(T/N: Im back! Miss me? I know you have akane_green.)
Upon hearing Topaz's speculation, even the well-traveled Jade was taken aback. After a few seconds of silence, she finally asked, "If Ruan Mei and Herta had a child, would it be born a genius? Or an Emanator? Most likely, from the moment of birth, it would be an existence that we could never reach or surpass in our lifetimes."
Topaz nodded slowly. She had clawed her way from a frontier planet to her current position, yet that position might still be far lower than where some people started at birth. The gods of this world were truly unfair.
At that thought, she glanced at Asta beside Ruan Mei. Born into wealth and privilege, her weekly allowance was higher than Topaz's monthly salary. And she knew two geniuses among geniuses. Her future prospects were limitless. Unlike her, who had worked diligently for half her life to reach this level, only to find further advancement nearly impossible. Comparing oneself to others was maddening.
---
Day Three.
All the Lord Ravagers appeared at the other end of the starry sky, watching the contest between the two Hertas from afar. Even they had to admit that aside from Celenova, few among them possessed such terrifying Path power.
Phantylia covered her mouth with a sneer. "True and false Herta? The false one's strength alone far exceeds that of ordinary Emanators."
Irontomb retorted coldly, "We can all see that. You don't need to state the obvious. Do you see those Xianzhou Emanators over there? You wouldn't want to become the next Zhulong, would you?"
Phantylia glared at him, her eyes burning with rage. She wanted nothing more than to erase him on the spot. But she could only bide her time, waiting for her own power to grow before taking revenge on that insufferable man.
---
By the evening of the third day, the two Hertas had still not determined a winner.
Ruan Mei looked up, sensing the uninvited guests. All the Lord Ravagers had gathered this time, but none dared to overstep.
"Sigh. Aha has surely seen all of this. The scenario They've orchestrated has become known to almost every Emanator. Effortlessly affecting the entire universe—only Aha could pull that off."
She stepped forward and stopped the two Hertas. "Three days are up. Neither of you has won. It's time to seek an audience with Nous, who will decide who is real."
The left Herta gritted her teeth, unwilling to concede. "Ruan Mei, give me more time! I will make this Sparkle pay."
The right Herta crossed her arms, her expression full of disdain and mockery. "Hmph. You? Sparkle, stop pretending."
As they were about to resume their bickering, Ruan Mei said calmly, "Ladies, the Lord Ravagers, Memokeepers, six of the Seven Arbiter-Generals, the Interastral Peace Corporation... So many people are watching you make a spectacle of yourselves. Madam Herta cares more about face and dignity than anyone."
Both Hertas fell silent. Finally, they put away their magic keys and followed Ruan Mei back to Herta Space Station.
After Ruan Mei and the two Hertas left, all the other factions quickly dispersed.
---
Asta had reserved all of the space station's energy reserves, enough for the two Hertas to seek an audience with Nous.
Ruan Mei's expression remained calm as she looked at the two Hertas. "After the audience with Nous, Sparkle will have nowhere to hide. By then, it will be too late for regrets."
The left Herta said, "I'm the real one. I have nothing to fear. An audience with Nous is fine, as long as Aha doesn't show up."
The right Herta sneered. "What, seeing Machine Head scares you? Afraid the Aeon of Lols might appear?"
"You! You want Aha to show up during the audience and disrupt everything, giving you even more Path power, don't you?"
Ruan Mei held her head in exasperation. She had to ask herself again: if Aha showed up uninvited during the audience, could one Nous really stop Aha from walking the Path of Elation?
Just as she hesitated, Herta Ninety-Nine approached her. "Madam Ruan Mei, I have a plan to tell the real Herta from the fake. Please follow me."
Both Hertas perked up, but Ruan Mei silenced them with a cold glare. She followed Herta Ninety-Nine into another lab.
Ten minutes later, they returned. The two Hertas eyed them suspiciously.
"Herta, this is the sleeve pendant I custom-made for you."
Ruan Mei produced the long-finished Herta puppet sleeve pendant. Both Hertas' eyes lit up with a strange light.
One instinctively reached for it, then glanced at the other and turned away, closing her eyes with proud aloofness. "Ruan Mei, send the fake away first. Then give it to me."
Ruan Mei didn't answer. Instead, she said calmly, "Please separate now, and each of you confess to me alone. After I determine which is real, I will give the pendant to the real Herta."
The two Hertas exchanged glances. One went to the Master Control Zone, the other to the Simulated Universe.
Ruan Mei first approached the Herta in the Master Control Zone.
"Please begin your confession."
That Herta took a deep breath. "Ruan Mei, I really want that pendant, but I don't want to confess to you in a setting like this. I only get one chance to confess in my life."
Ruan Mei gave a soft "Oh." "So you're still running away. Or are you imitating Herta's tendency to flee?"
The Herta of unknown authenticity furrowed her brow. She instinctively raised her magic key, as if to send Ruan Mei to Herta City, then lowered it. "I cannot confess this time!"
Ruan Mei sighed and turned to leave.
That Herta asked, "Did Sparkle confess to you?"
"Yes. Will you?"
The Herta outside the Simulated Universe frowned, raising her magic key. "Of course. But first, I need to go destroy that impostor!"
Ruan Mei was silent. To be honest, this Herta's personality was the one she knew. But Herta had said she would change, little by little—develop empathy, learn to see things from others' perspectives.
That Herta took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Ruan Mei, I've been running away all along. But after everything that's happened, I don't want to run anymore. I, Herta, Genius Society member #83, want you to stay by my side forever. Is that alright?"