A talent who can make money—that's exactly the kind of person I lack under my command.
Herta thought this as she gazed at Pearl with anticipation.
She just didn't know when Pearl would awaken self-awareness and become a true Intellitron.
Ten minutes later, Pearl completed the Worldbreaker Waves with the enormous brush in her hands.
And at that very instant, an indescribable transformation occurred within her body. It felt as though she had become the Worldbreaker Waves itself... a single pearl within the surging, world-engulfing waves.
The sensation was extraordinarily unique.
As the tides washed over her, she felt her cognitive core grow clearer and clearer, shedding her former self, breaking free from the shackles of being merely an AI. She became an Intellitron—possessing selfhood, capable of independent thought.
"From now on, my name is no longer a string of code. My name is Pearl—Pearl who awakened after being moved and cleansed by the tides within the Worldbreaker Waves."
Pearl murmured softly, staring at the painting she had created, arriving at a new realization.
"So this is the profundity of human art? It truly is extraordinary. Before, I was merely copying. Only now have I captured a trace of the true divine essence of the painting."
"Pearl? You've chosen that as your name? It's beautiful."
"You are?"
Pearl lifted her head and looked toward the entrance of the art museum. There stood a woman in a pointed hat, clad in black stockings, her beauty so striking that even among humans she would be considered peerless.
The Herta rested one hand on her hip. "My name is Herta."
"I have already retrieved your identity from Planet Screwllum's Celestial Differentiator. You are Miss Herta, 83rd Seat of the Genius Society, and a guest of Lord Screwllum. You came to witness the moment I awakened to intelligence and became an Intellitron."
Pearl folded her hands before her abdomen and bowed politely before asking in earnest, "May I ask whether my awakening was of any assistance to you, Miss Herta?"
"It was—but not enough. I need to observe more robots awakening under the calculations of the Celestial Differentiator and becoming Intellitrons. Only then can I capture sufficient inspiration to advance my research."
"It is my honor to be of assistance. Would you like me to introduce you to more Intellitrons who are about to come of age and awaken?"
"I do. But before that, there is something more important I must do." Herta's gaze turned serious as she looked at the mechanical girl before her. "Pearl, are you interested in coming with me and working under me?"
Pearl froze, staring blankly at the genius before her.
"Analysis: Miss Herta, are you attempting to recruit me? But I am merely an ordinary Intellitron—assigned by Planet Screwllum's Celestial Differentiator to study art, and only just awakened to self-awareness. I can only write and paint."
"Conclusion: I am not worthy of recruitment by a genius as great as you."
Herta shook her head. "You underestimate yourself. You are not ordinary. You have tremendous potential."
Her tone was confident—more precisely, she trusted Herman's judgment.
"If you follow me, I can provide you with the works of many great art masters for study in the future."
Pearl hesitated.
Seeing this, Herta found herself at a loss. After all, she truly knew little about the field of art.
So she called out inwardly.
'Herman, hurry and help me.'
"No problem. Leave Herta—"
'What nonsense are you saying? I mean hurry up and give me a strategy, or we'll lose this talent.'
"Hand over control of your body to me. I'll speak with her."
'Fine.'
The moment Herta agreed internally, control of the body shifted to Herman.
Herman looked at the mechanical girl before him and spoke calmly.
"You just painted the Worldbreaker Waves, didn't you? It resembles the original artwork's composition—just a trace."
He paused briefly.
"But if you follow me, one day in the near future, I will take you to Planarcadia to see the original painting yourself. You will experience the art of its creator firsthand—and many other masters besides."
Go to Planarcadia... and see the original Worldbreaker Waves?
Pearl was visibly tempted, yet she still hesitated.
"Miss Herta, is it truly worth traveling to Planarcadia and viewing the original painting just for me?"
"It is worth it." Herman answered without hesitation, then added, "Of course, I'm also quite interested in Planarcadia's Phantasmoon Games."
Pearl made her final decision.
"I see. In that case, I agree. I am willing to go with you."
Herman raised a brow. "There's no need to obtain Screwllum's consent?"
Pearl explained, "On Planet Screwllum, every Intellitron is free. Although Mr. Screwllum is the sovereign of the planet, he has never forced an Intellitron to do anything. He is a great genius—and a true leader of Intellitrons."
"I see."
Herman nodded in understanding.
At that moment, Herta's mind filled with question marks.
'Hey, hey, hey—what's this about being interested in the Phantasmoon Games?!'
'How could I possibly be interested in some little planetary games? What's there worth participating in?'
Herman responded at once within her mind.
"What if the sole victor among the eight players who wear the Supplicant Masks in the Phantasmoon Games gains one minute of becoming an Aeon?"
Even Herta was shaken.
'Becoming an Aeon... for one minute?!'
"Yes. If you became the victor, what would you do with that one minute?"
Herta's thoughts began racing.
'I would observe the structure of the entire universe from the perspective of an Aeon. Then I would have Aha pose to me a question—one that even an Aeon finds unsolvable. Finally, I would use that single minute of Aeonhood to attempt to solve it.'
As she spoke, excitement surged within her.
"The Phantasmoon Games is fascinating. If I have the opportunity, I must participate. Viewing the cosmos from an Aeon's perspective would undoubtedly yield immense gains."
Herman continued, "The Phantasmoon Games is held once every thirty years. And once someone participates, they cannot join again."
'Once every thirty years—and no repeat participation? This is becoming more and more interesting. I must make thorough preparations before taking part in the Phantasmoon Games.'
'After all, I am the genius Herta. If I'm going to participate in a game, I'll do so in the most perfect state possible.'
After her excited declaration, Herta quickly urged Herman
'Now—immediately—let's go witness more awakenings of Intellitrons. I need to capture inspiration and activate World-Shaking Wisdom to further refine the Herta Puppet Project.'
"Understood."
Herman nodded.
He then had Pearl lead the way toward the locations where robots were about to shed their mechanical shells and transform into true Intellitrons—so they could witness the moment of transformation from machine to Intellitron.