[Melon Field Badger]: True, let's talk about something else.
[Anonymous]: Back to the previous topic, don't you guys think there's something wrong with her?
[Mars Robot]: Elaborate on that.
[Bill Gava]: Elaborate on that.
[Melon Field Badger]: I get what you mean.
[Face Tanking Ultimate]: What's going on? Can someone give me a recap?
[Bill Gaer]: Go scroll up yourself.
[Unlicensed Spaceship Pilot]: In such a massive Space Station, how much profit must be floating around? Think about it, think carefully.
[Mars Robot]: You can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want. She is Ms. Herta's student, after all.
[Mars Robot]: But seriously, elaborate!
[Melon Field Badger]: It's not convenient.
[Bill Gaer]: If it's not convenient, then why the hell did you bring it up!!
[Anonymous]: We're all anonymous and you're still only saying half of it. Where are your manners?
[Melon Field Badger]: It's not like you guys don't know...
[Bill Gava]: Stop wasting time, talk!
[Melon Field Badger]: What else could it be? Asta's embezzlement of public funds. Did you see that mountain of packages in the reception hall? The recipient is our young Lead Station Master.
[...]
...
Asta watched the comments in the group, her lips curling into a smile as she enjoyed the chaos, while simultaneously contacting Arlan.
"Arlan, the materials for improving the defense system have arrived. Arrange for them to be deployed as soon as possible. The faster the security upgrade, the better."
"Understood, Miss, but there's a problem..."
"What is it?"
"While clearing out things that escaped from the Rift recently, many people were injured. I'm afraid we're short-handed. Could you ask Mr. Zhimu to come?"
Arlan's voice carried a hint of exhaustion that was hard to hide.
"He provided the proposal. With his personal guidance, I imagine things would be much easier and more efficient."
"...Uh, I'm afraid that might not be convenient," Asta said, sounding troubled.
The photos of Ms. Herta and Qi Zhimu in an intimate embrace had already spread throughout the Space Station. Heaven knows what they were busy with at this moment.
To interrupt them rashly was something even she, the Lead Station Master, couldn't afford to do.
"Not convenient?" Arlan was puzzled.
"In any case, don't get your hopes up. I'll send him a commission text. Oh, speaking of commissions, my security key is missing."
"...Didn't you just place an order for the materials needed for the defense system upgrade a few days ago?"
"Yes, but I can't find the keycard today."
"Alright, I'll help you look for it..."
"As soon as possible. Otherwise, if Lord Zhimu accepts the commission, I won't even be able to pay his fee."
"That can't be right, Miss. Are you saying you can't even produce ten thousand Credit Points?"
"Ten... Ten thousand???" Asta was stunned.
"Is something wrong? I've asked Miss Stelle for help several times lately, and I've only paid her a total of 3,280 Credit Points," Arlan said honestly.
"..."
Asta's shock turned into silence, and she couldn't help but ask a question.
"The first time you asked Stelle for help, how much did you pay her?"
Arlan replied, "648 Credit Points."
"Sigh..."
"Why did you suddenly sigh, Miss?"
"It's nothing... I just feel like I need to shoulder a heavy responsibility."
Asta began to feel that letting Arlan stay in the Security Department without ever having to worry about financial matters wasn't a good decision.
He had no concept of Credit Points—at least in terms of spending.
"...Arlan, starting next month, you should start collecting a monthly salary."
"No! You saved me, Miss, and gave me a new life. I absolutely cannot accept any payment for doing things for you!" Arlan said seriously.
Asta was out of options.
After weighing it over, she had to take an indirect approach.
"In the future, when you commission the Nameless for help, no matter who it is, I will be the one to negotiate the reward. Do you understand?"
"Is it because I'm giving too much?"
"...It's not a matter of whether it's too much or not. Just don't worry about it."
"Alright." Arlan didn't dwell on the matter.
Asta finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling lucky that she had transferred one billion to Qi Zhimu out of gratitude earlier.
The man had principles; he did exactly as much work as he was paid for.
If she had let Arlan handle the payment, there was no telling how big of a joke it would have turned into.
Once she found the keycard, she would properly compensate Stelle for her tireless efforts at the Space Station during this time.
...
Herta's Office.
Qi Zhimu finished a test of the simulated universe and rubbed his slightly throbbing head.
Herta's expression was very strange.
Screwllum's face wasn't humanoid, so nothing could be read from it.
Coming back to his senses, Qi Zhimu realized the atmosphere wasn't quite right and speculated:
"The simulated universe is fine. The problem is with me, right?"
Not long ago, Herta had suggested trying a test run in the simulated universe, and Qi Zhimu had readily agreed.
However, to his surprise, after his consciousness entered the simulated universe, let alone meeting an Aeon, he couldn't even see a bug. Even the puzzle pieces that made up the background were missing.
The world was a complete blank; there was only him.
Screwllum: "Inference impossible. Known conclusion: The simulated universe is operating normally, no bugs, no error reports."
Herta looked thoughtful.
She knew more about Qi Zhimu himself than Screwllum did.
In this galaxy, the concept of reincarnation was not mere talk. A very small number of descendants of ancient beings possessed such abilities.
But Qi Zhimu was a genuine human, yet his concept of reincarnation was even stronger.
Under specific conditions, he could recover memories of his past lives and even carry over skills from them.
In his previous life, Qi Zhimu knew boxing and swordsmanship, and he knew them in this life as well.
He had explained to her that the boxing and sword techniques he mastered were not learned from the world within the fog of remembrance, but rather, on some unremarkable morning, he woke up and found he had mastered them without a teacher.
The reason was obvious; they were most likely inherited from his previous life, or even the life before that.
His medical talent was the same.
Qi Zhimu had even self-deprecatingly remarked during his confession that he wasn't actually a genius in any field.
The only ones who could truly be called geniuses were those who received the gaze of Nous and became members of the Genius Society.
"Herta, what are you thinking?" Screwllum asked.
"What else? Naturally, the reason why Zhimu cannot test the simulated universe."
"Question: Should we consider changing the simulated Aeon of The Hunt to another, such as Beauty?"
"In terms of Beauty, his appearance is indeed as qualified as mine. As expected of my man," Herta said seriously.
Screwllum: "..."
Why must he, a Mechanical Intelligence, be fed a mouthful of dog food?
Although from the perspective of a human aesthetic database analysis, Herta's words were indeed true.
From a human perspective, Qi Zhimu's attractiveness to the opposite sex based on looks alone was 7.6 times that of the average male.
"Then shall I try?" Qi Zhimu looked at Herta.
"Mhm."
Herta began to adjust the parameters, changing the simulated Path and Aeon.
But the result was both expected and paradoxically unexpected.
It still didn't work, even though Stelle, who had left the office not long ago, had no problems.
Qi Zhimu could almost be certain that the simulated universe had no effect on him, likely because of the reincarnation system.
Just as he was about to speak, he felt his phone vibrate.
"Asta asked me to improve the Space Station's defense system. Little Ta, I'll go get busy first."
"Okay~"
Herta did not try to keep him.
Qi Zhimu caring about her Space Station was, by extension, him caring about her.
She was in a great mood.
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