Herman continued scrolling down his phone screen and soon saw another news report, this one concerning Zagi.
"Interastral Peace Broadcast reports that a black-and-red giant has appeared in a red ultra-high-risk zone of the cosmos occupied by space pirates and other outlaws."
"His true identity has yet to be confirmed, but according to information provided by our sources, the giant employs extremely brutal methods when killing space pirates. He also radiates an intense aura of The Hunt, suggesting that he may bear a deep grudge against them."
"Perhaps he is a member of the Galaxy Rangers, purging parasites from the universe."
"According to our sources, more than half of the space pirates have already been wiped out by the black-and-red giant. This is undoubtedly encouraging news."
After reading this far, Herman could not help sighing inwardly.
It isn't just Noah. Zagi has attracted the IPC's attention as well... This means The Herta's creations are gradually influencing the Star Rail universe, one step at a time.
Just then, Herman noticed the surrounding space beginning to tremble. At the same time, shrill red alarms rang throughout the Herta Xianzhou.
"Warning. Warning. An unidentified humanoid lifeform is attempting to warp toward the Herta Xianzhou. Path radar activated. Analyzing Path-aligned wavelength... Analysis complete. The approaching individual is Polka Kakamond, member of the Genius Society and Lord of Silence! Her warp process has already been interrupted..."
Herman, who had originally been lying in bed scrolling through his phone, immediately sat up as surprise surged through him.
Polka Kakamond came looking for The Herta, and the Herta Xianzhou was actually able to detect her spatial-warp wavelength and interfere with it?!
As expected, the Herta Xianzhou, constructed from the fusion of numerous technologies, truly qualifies as a megastructure.
Meanwhile, in one corner of The Blue's star system, a woman dressed in a candy-colored gown, her face completely obscured beneath a mosaic that prevented anyone from perceiving her features, let out a startled sound.
"Hm? My Knowable Domain spatial jump actually failed!"
Polka Kakamond's Knowable Domain spatial jump worked by cutting into the weakest point in space before leaping through it, producing the smallest possible spatial disturbance and making the process extraordinarily difficult to detect.
When she had assassinated Intellitron Emperor Rubert, she had used precisely this method to infiltrate his position. Before Rubert could even realize an assassination attempt was underway, she had killed him completely, plunging him into the Twilight of Thought.
She had even relied on this same Knowable Domain spatial-warp technique to assassinate several geniuses who explored the unknowable domain beyond the circle of knowledge, and every one of those assassinations had ended in perfect success.
Yet now, her method of spatial travel had been blocked by the Herta Xianzhou. Naturally, that astonished her.
She also realized the seriousness of the matter.
If The Herta one day explored forbidden knowledge beyond the circle of knowledge and remained aboard the Herta Xianzhou at all times, then Polka's assassinations would become extremely difficult to carry out successfully.
And if she abandoned assassination in favor of direct combat... as fellow Emanators of Erudition, Polka would likewise find it difficult to defeat The Herta in a short period of time. More importantly, The Herta possessed an astonishing network of connections throughout the universe.
According to information gathered through the Knowable Domain, the Arbiter-Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance were about to become The Herta's allies.
Ruan Mei and Screwllum were also permanent residents of The Blue's star system now, and both were The Herta's fellow genius friends.
The IPC had likewise established deep cooperation with The Herta. By now, relatives of many high-ranking IPC executives had already begun immigrating toward The Blue's star system... If Polka entered open conflict with The Herta, the IPC would very likely side with Herta.
Then there were the Stellaron Hunters... According to information acquired through the Knowable Domain, The Herta had once personally been recruited by Elio, Destiny's Slave, and had even helped Sam resolve her illness. That suggested the Stellaron Hunters were likely allies of The Herta as well.
Dominicus, an embodiment of Harmony and an Emanator, had also once attempted to recruit The Herta.
Even Nanook, Aeon of Destruction, had once given Herta a drop of golden blood of annihilation... If Herta encountered a crisis, the forces of Destruction might even intervene.
In short, The Herta's network of relationships practically reached the heavens.
If The Herta truly began researching forbidden knowledge beyond the circle of Erudition, then with Polka Kakamond's assassination methods rendered ineffective, there really would be no easy way to deal with her.
After thinking this far, Polka Kakamond raised her head and looked toward the distant direction where Nous' true body resided, murmuring softly:
"Nous, you entrusted me with a special responsibility—to kill geniuses who touch forbidden knowledge. In the past, my methods allowed me to eliminate those geniuses with ease."
"But now a problem has appeared. If The Herta, who can interfere with spatial jumps, truly touches forbidden knowledge and remains permanently aboard the Herta Xianzhou, what am I supposed to do with her?"
Nous did not respond to Polka Kakamond. They remained silent.
More precisely, even Nous, the Aeon capable of calculating every truth in the universe and anchoring the constants of the cosmos, found Themself somewhat helpless when faced with an existence like The Herta.
Because even They could not calculate how The Herta's brain worked, nor how she had managed to develop incomprehensible technologies such as Galactic Shipgirls and the Warp.
...
At that moment, Polka Kakamond, still within The Blue's star system, saw a massive vessel fly overhead.
A figure wearing a pointed hat and holding a magic wand strode onto the bridge and said, "Polka Kakamond, welcome. What purpose brings you here this time?"
"Herta."
Polka raised her head and looked at the figure standing on the bridge with a complicated gaze. After taking a deep breath, she said, "Aren't you going to invite me inside?"
"Please."
Herman raised a hand in invitation.
Tap, tap.
Before long, Polka entered the meeting room aboard the Herta Xianzhou and sat opposite Herman on a soft sofa.
Shipgirl Herta approached at that moment carrying teacups. She handed one to Herman and another to Polka Kakamond, then walked out of the meeting room. As she left, however, she cast Polka Kakamond a wary glance.
To Shipgirl Herta, Polka Kakamond was an unpleasant intruder. After all, she had tried to punch a spatial hole directly into Shipgirl Herta's body and warp inside without so much as announcing herself... That sort of behavior was simply obnoxious.
In fact, Shipgirl Herta was already fully prepared for battle. She only needed a single command from The Herta before she would immediately attack Polka.
Yet no matter how long she waited, that order never came.
...
Inside the reception room aboard the Herta Xianzhou, Herman lifted his cup and took a sip of tea. He calmly regarded the woman across from him, whose face was covered by a self-generated mosaic, and said, "Polka, I'll ask again. What exactly are you here for?"
Polka also reached out, picked up her cup, and took a sip before replying calmly, "My Knowable Domain informed me that your latest research project succeeded... It concerns the evolution of life, where pure emotions themselves become a form of energy and life."
Herman replied evenly, "But that isn't forbidden knowledge beyond the circle of knowledge, is it?"
"No, it is not forbidden knowledge. But just like Soul Gem technology, it is unquestionably a form of technology far beyond ordinary imagination."
"Isn't the whole point of a genius' research to create the impossible?"
"Indeed... but your research has already attracted the attention of another genius."
Herman raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Polka Kakamond said, "Dr. Primitive. He believes that life throughout the universe has evolved imperfectly, and that this is precisely why endless wars and calamities continue to arise, along with so many fools."
"He longs to create perfect life and believes that a world filled with such perfect beings would inevitably become Eden, where famine, war, and catastrophe would all vanish without a trace!"
"To accomplish that, he originally intended to make the universe regress even further. But now things are different... After observing The Blue for a long time, he has already discovered the collective Wisdom Halo you created, as well as the giant lifeforms of light produced by the Plasma Spark Tower."
"He now desires the technologies in your possession. You need to be careful."
"Oh? What are you implying?"
"The Knowable Domain has already told me that if Dr. Primitive seizes the technology in your hands, then during the Fourth Instant of the universe... the entire cosmos will be transformed into a nation of giants."
Upon hearing this, Herman recalled what Silver Wolf had told him over the phone not long ago. In one possible future, Dr. Primitive stole the Plasma Spark Tower and spread its light across billions of galaxies, transforming every lifeform in the entire universe into a giant.
After thinking this far, Herman looked seriously at Polka Kakamond and asked, "Can you contact Dr. Primitive?"
"Of course. You want to speak with him?"
"Yes. I want to discuss the subject of perfect life."
"Very well."
Polka Kakamond took out her phone, used the Knowable Domain to locate Dr. Primitive's number, and quickly called him.
The next moment, Dr. Primitive appeared on the video screen. He was a man wearing a white laboratory coat, and an aura of madness radiated from his entire body, making him look every bit the deranged scientist.
At that moment, he was standing in the vacuum of space, with the eight planets of The Blue's star system forming the scenery behind him.
"I was wondering who was calling me. So it's Polka Kakamond and The Herta." Dr. Primitive kept both hands in the pockets of his coat. His gaze swept across The Herta and Polka before finally settling upon Polka as he slowly said:
"The two of you called me... because you discovered that I intend to borrow the Plasma Spark Tower, didn't you? The Knowable Domain of the Lord of Silence really is unreasonable."
"However, Polka, I merely intend to borrow the Plasma Spark Tower. I'm not researching knowledge beyond the circle of knowledge. You have no reason to attack me, do you?"
Polka said nothing and merely remained silent.
Herman rose from the sofa at that moment, stared at Dr. Primitive on the video call, and said, "Taking something without permission is theft. Calling it borrowing is nothing more than an excuse."
Dr. Primitive did not deny it. "For the sake of allowing life throughout the universe to evolve more perfectly, the Plasma Spark Tower must be placed in more suitable hands, where it can be put to better use."
"So that's the real reason you're stealing the Plasma Spark Tower?"
"Of course. After all, I have already waited for you for several days."
Herman frowned slightly. "What?"
"If you had intended to use the Plasma Spark Tower over these past few days, you should already have done so. Just as you once used the collective Wisdom Halo to empower the civilization of this entire star system, you should have allowed the light of the Plasma Spark Tower to illuminate the whole system."
"But the problem is that you didn't. That means you intend to seal away and archive this technology."
Herman did not refute him. "The large-scale application of the Plasma Spark Tower is simply too dangerous."
"Naturally. I can sense that it is a type of meme completely opposite to the Slumbernana meme. It is a meme of biological evolution. If this meme were spread throughout the entire universe, every race in the cosmos would become advanced intelligent lifeforms like giants."
Herman frowned slightly. "But that would not eliminate war. Giants are divided between light and darkness, just as the human heart contains both positive and negative aspects!"
"When humans are exposed to the light of the Plasma Spark Tower, those whose positive aspects dominate will become giants of light. If evil, jealousy, hatred, or other negative emotions dominate, they will instead become dark giants. Different types of giants would unquestionably intensify warfare."
"In fact, not long ago, Elio, Destiny's Slave, already contacted me. If you steal the light of the Plasma Spark Tower, the universe will fall into destruction."
"So, Dr. Primitive, I advise you to abandon the idea of stealing the Plasma Spark Tower."
"Heh."
Dr. Primitive let out a soft laugh from the video screen. "If different kinds of giants are innately hostile to one another, then wouldn't it be enough to evolve living beings into only one kind of giant?"
"I believe that as long as I adjust the spectral waves of the Plasma Spark Tower, its light can be directed only toward living beings who possess righteous hearts, transforming them into giants."
"As for those whose hearts contain darkness, hatred, and other negative emotions, when the Plasma Spark Tower's light shines upon them, it will simply kill them!"
"Then the entire universe will contain only giants of light!!"
Herman's brows knitted tightly as he retorted, "You're too extreme. If we follow your method, half the living beings in the universe would die beneath the evolutionary light of the Plasma Spark Tower."
Dr. Primitive smiled and spread his arms wide. "Extreme? I see it as a trial for every living being in the universe. Those who pass will transform into giants and bring limitless light to the cosmos. Those who fail will die."
"So the Plasma Spark Tower belongs to me!"
The instant his words fell, Dr. Primitive, who stood within The Blue's star system on the video call, swung his hand.
At that moment, Dr. Primitive's hand transformed into part of an ancient beast's body. Black scales covered it, and green fur made it appear incomparably savage.
With a single claw, he tore apart the barrier between the real dimension and the Warp, forcibly opening a gateway into the Warp.
Upon seeing this, Herman immediately cast Attribute Appraisal and obtained a piece of information:
[Genius Society, Seat 64 · Dr. Primitive. Mythic Fusion Form · Leviathan/Human!]
Herman's pupils contracted violently.
Dr. Primitive actually fused himself with the divine body of a Leviathan!
After all, Leviathans were beings that had once contended with Aeons during the Dusk Wars. Although their abilities were far from comparable to true Aeons, there was no question that while alive, their true bodies had possessed power equal to or even surpassing that of Emanators!