Main Control Section. After arranging the cleanup and repair work, as well as accommodations for Ryuga and the train crew, Asta immediately contacted Herta without a moment's rest.
Overall, although the reason was difficult to understand, Ryuga had indeed refused the Genius Society seat, but he hadn't rejected the invitation from Nous, the Erudition. He would still go to the [Library] to meet with Nous.
Therefore, he hadn't refused Asta's proposal and stayed at the space station, planning to meet with Herta.
Asta naturally took on the liaison duties.
It's worth mentioning that although Ryuga refused the Genius Society seat, Fanle on the other side hadn't refused—or rather, Ryuga didn't let her refuse.
Anyway, as long as she didn't accept the meager power bestowed by Nous, the Erudition, she wouldn't be an Emanator. Even if she obtained a Genius seat, she would still be a retainer completely belonging to Ryuga.
Unlike Emanators who are granted power, as a Pathstrider, her status with the Star God is actually equal.
The so-called Star Gods are merely beings who have walked furthest along their Path.
In this situation, the combination of the two was one future Genius Society member and one who refused to become a Genius Society member.
Asta believed Herta would definitely be very interested.
"Lady Herta, urgent news—the space station was attacked. Please be sure to check your messages!"
"[Auto-reply] Hello, I'm currently busy and won't contact you later either."
Sure enough, even as the station director, actively contacting her could only yield such results.
This was why Asta never counted on Herta to return and save the space station.
Geniuses all have quirks, and Herta's quirk was not wanting to waste even a millisecond on things that didn't interest her.
Even if the space station was attacked, for Herta it wasn't something worth specially handling.
Asta had long anticipated this, so she immediately sent another message.
"Lady Herta, a new Genius Society member was born at the space station."
"?"
After several seconds of delay, probably catching the keyword, Herta immediately sent back a question mark.
She didn't particularly care about the space station's research personnel, but she knew very well there were no geniuses here on her level.
Given Asta's personality, she wouldn't joke about such things. What was going on?
"Explain!"
She immediately added, clearly having become interested.
Seeing this response, Asta smiled slightly and didn't directly answer Herta's question, but sent another message.
"Nous also sent an invitation to another genius, giving him the Key of Wisdom, but this genius refused to become a member of the Genius Society."
"!"
This time, Herta's reply appeared almost instantly on Asta's screen, ignoring the delay.
Even across astronomical unit-level distances, Asta could probably imagine Herta's shocked expression.
Compared to gaining one more genius, someone refusing the Genius Society's invitation was news more worth noting.
For the competitive Herta, this was especially true.
So, without any hesitation, Herta immediately sent a message.
"Keep them there, I'm coming back right now!"
This time, she directly ignored the meeting that was halfway through, immediately interrupting her itinerary to return.
Are you kidding? Compared to this boring reminiscence, wasn't someone who could refuse a Genius Society invitation much more interesting?
Why hadn't she thought to do this back then!
Just as she was hurriedly deciding to return and about to log out of her current puppet body, she suddenly thought of something and gave Asta a couple more instructions.
"Arrange reception, I'll go notify Screwllum and Ruan Mei right now!"
How could she miss these two's reactions to such an interesting event?
"Yes!"
Asta immediately responded.
Only after answering did she realize what Herta had said, blinking somewhat incredulously.
"Mr. Screwllum, Miss Ruan Mei, plus Lady Herta, Mr. Ryuga, Miss Fanle... five geniuses gathering at the space station?"
This was an unprecedented grand occasion. Even when the Simulated Universe project was initiated, there hadn't been such a spectacular event.
"No way! Arlan, immediately take your team and work overtime. Our space station must use the highest protocol to welcome this gathering that's rare even in galactic history!"
Asta immediately slapped the table and issued the order.
For a gathering of this level, if it wasn't handled well, it would be a lifetime of regret.
Half a day later.
Although Asta wanted to make this gathering as grand as possible, at least worthy of the several geniuses' status and build a sufficiently matching stage.
But limited by the space station having just been attacked, many basic facilities were under repair. Even with the Machina army's help, the lack of materials was a big problem.
Even if she wanted it to be grand, there was no capacity for it.
However, the biggest problem wasn't here.
For the geniuses' gathering, the space station's research personnel all looked forward to it eagerly. Even those wounded who had just recovered were willing to help out after hearing the news.
For them, Genius Society members were like idols. Being able to make close contact was already very fortunate. The vast majority of Herta Space Station's research personnel had joined because of Herta's reputation.
Even without sufficient materials, with the staff's enthusiasm, it was actually enough to make up for the shortcomings.
Unfortunately, regarding this meeting, the geniuses' thoughts were completely inconsistent with Asta's.
Asta thought this was an extremely rare gathering that needed proper arrangement, but in the eyes of both Ryuga and Herta, this was just an ordinary tea party to meet new friends.
So, after transferring her consciousness back to her space station puppet, Herta completely ignored Asta's various elaborate arrangements and also ignored various complicated ceremonies, directly seeking out Ryuga's door and personally issuing the invitation.
Ryuga also didn't care about these complicated protocols and directly accepted the invitation.
The three of them went straight into Herta's office. Besides a simple table and some precious refreshments, there was nothing else in the office.
The office's automatic door quickly closed, blocking out everyone's extremely curious gazes.
"To use Asta's words, this reception is somewhat simple. If you mind, I can rearrange it."
Herta looked around the environment and explained to Ryuga.
If it were ordinary people, she would never care about protocol and such. Even if people called her temperamental, she wouldn't care.
But Ryuga was different. She was currently very interested in Ryuga and recognized his status, so naturally she was willing to accommodate on these small matters.
"It's fine. It's just a conversation—no need to deliberately display prestige."
Looking at Fanle who had already sat down properly and was curiously sampling the refreshments, Ryuga shook his head.
Elaborate ceremonies weren't absolutely meaningless—they were used to display authority and standardize superior-subordinate relationships, a normal technique whose origin could perhaps be traced back to ritual behavior.
But at this moment, these formalities had no meaning. They both valued the conversation's content more. Moreover, being willing to summon all her little companions already sufficiently demonstrated Herta's level of importance.
"Not bad, looks like we get along!"
Hearing Ryuga's answer, Herta's eyes lit up. She also disliked these troublesome matters.
After glancing at Fanle, she reminded them.
"By the way, don't eat too many refreshments. When Ruan Mei comes later, she should bring pastries she made herself. You can try more of those."
"Alright."
Ryuga nodded.
Asta had already reminded him earlier that both Ruan Mei and Screwllum would visit, so he wasn't surprised.
Seeing Ryuga so straightforward, Herta nodded satisfactorily, inviting him to sit, then sat across from Ryuga.
"Mr. Ryuga... forget it, can I just call you Ryuga? In exchange, you can also casually address me by name."
Having roughly confirmed that Ryuga's personality suited her tastes, Herta became much more direct in her speech.
In her view, those complicated protocols weren't as important as communication efficiency.
"No problem."
"That's good. Ruan Mei and the others will arrive soon. Before then, is there anything you want to ask?"
Herta opened the conversation directly.
"Although you refused the Genius Society seat and aren't my junior, if there's anything you want to know, feel free to ask me. Of course, I'll only answer the parts I'm willing to answer."
Though not the type to enjoy helping others, whether out of personal interest or to repay the favor of rescuing the space station, she didn't mind answering some of Ryuga's questions.
"Questions? I do have something I want to know, but it's not about Star Gods—it's about you several Genius Society members."
Ryuga spoke thus.
"Us?"
Herta was somewhat surprised.
She thought Ryuga would definitely be more concerned about Nous's invitation!
Shouldn't he be asking how to use the Key of Wisdom, or what to ask when meeting Nous?
"That's right."
Ryuga nodded, then changed his tone.
"However, let's wait until everyone's here to ask this question. As for now, compared to me, it seems you have more questions. Is there anything you want to know?"
Seeing Herta's curiosity, Ryuga straightforwardly turned the question back.
The Q&A originally meant for Ryuga suddenly became a Q&A for Herta.
Regarding this reversal, Herta was briefly stunned, then opened her mouth without hesitation.
"I do have something I want to know. For example, how did you think to refuse the Genius Society invitation?"
Without waiting for Ryuga to answer, she immediately explained.
"If only I'd thought I could do this back then! It would save me from always being called by this title when I go out. Compared to this, I clearly have many more achievements, but these people insist on introducing the least impressive one—Number 83!"
Speaking toward the end, Herta's tone became slightly complaining.
For the genius title that ordinary research personnel dreamed of, for her it wasn't any honor. With her current achievements, she no longer needed these things to brand herself.
Whether solving the solitary wave algorithm problem or proving the Spark model conjecture, she felt her achievements far surpassed the empty reputation of genius.
With her competitive personality, probably only being ranked first would satisfy her.
"I just didn't want to accept it."
Ryuga answered casually, with no intention of explaining in detail.
Herta didn't press further. Just as she'd said earlier that she wouldn't answer questions she was unwilling to answer, she wouldn't be picky about Ryuga's responses either.
So, after skipping this topic, she immediately asked her second question of concern.
"What's your research direction? Since you could receive Nous's invitation, it should be a sufficiently special field, right?"
Whether Emperor Rubert's anti-organic equation or Ruan Mei's achievements in the life field, geniuses might be born as geniuses, but they wouldn't receive Nous's attention right at birth.
Nous actively issuing an invitation must have some special trigger.
This question was also something the vast majority of research personnel were curious about.
What kind of achievement deserved the honor of genius?
"Nous's invitation most likely didn't come from achievements, but from my existence itself."
To Herta's question, Ryuga gave a puzzling answer, then added.
"As for my current research direction, this can be revealed. Right now, the field I'm most interested in is Star Gods themselves."
Hearing the first part, Herta was briefly stunned and looked Ryuga up and down, her gaze somewhat restless.
She could understand Ryuga's meaning—he was saying Nous was interested in him as a person, not his achievements.
She believed Ryuga had no need to lie about this. If not for still knowing basic etiquette and knowing Ryuga's combat strength was formidable, she probably wouldn't mind personally touching Ryuga to figure out what was different about him.
Everyone's human—why are you so special?
Hearing the latter part, her attention was immediately drawn.
"Star Gods themselves? You're also researching Star Gods?"
"Yes."
Ryuga nodded.
Having already delved to an extremely deep level in the mythological field, he naturally couldn't miss the power of Star Gods.
Judging by Star Gods' strength level, even the supposedly weakest Hunt had at least star system-destroying level strength. If judging by the strongest Nihility Star God, it might even reach single-universe level.
If he could master Star Gods' power like mastering divine authorities, his strength would inevitably receive another leap-style enhancement.
"More specifically? Can you reveal a bit more?"
Herta's eyes brightened as she immediately pressed for more.
As a genius with numerous personal achievements, although she had accomplishments in various fields, she also easily grew bored with these fields.
With Herta's personality, she didn't even want to solve problems that didn't interest her.
Until now, the research content that could most attract her was this universe's most mysterious existence—Star Gods.
The Simulated Universe was a project created to research Star Gods' secrets.
At this moment, hearing that Ryuga was also interested in Star Gods, she immediately perked up.
If Ryuga's research and views on Star Gods had sufficient value, she would invite this fellow traveler to join the project even if she had to pay a great price.
Of course, if Ryuga's views had no great value, even if he was a genius recognized by Nous, Herta herself wouldn't acknowledge him.
Although evaluated by many as having a bad personality, regarding research, her attitude was exceptionally devout.
Reputation, glory, and such halos didn't work on her.
Facing Herta's question, Ryuga was as candid as always.
"Of course. This isn't something that needs to be kept secret."
Saying this, he didn't immediately launch into an introduction, but kept them in suspense.
"Before that, I want to ask you a question. When did Star Gods begin existing in this world?"
To be continued...