Ruan Mei looked up into the distance. The drifting immortal mist of the Arbor fell slowly around her.
Herta stood still, silently watching Ruan Mei. Neither spoke.
A notification broke the quiet. Ruan Mei glanced at Herta. Herta instinctively wanted to dismiss it, but saw it was from Asta.
Ruan Mei nodded slightly. Herta breathed out and answered the call.
"What is it, Asta?"
"Madam Herta, wasn't today the day you scheduled to shut down the space station's power for an audience with Nous?"
Herta froze. She had been spending so much time with Ruan Mei lately, and after that absurd Masked Fool incident, she had even had a false audience with a fake Nous—Aha. She had completely forgotten that today was meant for the real thing.
She stole a glance at Ruan Mei. As perfect as ever. Untouched by the mundane.
Ruan Mei looked back at her. Herta's heart skipped. She caught me staring!
She turned away, feigning composure with a cough, her voice slightly flustered. "Asta, I have something important here. Reschedule the audience with Machine Head—I mean, Nous—to the end of next month."
Back at the space station, Asta sighed and stroked Peppy's head. With someone like Madam Ruan Mei by her side, who needs an audience with Nous?
Even Madam Herta can lose her ambition.
"Alright, Madam Herta. I'll inform all the researchers to adjust their departure times. But there's one more thing I need to discuss with you."
Herta was growing impatient. Finally, she had some alone time with Ruan Mei—no Yu Qingtu-Sparkle, no Alchemy Commission nuisances, no cat-cakes, and especially no wily fox with alluring glances. And now work had to intrude? Was Asta doing this on purpose?
"Go ahead, Asta. My every second right now is precious. Oh, by the way, hasn't your family contacted you?"
Asta laughed awkwardly. Even the great Madam Herta can be like this.
"Madam Herta, my family rarely contacts me. You know how it is—when they do, it's always some fussing over me and asking if I need allowance, then playing the emotional card, trying to get me to arrange internships for cousins or relatives' children at the space station. Of course, as station master, I've always been principled. I won't let one success bring a flock of hangers-on to disrupt the station's order."
Herta smiled knowingly. Asta had quietly supported Herta Ninety-Nine every step of the way.
"Just tell me what you need."
Asta breathed a sigh of relief. "Madam Herta, two Nameless from the Astral Express are here at the space station asking for you by name. They say Stelle and Dan Heng have gone missing in Amphoreus—no word from them. March 7th is unconscious. The Navigator even went to see the Stellaron Hunters for help. These two have come to seek your assistance."
Herta paused in thought. Amphoreus? The legendary convergence of three Paths. So the Express crew went there? Fine. Lives are at stake. She'd go to Amphoreus. But just in case, she'd bring Ruan Mei along.