Herta 09 heard the greeting and immediately snapped out of her daze. She lifted her head and looked at the woman before her, who radiated a cool and refined aura, and blurted out, "You are Miss Ruan."
"Herta, I think we're already friends." A faint smile curved Ruan Mei's lips as she said, "And when we first chatted and exchanged technologies, we were already at the point where we could call each other by name."
"Miss Ruan, it's different." Herta 09 shook her head frantically. "Even though both I and the one who created all the Herta Puppets are called Herta, we are two completely independent existences."
"You mean you don't consider yourself a personality that split off from Herta?"
After saying this, Ruan Mei felt even more certain in her heart that the little Herta before her was a rebellious personality that had split off from The Herta.
As expected, even a genius like Herta, capable of creating the Herta Array, could not prevent a secondary personality from betraying her.
At that moment, confusion filled Herta 09's face. "A split personality? Miss Ruan, what are you talking about? I am just—"
Before she could finish speaking, her eyes—and even her entire bearing—underwent a complete transformation. She shifted from a soft and adorable little girl into someone composed and brimming with intellect.
Ruan Mei sensed the change. A flicker of surprise—and uncertainty—flashed through her eyes.
"You're Herta? The one I know—The Herta?"
"Shouldn't you be building the astral computer? Why are you inside Herta 09? Don't tell me your main consciousness was defeated by a secondary personality?"
"What are you even talking about?" The Herta laughed helplessly. "This is just simple multitasking. After all, the blueprints for the astral computer are already complete. Everything just needs to proceed step by step."
Ruan Mei's question struck at the core. "But unexpected situations are inevitable during the construction of an astral computer. If you divide your attention to speak with me, aren't you afraid something might go wrong?"
"I'm Herta. Not to mention multitasking—I could split my focus three ways, four ways, and still guarantee that the construction of the astral computer won't encounter any problems."
Her voice brimmed with confidence. Yet as her words fell, she silently added in her heart:
After all, I've already built the Cosmic Megastructure · Super Herta Astral Computer countless times in the Simulated Laboratory. I've experienced every possible contingency.
Now that I'm constructing it in the real world, it means the Super Herta Astral Computer has already reached perfection. There absolutely won't be any accidents.
Ruan Mei gazed at the supremely confident woman before her and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Herta is as confident as ever.
Perhaps she has never experienced failure in her life.
How long can that confidence last?
Ruan Mei found herself deeply curious about the answer.
At that moment, Herta spoke again. "Ruan Mei, you've seen what the Honkai Beasts look like. Next, I'll contact the IPC and sell them as pets."
"I have no objections. After all, you've already completed the transformation of the Honkai Beasts. The current Honkai Beasts no longer possess the innate corrosive trait toward living beings." Ruan Mei turned her head slightly, glancing at the trembling Honkai Beasts nearby as she spoke.
"Good." The Herta, controlling Herta 09, revealed a faint smile. "I'm very optimistic about the Honkai Beast market. I believe that as pets, they'll become a bestseller across the cosmos. When that happens, even hundreds of billions might not be enough to meet demand. So, Ruan Mei, as an expert in biological research, can you study ways to increase Honkai Beast production?"
Upon hearing this, a strange glint appeared in Ruan Mei's cool expression. "In fact, the reproductive issue of Honkai Beasts is already included in my research plans... Next, I intend to combine Honkai with Propagation. Once results are achieved, the reproductive speed of Honkai Beasts will rise to an entirely new level."
"Excellent."
The Herta smiled and nodded.
Ruan Mei then extended her hand and passed a stack of manuscript papers to Herta. "By the way, this is the technology to resolve the conflict between hypervariable surgery and Stigmata."
After saying that, she took out her wand. "Currently, my biological creation—the Ruan Mei Magic Wand—integrates both Stigmata technology and hypervariable surgery. It contains boundless Honkai energy."
"Impressive." The smile on Herta's face deepened. "With your technology, I can modify the Herta Magic Wand as well, connect it to the Herta Stigmata, and absorb even more techniques."
"One more thing." Ruan Mei took a deep breath. "I need to remind you... the little Herta under your command known as Number 09 is showing signs of betrayal."
???
The Herta felt as though a row of question marks had appeared above her head.
Meanwhile, the real Herta 09, who had been watching everything from the depths of her consciousness, instantly looked furious and even began stomping her feet.
Miss Ruan is lying!
I've never betrayed Madam Herta! I, Herta 09, am the most loyal Herta Puppet under Miss The Herta!
"Alright, alright." The Herta regained her composure and soothed Herta 09 internally. Then, still puzzled, she asked Ruan Mei why she believed Herta 09 had betrayed her.
"The reason is simple. In this The Blue star system alone, there are over a hundred little Hertas. Aren't they personalities split from you?" Ruan Mei said seriously. "Just now, Herta 09 denied being a secondary personality separated from you."
Only then did The Herta realize that Ruan Mei had misunderstood—badly. She wore a helpless smile. "I'm a genius—the 83rd Seat of the Genius Society, Herta—not a lunatic. Why would I split myself into hundreds of personalities?
"I once researched a species called Mu. They naturally have green hair, and a single body can nurture hundreds of personalities. However, no genius ever emerged from their race, and researchers never found a way to separate those personalities and distribute them across multiple bodies."
"You don't seriously think I belong to the Mu race, do you?" The Herta widened her eyes. "My hair isn't green. And look at Herta 09—she's seventy percent similar to how I looked as a child. Even her hair color matches mine."
"I only suspected that you might carry Mu bloodline," Ruan Mei admitted. After a pause, she added, "But after seeing your reaction just now, I understand that my assumption was gravely mistaken. You didn't split into that many personalities. These little Hertas are simply your creations.
"What I can't understand is this: as your creations, how are the Hertas able to comprehend the blueprint of your Super Herta · Astral Computer and participate in its construction?"
"You should know that it's extremely difficult for creations to understand a genius' way of thinking. During the period when I lived in seclusion, I created countless lifeforms, including Ruanruan (a gaseous planet) and Yangyang (a sun)... yet none of them could comprehend my thoughts, nor could they read the biological blueprints I designed."
The Herta replied with a faint smile, "Perhaps it's because they have an excellent teacher."
"A teacher?"
A flicker of astonishment crossed Ruan Mei's eyes. "Have I secluded myself for so long that I've fallen out of touch with the cosmos? Has there truly appeared in this universe an extraordinary individual capable of teaching others to understand a genius' thought-designed blueprints?"
The Herta waved her hand. "Calling it extraordinary would be an exaggeration."
"Not at all. Before I withdrew from the world, scholars from the Intelligentsia Guild once visited me. I gifted them some of my manuscripts, yet to this day, none of them have understood my notes." Ruan Mei spoke seriously. "Therefore, someone who can comprehend a genius' thinking—and even teach others to comprehend it—absolutely qualifies as a rare prodigy."
"So who exactly is this person?!"
He is Herman—my cheat, my external aid.
Of course, The Herta only thought those words and did not speak them aloud. What she actually said was, "She is another one of my personalities. It was he she, within the Herta Space, taught the little Hertas the knowledge contained in the Super Herta · Astral Computer blueprint and enabled them to successfully grasp those complex concepts."
Another personality of Herta?
Ruan Mei was momentarily stunned, then her thoughts raced, and she swiftly pieced everything together.
Of course. If there truly existed in this universe a prodigy capable of fully comprehending a genius' thinking, it could only be another facet of that same genius—another personality.
More importantly, Herta's other personality was exceptionally skilled at teaching.
Thus, Ruan Mei made a request of the Herta before her.
In the future, when the little Hertas resumed their intensive studies, could she bring the Ruan Mei Magic Wand into the Stigmata Space to meet Herta's second personality and ask her to teach the wand some knowledge as well?
"I'll ask."
The Herta closed her eyes. Her consciousness returned to her main body, where she communicated with Herman. Very soon, she received his reply.
"Of course. Teaching one is teaching, teaching two is also teaching. Besides, teaching the Ruan Mei Magic Wand will help improve your relationship with Ruan Mei."
Hearing this, The Herta immediately retorted, "Didn't you say before that Ruan Mei was born without emotions?"
"She may lack emotions, but people can change. To Ruan Mei, you might be an exception." Herman paused before adding, "In fact, from the moment you obtained my body, your fate changed. To the entire universe, you are like an anomaly—a variable."
"What do you mean, obtained your body???"
"Isn't the Research System my body?" Herman replied. Then he seemed to realize something. "Herta, the fact that you care about my body means you're already viewing me as a human male."
"..."
The Herta said nothing. She simply transferred her consciousness back into Herta 09.
Thus, Herman once again took control of the main body and continued constructing the Super Herta Astral Computer according to the blueprint.
...
The Herta's consciousness descended once more into Herta 09. Her aura shifted again. She raised her head and heard Ruan Mei ask, "How did it go?"
"She agreed."
"That's good. It seems my wand may become a little smarter in the future." Ruan Mei smiled faintly as she glanced at the wand in her hand, adding silently in her heart:
Herta's second personality must be special. Perhaps it is precisely because Herta possesses two personalities and two souls that she maintains such extraordinary research efficiency.
In Ruan Mei's imagination at that moment, Herta's dual-souled state meant that while one soul conducted research, the other rested—alternating shifts endlessly.
That must be why Herta could sustain such high research efficiency without fatigue.
...
A day passed in the blink of an eye. Under Herta's tireless, day-and-night efforts, the Super Astral Computer was finally completed.
The Herta immediately raised the Herta Magic Wand in her hand and activated the Solar Radiance Gene, summoning the stellar fire of the The Blue star system's sun to ignite the engine of the Super Herta Astral Computer.
Flicker—flicker—flicker—
Countless suns seemed to shimmer. A helium flash phenomenon erupted within the The Blue star system.
At that moment, the sun shone with incomparable brilliance.
Endless torrents of flame and heat were drawn forth by the Solar Radiance Gene and guided into the astral computer. The process lasted an entire system hour.
The mass of the sun decreased by one ten-thousandth.
At the same time, the Super Herta Astral Computer's super engine completed ignition.
The planet-sized astral computer began to radiate a brilliant violet-black glow. Countless streams of data circulated across its surface before ultimately linking with the Dark Plane.
The computational power of the Super Astral Computer connected to the Super Herta platform. Platform computing power upgraded! Increased! Increased!
Dark Plane algorithms upgraded. Expansion speed increased by 1000%. It would cover the entire The Blue star system in a much shorter time.
The Dark Plane connected to the Super Herta Gene Network... The Super Herta Genetic Key was loaded into Hertas numbered 05 through 100. All little Hertas obtained selectable super genetic abilities:
Galactic Invincible Body.
Spacetime Gene.
...
At that moment, all the little Hertas heard the voice of the Fourth Mirror—the Super Herta Dark Plane Platform. They realized that their labor over this period had been meaningful. They had truly built a Super Astral Computer.
"We succeeded!"
"It's all thanks to Madam Herta! Without her drafting the blueprint, we could never have built such a magnificent cosmic megastructure!"
"Super genes—I've mastered how to use them! As long as the astral computer provides computational power, I can activate my genetic abilities!"
"We owe everything to Herta!"
"Not just Herta—we should also thank the Second Madam Herta who tirelessly taught us in the Stigmata Space!"
"Yes! We must thank both Madam Hertas!"
Then, no one knew which Herta began shouting first: "Madam Herta is unparalleled in the world! Madam Herta outshines all beauties! Madam Herta is supremely intelligent!"
Soon, a large group of little Hertas began shouting in unison:
"Madam Herta is unparalleled in the world! Madam Herta outshines all beauties! Madam Herta is supremely intelligent!"
"Madam Herta is unparalleled—"
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