On The Blue, the still eighteen-year-old girl wearing a pointed hat—The Herta—stood alone in a laboratory where she was the only living presence, speaking to the empty air.
"I've conducted infrared spectrum analysis and brain imaging scans. I've confirmed that there's no lesion in my brain. So what exactly are you—the thing that's been staying in my mind and talking to me?"
A voice suddenly echoed inside The Herta's mind. "I am a system... though you can also call me Herman, a cheat that belongs solely to you."
"I can help accelerate your research. With my assistance, you can advance rapidly on the path of scientific inquiry, become a genius who strolls among the stars... and even become a member of the Genius Society!"
"And I need your help? I don't require some strange system like you. I, The Herta, can become a member of the club on my own." The Herta placed her hands on her hips, her voice brimming with confidence.
"Yes, I've reviewed your research. Your talent is indeed extraordinary. But I can shorten the process of becoming a genius—perhaps even ensure you achieve it before you grow old and die. You could develop rejuvenation technology—becoming an eternal eighteen-year-old girl!"
The voice in her mind carried a meaningful tone. "Miss Herta, you wouldn't want to turn into an old granny, would you?"
Hearing that, The Herta was deeply tempted. Then she asked a crucial question.
"Can you help me step onto the Path of Beauty? Compared to researching rejuvenation technology, I'd much rather rely on this beautiful face of mine to walk the Path of Beauty..."
"Ahem... I'm a scientific research system. I can only assist with research. I can't help you walk the Path of Beauty!"
The Herta revealed a deeply disappointed expression and murmured, "So with the Aeon of Beauty currently missing, there's no way for me to ascend in a single step and become an Emanator of Beauty?"
Herman couldn't help but retort, "You mean if Idrila of Beauty hadn't disappeared, you'd be able to ascend to the sky in one leap and become an Emanator of Beauty? Hey, hey, that's a bit too narcissistic!"
"That's simply the kind of woman I am. And am I not beautiful? Even the moon would dim beside me, and the stars would lose their shine!"
As she spoke, The Herta walked over to the full-length mirror in the laboratory and gazed at her reflection, her expression turning intoxicated.
"Indeed, very beautiful. And compared to yesterday, today's me is clearly even more beautiful!"
After saying that, The Herta struck several poses, admiring herself as the look on her face grew increasingly entranced.
Inside The Herta's mind, within the space of the Research System, Herman observed her reflection through her eyes and couldn't help sighing inwardly.
The Herta truly is beautiful.
Fortunately, the current Herta was a genuine eighteen-year-old girl, not the eighty-third seat of the Genius Society. Otherwise, as a transmigrated soul, he might very well have been captured and dissected for analysis.
That's right. Herman was a transmigrator. And during his transmigration, he had suffered some kind of terrifying blow, losing the physical body he should have possessed in this new world. Even the core origin of his cheat—the Research System—had been severely damaged.
Under those extreme circumstances, Herman had no choice but to abandon becoming human. He fused with the Research System itself, becoming its consciousness and binding to his host, The Herta. Only because of that could he now converse with her.
Now, as the system's consciousness, Herman possessed three special abilities.
The first ability was:
Universal Genius!
As the name implied, applying this ability to the host would enhance her intelligence and comprehension, increasing research efficiency by fifty percent.
The second ability was:
World-Shaking Wisdom!
As the name suggested, this ability could grant the host extraordinary wisdom, allowing her to receive information from different worlds... and use that information to create all kinds of incredible technologies.
As for the third ability, it was:
Simulated Laboratory!
Just as it sounded, the system could provide a fully equipped laboratory space for the host to conduct research.
Of course, using these three functions required system points. And obtaining system points was simple—so long as the bound host engaged in research and completed the research tasks issued by him, the spirit of the system, she would earn points.
Three days had passed since Herman bound himself to The Herta. Through her research over those three days, the system had already accumulated more than ten thousand points.
With that many points, any one of the three major functions—Universal Genius, World-Shaking Wisdom, or Simulated Laboratory—could be activated.
At that moment, after finishing admiring her beauty, The Herta voiced her thoughts.
"Herman, what you said earlier was correct. Youth fades... At eighteen, I can maintain this peerless beauty. But at sixty-eight, I may not be able to preserve this flawless appearance."
"So before I grow old, I must research rejuvenation technology and become a true genius. Only then, when the Aeon of Beauty Idrila returns to this universe, will I still possess incomparable beauty and become an Emanator of Beauty."
Herman inwardly complained frantically. You're truly obsessed with becoming an Emanator of Beauty.
"Of course. Compared to my research talent, I believe my beauty surpasses it even more! Don't you agree?"
"I agree, I agree... All right, The Herta. Shall we activate the system's assisted research functions? Once activated, you'll possess genius-level intelligence—perhaps even world-shaking wisdom—and gain access to a simulated laboratory identical to real-world physical laws... allowing you to conduct research experiments at high speed!"
"Activate it!"
"Understood, The Herta..."
The moment Herman finished speaking, the enhancement effects of Universal Genius and World-Shaking Wisdom were fully activated and bestowed upon The Herta.
Her delicate body trembled slightly as she sensed changes within her body and mind.
She could clearly perceive that her thought processes were accelerating. Though it hadn't doubled, she undeniably felt smarter, more capable of unraveling complex research problems.
More crucially, she could feel a constant stream of inspiration and wisdom bubbling up in her mind.
Transform life into light. Establish a Kingdom of Light. Plasma Spark Tower!
Follow the Path of Erudition, drain the Imaginary Tree, ascend in a cataclysmic evolution—Aetherphase Engine!
A cosmic dual-vector foil—reduce the entire universe's dimensionality into two dimensions!
Causality-based technology—create magical girls and witches... create time-based magical girls who continuously traverse space-time, accumulate causality... and ultimately produce a magical girl capable of ascending into XX!
...
Countless flashes of inspiration streaked through The Herta's mind, filling her with an overwhelming sense of exhilaration.
So many unknown things. So many, so many avenues to research!
My previous judgment was wrong. The Research System—Herman—is truly a wonderful thing.
It really can help me grow further and become a genius more quickly!!
With that thought, The Herta finally activated the previously mentioned third function—the Simulated Laboratory—and began conducting research experiments.
The experiment itself was simple.
To solve the Solitary Waves Theory problem.
To compute the universe's very first solitary wave.
If she could find the answer to that problem, she would unlock the fourth Cosmic Conundrum at the Futurological Congress.
—Is the future of the universe predetermined, or chaotic?!