As it turned out, Stelle's strategy had backfired this time.
Once she brought out her trump card, Chu Mu, the girl facing her was supposed to blush and turn away, giving Stelle an opening to slip aboard the train with him.
That was Stelle's plan.
But plans and reality rarely lined up.
Not only did Herta not turn away, she stared intently at him instead.
She seemed to have caught on to Stelle's trick and sneered:
"Heh, brat, do you take me for some sheltered little girl? You think something like this would faze me?"
She kept her eyes fixed on Chu Mu and smiled.
"Interesting. Very interesting. The remnants of the Ambrosial Arbor brought here seven years ago actually grew into this. Just what I'd expect from the Ambrosial Arbor. An Aeon's creation truly is miraculous."
"Y-you knew!" Stelle exclaimed in shock.
"Brat, did you think the storage compartment had no surveillance or something? You were sneaking around inside while the owner was home. Did you think I couldn't see you?" Herta glanced at Stelle. "I've been waiting here for you to walk right into my trap."
Stelle: "!!!"
Just then, Arlan recognized Chu Mu and was about to greet him, but Asta held him back.
Arlan looked back to see Asta shaking her head, her expression grave.
Although she had no idea why Chu Mu had become a puppet, showing that they knew him now would undoubtedly spark Herta's curiosity.
After all, a person turning into the Ambrosial Arbor and then into a puppet was even more remarkable than the Ambrosial Arbor taking human form.
As the manager of Herta's Space Station, Asta knew all too well that once this great scientist's curiosity was piqued, she would stop at nothing to achieve her goal.
Chu Mu was different