"Yo, isn't this Bai Heng? Haven't seen you in a few days—how did you become a suspect?"
The chestnut-silver-haired girl in a Lolita outfit raised her delicate chin and scrutinized Bai Heng with her dark violet eyes.
Bai Heng paused. Seeing that face now, he inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity, as though he had returned home.
It was one thing to see her at Herta's Space Station, but how had he run into her on Punklorde, and now even at the Molten Eremite?
He forced a smile and said,
"Lady Herta, you really are so—"
"What?" Herta frowned, glaring at Bai Heng with her violet eyes.
"I mean, you really do enjoy traveling incognito. You came all the way to the Molten Eremite without making a sound... Xiao Si, go register us for our stay first."
"Oh, okay..."
After Xiao Si trotted away in a few quick steps,
Herta folded her hands and said,
"You were about to say I'm haunting you, weren't you?"
"You said that yourself. It has nothing to do with me." Bai Heng smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned with the airs Herta had put on. "By the way, why are you here at the Molten Eremite too?"
Herta had long grown accustomed to Bai Heng's unserious manner around her and answered flatly,
"I already have a partnership with the Interastral Peace Corporation. There happens to be a puppet I left behind on Falaco, so can't I come take a look while I'm here?"
"Got it." Bai Heng shrugged and asked the question that concerned him. "Did A Ruan come?"
"A Ruan?" Herta froze for a moment before understanding. She wrinkled her delicate nose and said,
"She didn't come. She's busy preparing for pregnancy at home."
Bai Heng blinked.
"Huh?"
"You don't believe me?" Herta revealed a