Inside the Herta Space Station, Asta walked down the corridor, her brow furrowed in thought. "Madam Herta was... unusual today. Is she just deep into a new project?" She shook her head, trying to clear the suspicion. "I can't worry about that now. I need to notify every department to prepare for Madam Ruan Mei's arrival."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the station, Hiroshi found a quiet spot and opened his system panel with high expectations.
"Hehe, let's see if I've got enough for the next round," he whispered.
But when his eyes fell on the total Emotion Points in the corner, his jaw dropped. The screen clearly read 262, while the requirement for a new gacha pull was 2,000.
"What?! How can this be?!" Hiroshi stared at the numbers in disbelief. "I went through all that with Madam Herta... why is the payout so small?"
He paced back and forth, trying to find a logical explanation. Wait... the system tracks 'Emotion.' Is it possible... that Madam Herta didn't actually feel anything at all during that?
The thought stung, but it seemed like the only answer. If she viewed it as a clinical transaction or a purely biological boost, the "emotional" value would be minimal.
Sigh... this is going to be trouble, he thought. If I keep doing the same thing with her, the points will only diminish as she gets used to it. I need to reach more people and understand them better. I need real joy, anger, or sorrow to hit the jackpot.
He wasn't a beast, though. He wouldn't hurt people who were good to him just for points. "I'll just have to make the bad people miserable and the good people happy. Yeah, that's the plan!"
Determined, he picked up his cleaning tools and returned to his rounds, tidying the Main Control Module and the Base Module while checking on the Herta Puppets.
The Base Module – Reception Center
Hiroshi was about to grab a drink from the water dispenser when a mature, steady voice called out to him.
"Excuse me, Hiroshi."
He turned to see a handsome middle-aged man with short brown hair and a light blue station uniform. It was Wen Mingde, the head of the Department of Applications. He was the man in charge of supplies, IPC relations, and the cataloging of Curios.
"Is there something I can help you with, Section Chief Wen?"
Wen Mingde scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "Actually, yes. I left a Curio in the containment bay earlier. My entire staff is tied up prepping for Ruan Mei's visit. Could I ask you to do me a small favor and go retrieve it?"
Hiroshi hesitated. He knew the history of this place; some Curios were far from toys. Sensing his worry, Wen Mingde quickly explained.
"Don't worry. The so-called 'Curios' are just objects with special effects. Some are harmless, while others are biological entities that can run and jump—those are the real headaches. But the one I need is a static, harmless object. It's completely safe."
Knowing the plot, Hiroshi realized Wen Mingde wasn't lying about the item's properties. "Alright, Section Chief. I'll do it."
"Wonderful! You're a lifesaver, Hiroshi. I'll send you the photo right now."
The Containment Bay
Hiroshi arrived at the storage section and began rummaging through the lockers. After a few minutes, he pulled out a hexagonal black object with elegant gold trim. He compared it to the photo on his phone.
"Identical. Time to get back to Chief Wen."
But as he turned to leave, a hair-raising, gurgling laugh echoed from the shadows.
"Gurgle... I didn't expect a little sprout like you to come here alone. And looking so frail, too."
Hiroshi spun around. Standing before him was a figure with his exact layered hair, his porcelain skin, and his innocent features. The only difference was the twisted, eerie grin on its face.
"You're... the Alien Water Specter!" Hiroshi gasped.
The Specter—a biological Curio capable of perfect mimicry—faltered for a second, shocked that he knew its name. "Oh? You've heard of me? It doesn't matter. Soon, I'll kill you and take your place. You can spend the rest of your life locked in a cage while I live free on the station!"
Hiroshi backed away, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. The exit was blocked. What do I do? And why is the Water Specter out already? The plot is changing!