should appear as a treasure chest, without exception.
"…Alright, fine. It really must be a mental issue."
Remembering how the two grey-haired individuals had, without a second thought, pried her mouth open trying to scrape saliva out earlier, Herta amended her statement.
"Have you two made up your minds yet? Don't waste my precious time."
Arms crossed over her practically non-existent chest, Herta shot an impatient glance at the two grey-haired figures.
Stelle and Caelus had, at some point, stopped their squabble. Now, like close siblings, they had their arms slung over each other's shoulders, heads huddled together, whispering conspiratorially.
"Okay, okay, you can make an offer first~!"
Even a one-year-old 'baby' just beginning to grasp humanity could recognize the downsides of destructive infighting. If she and Caelus really went at it, they'd both end up losing!
It was better to team up with Caelus and sell themselves for a good price.
Just as Stelle walked up to Herta, ready to use her powers of persuasion to inflate her own value, unexpected words came from behind her.
"No problem, we agree!"
Shink!
Like the sound of a dagger piercing flesh, Stelle froze on the spot, turning around with utter disbelief etched on her face.
"Caelus! You brat!"
They had just made a pact to negotiate a higher price together, and before the other party even named a figure, you pull a backstab?
Are you even human?!
Facing Stelle's gaze, burning with the fury of betrayal, Caelus remained expressionless, unmoved.
[Commission Mission: Herta wants to test you, you, and you too. Will you let her? Your first time is very precious~!]
[Mission Reward: 168 Crystals.]
Initially, upon seeing the mission reward, Caelus had been inclined to refuse.
A mere 168 crystals to test the three of us?
This reward isn't even in the same league as the missions posted by the little rich girl, alright?
And you call yourself a genius? What rubbish!
It's simply absurd…
[Further Mission Rewards will be unlocked after completing the first phase.]
You're quite the judge of character!
Oh, so it's a phased mission?
You should have said so earlier!
I almost wounded my dear adoptive mother with my cold words!
"Perceptive, kid. I'm liking you more and more."
Seeing Caelus agree so readily, a satisfied expression appeared on Herta's small face.
"Don't worry, I won't freeload off you."
Herta patted her chest, assuring them. Caelus was straightforward, and she could be even more so. What did ordinary people like?
Money, right! Her… Her station master had plenty of it!
Hearing that Herta wouldn't stiff them on the payment, Stelle's expression softened slightly, though she still glared daggers at Caelus, teeth bared.
She saw Caelus raise his hand, forming a gun shape pointed at her.
Still daring to provoke me?
Stelle lunged like a ferocious beast, ready to pounce, intending to teach this traitor a lesson even if it meant getting hurt herself.
"I'll give you eight crystals."
Screech!
Stelle slammed on the brakes, skidding to a halt right in front of Caelus, leaving clear scuff marks on the floor beneath her feet.
"Hehe, my dear little brother, you just woke up. Is your head still dizzy? Let big sister rub it for you."
With a gentle and amiable tone, Stelle instantly switched to a fawning smile, reaching out to gently stroke Caelus's hair.
"I'm your dad… Get lost."
Caelus retorted habitually, batting her hand away from his head.
"Okay!"
Completely ignoring the first part of his sentence, Stelle sheepishly retracted her hand.
The targets of the system mission included Seele, who was with Caelus. Appearing as though she was swayed by him, she agreed after a brief hesitation.
Having obtained research permission from her three subjects, Herta left the room, satisfied.
"Are you two alright?"
Not long after, a cheerful, lively voice came from the doorway. It was March 7th and Dan Heng, with Asta walking behind them.
Dan Heng wore his usual expressionless poker face, but Asta's expression was quite peculiar, her smile looking rather strained.
The scene she had previously dismissed as a hallucination still lingered in her mind; she felt she definitely wouldn't forget it for several years.
But regardless, Caelus and Stelle were great benefactors to the space station.
As the station master, Asta had to express her gratitude.
First, she presented limited-edition, top-spec smartphones as small gifts to the three of them, including Seele.
She hadn't forgotten Seele.
This seemingly well-behaved girl had also saved many researchers, who were practically regarding her as a little angel descended to the mortal realm.
Although Seele already had the phone Silver Wolf gave her, she didn't refuse Asta's gift, keeping it as a spare.
"Everyone, on behalf of the many researchers of the space station, I once again thank you all for your help."
Asta bowed slightly. "Are there any gifts you particularly desire?"
Considering Stelle and Caelus had amnesia, and Seele had been swept in from a distant star region, likely unfamiliar with interstellar civilization, Asta wasn't sure what gifts would be appropriate, so she decided to ask them directly.
"I can order them along with the replacements for the station's damaged equipment."
The report on the damage caused by the Legion invasion had already been submitted. Asta had already added all the lost equipment, including personal items lost by researchers during the incident, to her shopping cart.
Going through official channels was too troublesome. For problems she could solve with her allowance, she couldn't be bothered with long, tedious procedures.
"Ahem…"
It was a common politeness ritual; even if you were thrilled to see relatives arrive with gifts, you'd still verbally protest, saying things like, 'Oh, you shouldn't have, just coming is enough!'
Just as Caelus was instinctively about to offer some polite demurrals, Stelle's eyes beside him suddenly lit up, and she shot her hand up like a student in class.
"Reporting, ma'am! I want a limited-edition Star Annihilator Warship!"
"Huh? What do you want something like that for?" March 7th's eyes widened, her small face filled with astonishment and confusion.
"I don't know, I just feel it's pretty cool."
Stelle answered honestly; the idea had surfaced from her 'subconscious.'
"Alright! No problem!"
Asta's eyes sparkled slightly. She had been eyeing a limited-edition Star Annihilator model for a while herself. Realizing Stelle had the same taste, she instantly felt like she'd found a kindred spirit.
W-wait, sister, are you really giving it to her?
Caelus's jaw dropped slightly at her words, looking somewhat stunned. He remembered seeing similar scenarios in fan videos he'd watched but had assumed they were purely fabricated exaggerations.
A Star Annihilator? This little rich girl really just says she'll give one away, just like that!
"In that case, I'll just buy five!"
One to keep at the space station, one for herself to play with, and the remaining three for Caelus, Stelle, and Seele—one each.
Once Seele found her home, she could use her own transport to get back!
Hmm, perfect!
"However, since it's a limited edition, you might have to wait a little while for it, okay~!"
Having solved the dilemma of 'What gifts to give the space station heroes and the angel?', Asta beamed a relieved and brilliant smile, waved goodbye cheerfully, and turned to leave.
Only after the little heiress's figure had vanished from the room did Caelus manage to close his gaping mouth.
This is just inhumanly rich!
For a moment, Caelus even entertained the thought of staying at the space station, clinging to the rich girl's fair legs, and living out a brand-new life.
"I should remind you, the Express can't exactly accommodate a Star Annihilator, you know~" Himeko said, smiling warmly.
Her words brought Stelle, who had been happily bouncing and running around the room, to a halt.
"However, you could always store it here. I'm sure Asta wouldn't mind."
"Right, Himeko, when are we setting off next?" March 7th, never one to sit still, asked with a smile.
Himeko pondered for a moment. "Originally, I only planned to stay at the space station for three days, but I didn't expect all this to happen. I'm afraid we'll have to stay a bit longer now, after all…"
She didn't finish her sentence, instead casting a meaningful glance towards Stelle and Caelus.
March 7th instinctively tilted her head, blinked, and then understanding dawned on her face.
Oh, right!
They need to treat Stelle and Caelus's mental problems first.
________________________________________
I have a little challenge for you! For every 100 POWER STONES, I'll release ONE EXTRA CHAPTER!
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 30 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin