This is a space station created for Herta.
The amount of money and effort has invested in it is truly unimaginable.
So, when a sound like this echoes through the space station, it definitely means a major problem has occurred!
For Asta,
this space station is essentially her entire hope.
After all, if she doesn't do well here, she'll have to go back and inherit family assets amounting to countless quintillions!
That kind of thing… absolutely not!
Asta knows that is definitely not the fate she is meant to follow!
No!
I must get back to the Master Control Zone immediately!
That's the core area of the entire space station!
Anything else can wait until later!
Confirming her thoughts, Asta immediately stood up and ran towards the location of the Master Control Zone.
Seeing her like this, Bai Ming also quickly got up, preparing to follow Asta.
However, after just a couple of steps, she seemed to remember something.
Bai Ming looked left and right, then put the cake that had been cut but not finished eating back into its box and stuffed it inside her clothes.
"Wait for me!"
Bai Ming shouted this and then quickly caught up to Asta.
What she didn't know was—
that March 7th was also closely following behind her.
Some time later.
The three of them returned to the Master Control Zone, one in front, one in the middle, and one behind.
Although not a staff member of the space station, Himeko had already begun to exert her unique leadership quality, organizing the work.
"Himeko!"
Asta called out.
Hearing the voice, Himeko turned around.
Her expression showed no trace of panic, but her tone carried a noticeable hint of caution.
Even Bai Ming could feel the anxiety permeating the air.
The situation seemed… not optimistic.
"Station Head Asta, as expected, even without notifying you, you managed to return here promptly," Himeko said.
"Of course." Asta's tone was utterly serious.
"The space station is my home. How could anyone be unaware of something happening in their own home?"
"Your home is quite big then…"
Bai Ming blurted out without thinking, then realized it didn't fit the current atmosphere and quickly patted her mouth a few times as self-punishment.
Seeing Bai Ming's flustered appearance, Himeko dissolved the awkwardness with a slight smile.
"Since you're back, I won't overstep my authority."
"I'll return command to you."
"Mm!" Asta nodded, then stepped back onto her command platform.
The mysterious, unfathomable light nucleus above began to move, emitting a gentle golden radiance that enveloped Asta beneath it.
Bathed in gold, she looked earnest and determined—fully deserving of the title 'Station Director.'
The staff below, following her direction, quickly entered their work mode.
It seemed to be inspection time now.
Himeko stood at the front, arms crossed, lost in thought as if pondering something.
Dan Heng remained silent, also seemingly deep in thought.
Standing out starkly from them was Bai Ming.
"♪~"
Bai Ming hummed a little tune, gradually sidling up next to March 7th.
"March—!" she called out.
"…What is it?" March 7th replied.
Seeing that March 7th was finally acknowledging her, Bai Ming hurriedly answered:
"I want to show you something awesome!"
"Something awesome?"
"Mm!" Bai Ming nodded very earnestly. "I got it from Asta! It's super tasty!"
Even though Bai Ming emphasized its purpose at the end, just hearing the name Asta made March 7th's blood pressure skyrocket from the Mariana Trench to the peak of Mount Everest.
"Bai! Ming!"
March 7th reached out, pinched Bai Ming's cheeks, and pulled them sideways.
"You idiot!"
"If you like Asta's things so much, just stay at the space station! That way you'll have a lifetime supply!"
Hearing this, Bai Ming immediately wanted to explain.
But March 7th ran off angrily, not giving Bai Ming any chance to explain.
Of course,
Bai Ming wasn't foolish.
If March 7th ran away…
then she'd just chase after her!
There was no way March 7th could outrun her!
Thus, three distinctly different scenes unfolded in the Master Control Zone.
One faction was the work group led by Asta.
They were busy using the space station's various systems to investigate the cause of the recent alarm.
Asta, on the command platform, was their central brain.
Another faction was the Express group, consisting of Himeko and Dan Heng.
They weren't staff of the space station,
but due to various factors, they were also very concerned about the space station's safety.
However, they had other thoughts as well.
For instance, Himeko—currently watching Bai Ming from the other side—seemed to be thoughtfully considering something.
The last faction was the one composed of Bai Ming and March 7th…
Well—
it's a bit hard to accurately describe what exactly was going on here.
March 7th was running away in front, while Bai Ming was chasing after her.
Of course,
their physical capabilities were completely on different levels.
Bai Ming only needed to jog a little to catch up to March 7th.
But whenever she caught up, March 7th's glare would make her retreat.
Honestly, it was the first time Bai Ming had seen March 7th look so displeased.
Then, March 7th would run off again, fuming.
Naturally, Bai Ming couldn't just let her run away like that.
The two of them repeated this cycle back and forth several times.
Finally, March 7th, walking ahead, couldn't take it anymore.
She stopped abruptly, turned around, and glared at Bai Ming, who was following behind her.
"Stop following me!"
"But I have something I want you to try!"
"Well, I don't want it!" March 7th said, her face red. "Go back to your Asta! Why are you looking for me?"
"Eh…"
Hearing March 7th say this, Bai Ming froze in place.
She touched the item tucked inside her coat and muttered quietly,
"But I just wanted to…"
Before Bai Ming could finish her sentence,
an even more piercing sound came through the space station.
Immediately, red indicators lit up one after another on the control panel in front of Asta.
Following that, a blue screen projected itself high above the space station.
Everyone's attention was drawn to it.
A massive creature was tearing through the space station's protective barrier!
But.
looking at the dragon-like creature tearing at the barrier on the screen, Bai Ming found it increasingly familiar.
She froze for a moment, then suddenly realized.
Could this be… Benares?!
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Life Simulator: Starting in Genshin Impact!
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober