Late at night, Herta Space Station.
Ye Yan stretched and walked out of the office, carrying a new-model Herta Puppet.
"Still couldn't figure anything out. What a shame."
She was only an Emanator of Erudition. She still had a ways to go before she could deconstruct an Aeon like him. She should go practice on Nanook first.
Herta had run off again after finishing her research on him. She was very busy, after all, and the space station was perfectly safe. As long as no Emanator showed up in person, nothing would happen.
Besides, there was an Aeon holding the fort now. That made it even more reassuring.
Ye Yan took out his phone and sent Silver Wolf a message.
[Ye Yan: Set some coordinates for me in Herta Space Station's master control zone. Help me send something over.]
Five minutes later.
[Bad but addicted (nickname): How did you know I won ten games in a row?]
[Silver Wolf: ...]
[Silver Wolf: Didn't you say you weren't going to Herta Space Station?]
Even without Ye Yan telling her, Silver Wolf could still find out where he was.
She had just made a program yesterday that let her see the other person's real-time location, whether they were gaming or chatting.
If someone got into a flame war with her, she couldn't follow the network cable to beat them up in person, but she could follow it to find their address.
[Ye Yan: To tell you the truth, I got my hands on a Herta Puppet. I want to give her to you.]
[Silver Wolf: Not interested. I've already sent the portal over.]
A digital portal appeared in front of Ye Yan, and he casually tossed the vacuum-packed Herta Puppet inside.
[Silver Wolf: Speaking of which, remember the three members I told you about before? There's another member besides me on this operation. Guess who?]
[Ye Yan: That's a tough one. No idea.]
As far as Silver Wolf knew, Ye Yan only knew that she had joined the Stellaron Hunters. He had never even heard of her accomplices.
[Silver Wolf: It's Kafka, the one I told you about before, with the power to control people through Spirit Whisper.]
Seeing Silver Wolf tell him her teammate's abilities and information just like that, Ye Yan fell into thought.
Put that way... Silver Wolf seemed like a mole he had planted in the Stellaron Hunters.
[Ye Yan: Get to bed early. Don't stay up all night gaming.]
After sending that reply, Ye Yan put his phone away.
"What kind of NPC response is that?! No reaction at all?" Silver Wolf's face fell into a sour scowl. There was actually a guy who wasn't interested in an ability like Spirit Whisper!
Wait a second...
Silver Wolf scrolled back through their chat history, her eyes locking onto the words "Herta Puppet."
Oh no! Herta's backdoored my base!
"He can't be interested in those little Herta dolls, can he..." Silver Wolf realized something was wrong.
No wonder he hadn't been gaming with her lately. He had been playing with little Herta dolls instead!
The more Silver Wolf thought about it, the further her thoughts strayed, and the angrier she got. Unable to stomach it, she started another game to try to vent her anger, then didn't win a single game all night.
Early the next morning, Astral Express.
Ye Yan got up bright and early. The beds on the Express really were more comfortable.
"Up so early, Mr. Welt, Miss Himeko?" Ye Yan waved at the two, who were already drinking tea and listening to the morning news in the parlor car.
"Have a listen." Himeko pointed at the radio.
[Whether or not your world has a concept of day and night, let me start by wishing you a good morning, afternoon, and evening. I'm your host, Jimi!]
[Last night, our company's Market Development Department suffered an unidentified attack. Its head, Oswaldo Schneider, was assaulted and sustained comminuted fractures throughout his body. Emergency treatment has now concluded, and his life is not in danger. Unfortunately... this department head will have to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.]
[Our company has now formed a dedicated investigation team. This was a surprise attack with no warning whatsoever. All employees are advised to protect themselves.]
[Only a single note was found at the scene. The purple-black handwriting on it was so messy that it was completely impossible to make out what any of it said... Wait, breaking news! Eight boxes of soap have been found in Director Schneider's bathroom! As far as we know, Director Schneider is not in the habit of bathing frequently. Could this soap be tools the culprit left behind?]
"Hm?"
Dan Heng, who had just walked out, paused thoughtfully.
[Soap? Why was there soap?] Jimi was equally puzzled as he continued his report:
[Back to the matter at hand. As everyone knows, Director Schneider is a fervent follower of Preservation, and his own strength is not to be underestimated. Just who could have beaten him to the brink of death? All surveillance data from the scene has been destroyed, and Director Schneider has yet to regain consciousness. Everything remains speculation.]
[Director Diamond of the Strategic Investment Department has issued a statement: in response to this attack, he will do everything in his power to mobilize personnel and secure justice for Schneider.]
[He was once one of the Nameless and is now a director at the company, having led many new worlds into the credit system's domain. Has the culprit who harmed Director Schneider considered the consequences they will have to bear? And who is pulling the strings behind them? Stay tuned...]
[Beep! Now automatically playing the short film: Interastral Peace Corporation Guide: Selection, Planning, and Opportunity.]
"A former Nameless was attacked. What do you make of this?" Himeko began brewing coffee.
"They said he's a former Nameless. It has nothing to do with us."
Ye Yan hadn't listened closely to the broadcast at all. He was thinking about how to put on a good show in front of the Stellaron spirit who had yet to be born.
When Nanook casts his gaze on her, what form should I make my entrance in?
"I've heard he's a candidate for a seat on the board. The other candidates competing with him shouldn't be too far apart in terms of combat strength."
"A Preservation fanatic, yet he acts like an expansionist..."
Welt was analyzing the matter seriously. As for Dan Heng?
He had only heard the word "soap." Right now, he really wanted to know what shape those eight boxes of soap were.
"Why was there soap? Was it a tool used in the crime..." The detective spirit buried deep in Welt's heart burned once more.
"I'll go wake Little March." Himeko stood up with her freshly brewed coffee.
"Why is she taking the coffee in with her?" Ye Yan asked, puzzled.
"In case March 7th won't get up," Dan Heng answered.
"Speaking of which... why is she getting up so late?"
Dan Heng shook his head. "We're the ones who got up too early."
After spending these past few days together, Dan Heng had discovered that Ye Yan really knew a lot.
His understanding of Aeons in particular was almost on par with the Aeons themselves.
Are all you followers of Eternity this knowledgeable?
Dan Heng didn't think any deeper into it. Ye Yan had been a Nameless before, so it was normal for him to know a lot.
Besides that, Ye Yan had also improved his weapon, Cloud-Piercer.
"Mm~ The craftsman who made this spear for you really knew their trade. It's sharp enough to pierce dragon scales... Let me add another touch."
He added something to the shaft and spearhead: a secret art of Eternity that could greatly improve the weapon's durability while also dealing additional damage over time.
Ye Yan told Dan Heng, "Now it'll never break. You can also press this when you need to!"
Looking at the new red button on the shaft, Ye Yan considerately explained:
"This is single-shot mode. Press the button, and the spearhead will automatically fire out. You can use it to catch enemies by surprise."
"Uh... the only drawback is that the spearhead won't fly back on its own after you shoot it. You'll have to pick it up yourself. How about I add a magnetic attachment?"
"No, that won't be necessary."
Dan Heng declined Ye Yan's kind offer. If these improvements kept going, he felt Cloud-Piercer really could be used as a handgun.