After waiting for some time, Herman finally received Black Swan's reply:
"Miss Herta, I have successfully persuaded the Pure Child of the Garden of Recollection with my eloquence. She has agreed to allow you to use the Garden of Recollection's Mirror to reflect that special world known as Amphoreus."
"Please wait a moment. I will soon transform into a messenger and come to The Blue to receive you."
After reading these words, Herman could not help but recall the setting of the Memokeepers in his mind.
Every Memokeeper possessed a body transformed into memetic form. They could act within the dreams and even the consciousness of living beings. Relying on such means, as Pathstriders, they could perform spatial leaps, remain active throughout the cosmos, and record one major cosmic event after another that had already occurred.
If nothing unexpected happened, Black Swan would use that special method of her memetic body to leap to The Blue.
As this thought flashed through Herman's mind, the crisp sound of high heels echoed through the living room.
He turned and looked toward the bedroom, only to see Black Swan, dressed in black and violet garments and exuding an aura of mystery from head to toe, slowly stepping out from the full-length mirror.
Herman could not help but sigh in admiration. "The way Memokeepers travel is truly unique. You arrived so quickly."
The corner of Black Swan's lips curved into a faint smile. "It is thanks to the dreams of the living beings of The Blue drifting into the Garden of Recollection. That allowed me to precisely locate this place through dreams and traverse them, thus arriving quickly at The Blue."
"But in my dormitory, aside from me, there is no one else who can dream," Herman said.
He paused before analyzing further. "Which means that after arriving at The Blue, you continued maintaining your memetic form, leaping through the dreams, consciousness, eyes, puddles, light... every object capable of reflection among living beings, until you finally reached the mirror."
"Precisely."
Black Swan gave a slight nod. Then she raised her hand and drew out a divination card from the snowy expanse of her chest, activating it as she spoke slowly, "The Garden of Recollection's Mirror has now been activated. Its radiance will reflect infinitely."
"Found it. The specific coordinates are..."
The instant her voice fell, the card in her hand flew toward a corner of the universe.
Not long after, Black Swan continued, "Miss Herta, your body is one of flesh and blood, not memetic form. You will need to go there personally. I have heard that you cooperate with the Interastral Peace Corporation. Do you intend to collaborate with them and take one of their ships?"
Herman shook his head upon hearing this, and silently thought.
If the IPC were to go to Amphoreus and learn that Zandar One Kuwabara's slice—of the First Seat of the Genius Society—is attempting to create a Lord Ravager capable of killing an Aeon, then the IPC would certainly intervene. Even if they did not act directly, they would lobby various factions to jointly suppress the not-yet-born Lord Ravager, Iron Tomb.
At that moment, a cosmic war would erupt... And since Zandar One Kuwabara's slice would not have completed the experiment, Lygus would most likely descend in extreme fury and participate in the war.
If that happened, the entire trajectory of the universe would shift into the unknown.
And I would lose my foreknowledge.
That is absolutely unacceptable.
After reaching this conclusion, Herman said to Black Swan, "I'll pass on using an IPC ship. I plan to travel to Amphoreus aboard Ruan Mei's vessel."
Black Swan was slightly startled. "Ruan Mei—the 81st Seat of the Genius Society? You are cooperating with her as well?"
"Yes. We are friends." Herman nodded faintly. "Before long, she will arrive at Mars within the star system of The Blue. At that time, I will invite her to journey to Amphoreus together."
Upon hearing this, Black Swan grew even more curious. She truly wished to know just how special this world called Amphoreus was, that it could cause two geniuses to join hands and investigate it together.
Could it be connected to secrets of the Aeons?
Such a thought could not help but arise within her mind.
At that moment, Herman continued, "Miss Black Swan, since you have already come, why not stay on The Blue as a guest for a while?"
"In addition, I have a gift for you—a Soul Gem."
After speaking, Herman retrieved a Soul Gem suffused with a mysterious violet glow from his dormitory and placed it in Black Swan's hand.
A trace of surprise flashed through her eyes. "A Soul Gem—the recently popular commodity. So it was you, Miss Herta, who developed it."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Herman's lips. "Of course. Aside from a genius like me, who else could develop such fascinating gem technology?"
Without hesitation, Black Swan pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the gem.
She carefully sensed it and discovered that after her power along the Path of Remembrance flowed through the Soul Gem, it was indeed amplified.
"A remarkable invention," Black Swan praised. "The effects of the Soul Gem are already comparable to certain Light Cones. As expected, a genius' wisdom is the most precious thing in this universe."
"Miss Herta, please allow me to observe you from now on—recording your research and invention process through memory. I wish to document it and craft it into a Light Cone."
"Of course. That was part of our prior agreement." Herman nodded slightly. "You provide me with Amphoreus' coordinates, and I will allow you to remain by my side and record everything around me."
"Thank you."
Black Swan expressed her gratitude. Then, hearing a knock at the door, she said, "Miss Herta, someone is here to see you."
"Mirror, who is outside looking for me?" Herman called toward the Fourth Mirror.
"It is Herta 05. She has formed a special Herta study group and, under the guidance of Stigmata Herta, completed studies in manufacturing engineering targeting the Dark Plane and super genes," the Fourth Mirror replied seriously. "You may now assign them a task."
A glint of light flashed in Herman's eyes.
Herta 05—the very first Herta Puppet personally created by Herta—had actually established a study group and led others to complete their coursework.
As expected, she was very intelligent.
However... given her lazy temperament, the primary purpose of leading others in study was probably to ensure she herself could rest more and slack off.
After thinking this through, Herman nodded toward the indoor surveillance.
The Fourth Mirror promptly opened the door.
A group of Herta Puppets filed into the room in succession, crowding around The Herta excitedly as they reported their academic achievements.
"Good, good, I understand. You're all excellent and very clever—my precious darlings." Herman wore a kindly smile, raising his hand to pat one little Herta's head, then another's in turn.
At that moment, Herta 011 among the group of Herta Puppets spoke up. "It was thanks to Herta 05's help. Without her, I wouldn't have been able to memorize the knowledge taught to us by Stigmata Herta so quickly."
Herta 015 followed, "That's right. It was Herta 05 who helped us."
After speaking, the group of Herta Puppets all glanced toward Herta 05.
At that very moment, the mechanical heart and power furnace inside Herta 05 began accelerating wildly. She was terrified that The Herta before her would order her to continue working overtime.
"Alright, alright. I know everything," Herman said with a faint smile. "Herta 05 has rendered great service and worked hard teaching the others. You all worked hard studying as well."
"Today happens to be the weekend, so I'll grant Herta 05—and all of you little ones—a day off."
A day off?!
The little Hertas erupted in cheers.
As for Herta 05, through analysis of the tone, she instantly understood that the one who had just spoken was another Herta—Second Herta Mom.
Only Second Herta Mom would treat them little Hertas with such gentleness.
In the next moment, something even more exhilarating happened. She saw The Herta take out a card from her pocket.
"This is a card issued to me by the Blue Federation—the Unlimited Herta Card. A top-tier black card."
"Go spend it."
"For me?" Herta 05 extended a trembling hand, hardly able to believe it.
"For all you little ones. Go have fun... but remember to clock in at the Soul Gem factory at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. If you're late, I'll be spanking bottoms."
A faint smile lingered at the corner of Herman's lips as he said this.
"Yes! We guarantee we won't be late tomorrow!" Herta 05 declared, then took the lead in shouting:
"Madam Herta is peerless in beauty! Madam Herta stands unmatched in the world! Madam Herta—"
"Madam Herta is peerless in beauty! Madam Herta stands unmatched in the world! Madam Herta—"
The other Hertas joined in the chant. Soon after, the group of little ones noisily rushed out of the dormitory, heading for Herta City to shop to their hearts' content.
Before long, Herman's phone began continuously chiming with Credit deduction notifications. He paid it no mind.
After all, Herman—or rather, Herta herself—currently possessed assets totaling one trillion Credits.
Moreover, with the Soul Gem selling explosively, once the IPC transferred the next payment, the balance in his bank account would surge again.
The GDP of the Blue Federation amounted to only several billion Credits at most.
It could be said that the black card Herman had given the little Hertas was truly unlimited—enough to purchase dozens of Blue Federations outright.
At that moment, Black Swan, who had remained silent until now, blinked and asked, "Miss Herta, those little figures who resemble you so closely—what are they?"
"They are Herta Puppets," Herman replied. "I molded them according to how I looked when I was young."
"I had guessed as much," Black Swan said after a moment's hesitation. "But in my perception, they are all Intellitrons. And their time of birth is extremely short—very short indeed."
"With my wisdom, researching a method to rapidly elevate machinery into self-aware Intellitrons is a simple matter."
Herman's voice was filled with matter-of-fact confidence.
Black Swan choked slightly before continuing, "But just now, I also saw Soul Gems on them. Can they use them as well?"
"Isn't that obvious? As my creations, they can naturally use the technology I developed."
"..."
Black Swan fell silent.
When she had completed the Soul Gem's binding earlier, she had already confirmed through memetic methods unique to a Memokeeper that only beings possessing a soul could complete the binding.
Yet Herta's Puppets could bind to it.
That meant every single Herta Puppet created by Herta was an Intellitron possessing selfhood and a soul...
Herta was creating an entirely new race.
The Intellitron—Herta race.
"May I personally see the place where the Herta Puppets are born?" Black Swan requested.
"You may," Herman replied, "but you are not permitted to enter the factory's core area to observe the production process. You may only view the Hertas once they have been successfully manufactured."
His meaning was simple. She could witness the birthplace of the little Hertas—but absolutely not the process of their birth.
Even if Black Swan was a woman, he would never allow anyone to see the creation process of the little Hertas.
The production of the little Hertas could be viewed only by him and by The Herta herself.
Black Swan nodded.
"Very well. I agree... When may I go to see the birthplace of the little Hertas?"
"Now."
After speaking, Herman once more raised his head and called to the Fourth Mirror. "Mirror, take her to the factory to see the birthplace of the Hertas."
"Yes."
The Fourth Mirror responded at once. In the next instant, the interface of Black Swan's phone lit up and navigation automatically activated.
Without hesitation, she followed the route. Before long, she arrived at Herta City. Within this city, she perceived traces and memories of the Architects' tireless labor.
Afterward, she reached the Soul Gem factory. At its entrance and exit, she saw numbered little Herta Puppets lining up. Under the supervision of the super AI known as the Fourth Mirror, they walked out of the factory one by one, assigned to various tasks.
More importantly, Black Swan noticed that this newly produced batch—whose eyes still carried a hint of innocent confusion—were all Intellitrons as well.
This meant that what Miss Herta had said earlier was true.
She truly possessed a method to rapidly elevate robots into Intellitrons.
Such a feat was extraordinary. If Emperor Rubert of the past had mastered such a technique, the intensity of the Second Emperor's War would likely have been even more terrifying.
With that thought in mind, Black Swan began recording the scenes of the Herta Puppets exiting the factory and working under the Mirror's command.
In the next moment, she felt inspiration surging continuously through her mind.
Without hesitation, she mobilized the power of the Path of Remembrance to seize that inspiration and begin crafting a Light Cone.
Dozens of minutes later, the Light Cone was complete.
It radiated dense power of Remembrance.
On its surface was clearly sealed an image:
A Herta Puppet embracing a mirror.
Within the mirror's reflection were more Hertas, each embracing a mirror.
Countless mirrors.
Countless Hertas.
This Light Cone depicted the birth of countless Intellitrons named Herta under the function of the Fourth Mirror...
Its name could be called The Birth of the Hertas.
Or perhaps—My Birth.
Thus, this journey to The Blue could be considered richly rewarding in memory.
Worthy of preservation. Worthy of cherishing.
As Black Swan pondered this, she glanced once more at the Soul Gem factory. The continuous mechanical rumble, the sight of Soul Gems being forged, packaged, and shipped out—she could not help but sigh inwardly.
Genius' wisdom had transformed what was once a rare Path amplifier in the cosmos into something found everywhere on the streets.
The 83rd Seat of the Genius Society, Madam Herta, was changing this universe in her own way.
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