Facing Herta's faintly provocative stare, Wei Qing didn't flinch. He simply shrugged.
"I wouldn't say I understand it. I'm just curious. The Matrix of Prescience is a major Luofu asset—if two geniuses are refurbishing it, of course the commotion won't be small. People talking about it is normal, isn't it?"
"Hah. Curious?" Herta's eyes bored into him like drills. "Curious about the Matrix itself… or curious about the result it might calculate—about you?"
Her tone carried a teasing lilt, the last syllable rising slightly.
Clearly, Wei Qing's existence fascinated this genius as well. Her coming in person probably wasn't just to refute the "loli-con" jab.
Wei Qing decided he might as well be straightforward.
"Sure, I'm curious. Ever since the Reignbow Arbiter took notice of me, I've been 'the one everyone expects things from' for years. Knowing a bit more about why isn't exactly a bad thing."
He paused, then added as if a thought had just struck him:
"Who knows? Maybe I'm the next Marshal of the Xianzhou."
"At least you still have some thirst for knowledge." Herta's expression eased—barely—but her words stayed sharp. "But expecting that antique pile of gears to calculate an Aeon's causality is pure delusion. Even with my and Ruan Mei's upgrades, at best we can catch fragments—shards—of the causal threads."
She clicked her tongue as if annoyed at her own standards.
"And even then… what we compute won't necessarily be reliable."
Wei Qing spread his hands, sighing theatrically. "So it's not even guaranteed? That sounds like gacha. Low odds, no pity in sight."
"Oh, and it can off-banner too," he added helpfully.
Herta's face darkened instantly.
"You know nothing!" she snapped. "Aeons transcend conventional logic. Being able to capture even a trace of their trajectory is already a breakthrough!"
She leaned forward, glare blazing.
"Are you genuinely ignorant of the dignity of scientific exploration—or are you just asking to be punched, deliberately provoking this genius?"
"Got mad?" Wei Qing said lightly.
"I'M NOT MAD!" Herta's voice shot up, sharp enough that a few scattered patrons in the teahouse turned to look.
She realized she'd raised her voice, and her lips immediately pressed into a hard line.
Wei Qing sipped his tea at his leisure. "Then why are you mad?"
"I SAID I'M NOT MAD!"
Under the table, Jing Yuan kicked Wei Qing hard in the shin, but his face stayed perfectly pleasant as he stepped in with a mediator's smile.
"Lady Herta, please don't take offense. He's just got a mouth that begs for trouble—no ill intent."
He nodded gravely as if delivering a formal pledge.
"We have one hundred percent faith in the Genius Society's wisdom. With two geniuses taking the helm, the Matrix of Prescience is certain to be reborn—capable of glimpsing secrets no one has ever seen."
Herta shot Wei Qing a murderous look. Her chest rose and fell twice, as if she were forcibly shoving her temper back down.
Then she gave a cold snort, sinking into the chair again, voice dripping with irritation.
"Whatever. Arguing with someone who lacks even basic scientific literacy and reverence is a waste of my time."
Wherever she went, Herta was treated as an honored guest. Anyone who sought an audience acted as if they were handling glass—careful, deferential.
This brat, though? Again and again, he picked fights.
"A genius's time is precious," she said icily. "Wasting it babbling with a mere mortal like you is practically squandering my life."
Wei Qing smiled, utterly confident.
"Heh. I've met many geniuses… and they all called me a genius."
"…" Herta stared. "And what kind of genius would you be?"
"Me?" Wei Qing lifted his chin with full sincerity. "I received the Reignbow Arbiter's blessing while I was still young. Calling myself a 'genius youth' isn't exactly unreasonable, is it?"
For a moment, Herta was speechless.
It was the first time in her life she had encountered someone so shameless.
Worse—annoyingly—he wasn't entirely wrong, which meant she couldn't even refute him cleanly.
As the atmosphere tightened to the point where it felt like it might spark, Jing Yuan was weighing whether to keep playing peacemaker or sprint off to drag the General over to clean up the scene—
When a gentle voice cut in.
"Herta. Calm down."
Ruan Mei had appeared at the teahouse entrance at some point. She walked in at an even pace, first glancing at Herta—whose anger was visibly still rising and falling—then giving a small shake of her head before turning her gaze to Wei Qing.
"Mr. Wei Qing," she said, tone neither warm nor cold, "you seem to enjoy joking."
But something in her eyes made Wei Qing's heart twitch—subtly, instinctively.
"However," she continued evenly, "verbal sparring does little to deepen mutual understanding. The upgrade and calibration of the Matrix of Prescience is preliminarily complete—faster than expected. We're preparing to run the first targeted divination trial."
"We've already informed General Teng Xiao before coming," Ruan Mei said. "Would you be willing to go to the Divination Commission now and witness the process in person? Perhaps seeing it with your own eyes will give you a more intuitive understanding of this… 'gacha game.'"
Wei Qing raised an eyebrow.
"It's only been three days," he said calmly. "Lady Ruan Mei—your efficiency exceeds my expectations."
"Scientific inquiry allows no procrastination." Ruan Mei smiled faintly. "Opportunities vanish in an instant. Don't they?"
"Hey—what do you mean Ruan Mei's efficiency exceeds your expectations?" Herta immediately protested. "What about me?"
It was obvious she felt he was deliberately differentiating, deliberately ignoring her contribution.
Wei Qing glanced at her and put on the most earnest face he could manage.
"Lady Herta's efficiency is obviously impressive too—especially the speed at which you swapped bodies and rushed to the Luofu. Truly breathtaking."
Before the two could start bickering again, Ruan Mei smoothly cut in, severing the thread of the argument.
"Since we've gained a basic understanding of each other, let's return to the main matter. The Divination Commission is ready. General Teng Xiao has been waiting as well. The first trial run of the Matrix can begin today."
"If two geniuses are personally inviting me, and the General is already waiting," Wei Qing said evenly, "then I have no reason not to go—given what we agreed beforehand."
He looked at Ruan Mei.
"Lead the way, Lady Ruan Mei."
He then added, almost as an afterthought:
"And you too, you little genius."
Ruan Mei turned and headed for the door. "Come. The Divination Commission should already be fully prepared."
Herta snorted, refusing to dignify his last remark with a response, and strode out first—clearly intent on not giving this rude man another inch.
Join here to read ahead.
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Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter50)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter50)
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I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter50)
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