Herta Ninety-Nine clenched her jaw. Asta is out of her mind. But she helped me. I have to do something.
She dragged Lingsha forward. "Madam Herta, Asta—you came for Lingsha, didn't you? I'll wake her. Take her back."
Herta's cold glance swept over her. Herta Ninety-Nine shivered. One wrong move, and she would be finished. But if Asta said the wrong thing and thoroughly angered Herta, there would be no going back.
"Madam Herta, we followed your orders and took good care of her."
Herta snorted. "My orders?"
Herta Ninety-Nine understood. She wants me to take the blame. "Not Madam Herta's orders. Mine. All mine."
Herta waved a hand. Path power enveloped her—not attacking, just... silencing.
She turned back to Asta. She cares about Ruan Mei. And she cares about me. Probably just a fan.
"Asta. Anything else? Then I'll take Lingsha out. She has a crystal fragment Ruan Mei wants."
Asta nodded. "Madam Herta, do you remember the day we met? Two years ago?"
Herta thought. "Vaguely."
"It was my eighteenth birthday. My family wanted me to work for them. I knew I'd be moving from one cage to another. Then you appeared. You wanted me to run this station. You saved me."
Herta waved a hand. "I wasn't trying to save you. Your family had a dozen scholars begging for the position. Annoying. I glanced around, saw you in a corner watching stars, and picked you."
Asta stared. All this time, she thought she was special. That Herta noticed her. But it was only because she didn't compete.
She smiled, helpless but grateful. "Still. Thank you."
Herta's expression didn't change. Her carelessness saved someone? Good. Now she could spend Asta's money without guilt.
"Don't thank me. Just run the station. Fund my research. I'll grant you one wish. Eternal youth. A recommendation to the Intelligentsia Guild. Whatever."
Asta's eyes lit up. "A wish? Really?"
Herta smoothed her hair. Asta probably wants a star. Or to stay young forever. Easy.
"Ninety-nine percent of wishes in this universe—I can grant them. Run the station well. Madam Herta doesn't shortchange people."
Asta nodded quickly. "Thank you, Madam Herta. But I'll wait on that wish."
"Fine."
Herta Ninety-Nine watched them, drenched in cold sweat. A wish? What if Asta wishes for—
She didn't finish the thought. Does Herta really not see how Asta feels? Or is she pretending?
Minutes later, Asta and Herta led Lingsha out of the [Mirror]. Her eyes were clear—too clear, as if a century had passed.
Ruan Mei looked at her. "Lingsha. Are you alright?"
Lingsha raised her head, stared at Ruan Mei like a puppet, then dropped it again.
One day. One day, and this was what remained. Even Ruan Mei's expression shifted.
Herta City is not a place for anyone.
Herta Ninety-Nine stepped forward. "Lingsha. Madam Ruan Mei asked you a question."
Lingsha stammered, her face pale with fear. "I... Madam Ruan Mei... hello."
Ruan Mei reached out with a handkerchief. Lingsha flinched away. Ruan Mei's hand hung in the air. She withdrew it.
Everyone thought Lingsha had broken—like Silver Wolf.
Then her eyes cleared. She smiled.
"Madam Herta. Impressive. But I found a way. Sealed my memories. Waited it out."
Herta's eyes narrowed. "And?"
Lingsha's smile turned cold. Ruan Mei was a kindred spirit. But Herta flipped the table. Made her suffer. Fine. If she couldn't have Ruan Mei, she would still find a way to make Herta's life difficult.
"I'm going to be your rival. I'm going to officially—"
Bam.
Asta had taken a magic hammer from Herta Ninety-Nine. She knocked Lingsha out cold.
Ruan Mei, Herta, and Herta Ninety-Nine turned to her.
Asta smiled. "We should find Sushang and Guinaifen. Trade for that crystal fragment. As for Cauldron Chief Lingsha..."
Herta Ninety-Nine jumped in. "My fault. She ended up like this. I'll make it right."
She found Lingsha's seal, wrote a letter, and hurried to Sushang and Guinaifen. She traded for the flawless crystal fragment and brought it back to Herta.