The Herta Space Station System became excited the moment it learned that Theresa wanted to buy something.
It hurriedly asked Theresa what she wanted.
As Theresa chatted with Serval, she browsed the Herta Space Station System's wares. Naturally, the most prominently displayed items were all kinds of Herta dolls. Theresa was somewhat tempted by them too, but she secretly bought several Herta dolls that matched everyone's characteristics and stored them in the Herta Space Station System's inventory.
These Herta dolls were not expensive. Ten Joy Points could buy one Herta doll. Just in case, Theresa topped up one million Credit Points into the Herta Space Station System, receiving ten thousand Joy Points.
It might seem like a lot, but the Herta Space Station System's shop sold everything. Aside from relatively cheap daily necessities, all kinds of fantasy and sci-fi-related items were extremely expensive. Things related to Honkai and Star Rail were especially so—even Divine Keys could be bought there.
For example, the captain's most coveted Heavenly Fire Judgment cost one million Joy Points, while the Star of Eden {Stellaris Harmony} cost nine hundred eighty thousand Joy Points, and so on.
What excited Theresa the most was something called the Honkai World Warp Device. It could pause time in her current world and let her travel to the Honkai world for adventures. It cost one hundred thousand Joy Points.
Theresa could buy it right now. After all, she still had more than nine million Credit Points, which would be just enough to convert into one hundred thousand Joy Points if she topped them all up. However, she did not intend to do that.
As a former captain, she understood all too deeply the tragedies and joyous stories of the Honkai world. So, she planned to lie low for a while longer and wait until she had become stronger—at the very least, strong enough not to fear Finality—before going to adventure in the Honkai world.
Besides, she was not truly an Envoy of Joy yet. After all, she was not ready to put on that mask. Her intuition told her that once she wore it, she would undergo earth-shaking changes. It might even be possible for her to grow up overnight.
So she was not ready yet. When the right time came, she would naturally make her choice.
It won't be too long. Probably when we face the Stellar Core in this world.
Next, Theresa bought books on repairs, along with some precious coffee and instructional books on brewing it for Himeko. She also bought some daily necessities, underwear, and socks suitable for girls. After all, she really was a girl now, and naturally had all the functions that came with it. There were also some cute little trinkets and accessories intended for March 7th and Stelle, as well as some wuxia novels and Araratos Robot, Welt's favorite.
Theresa went on a shopping spree for all these odds and ends, spending less than three hundred Joy Points.
"By the way, you're all curious about these heating devices, aren't you?"
Serval asked everyone with a smile.
"Yes. You said earlier that these heating devices are powered by Geodough, right?"
March 7th asked curiously.
"That's right. Geodough is the main energy source this city needs to survive. And heating devices are vital to Belobog, the city of shelter trapped by these winds and snows."
"After all, with the blizzard outside being so severe, without reliable heating, both the Upper and Lower Cities of Belobog would have become a dead city long ago."
Serval sighed as she raised her head to look at the scenery outside.
"Geodough? What's that?"
Stelle asked curiously.
"It's a mineral energy source unique to our region. From heating the entire city to the calculator in your hand, everything is powered by Geodough."
"Geodough grows beneath this planet's surface. It's golden and rectangular, mined by professional mining teams in the Lower City before being transported to the Upper City through pipelines. In return, the Upper City sends supplies unique to the surface down to the Lower City through those same pipelines."
Serval explained to everyone as she savored the rich, bitter coffee.
"The Upper and Lower Cities?"
March 7th asked in confusion.
"Huh, you don't know? Oh, right! I forgot again that you're from another world."
"Belobog's structure is like two connected millstones. The Upper City handles administration and trade, while the Lower City handles energy supply and resource extraction."
"But unfortunately, because of an order from the Supreme Guardian many years ago, the Upper and Lower Cities have not interacted for a long time. Only resources are transported between them."
"Ah, why am I talking about such depressing things? Sorry for making you all see this."
Serval spoke with a somewhat sorrowful expression. She seemed to have remembered something, sighing before giving a bitter smile.
"Then why are the heaters outside? Normally, shouldn't heating equipment be placed inside people's homes?"
Theresa asked curiously.
"Mm, little Theresa, you're absolutely right to ask that."
"It's like cooking over a fire. If the house is a big pot for cooking, then the heater is the stove fire outside the pot."
Serval explained to everyone with a smile.
"Then aren't everyone inside the pot just ingredients?"
Theresa immediately teased with a grin.
"Ahaha, that's certainly a vivid way of putting it. But this is undoubtedly the best way. If all the heating equipment were indoors, the outside of the houses would be buried beneath snow and freezing winds. That's why we place the heating units throughout the city."
"One heater might not seem like much, but what about a whole lot of them?"
"Throughout Belobog's streets and alleys, heaters are placed roughly every ten meters in many areas. Other spacious places are equipped with massive heaters that generate warmth and drive away the cold. The heat they gather naturally spreads upward and outward, forming a thermal protective barrier that keeps the freezing winds and snow outside."
"That's precisely why everyone can see clear blue skies and white clouds in Belobog. The clouds overhead have all been pushed away by the rising heat."
Serval explained proudly.
"But wouldn't that mean your Geodough consumption is enormous?"
"After all, it has to sustain the heating supply for such a massive city."
"From what I can tell, this city covers at least a thousand square kilometers. That's already no small city, right?"
Theresa analyzed thoughtfully.
The game never explained how big Belobog was.
"Theresa is especially reliable whenever she isn't being silly~"
Stelle cheerfully teased.
"Hm? Stelle, do you want Judas to pat your head?"
Theresa immediately smiled at Stelle in a threatening manner. Hearing that, Stelle awkwardly covered her head, afraid Theresa might really bring Judas down to give her head a pat.
"I was joking. Don't be so scared."
Theresa helplessly teased the somewhat timid Stelle.
"As for little Theresa's question, I was curious about it too and looked into it before. Supposedly, specialized Silvermane Guards handle the city's Geodough heating supply. Every day before dawn, they drive trucks loaded with Geodough around the city to replace it. If some units break down, they commission other mechanics in the city, including me, to repair them. That's also my main job at the moment."
"After all, when many Geodough heaters suddenly break down at once, we can be kept busy with repairs without a moment to stop."
"This does not happen often, but that doesn't mean it never happens. Mechanical equipment failing after operating for a long time is perfectly normal."
Serval also explained with a bitter smile. Only then did everyone realize that Serval's life was not as easygoing as she made it sound.
Daily meme image. Damn, just what you'd expect from Sentience Treasure.
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