"It's Kidney Treasure."
"Cough, cough... Huh?" Abraham looked over blankly. "What treasure?"
"Mm, I got it from a researcher named Joey. Apparently, one bottle refreshes your mind, two bottles keep you from ever getting tired, and three bottles grant immortality~ Oh yeah?"
"..."
Abraham's brain immediately crashed, as though he had glimpsed all things in the universe.
So what the hell was this stuff?
Still, after Lin Nai's interruption, Abraham did feel a little more awake.
Of course.
Maybe the medicine really did work?
"By the way, Brother Lin Nai, what did you come to the Security Department for?" Abraham patted his face, forced himself to perk up, and asked.
"Oh, I came to see Arlan, but the moment I arrived, I found the entire Security Department wiped out."
Lin Nai swept his gaze across the room.
It could be said that barely anyone present was fully awake. They were either slumped over their desks asleep or groggily dazed.
There was even someone over there who had crashed into a pillar and collapsed unconscious.
Youth really was wonderful. They could fall asleep the instant they hit the ground.
"Brother Arlan... Hmm, come to think of it, I don't think I've seen Brother Arlan at all today."
"You haven't seen him?"
"Yeah. Maybe it's because I came in late." Abraham scratched his head sheepishly.
He had been groggy all day and had no energy whatsoever.
Lin Nai pondered for a few moments. Could Arlan have gone to play electronic frisbee with Peppy?
Or maybe he had gone on patrol?
But that didn't seem right either. When Lin Nai had gone to Herta's office today, he hadn't seen Arlan playing electronic frisbee with Peppy.
Of course, it was also possible that Arlan had been patrolling earlier and was playing with Peppy now.
Afterward, Lin Nai asked several other Security Department staff members, but all of them said they hadn't seen Arlan.
That answer made Lin Nai feel that something was off.
So he simply went somewhere that gave him a view of the entire Space Station.
The surveillance room.
When in doubt, check the surveillance footage. As long as Arlan had left his dormitory, he could definitely be found!
Herta Space Station · Base Zone · Surveillance Room.
"This is really strange..."
Lin Nai sat in a chair, propping up his face with one hand as he rapidly scanned through the footage in confusion.
He used several screens to review recordings, starting from yesterday.
There was no sign of Arlan anywhere.
Whether near Peppy or in the places he usually patrolled, there wasn't even a shadow of him.
It looked as though... he simply hadn't come out at all after resting last night.
But then again.
While checking the surveillance footage, Lin Nai noticed that quite a few staff members were in the same state as those in the Security Department.
At first, Lin Nai hadn't cared.
For that bunch of workaholics, staying up all night to study wasn't anything unusual.
So on the Herta Space Station, it was fairly common to see staff members looking sleepy and muddleheaded.
However, after Lin Nai had nearly gone through all the surveillance footage across the Space Station, he realized it wasn't just a few individuals. Nearly every department on the Herta Space Station was in this state.
That was when Lin Nai remembered that four days ago, Asta had mentioned this very issue that had been giving her a headache.
Lin Nai found it hard to believe there was no connection.
This might be a pretty big problem.
Even Wen Shiqi, who often slacked off in the Core Passageway, was the same.
Some especially energetic staff members were even worse, looking like wilted flowers.
Something was wrong.
Ninety percent wrong? No, it was one hundred percent wrong.
After repeatedly reviewing the footage and surveillance records, Lin Nai took out pen and paper and began making notes.
More accurately, it wasn't just happening today.
It seemed that a small number of people had started showing these symptoms a week ago.
Then the number had gradually increased, almost like an infectious disease.
After giving it some thought, Lin Nai took his notes and returned to Herta's office.
There was clearly a problem here, and it involved the entire Herta Space Station.
So to be safe, he should notify her.
But...
"Herta! I need to... Herta?"
When Lin Nai returned to Herta's office, he found it completely empty.
Even the puppets were gone.
That made Lin Nai pause.
Herta wasn't in her office?
Afterward, Lin Nai walked out, found a Herta puppet at random, and reached out to pinch its cheek.
Mm...
No response.
Then Lin Nai ran all over the Herta Space Station, checking the puppets one by one.
The conclusion was—
While he had been reviewing the surveillance footage, Herta had controlled a puppet, boarded a spacecraft, and temporarily left the Space Station.
Damn it!
Sitting in his chair, Lin Nai felt a headache coming on.
Herta had barely left before this happened. What a pain.
Oh, no.
More accurately, she had barely left before he discovered it.
He had no idea whether it was still in time for Herta to turn back.
After thinking it over, Lin Nai still took out his phone and sent Herta several messages, informing her of the Space Station's current situation.
Then.
Lin Nai had to consider what to do next.
The first thing he should do was go to the Storage Zone.
That was where the Curios were kept. He needed to check whether anything was missing or whether something had escaped.
Then he needed to go to the Seclusion Zone.
The Stellaron was kept there. He had to determine whether that thing was their target.
Damn it.
Would the Space Station suddenly explode later?
With that thought, Lin Nai picked up his phone again and contacted Silver Wolf, intending to see whether she was currently preparing for some mission.
In fact.
Almost every time Silver Wolf went on a mission, she would tell him.
For example, where she was going and whether he wanted any souvenirs.
She definitely wouldn't reveal the details of the mission.
But she would usually give him a heads-up...
Uh, though it was hard to say whether she would this time. After all, he had just pissed her off a few days ago.
So he should just ask.
Asta in a Coma
Just as Lin Nai finished messaging Silver Wolf, a little white dog launched a surprise attack.
It bit down on Lin Nai's pants.
"Woof!!"
"Peppy, huh? Wait... Don't pull my pants!" Lin Nai hurriedly grabbed the pants Peppy was about to yank off him.
How could such a little dog have so much strength?!
This power was truly strong and forceful! Strong and forceful indeed!
"Peppy! Peppy! Stop pulling! I'll go with you, okay?!"
If this continued, there would be a problem with these pants.
Before he could even investigate what had happened to the Space Station, Lin Nai himself might end up in trouble. (Meaning he would die of embarrassment on the Herta Space Station.)
As though it understood Lin Nai's words.
The little white dog finally released its bite, barked at Lin Nai, and began trotting away.
Lin Nai hitched up his pants, rose from his chair, and hurried after it.
That little guy had nearly pulled his pants off.
Seriously...
The hem of his pant leg seemed to have come undone?
Then, led by Peppy, Lin Nai arrived outside Asta's room.
Peppy stretched out a paw and kept scratching at the door, barking at Lin Nai several times as well.
Lin Nai stepped forward and gently knocked on the door. "Asta, are you awake?"
Several seconds passed, but there was no response from inside.
Seeing that, Lin Nai knocked again. After waiting several more minutes without any response.
He finally swiped his card and opened the door.
Just as Asta could easily enter Lin Nai's room, drag him out of bed, and forcibly boot him up.
Lin Nai could naturally open her door just as easily.
After opening the door.
Lin Nai entered with Peppy.
Mm.
Before you continue