A few days later, on an asteroid formed from the remnants of that shattered frontier planet.
Silver Wolf breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew. The boss's mission for this month—finished ahead of schedule!!"
Beside her, Firefly deactivated her SAM suit and tucked away her Cicada Wing Transformation Device. In her hand was a fragment of broken crystal. She spoke softly.
"Mm. This is the [Fragment] the boss wanted us to retrieve. But I can't sense what this crystal actually is."
"Who cares. Finding it at all is good enough."
The furrow in Silver Wolf's brow smoothed, but the anger in her eyes never faded.
Firefly cautiously pressed further.
"Silver Wolf... these past few days, you've seemed like a different person. You haven't even started a single game."
Silver Wolf blew a bubble with her gum and clenched her fist, her face full of fury and vengeance.
"I've been working like crazy these past few days to finish the mission early. Not touching a single game."
"All so I'd have time to settle scores with that Herta!!"
Firefly blinked. Just as she was about to persuade her, Silver Wolf cut her off.
"Don't try to persuade me! Even Kafka or the boss couldn't talk me out of this! I have to go back—76 game accounts, plus my last defeat—I'm avenging it all!"
Seeing this, Firefly could only sigh.
"Sigh. Alright, Silver Wolf. Take care of yourself. Be careful. Don't act on impulse."
Silver Wolf turned and stared at Firefly. Firefly instinctively stepped back.
"What... Silver Wolf? What's wrong?"
"Firefly. Come with me to the Xianzhou Luofu. We've got at least another month of vacation time anyway."
Firefly wanted to refuse. There was an ocean planet not far away.
She wanted to see that blue sky, feel the sea breeze. Live for herself, just for once.
Seeing Firefly hesitate, Silver Wolf crossed her arms and put on a smug expression.
"The Luminary Wardance. March 7th is there. Stelle is there. Sigh. If March 7th accidentally takes that one step... then everything will be ruined."
In an instant, Firefly reverted to SAM.
"SAM, online. Destination: Xianzhou Luofu."
Silver Wolf nodded, satisfied.
"A new game has begun. This time, we're winning this round one hundred percent."
---
The Xianzhou Luofu, Divination Commission.
Qingque had brewed fine tea for Ruan Mei and Herta, and brought out pastries unique to her hometown.
"What brings you two to the Divination Commission today?"
Herta asked dismissively.
"What? The Divination Commission doesn't welcome us?"
Qingque quickly waved her hands.
"No, absolutely not! In fact, our Commission shares a certain connection with you both—through the Aeon of Erudition, Nous"
Ruan Mei noticed a subtle change in Qingque. She seemed to be putting on an act of forced seriousness. Ruan Mei asked softly.
"Qingque. Why are you so proper all of a sudden?"
Qingque looked around, making absolutely sure Fu Xuan wasn't nearby. Then she relaxed and sighed deeply.
"Sigh, honestly. All I ever wanted was to slack off every day and play jade tiles. A day, a month, a year... just coast through life like that."
"But now? The whole Divination Commission—the whole Luofu—knows I have a little talent. And the Grand Diviner's demands on me have become way harsher."
Herta crossed her arms casually.
"Being a little more serious isn't bad. People have to grow up eventually."
"It's better than growing up only when someone you care about most slips away and you're powerless to stop it."
Qingque looked at Herta with a face that said I'm about to cry.
"Madam Herta, easy for you to say! Try working overtime for six or seven hours every day?!"
Herta gave a light snort.
"That's it? Look at the woman beside me—Madam Ruan Mei?!"
Qingque scratched her head in confusion.
"Madam Ruan Mei? What about her?"
"She went five hundred and thirty-one consecutive days without sleep. Dedicated to her research."
Qingque froze. She stared at Ruan Mei with the same awe and terror one might reserve for a demon god. She couldn't help but marvel.
"I thought the Grand Diviner's overtime was unmatched in the universe. Turns out Madam Ruan Mei is even more insane."
Ruan Mei, who had been quietly sipping tea, nearly spilled it at this. Even she, for all her elegance, had to open her eyes and stare at Herta.
"Qingque. What Herta says is true. But judging us by ordinary standards may not be reasonable."
Qingque nodded. Geniuses join the Intelligentsia Guild. But absolute geniuses among geniuses become members of the Genius Society.
"That's true. Most ordinary people never meet a single one of you in their entire lives. Come to think of it, I'm pretty lucky."
Qingque's attitude remained remarkably optimistic.
"Oh, Madam Herta? Could I ask a favor?"
Herta set down her pastry.
"Speak. But I don't know if I'll agree."
Qingque hesitated, then ventured.
"Well... ahem. Madam Herta, could you make me a puppet? A doll, maybe? As long as it looks just like me?"
Herta shook her head immediately.
"No. You just want a puppet to do your work."
"Then the real Qingque can slack off and play jade tiles with a clear conscience."
"Sigh. Nothing escapes Madam Herta's eyes. But really? No chance?"
"I said no."
Qingque still refused to give up.
"I'll pay you credits. I've saved up centuries of savings. How about it?"
Herta replied casually.
"Isn't that your retirement fund? For opening your own jade tile parlor?"
Qingque scratched her head helplessly.
"Madam Herta really does know everything."
"Sorry. I don't need money."
Rejected again, Qingque gritted her teeth. Still, she couldn't let go of this genius idea.
"Then what do you need? Maybe, just maybe, I can help."
Herta slowly opened her eyes and studied Qingque.
Actually... her intelligence definitely surpasses those two short pink-haired girls. And most of the Intelligentsia Guild. On par with that Yaoqing woman.
"Then tell me: What is 'divinity'? Three seconds."
Qingque blinked.
Herta began the countdown.
"Three, two, one. Now. Answer immediately."
Qingque blurted out.
"Ah, well—blazing a new Path. Walking it. Acquiring so-called 'divinity.'"
Herta glanced at her.
"You have some understanding. But it's not the answer I want."
Qingque turned to Ruan Mei.
"Madam Ruan Mei? Can you persuade Madam Herta? I really want a 'me' to do my work."
Ruan Mei also shook her head.
"Having something do your work—it would take Fu Xuan's scoldings for you. But it would also take the time you share with Fu Xuan."
"Even knowing that, would you still accept?"