Tingyun turned her head and noticed there was still a tiny Herta #3 present (the one who had delivered the pastries earlier and been frozen by Ruan Mei).
"Benefactor, there's still a Herta here. Why is she about the same height as Bailu?"
Ruan Mei glanced over and studied Herta #3 carefully. She seemed to be a miniature version of Herta from childhood.
"Leave her be. Let her stay here. She can't break my seal on her own."
"Oh."
Herta #3 blinked from within the ice. She had assumed that once Ruan Mei noticed her, she would be freed.
Instead, Ruan Mei completely ignored her and walked toward the door, leaving only a frosty silhouette behind.
"Waaah! I'm even more pitiful than Herta #1612!! Madam Herta, please come save me!"
Herta #3 tried repeatedly to contact the other Hertas and the real Herta herself. But Ruan Mei's power blocked every attempt.
"All I can do is cry and whine. I can't do anything else. Everyone in Herta City... you haven't really forgotten about me, have you?"
---
Herta Space Station.
This time, Silver Wolf had not only disguised herself as a Herta puppet but also used a Masked Fools disguise mask given by Sparkle, an aura-shielding device from Elio, and more.
This time, I'll make Herta understand that I, the great Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf, am not to be trifled with!!
Hmph!! I don't hold grudges overnight—I settle them immediately!!
"What number are you?"
Silver Wolf blinked and quickly turned to face the Herta puppet before her.
"I'm Herta #33. And you?"
"Herta #99."
"Oh."
Herta #99 studied Silver Wolf carefully. Suspicion began to creep in.
Every time I see #33, she's constantly praising Herta's greatness and unparalleled beauty.
"Herta #33. What do you think of Madam Herta?"
Silver Wolf hesitated for a moment. Then, recalling Herta's personality, she forced herself to lie through her teeth.
"Madam Herta possesses both beauty and brilliance. She is an absolute genius."
Herta #99 gave a soft "Oh" and pulled Silver Wolf toward the space station's teleportation platform.
Silver Wolf looked around. Everywhere she turned, there were Herta puppets—all heading in the same direction.
"Ah?! Where are we going?"
"Herta City."
---
The Blue Planet, Herta City.
As the name suggested, this city was built specifically for Madam Herta. Only Herta's various puppets resided here.
Silver Wolf gazed into the distance. Herta puppets stretched endlessly, covering the entire city.
She gasped. Are there millions of Hertas here?!
Oh no. I need to teleport out. Now.
She tried to use her etheric power to construct a subspace warp point. But every spatial coordinate was blocked.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah... nothing. Nothing at all."
"Come on. Madam Herta is just ahead. She seems to be in a bad mood. You'll need to use your special skill."
Silver Wolf scratched her head. My "special skill"? She ventured cautiously.
"My special skill? What is it?"
"Praising Madam Herta."
Silver Wolf's heart sank. Praising that woman is a "special skill"? Seriously?!
But she kept her expression neutral and forced a cold smile.
"Madam Herta is an absolute genius of the cosmos. Praising her is only natural."
Herta #99 led Silver Wolf to the very center of Herta City.
A Herta puppet stood before the real Herta, pointing accusingly without regard for her dignity.
"Madam Herta! Your design philosophy is completely different from ours! And you've repeatedly missed your chances with Madam Ruan Mei!"
"We demand you step down! Let us pursue Madam Ruan Mei!"
"Yes! I second that!"
"I second it too!"
"Seconded!"
...
The crowd of Herta puppets cheered. Silver Wolf's eyes went wide in disbelief.
No way. These puppets are actually daring to oppose the real Herta? This is way more interesting than staying home playing games.
Herta shot the puppets a cold glance. First that Tingyun infuriates me, and now I come back to Herta City to find my own puppets demanding to replace me and pursue Ruan Mei?!
Heh. Time to "persuade with reason." Let's format some of them.
She rose slowly from her throne and summoned her magic key. Every Herta puppet raised their magic hammer.
The atmosphere grew tense. Conflict was imminent.
Just as Silver Wolf settled in to enjoy the show, she was inexplicably pushed forward.
The real Herta's gaze—and every puppet's—fell upon her.
A hundred spotlights simultaneously illuminated Silver Wolf.
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
A Herta puppet cheered.
"Oh? Another puppet like us! Have you come to oppose Madam Herta as well?!"
Silver Wolf forced a smile and imitated a puppet's voice.
"Of course. Madam Herta should step down. To appease all us Herta puppets."
"Yes, yes!! She's right!"
All the puppets echoed her. Herta smiled coldly.
Interesting. A fool's mask. A shielding spirit...
Any ordinary genius might be fooled. But I am a genius among geniuses.
Let me see... etheric power? Silver Wolf. The space here is already blocked. Might as well confiscate her etheric power too.
Heh. That Tingyun infuriated me earlier. Time to take it out on Silver Wolf.
Herta watched silently as Silver Wolf fanned the flames and performed.
When her performance was almost over, Herta would make her move. Watching her expression would be... interesting.
A Herta puppet dragged another puppet in front of Silver Wolf.
"Everyone, quiet down!!"
"Herta #33. Who are you really?!"
Faced with Herta #99's interrogation, Silver Wolf stood her ground.
"I'm #33."
The real Herta #33 stepped forward, delighted.
"Wow!! So many puppets just like me! And Madam Herta is here too! This is truly a legendary paradise!"
Herta #99 pointed at Silver Wolf.
"Everyone! She is NOT Herta #33!"
Silver Wolf instinctively stepped back. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. She forced herself to remain calm.
"I am #33! How dare you deceive all the Herta puppets here?!"
Half the puppets sided with Silver Wolf. Half sided with #99.
"Everyone! Do Herta puppets sweat on their foreheads?!"
"Also, when you praised Madam Herta earlier, your gaze kept shifting. Your tone lacked sincerity."
"Who are you?! Why are you disguised as one of us?!"
In an instant, every Herta puppet raised their magic hammer and advanced on Silver Wolf.
------------------------------------------------
TL Note
Bonus Chapter Progress: 95/125