It didn't take long for the people in the reception center to surround me, but there was something strange.
'Why me? And what kind of reception is this!?'
I wasn't a celebrity, so why was I getting this kind of treatment? And if I really were a member of the Genius Society, these people would be screwed, considering that ninety-nine percent of geniuses were completely batshit insane.
I clenched my fists and raised them in front of me, spreading my legs slightly while staring straight at the crowd.
…I had instinctively entered fight-or-flight mode before I realized.
"Alright, everyone, calm older woman shouted, eventually quieting the crowd. She turned to me and bowed slightly. "My apologies, sir, for their rowdy behavior. I know this doesn't excuse it, but they're new and lack proper training. I hope you can forgive them."
The people behind her panicked before hurriedly following suit.
'These people are…special.' I was momentarily speechless and embarrassed just being here. 'And maybe too eccentric.'
"…No, it's fine." I reluctantly lowered my arms. "But I think think there's been a misunderstanding. I am not a genius, just a regular person."
My eyebrow twitched in annoyance when I saw them slump in disappointment, the light in their eyes dimming.
"I don't believe you!" One of them suddenly shouted, pointing his finger at me. "Madam Herta wouldn't come back after months just to accompany some nobody! So tell us the truth!"
"That's right!"
"Tell us the truth!"
"Hey, you guys knock it off!" The woman from earlier snapped at them.
I sighed and rubbed my temple.
'What is wrong with these people!? Are all researchers here like this? Or I'd just run into this particular group?'
If I had known, I would've followed behind Herta #3, too.
"I am really just a normal person." I insisted, only for them to grow more agitated, ready to jump on me. "I was assigned a task by Madam Herta, and she escorted me here because I'm under her supervision for research."
"Assigned by…Madam Herta herself?" One of them muttered in disbelief.
"Under supervision? "
Murmurs spread through the crowd, some were in denial, others in astonishment, and looking at me in a new light.
"I can't explain the details, but let's just say I am currently being tested by Madam Herta to be her…assistant."
Time itself seemed to freeze.
Not just this group, but everyone in the reception area stopped in their tracks and stared at me in shock.
Silence filled the room and I took my cue to leave.
Adjusting my clothes, I grabbed my suitcase and walked away before they could snap out of it. Only after the automatic doors closed behind me did I hear screaming and chaos erupt.
Thankfully, that was no longer my problem.
Down the corridor stood Herta #3, The Betrayer waiting for me, her smirk growing wider with every step I took in her direction.
"…You seem to enjoy my suffering."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Herta #3 replied instantly, adopting a neutral expression. "Anyway, let's move before they catch up."
We headed straight to the elevator, descended to the Storage Zone, and made our way to the room where Herta stored her Curios.
"Curio #6–11, the Broken Blade." Herta #3 said after another puppet retrieved it from its display. "It appears to be fragments of a bladed weapon. It contains traces of an unknown energy and emits heat, though at such low levels that is harmless to humans."
My eyes locked onto the Curio floating in her hands, and before I realized it, I reached out.
[Commencing analysis…complete.]
[Curio #6–11 is made from a metal composed of nanomachines. The contained energy is a variant of Imaginary energy, matching the properties of the Honkai energy from your memories.]
'So the fan theory was correct, this Curio really belonged to Himeko from Honkai Impact!'
This was an important discovery for multiple reasons, and my task can proceed with one less obstacle.
I carefully placed the Curio into a container prepared by Herta puppet.
"I had a feeling before, but now I am certain." I rubbed my chin. "This Curio likely originated from Earth."
"Are you sure?"
"Although it's almost completely damaged, I could recognize the material of it. It is called Soulium, a metal composed of nanomachines, and it's used to contain a corrosive energy called Honkai energy. If the internal structure is still intact, I might be able to recover the original blueprint of the weapon!"
Herta hummed thoughtfully before turning around to the exit.
"I'll wait by the door. You're free to explore around if you want."
I looked at the other Curios on display, and I was tempted to learn about them, but that couldn't be today.
The main event of today was still waiting for me.
"No need." I shook my head. "Let's continue."
"If you say so." Herta #3 shrugged and walked ahead.
I carried the container and followed behind her to another Curio storage on the other side.
It was a vast room connected to a corridor, where the Curios were displayed on the sides. At the far end, there were reinforced doors that looked restricted to everyone except the highest authority, like Herta herself.
Herta #3 passed her hand through the card scanner, and the screen turned green.
Hisss…
The doors opened, revealing a yellow object floating in the middle of a cubic barrier and radiating a strange aura.
"So this is the Stellaron, the Cancer of All Worlds…" I muttered as I approached the barrier.
[Notice: An attempted mind control was blocked.]
"What the..."
"Don't be careless." Herta #3 warned, bonking me from behind. "Even in an inactive state, it will try to lure reckless people into making wishes and bring disaster."
"I thought the effects would be sealed inside the barrier?"
"The entire room functions as a seal. Passing through that door is equivalent to going through the first layer of protection, exposing us to its influence." She explained. "I will deactivate the remaining barriers so you can study it. Ready yourself first, I will be watching over you and intervene if anything goes wrong."
"Alright." I nodded and mentally commanded Great Sage to raise all mental defenses. "Let's do this."
I watched the barrier going down one by one until the Stellaron lay completely exposed before my eyes.
I could feel it probing my mind, trying to influence my thoughts, drawing out my desires and urging me into making a wish…with more intensity than before.
'Too bad for you, Stellaron. That won't work on me.'
I extended my arm and tried to reach for it, but…
*Bzzzzzt!* *Bzzzzzt!* *Bzzzzzt!*
"…"
I froze as my phone vibrated in my pocket.
It was strange. I clearly remembered putting it on silent the moment I arrived in the space station.
'It must be some ad from IPC.' I thought dismissively and tried to resume my task, but…
*Bzzzzzt!* *Bzzzzzt!* *Bzzzzzt!* *Bzzzzzt!* *Bzzzzzt!* *Bzzzzzt!*
The vibrations came again, faster and far more insistent.
I had to actually stop. Whoever kept interrupting me clearly didn't want me to continue what I was doing.
Something wasn't right.
The only person who had my contact was Herta, and she was standing right behind me. So it couldn't be her.
'Alright, you win.' I muttered, sighing as I pulled out my phone. 'Just who the hell is spamming me?'
———————
???
————————————
…
???: HE
???: Y
???: HEY
???: Hey, stop what you are doing!
???: Don't ignore me
???: You'll be committing a grave mistake by doing this!
???: Ugh, I hacked into your account but there is nothing worth to threaten with
(+164 unread messages.)
…
———————
"Is there something wrong?" Herta #3 asked as she approached me.
I didn't answer. Instead, I turned the screen toward her.
"Now, this is interesting." She said with narrowed eyes. "The firewall I created can't be breached by an average hacker. Whoever did it must be an expert and had likely built some reputation across the cosmos."
The timing as I was about to reach Stellaron, an expert in hacking…there could be only one such person.
"…I think I might know who this is."
We finally met, Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf.