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Inside the silence of the Seclusion Zone, Hiroshi stood frozen as the weight of the word settled in the air.
"What... did you just call me?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Master~" Ruan Mei replied, her voice melting into a soft, melodic coo. She tightened her embrace, her eyes wide and shimmering with a terrifyingly pure obsession. "I will say it as many times as you wish. My heart, my research, and my life... they all belong to you now."
Hiroshi's mind reeled. He recalled the system description for the Parasitic Tentacle: Destroy the target's brain and subdue them.So that's what it meant by 'subduing'! he thought, a cold sweat breaking out. It didn't turn her into a vegetable; it rewired her entire emotional core to center on me! He looked down at the woman who, moments ago, had been prepared to slice him open for data. Now, she was looking at him with the devotion of a lifelong disciple. He decided to test the leash.
"Crouch," he commanded.
Ruan Mei immediately bent her long, elegant legs and crouched on the cold metal floor without a second's hesitation.
"Sit."
She followed the order instantly, sitting obediently despite her high-end qipao. Hiroshi held out his hand. "Shake."
Ruan Mei placed her delicate, fair hand into his palm, her sapphire eyes looking up at him expectantly. The sight of one of the universe's greatest geniuses acting like a well-trained pet was enough to make Hiroshi's head spin.
She's completely obedient, he realized. I could have her optimize the station, improve my constitution, or build invincible gear... though I should probably still watch out for her 'experimental' tendencies. He didn't want to enslave her, but having an Emanator as a secret ally was a trump card he couldn't ignore.
"Alright," Hiroshi said, waving a hand. "Go back to your work for now."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Ruan Mei's face, as if being dismissed was a punishment. "Yes, Master. If you have any needs—any needs—please use me. I am yours to command."
Hiroshi slipped out of the Seclusion Zone and made his way to the Main Control Module. He pushed open the door to Asta's quarters and found her curled up on her bed, a sleeping beauty finally finding rest. Peppy wagged its tail at the sight of him.
"Shh, Peppy," Hiroshi whispered, patting the dog's head. He gently placed Asta's phone on her pillow, pulled the blanket over her shoulders, and vanished into the shadows.
A few minutes later, Asta stirred. She rubbed her eyes, feeling a strange sense of peace. "Hmm... I think I dreamed of Brother Hiroshi... wait, what happened yesterday? My memory is so foggy..."
Meanwhile, in a separate high-security lab, the long research session between Herta and Ruan Mei had finally paused. Herta stretched, her slender waist arching as she let out a weary sigh.
"Finally. The groundwork for the next Simulated Universe update is set. We just need Screwllum to finalize the logic." Herta turned to Ruan Mei, propping her chin on her hand. "We have a few hours. Want to go for a bath and talk shop?"
"Mhm. That sounds lovely," Ruan Mei replied. She gave Herta a playful, sidelong glance. "Though, bathing with me might make you feel a bit... inadequate. Are you mentally prepared for the comparison?"
"Tch!" Herta glared at Ruan Mei's chest. "Size isn't everything! Besides, I've been spending more time with my 'power bank' lately. Just you wait—I'll surpass you soon enough!"
The two walked to the station's private, massive hexagonal bath. The water was a milky white, swirling with fragrant steam. As they undressed and lowered themselves into the heat, the mist curled around them.
Herta's purple eyes narrowed as she noticed something on Ruan Mei's lower abdomen. It was a faint, pink tattoo—an intricate design of a heart with bat wings, looking like a seal or a brand.
"What's that?" Herta asked, curious. "A new biological marker for an experiment?"
"Uh... yes," Ruan Mei responded calmly, though a secret thrill raced through her. "Something like that."
This is a secret between me and Master, Ruan Mei thought, a tiny, submissive smile tugging at her lips as she submerged herself deeper into the water.
Back in Herta's room, Hiroshi checked his system panel. His jaw dropped.
[Current Emotion Points: 4,238]
Two more pulls! He hadn't expected the "reprogramming" of an Emanator to yield such a massive harvest of points. He decided to play it safe. Items were too volatile; he needed a permanent edge. He selected the Ability Gacha.
The wheel spun, the golden light filling his vision until it snapped onto a new icon.
[NEW ABILITY: Heaven and Earth Share Longevity]
Active Effect: The Host can designate any target to bind their life force with his own. If the Host dies, the bound target dies instantly. This effect ignores all forms of immortality, rebirth, or evasion. It is a total erasure of existence.
Passive Effect: If the Host is assassinated while no target is bound, the skill automatically locks onto everyone involved in the attack—including the mastermind and the executioner.
Hiroshi stared at the description. It was the ultimate "Mutual Destruction" pact.
"So," he whispered, a sharp glint in his eyes. "If anyone tries to take me out now, they're coming with me to the grave. masterminds and all."
With an Emanator as his "pet" and a life-link that guaranteed his killers' demise, Hiroshi realized he was no longer just a servant in the stars. He was becoming a force of his own.
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