(Where... is this? Did Madam Herta... really "eat" me?)
(So... I gambled wrong? She really can use the authority of the corruption?)
The thought that her confident probing and active approach just now might have been entirely within the other party's calculations, and even turned into a foolish act of walking into a trap, made Elysia's always smiling face instantly fall.
"Ugh..."
She couldn't help but let out a small whimper, raising her hands to cover her burning cheeks, feeling waves of embarrassed heat rush over her.
(How—em—bar—rass—ing—!!!)
(I thought I could turn the tables on her! But I ended up being casually bundled up and thrown into this inexplicable place!)
(This is truly... trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice? No, no, Miss Pink Elf doesn't steal chickens! It's... it's a misjudgment! Yes, that must be it ♪~!)
She squatted down, curling herself into a ball, like a pink flower that had temporarily wilted because it misjudged the direction of the sun, silently savoring this rare sense of defeat in the empty white space.
Perspective shift.
Baiheng rode her modified small cart, creaking along to a street corner bustling with people.
She parked the cart, rearranged the exquisite ornaments and plush dolls on the shelves, and then... quietly stood behind the cart.
(Shouting? How should I shout?)
"Don't miss it if you pass by"?
Feels so tacky.
"Come and see, come and see"? Seems too ordinary... Forget it, I'll observe how others sell first.
So, the former legendary pilot, now like a student freshly enrolled in school, stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the cart, silently observing how the vendor next door, selling Jadebird skewers, used his loud voice and exaggerated expressions to attract customers.
As she was engrossed in "market research," a well-dressed woman's attention was drawn by the exquisite plush dolls on the shelf.
She picked up a doll, examined it carefully, and a look of surprise appeared in her eyes.
"Miss, are you... selling Ms. Herta's plush dolls?"
The woman looked up and asked Baiheng curiously.
Baiheng was stunned.
(Ms. Herta? Which Ms. Herta? Oh! Right! That Genius! I saw her image before!)
She suddenly recalled that the appearance of these dolls indeed bore a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to the master of the Space Station in her memory!
"Hiss..."
Baiheng instinctively took a breath, her mind racing. (I can't just say I don't know, can I? That would be even more suspicious!)
So she immediately nodded, her tone as natural as possible, "Yes! That's right, they are... Ms. Herta's replica dolls!"
"The craftsmanship is really good, the details are exquisite." The woman stroked the doll's fabric, quite satisfied. "How much for one?"
Baiheng quickly calculated in her mind.
(The exchange rate between currency and credits... seems like 100 currency can exchange for a lot of credits? I remember a cup of milk tea cost two thousand credits! This doll has good materials and craftsmanship, so setting it at 100 currency should be... about right? After all, it's a "Ms. Herta" replica!)
She tentatively quoted a number: "100 currency."
Unexpectedly, the woman, far from thinking it was expensive, showed a surprised expression, and her voice even rose slightly: "100? You're not trying to fool me, are you?!"
Baiheng's heart sank.
(Oh no! Did I quote too high? Did I scare the customer away?)
She quickly tried to salvage it, her tone uncertain: "Then... what do you think is appropriate?"
The woman looked at Baiheng with an expression that said, "You really don't know your stuff," and held up two fingers: "These are Ms. Herta's dolls! And they're limited editions, right? The craftsmanship is so excellent! 100? You should at least add a 0 to that!"
"1000??" Baiheng's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Seeing Baiheng's incredulous expression, the woman said earnestly, "Miss, you look new here, are you new? Anyway, if I hadn't reminded you, you'd be 'begging with a golden rice bowl,' and you'd lose a lot! How about this, I'll take a bit of a loss, you sell me one for 500 currency, and I'll help you promote it in our department, how's that?"
Baiheng: "..."
(Good heavens... what a character!)
She almost wanted to applaud this woman.
(So I should thank you for bargaining, and then give you a favor to help you promote it? The street smarts of Luofu Immortal Boat truly open my eyes!)
She had figured it out; this person wasn't sincerely buying something, but just trying to take advantage.
Although Baiheng didn't want to cause trouble, she wasn't a pushover either, especially in the realm of bargaining, which she considered herself "familiar" with.
She frowned, preparing to have a good discussion with this "shrewd" customer about the doll's "research and development costs" and "labor fees."
Just as their argument began to escalate, drawing glances from some passersby, the woman, who had been so aggressive, suddenly shivered as if sensing something, and her voice quieted down.
She looked around uneasily, as if enveloped by an invisible chill, and finally gave up the entanglement grudgingly, quickly pulled out 500 currency, grabbed a Herta doll, and almost scurried away.
Baiheng was a bit puzzled but was happy to have the peace.
She picked up a Herta doll and looked at it carefully again.
(Hmm... looking at it this way, it really does look more and more like Ms. Herta. Why didn't I immediately think of it before?)
She recalled the scene where Ms. Herta lost her temper on the Astral Express, leaving a deep impression of the Genius Society member #83.
(Why did Madam Herta make so many of her dolls? Never mind, I won't think about it, as long as the mission is completed.)
She shook her head, putting the small incident behind her, and continued to guard her small cart, waiting for the next "fated person."
She didn't notice that not far from the street corner, in the shadow of a teahouse, a solitary, cold figure stood quietly.
White hair fluttered in the breeze, and though the black eye patch obscured her eyes, it still focused on Baiheng like the sharpest sword.
(That Foxian... her figure, her aura...)
Waves of distant memories surged in Jingliu's heart.
(Baiheng...?)
(Impossible... she already...)
(But, can there truly be two people so similar in this world?)
Meanwhile, in the Observation Car, Welt pushed up his glasses, his brows furrowed, watching March 7th, who had just floated past with a blank stare, return to her room, and then remembering the empty-eyed Stelle he had seen earlier.
He sighed and walked over to Danheng, who was quietly reviewing the star charts nearby.
"Danheng, do you feel that... March and Stelle have been a bit off lately?"
Welt's voice carried a hint of worry.
Danheng looked up from the star chart, a flicker of agreement in his clear, cold eyes.
"Yes. March has indeed been frequently absent-minded lately; sometimes I call her several times and get no response, and occasionally she'll just giggle at the air by herself. When asked what's wrong, she just stammers and can't explain clearly."
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