Dan Heng had his reservations and urged Stelle to give up on the test.
But Stelle insisted that she couldn't go back on her word.
She had promised Herta.
How could she change her mind halfway through?
If word got out, how would she ever save face as the Galaxy Bat Hero?
Dan Heng: "..."
Fine.
Stelle always acted on whatever whim struck her.
Once the Astral Express left Herta Space Station and Stelle truly ventured into the Cosmos, she might forget all about the "Simulated Universe."
He would let her do as she pleased.
The next day, Stelle got up bright and early and came to Herta's office.
The puppet stood to the left, gazing at one of the holographic portraits.
Stelle took a closer look. The portrait depicted a woman whose face had been erased.
Herta introduced the person in the portrait.
"Polka Kakamond, the Fourth Seat of the Genius Society."
"She has close ties to Xian Zhiyu."
Stelle asked:
"What's her relationship with Best Friend?"
"You really are..." For a moment, Herta didn't know what to make of her. She shrugged. "There are all sorts of rumors out there. Teacher and student, mother and son, lovers... some even say they studied under the same teacher..."
"I've read every thesis Xian Zhiyu has published. Rather than something he wrote... they seem more like the work of different scholars."
"Xianzhou natives are always praising their father, saying Nous never cast a gaze on him, saying Nous this and Nous that-"
Herta said irritably:
"If you ask me, Polka... seems to be cleaning up some mess."
She tilted her head back, gazing at the hologram before her.
"I believe she and I would have plenty to talk about."
The puppet changed the subject and began urging her on:
"You ran