After several detours, Nero and Stelle returned to the Xianzhou once again.
The Simulated Universe test at Herta Space Station ended rather hastily, but as far as the experience went, Nero felt his expectations had already been satisfied.
As for those geniuses, after that day no one knew what they went off to busy themselves with. But that's probably what geniuses are like, always busy with something.
Stelle and Nero didn't think much of it.
After that, once preparations at the space station were complete, the Astral Express set off again.
Himeko would often accept some commissions from those geniuses and complete the deliveries the next time the train returned.
Originally, Nero should have gone along as well, but the thing he had been thinking about was still on the Luofu, so he hurried back.
Stelle temporarily took on the responsibility of a "guardian."
As for what exactly Nero had been thinking about so much…
That was, of course, Phantylia.
Ever since he saw Phantylia's divine body formed from the Ambrosial Arbor get ignited by Amdor and enter an eternal state of burning, such a thought had taken root in Nero's mind.
The first production base of Nero's Fragmentum Factory was built in Belobog, but the planet that city sat on had been covered in a cold wave due to the Stellaron.
Although under the company's push, the factory's profits could feed back into the place, Nero hoped to obtain a more efficient tool.
Of course, the most important thing was that it had to be free, requiring no initial cost.
Phantylia, in her state of eternal burning, clearly fit that requirement.
Nero believed that in this state, Phantylia could be used as fuel just like the flames from beyond the universe.
If she could provide power for the production lines of Nero's Fragmentum Factory, it would save a large amount of energy and funds, bringing more convenience to Belobog's recovery and development, while also cutting down his own costs.
And besides Phantylia, those Mirror Holders captured by the Luofu were also quite good sources of productivity, the kind you could use without feeling any regret.
Although the child's body was made from fragments of Pure Beauty, he clearly wasn't the type to embrace boundless compassion.
For this group that harbored ill intent and even launched attacks, Nero had no sympathy at all. To him, letting them bring out their final value by working was already a form of mercy.
Of course, once those Mirror Holders actually started working in the factory, whether they would feel that being alive like this was a blessing was another matter entirely.
In short, Nero had no intention of letting these people go. Even though they were currently being interrogated and punished in the Shackling Prison, he had already decided to make them serve as free labor.
He was a little honey badger. His tendency to hold grudges had already shown back on Jarilo.
However, although he held grudges, Nero, as a conservative, actually understood the rules quite well.
As a pacifist, he wasn't impulsive and had plenty of patience.
While waiting for criminals like Phantylia to undergo interrogation by the judges, it was a good opportunity to take a look at how the Xianzhou was recovering from this disaster.
For now, everything seemed to be flourishing.
But once the interrogation ended, Nero would immediately go "pick his troops."
As for whatever verdict the Ten Lords would give and whatever handling order the Alliance would issue, he neither cared nor intended to concern himself with it.
These people had to be punished.
And the working model of Nero's Fragmentum Factory was something even Topaz, a workaholic who treated work as a hobby, found terrifying.
Nero felt there was no better punishment than this.
According to Topaz, the most terrifying aspect of Nero's Fragmentum Factory wasn't making people work endlessly, but making full use of everything.
For example, using flames from beyond the universe to fire boilers, using ice from beyond the universe as condensers…
To put it in a way easier for the Xianzhou to understand, it was like Vidyadhara having their dragon tendons extracted for consumption and still being made to work, their bodies used as medicine and for experiments after death while their souls kept working; Foxians not only working but also having their well-groomed fur cut off to be made into hats and other items…
Just thinking about it made one's spine go cold.
It was hard to imagine that such a factory was run and operated under the direction of fragments of Pure Beauty.
Yet a passing Knight of Beauty claimed that making full use of everything was "Pure Beauty."
It was hard to imagine what these cosmic drifters were thinking.
Some Fragmentum creatures cursed loudly, saying the Knights of Beauty were nothing more than hollow names, seeing them suffer here yet doing nothing to help.
Only when a cold whip lashed across their bodies and a member of the Underworld enforcers supervising them roared "Get to work!" did these Fragmentum creatures shut their mouths and scurry off to labor.
Before the establishment of Nero's Fragmentum Factory, they had never imagined that they, beings feared like monsters by everyone, would one day face such a fate.
Aside from those damned pollution suppression devices, the factory seemed to be covered by something unknown.
A certain influence called "going crazy" filled the place, completely suppressing their ability to erode humans.
They once thought things would get better once they were sold off as goods and left this place, but they knew that was only their own fantasy.
Because one of their brothers had been taken away as part of the first batch of goods long ago, yet the news they received was not of humans being attacked or the factory facing public condemnation.
All they heard were the human overseers discussing in excited tones the thrilling returns and profits brought by that first batch of goods.
They knew their brother would never come back, only to be used as a tool in human hands until the energy within him could no longer sustain his existence in this world.
The Fragmentum creatures clenched their teeth, tears of pain streaming down.
While marveling at the reversal of positions between monsters and humans, they lifted their pickaxes and began mining Geomarrow.
Nero carried these hopeful ideas. These people, he would definitely take them away. When the Alliance came asking later, he just hoped they wouldn't make things difficult for Jing Yuan.
"If they just come directly to me, that'd be perfect. Then we can take them to see the factory! Once they see it, they'll definitely agree with my decision! Don't you think?" Nero said to Stelle beside him.
Stelle turned her head, her gaze lowering as she looked at the boy's confident face, then nodded. "There's no place more suitable for villains than there."
Stelle saw the boy's clear lashes tremble slightly. Her own reflection was mirrored in his gray eyes, and those eyes were brimming with a smile. He was happy.
Stelle smiled as well.
Nero reached out, took a sip of milk tea from the bag Stelle was carrying, then looked around. It seemed they had arrived near Aurum Alley.
Just as he was thinking that, a familiar call suddenly came from the distance.
"Nero! Big sister!"
That clear, bell-like voice jolted both of them. It was very familiar.
Every time they heard that voice, they couldn't help but think of a small figure, a dragon lady who spoke in a slightly cheeky tone.
Following the sound, sure enough, they saw Bailu standing alone at the entrance of Aurum Alley, waving at the two of them.