Do Your Consciences Not Hurt?

Upon hearing that.

Herta, who had been lying on the podium playing on her phone out of boredom, also looked up at Aha.

She did not seem surprised.

Humanity's understanding of Aeons and Paths was still far too shallow. Otherwise, there would have been no need to create the Simulated Universe.

The Aeon of Joy's own arrival—and his remaining here for so long—was proof enough in itself.

Forget Peipei and Wen Shiling. Even the most die-hard members of the Ai Huan group could only resort to sophistry at this point.

But even if they argued sophistically, most people still believed deep down that Aha was right.

"Watson, you've finally spotted the blind spot!" Yan Huan exclaimed in delight, clapping repeatedly.

Clap clap clap clap clap—!!

Aha: "..."

Yan Huan did not seem surprised that Aha would bring this up either. He had just been picking at his feet, and now he was applauding before even putting his shoes back on.

"Kid, you look awfully calm. Don't tell me you've still got some big shot ready to come out and argue?" Aha bent down and taunted him.

Yan Huan put on his shoes, looking utterly composed.

"I still believe in the masses'..."

"Stop right there!" Aha interrupted Yan Huan's casting.

"It's such an obvious matter. I genuinely don't understand why you need to go to all this trouble to prove it. Jerry is Jerry, Donald Duck is Donald Duck, and are those Space Station researchers down there waterlogged in the brain? Your mental state is clearly abnormal!"

At that moment, several Ai Huan group members stood up and continued arguing their case.

"Lord Aeon of Joy, we believe this matter has not been investigated thoroughly enough. We will establish a Yan Huan Mental State Investigation Group and conduct a fair, impartial, open, proper, and responsible investigation into this incident. We will certainly reach a result that satisfies everyone!"

Aha frowned.

"Will you die if you don't pull some stunt?"

Everyone: "..."

At that moment, Wen Shiling stood as well and said,

"Mr. Aha, since the video has finished playing, let us begin the vote."

Aha looked at Wen Shiling as if she were an idiot again.

"You still want to vote? You're rigging things and using paid shills, and now you're trying to whitewash this by force? Look at what that kid is doing right now. Do your consciences not hurt?"

Following the direction of Aha's finger, everyone looked over and saw that Yan Huan was no longer in the guest seats.

Whoosh—!!

A spotlight shone on the edge of the venue.

Yan Huan was squatting in a corner, carrying two huge bags of food and enthusiastically feeding the snow-white puppy in front of him.

Peipei: "Arf arf~ (Little Brother Yan Huan, you're so thoughtful.)"

Yan Huan: "Not at all, not at all. Want to go out and have fun tonight?"

Peipei: "Arf arf~ arf arf~ (Wouldn't that be bad? My owner will kill me if she finds out.)"

Yan Huan: "We're playing cards tonight. Just tell me whether you're coming."

Peipei: "Arf~ (But then it'll be too late.)"

Asta: "..."

Yan Huan: "It's fine. I'll sneak you back afterward."

Peipei: "Arf arf~ arf arf~ (That sounds great, but you won't cheat again, will you?)"

Yan Huan: "How could I? I'm an upright, exemplary young man. I've always been honest."

Asta: "..."

Peipei: "Arf~ arf arf! (I don't believe you. Last time, I saw cards fall out of your clothes.)"

Under everyone's gaze.

The two humans and one dog were squatting in the corner, happily discussing their plans for the evening.

They seemed to have planned it all along.

Yan Huan excitedly gestured with his hands, while Peipei nodded along opposite him and occasionally hopped with joy. Asta crouched between them with a microphone in hand, her face dark.

Everyone: "..."

Aha walked to the center of the stage and shouted,

"Look! No matter how you twist your words, can you deceive your own hearts?!"

At once, the researchers in the Audience Gallery fell silent.

They had always known in their hearts that Yan Huan truly suited the Path of Elations.

Yet for all sorts of reasons, they had continued denying it.

Some did not want Yan Huan's reputation damaged. Some did not want him to gain power. Others simply had a contrarian streak and insisted on opposing the facts.

But those were ultimately their own subjective selfish desires. The objective truth remained unchanged.

Aha stood quietly on the stage, the corners of his mouth rising wildly.

He could already feel his words striking directly at these humans' souls!

At the edge of the stage, that spotlight still shone there.

Asta held Peipei in one hand and Yan Huan in the other, her face grim as she carried them toward the backstage area as if they were groceries.

Not far from her, Arlan arrived belatedly.

Seeing Arlan rush over in a hurry, Asta said indignantly, "Arlan, tell me why Peipei is fooling around with Yan Huan again. I'll give you a chance to defend yourself."

"Uh..." When Arlan saw Yan Huan and Peipei in Asta's grasp, his heart leaped into his throat.

Yan Huan, the chief culprit, was still grinning as he waved at him.

Arlan: "..."

He said uneasily,

"M-Miss, I'm sorry. I was too careless and failed to keep an eye on Peipei."

After hearing Arlan's explanation, Asta's face remained dark.

She did not feel like scolding Arlan right now. Silently, she dragged Yan Huan and Peipei toward the little black room.

Arlan swallowed, only daring to stand awkwardly to one side as he watched Asta leave.

Meanwhile, on the stage, Aha had rendered those Ai Huan group researchers speechless and was savoring the victor's joy.

Suddenly, he seemed to realize he had forgotten something.

"Wait, where's that kid?"

He looked toward the corner from before, but Yan Huan was no longer there.

"Um." Arlan walked over from backstage and said uneasily,

"Mr. Yan Huan and Peipei were taken to the little black room by Miss. They might... might not be able to come back until later."

Aha fell silent for two seconds.

"Does he still have a chance of surviving?"

Arlan shook his head uneasily. "I-I can't say. Miss usually doesn't get angry... but once she does, the consequences are always serious."

Aha: "..."

At that moment, March 7th rushed over in a panic. "What? What is Asta going to do to Yan Huan?"

Arlan was terrified too and said uneasily, "I-I really don't know. I've never entered the little black room."

Aha raised an eyebrow.

"Has no one ever gone into this so-called little black room? Couldn't you ask someone who has?"

Upon hearing that, Arlan shook his head vigorously again.

"That little black room had only been built before, but Miss had never dragged any researcher into it. Th-this is the first time."

Everyone: "..."

Among the Audience Gallery, some researchers were already looking to run, afraid that if Asta got upset, she might deal with them as well.

"Well then, it's over, right? Lord Aeon of Joy, th-then we'll be taking our leave."

"Run, run! We'd better stay in our rooms and not come out today. Wait until the station master's anger dies down before showing our faces! Otherwise, we might get punished for being fired because we stepped into a cabin with our left foot!"

"Run! Run for it!!"

Once they learned that Asta was angry, the entire Audience Gallery scattered like birds and beasts, all fleeing in a flash.

Only a sparse handful remained.

Aha: "..."