"But if you can tell me why you want to see him, I might consider helping you."
Raiden Makoto was, in the end, a kind-hearted person.
If Jade's reason could move her, then she wouldn't mind bringing her to meet Su Ran.
Normally speaking, anyone who could come to Herta Space Station was either extremely wealthy or a top-tier genius.
It was rare for someone to have genuine hardship.
Her moment of kindness gave Jade a sliver of hope— and at the same time, a trace of unease.
If she told the truth, it would be hard to win sympathy.
But if she lied, and was exposed later, that would only be more embarrassing.
"Mr. Su Ran is a truly great scientist.
Every one of his creations is enough to shake the entire universe.
The Interastral Peace Corporation needs his talent."
This statement was honest— but clearly insufficient to convince Makoto.
To her, it sounded no different from her younger sister, Raiden Ei, using Su Ran's power to satisfy her own will.
"I know this isn't enough to persuade you," Jade continued, "but there are countless beings across the universe who are suffering with no means of saving themselves.
If Mr. Su Ran's inventions could save them, then the Interastral Peace Corporation is the only entity capable of providing that level of support.
This is a power even Miss Herta cannot offer."
Jade could only hope that such reasoning would move Makoto.
The IPC had plenty of darkness within it— but it had also done no small amount of good.
She didn't have the power to change the company herself.
But perhaps Su Ran did.
Jade was no saint.
Yet she wouldn't mind someone else changing the internal order of the corporation.
And she'd be more than happy to place the title of interstellar benefactor on Su Ran's head—
So long as he was willing to cooperate with the company.
"..."
Jade's words did, admittedly, move Makoto a little.
But only Makoto.
Because unlike them, Makoto actually understood Su Ran.
What kind of good person was Su Ran supposed to be?
Would he really do something like that— using his inventions to save those suffering across the universe?
That didn't sound like him at all.
From the beginning, his inventions had always been made for himself.
If Jade thought she could bind him with lofty ideals, then she was being far too naïve.
"This line of reasoning could persuade me, but it won't persuade him."
Makoto herself could be swayed by such righteousness.
But if Jade intended to use the same argument on Su Ran— that was wishful thinking.
"Then I can simply change my approach."
Her decisiveness.
Her honesty.
Everything she could offer.
As long as she could meet Su Ran, there would still be a chance.
If she couldn't even see him, then there was no chance at all.
She wasn't a gambler like Aventurine— but she was willing to take a risk.
"So you're admitting that earlier, that compassionate, world-saving image… was just an act meant to deceive me?"
This sudden shift made Makoto genuinely feel that this woman was not a good person.
More like a fence-sitter who followed the wind.
"Miss Raiden Makoto, I can be very honest with you.
I am not a good person.
I've driven many people into despair.
But if someone truly wants to pull innocent people out of the mire, then I am willing to support that."
Because she worked within the IPC, Jade had seen all forms of good and evil.
And she was willing to exchange sincerity for hope.
"Saving others is not my personal wish.
But if Mr. Su Ran wishes to do so, then I'm willing to become the hand that pushes him from behind."
This time, Jade's sincerity did not move Makoto the way her earlier words had.
Perhaps because she was too honest.
Not a single lie.
Sincerity could be exchanged for sincerity— but sincerity alone didn't always move hearts.
"I can mention your situation to him," Makoto said calmly, "but I won't bring you to see him myself.
Whether you get to meet Su Ran or not depends entirely on his decision."
"For me, that's already enough."
It wasn't the best outcome— but it certainly wasn't the worst.
When dealing with members of the Genius Society, patience and support were the most important things.
Jade's emotions at this moment were undoubtedly complex.
But Asta's mood, on the other hand, was absolutely blissful.
Watching Herta sitting on Su Ran's lap, listening attentively as he explained things to her—
Asta couldn't help but smile like a proud aunt.
As a CP fan, this was exactly the kind of scene she lived for.
New photos were quietly added to her phone album.
She felt like she could ship this pairing for a lifetime.
Asta's little actions did not escape either Herta or Su Ran.
But neither of them paid her any mind.
Herta had far more important knowledge to learn.
And Su Ran was currently too occupied with Herta to do anything else—
Otherwise, he might've gone over to ask Asta for a few copies of those photos.
"I understand the principle," Herta said, sitting on Su Ran's lap and swinging her legs, "but in terms of actual application… isn't this way too complicated?"
Trying to absorb the knowledge Su Ran was teaching her felt exhausting.
Actually putting it into practice would require calculations so vast they were terrifying.
Especially since none of it could be simplified— that was the most painful part.
She could attempt experiments, sure.
But the time required might exceed all her previous research combined.
A single proper round of calculations and validation could take decades.
For someone as impatient as Herta, this was pure hell.
She'd probably lose interest halfway through and abandon it for something more exciting.
She could learn the theory.
But the cost of application was simply too high.
"So how did you calculate it all in just two days?
Did you rely on Nous's computing power again?"
No matter how strong Su Ran was, this felt excessive.
If he'd done all this on his own—
Then it wasn't a matter of being five times better than her.
It was more like a hundred times.
Was the gap really that big?
"All you need to do is skip a few steps."
Su Ran selected several formulas from the dense mass of equations.
He casually omitted more than ninety-nine percent of the calculations.
Herta froze.
…So it could be simplified?
Before simplification, she could at least understand the calculations.
But after simplification?
She couldn't understand them at all.
This was how he simplified it?
That was just ridiculous.
Absolutely ridiculous.
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