After talking with Argenti, Bai Luan gained a lot of clarity on many things, feeling a sense of sudden enlightenment.
Some things require a conversation with someone to reconcile with oneself; pondering them alone will never lead to understanding.
Regardless, Bai Luan was very grateful for this encounter with Argenti.
After a brief stay at Herta Space Station, Argenti departed in his own spaceship.
According to him, the place was already beautiful enough to stop and admire, rather than to spread the concept of Beauty.
Hmm... although Bai Luan felt the main reason was that there was no one else there besides him, and he himself met the standard of Beauty in Argenti's eyes.
Although Argenti praised the Aeon of Beauty and Bai Luan praised Ms. Herta, it was harmless.
Gentlemen agree to differ.
They are both beautiful.
Ms. Herta almost became an Emanator of Beauty, after all.
Bai Luan waved goodbye to the Rare in the World, which was leaving Hippolyta, offering a final farewell to the Knights of Beauty.
After watching Argenti fly away in his spaceship, Bai Luan glanced at Inspiration Mushroom and Chizuru, confirming that both of them were fine.
Anyway, he had to wait for the Anywhere Door's cooldown, so he let them play.
While Inspiration Mushroom and Chizuru explored the giant Botanical Garden, Bai Luan released nanobots to inspect the plant growth on the planet.
The plants on this planet were all very healthy, and many had already entered their mature phase.
It was a pity the roses hadn't bloomed yet; otherwise, there would have been fields of blooming roses here.
But looking at their increasingly large buds, it shouldn't be long now.
When the flowers bloom, he would first let Herta in the Little Black Room see them, and then let her decide if Herta would be interested.
Soon, the Anywhere Door's cooldown passed, and Bai Luan returned to the Space Station with Inspiration Mushroom and Chizuru.
All in all, Bai Luan had gained something; at least Argenti's few words cured his mental exhaustion, making him less apprehensive and more at ease with the title of "genius."
『Do you think you are a genius?』
"I think I am."
Bai Luan replied with a smile.
This trip also brought Inspiration Mushroom some gains; at least it learned that the biggest jack-o'-lantern pumpkin on Hippolyta had a smiling face.
He had been away from the Space Station for a day, and his phone hadn't received any messages; it was very quiet.
Sure enough, slacking off worked. If it had been before, Screwllum and Ruan Mei's messages would have come in right after he left.
This was truly an epic leap.
Not long after Bai Luan and Inspiration Mushroom returned, an acquaintance came knocking: Xiu.
Bai Luan was quite surprised to see Xiu, because it hadn't told him anything.
Inspiration Mushroom, however, was not at all surprised by Xiu's arrival; apparently, Xiu had already greeted Inspiration Mushroom in advance.
"Oh, you, you didn't even tell me you were back. Are the three of you going to ostracize me?"
Xiu shrugged and said,
"I heard from Stelle that you also went to Penacony. I thought you'd be busy there for a while, but who knew you'd be back so soon?"
This reason was quite reasonable. Bai Luan looked at Inspiration Mushroom again and asked,
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Mushroom thought Xiu had told you, mushroom."
There was a hint of innocence in Inspiration Mushroom's voice.
What a combo move.
"It would have been better if you told me. I could have used the Anywhere Door to pick you up directly, saving more time. How good would that be?"
Xiu, however, was indifferent to this: "Taking a spaceship doesn't take much time."
Then, it changed the subject, looking at Bai Luan with genuine curiosity.
"Speaking of which, why did you come back so quickly? Stelle and the others haven't even reached Penacony yet. Could it be that even your travel efficiency is this fast?"
"Ah, ha ha ha..."
Bai Luan gave a dry laugh.
"There was a small accident that made me come back before the grand event started."
"What accident?"
An unpleasant memory instantly surfaced, and Bai Luan's expression visibly darkened.
Bai Luan didn't want to bring up the past of being caught off guard by Lars's instant explosion, so he said,
"Let's just skip this topic..."
Seeing that Bai Luan didn't want to talk about it, Xiu didn't press further.
It planned to ask Inspiration Mushroom later about what had happened in the past few days.
"I made an appointment with Inspiration Mushroom to go see the refrigerator together."
Bai Luan looked at their pre-arranged appearance and couldn't help but complain,
"No, I was joking before, but now I really feel like you guys are isolating me!"
"You weren't there when we discussed it, mushroom, but you can come along too, mushroom."
Just as Bai Luan was about to nod in agreement, Xiu preempted him and said,
"Bai Luan probably can't go. Mr. Screwllum said he wants to talk to him."
"Mr. Screwllum? Talk to me about what?"
"After I told Mr. Screwllum about Ailu, he became very interested in the matter."
"???"
No! Xiu!
I was only out for a moment!
And in that moment, you backstabbed me!?
You really seize every opportunity!
Bai Luan looked at the innocent Xiu, unable to get angry, and could only say with a hint of helplessness,
"Why did you talk to Mr. Screwllum about this?"
"Because Mr. Screwllum asked me."
"..."
Is the honesty module still active!?
Bai Luan never expected that by doing nothing and slacking off, he indeed wasn't throwing boomerangs himself.
But he was still hit by a boomerang.
Only this time, the boomerang wasn't thrown by him, but by Xiu on his behalf.
Xiu left with Inspiration Mushroom, preparing to go to Herta's Home to visit the refrigerator.
This time, Xiu was well-prepared; as a household robot, 343 had transmitted a lot of cooking experience to it, and its culinary skills had improved by leaps and bounds!
Now it could even set up a roadside stall next to the Interstellar Gold Prospector to earn Credit Points.
Xiu actually did that, and business was good.
Incidentally, the Gold Prospectors who hadn't had roadside stall food for several days felt like the sky was falling.
And this time, Xiu also prepared a brand new gift — refrigerator magnets!
Nothing could be more suitable to give to the refrigerator.
They would stick them on together with Inspiration Mushroom then.
Bai Luan watched them leave, seeing them chatting and laughing, and a smile also appeared on his face.
He stretched.
He had rested for a few days, so a little work wouldn't hurt.
Bai Luan waited at the Space Station for Screwllum to find him.
Sure enough, not long after Xiu left, Screwllum came over and started talking about Ailu.
"Mr. Screwllum, how do you see me now?"
Screwllum was a little puzzled, but then he spoke,
"I sincerely hope that all organic life forms in the world can be as excellent as you."
"..."
Bai Luan smiled at the words.
By now, he truly no longer cared so much about Screwllum's—or rather, other geniuses'—overly high evaluation of him.
On one hand, it was because he had truly come to terms with it.
On the other hand... it was also because he really had no other choice.
What else could he do?
He had a feeling that Screwllum's evaluation of him would never be low in this lifetime.
Oh, what a miscalculation.
He should have asked Argenti one more question before he left—
Never mind, it's not too late to ask next time they meet...