Asta did not take March 7th to the testing room to have the bead examined again.
That was because a guest had arrived at the Space Station ahead of schedule.
Mr. Screwllum, member number seventy-six of the Genius Society and Ms. Herta's partner on the Simulated Universe project, had come to the Space Station.
Originally scheduled to arrive tomorrow, he had unexpectedly shown up much earlier.
As the Space Station's acting Station Chief, Asta went to the elevator to welcome this legendary figure from the Sea of Stars.
A chime rang out. The elevator descended to their floor, and its doors slowly opened.
This mechanical aristocrat from Planet Screwllum did not have the humanlike skin some robots wore. Instead, he openly displayed his cold mechanical exterior.
Yet he wore an elegant, well-tailored brown suit, a black top hat, and an exquisite gold monocle.
He was dressed every inch the classic gentleman.
Cold technological craftsmanship and the weight of cultural history seemed to blend perfectly in him.
Asta slowly curtsied.
"Suppose thought always precedes language," Screwllum said slowly as a shimmering butterfly rose from his shoulder. "Then no words could define this joy."
As he spoke, the butterfly landed on his outstretched knuckle.
Screwllum looked at Asta and said:
"It is a pleasure to see you, Asta."
Then he changed the subject:
"I have arrived eight hours, seven minutes, and twenty-four seconds before our agreed time. I hope this does not inconvenience you."
March 7th and Stelle stood behind her, whispering:
"Do all robots like calculating time that precisely?"
Just like Svarog!
But the mighty Svarog certainly didn't speak this... elegantly.
Maybe that was what made him a mechanical aristocrat. How could Belobog compare with Planet Screwllum?
Just then, Asta gave a quiet cough to warn the two whispering behind her,