Topaz finally realized how serious things were.
Herta, Su Ran, and that third unknown genius were all using Herta puppets.
Even if something went wrong, they'd just lose a puppet.
The space station had over two hundred of those.
But she and Estelle?
They were real people.
If something happened, they would actually die.
"Scared of what?
With two Erudition Emanators here, how exactly would you die?"
Su Ran casually patted Topaz on the back.
"If something dangerous pops up, just throw me out there.
Maybe I'll buy you some time.
This body isn't mine anyway."
That… actually did calm them down a little.
"Two Erudition Emanators?
You're one as well?"
Topaz was stunned.
A genius was one thing.
But an Erudition Emanator?
That was a whole other level of untouchable.
Anyone could join the Genius Society if they were brilliant enough— but becoming a Stellaron Hunter-level Emanator of an Aeon?
That wasn't something mortals could chase.
No wonder the IPC brass had told her "under no circumstances provoke him."
"No wonder you're so confident," Herta said.
"So you're an Emanator too."
She wasn't shocked.
Anyone who could get that much from Nous being an Emanator was… almost expected.
That left the third "genius puppet."
Was that one…?
Ruan Mei stiffened.
She wasn't an Emanator.
And suddenly she felt like she had become the weakest one in the group.
The least powerful.
The least social.
The least intimidating.
Great.
She had somehow become the odd one out in less than half an hour.
"So this one…"
Topaz glanced at the quiet puppet behind Su Ran.
"Don't bother," Su Ran said.
"She's not an Emanator.
She's just a ruan-mei — a soft girl."
"Please," Ruan Mei said, deadpan.
"Pause properly between my given name.
It's Ruan·Mei."
"I said soft girl, not Ruan—"
Su Ran paused for an excessively long time.
"—Mei."
"...You don't have to pause for that long."
Ruan Mei sighed deeply.
This man was harder to communicate with than Herta.
At least Herta would obey when necessary.
This person?
Dealing with him only gave her headaches.
"So you're Dr. Ruan Mei?"
Topaz finally reacted.
Ruan Mei nodded slightly.
"Yes. Hello…"
And immediately stopped talking.
As expected of her— cold, distant, and utterly disinterested in socializing.
Topaz scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Compared to dealing with Su Ran's insults, this pure emotional cold front was somehow worse.
There was simply no conversation to be had.
"Don't bother trying to chat with someone that self-centered."
Su Ran leaned toward Topaz.
"She doesn't care about you.
Unless your body is… unique enough to study."
"…If I used Amber's power, maybe she'd—"
"She would," Su Ran nodded seriously.
"She'd absolutely want to dissect you."
"…Okay I take it back."
Topaz shivered.
She'd heard stories about Ruan Mei's "curiosity."
Being treated like a test subject?
Absolutely not.
Ruan Mei glanced at Su Ran, surprised.
He seemed to actually understand her quite well.
And he was right— unless something truly unique caught her attention, she didn't bother with people.
They reached the restricted zone.
Even knowing the two Emanators were present, Estelle and Topaz tensed immediately.
The shadows here seemed alive.
Invisible bugs skittered between the walls.
If not for the two Emanators, they would've turned around immediately.
"Muniu~"
A soft, adorable sound echoed from the dark.
Estelle's eyes lit up.
"Wha… they're so cute!"
Small, round "cat-cake" creatures peeked from behind containers.
Topaz tried to warn her to be careful— but then she saw Su Ran squat down and scoop one up without hesitation.
…Okay, maybe they really were safe.
She cautiously reached out to pet one.
Instantly charmed.
Seeing that, Ruan Mei finally walked over to Su Ran and attempted conversation.
"You like them?"
She had created them long ago, but they were of no practical use, so she left them here.
"At least compared to you?
Yeah, I like them way more."
Su Ran buried his face in the cat-cake creature.
"Muniu~"
"If you don't want to stay here, you can come live in my space station later," he told the creatures.
"I'll gladly adopt you all."
But the cat-cakes refused.
If they left, they feared Ruan Mei wouldn't find them again.
Ruan Mei's face didn't change at all.
"Pity," Su Ran said.
He could forcefully take them, but didn't want to.
"Soft Girl, Herta—let's go."
"…Please call me Ruan·Mei.
Not soft girl."
"Sure.
Ruan—"
A ridiculously long pause.
"—Mei.
Herta, let's go."
"…You really don't need to pause that long…"
Ruan Mei felt utterly defeated.
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