"Hm? Lin Chen... are you close with that Ruan Mei?"
She folded her arms across her chest.
Beneath her princess dress, the delicate curves of her modest bust were faintly outlined.
A hint of surprise also appeared on the Herta Puppet's cute little face.
As far as Herta remembered,
Ruan Mei wasn't exactly a woman with a broad social circle.
If Lin Chen, who had only just risen to fame, knew Ruan Mei,
that really was beyond Herta's expectations.
It wasn't as though Herta hadn't investigated Lin Chen.
But naturally, her investigation had turned up nothing.
Neither Lin Chen nor the Conqueror Legion behind him
had left the slightest trace in a thousand years of Star Sea history.
Lin Chen, with his considerable strength and resources,
seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, without any warning.
Naturally, Herta hadn't thought Lin Chen and Ruan Mei would have crossed paths.
"I wouldn't say we're close. We just know each other."
"By the way, little Herta, how does this Simulated Universe test work?"
"It's fine if I join in too, right?"
His expression was casual and carefree.
Lin Chen didn't dwell on the subject of Ruan Mei.
After all, recounting what had happened before would be a little embarrassing.
"Well... you really want to join?"
"Of course. My little sister's here, after all."
"As her big brother, I've got to protect her properly, haven't I?"
"Even if it's only the Simulated Universe, it'd be bad if it affected her mind."
Ignoring Herta's reaction,
he walked straight over to Stelle.
Lin Chen reached out with his broad hand and patted Stelle's shoulder in encouragement.
In response,
the Stellaron Girl, who had seemed so timid in Herta's office,
suddenly seemed to find her confidence.
The look she gave Herta no longer held its earlier