"Asta? Asta? Asta! Are you alright?"
Lumina called out softly, a hint of confusion in her voice as she observed Asta, who stood before her with pursed lips, lost in thought.
"Huh? Oh! Ah, yes, I'm fine, I'm fine!" Asta stammered, snapping out of her reverie at the sound of Sister Lumina's voice. She waved her hands hastily to reassure Lumina.
Hmm... It's good that Madam Herta and Sister Lumina get along so well. Why am I so tense?
Now fully alert, Asta felt the knot in her stomach loosen slightly.
Though she feared Madam Herta might steal Sister Lumina away and ignore her... Asta trusted Lumina implicitly. She believed Lumina was not the type to forget old loves for new affections!
Asta's dependence on Lumina stemmed solely from the warm affection she felt—a longing for the comforting embrace of a mother. After all, who wouldn't fear having their own mother taken away by someone else...?
Even if she isn't my biological mother, even if this "other person" is the one who will become the master of the Space Station...
Asta thought to herself.
"Hmm... Asta, do you have a strategy for this?" Lumina asked, observing every subtle shift in Asta's expression and scratching her head in confusion.
Though Lumina couldn't quite grasp what Asta was thinking, she didn't dwell on it too much.
Children will be children, letting their imaginations run wild is perfectly normal~
"Well, we don't know who the intruders are or what their objective is yet. We need to investigate first," Asta replied, temporarily setting aside her earlier thoughts. She rested her chin in her hand, considering the immediate course of action.
"As for Madam Herta's little Heritors, a brief explanation should suffice. Once we get confirmation from Madam Herta herself, it won't be a major issue."
"Then... do you need any help?" Lumina nodded in agreement with Asta's plan, then asked with a smile.
"No, no, this is the Space Station's own affair. How could we trouble Sister Lumina with such matters...?"
Hearing this, Asta waved her hands frantically, declining Sister Lumina's kind offer.
Sister Lumina is an honored guest of the Space Station. If a problem arises at home and we have to ask her to resolve it, wouldn't that make me, the acting head, seem utterly useless?
Of course, last time when the Antimatter Legion invaded the Space Station, it was ultimately the Astral Express and Sister Lumina who handled the situation...
But still, this crisis doesn't seem too severe. I'm confident I can resolve it myself!
Determined to impress her beloved Sister Lumina, Asta felt a surge of unprecedented motivation.
"Sister Lumina, I can't chat any longer! I need to go take care of this right away!"
With that thought, Asta rose from her seat, her face brimming with seriousness and confidence as she addressed Sister Lumina.
"Alright, Asta, go ahead." Lumina, though somewhat puzzled by Asta's sudden change in demeanor, simply nodded slightly and smiled.
"If you encounter anything you can't handle, don't hesitate to come tell me."
"Mm-hmm, don't worry, Sister Lumina! I'm not just pretending to be brave!" Asta nodded vigorously several times, looking extraordinarily endearing. Lumina felt an almost unbearable urge to reach out and ruffle Asta's hair.
"Goodbye, Sister Lumina. Goodbye, Mr. Screwllum."
With Screwllum present, Asta couldn't act as casually as she would when alone with Lumina. Proper etiquette still needed to be observed.
Clutching the hem of her skirt, Asta bent her knees slightly, closed her eyes, and executed a graceful, textbook-perfect curtsy before pushing open the door and leaving the office.
"Hmm... Screwllum, what's your take on this?"
Watching Asta's departing figure, Lumina shook her head with a smile and turned to Screwllum beside her.
"I believe this was a premeditated attack, though perhaps not malicious in intent. Logic: The attackers prioritized targeting the Herta Puppets, creating a major disturbance that would hinder any subsequent actions."
"Of course, we can't rule out the possibility of a third party intervening to disrupt the attackers' original plan, or that this disruption was itself part of the attackers' strategy."
"This matter requires further investigation. I'm unable to make a judgment at this time," Screwllum said, shaking his head and outlining the various possibilities.
Truly worthy of being a member of the Genius Society, his intellect is simply impeccable, Lumina couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Though the investigation hadn't even begun, Screwllum had already identified three potential scenarios based solely on a single video. While he couldn't draw definitive conclusions yet, he had essentially pieced together most of the puzzle.
Lumina envied this intellect and desperately wished she possessed it herself, but she knew it was unattainable in this lifetime. Perhaps in my next life...
In this life, I'll be a Physician who saves lives. But in my next life, I'll definitely become a member of the Genius Society! Lumina thought to herself, already planning out her next reincarnation's identity.
"So, Mr. Screwllum, do you believe Asta alone can handle this situation effectively?"
Though her thoughts had already drifted to her next life, Lumina maintained an impassive expression. With a faint smile, she continued to question Screwllum.
"Hmm..." Upon hearing this, Screwllum gracefully lowered his head slightly, as if processing the information with his internal CPU.
The calculation didn't take long. Screwllum quickly computed the results, raised his head, and spoke with gentlemanly courtesy:
"Asta's capabilities as acting head of the Space Station are undeniable... However, someone who could easily launch a successful attack might prove difficult for Asta to handle alone."
"Result: If the attacker is hostile, Asta cannot cope alone and will require assistance. If the attacker is not hostile, Asta can manage independently. If the attacker is hostile and a third party of unknown alignment intervenes, Asta cannot cope alone and will require assistance."
In just a few seconds of deliberation, Screwllum had articulated all three possible scenarios Asta might face.
"Hmm, that's about right," Lumina nodded, offering no rebuttal to Screwllum's answers.
After all, Screwllum was right. Stripped of her titles as acting head and Young Miss, Asta was just an ordinary Pathstrider, capable of handling commoners and newcomers to the Path. But she was clearly outmatched against the assailant who had easily attacked the Herta Puppet.
Still, so what? Asta's identities as acting head, Young Miss, and even Lumina's (daughter) (strike that) were all inextricable parts of her.
"In any case, Screwllum, I'm leaving this to you."
Without further thought or discussion, Lumina rose, patted Screwllum's shoulder, delivered her instructions, and left the office.
Screwllum: ?
As Lumina spoke, a question mark slowly materialized above Screwllum's head, only to vanish a moment later.
Someone so secretive and requiring a plan clearly isn't worth Miss Lumina's personal attention.
With Herta absent and Ruan Mei already departed, Miss Lumina had no interest in intervening. It seemed Screwllum was the only one left to assist Asta.
He shook his head and rose to leave the office as well.
It's just a small matter, but earning Madam Herta's thanks would be... acceptable.
After Screwllum's departure, the office fell silent once more, the only sound the faint hum of the air conditioner.