Of course, the current The Herta was still far from what Herman envisioned in his mind.
To strip away a unique rule from the vast universe, to reflect a philosophical concept.
To pluck a branch from the Tree of Existence, to contain a concept from the Sea of Quanta... to create a brand-new Path and ascend to Aeonhood—she was still far from that realm.
After all, the present The Herta was not even an Emanator, merely a pseudo-Emanator. At best, her strength stood at the level of the Ten Stonehearts.
Even so... her power had already reached planet-destroying levels. As long as she wielded the Herta Magic Wand and continuously drew Path energy from the Path of Erudition, a fully charged Herta Magic Bullet would be enough to devastate and shatter a planet.
As Herman pondered, he said to The Herta, "Since envoys from the IPC, the Family, and even the Xianzhou Alliance have all arrived, let's officially begin the commercial negotiations."
The Herta nodded. "Very well. Bring Pearl along as well."
Herman said, "Not just Pearl. Bring little Herta too."
???
A string of question marks seemed to pop up above The Herta's head. She looked at Herman in confusion. "What for? Herta Puppet 05 has little to do with the Soul Gem project."
"She's your newest invention," Herman replied. "Bringing her along will make the three parties take you more seriously."
"Is that necessary? It feels rather dull. I still think manufacturing more little Hertas and perfecting the Herta Array is more important."
A faint smile curved Herman's lips. "Then let me put it another way—let more people witness the unparalleled beauty you possessed in your youth, beauty worthy of stepping onto the Path of Beauty."
"That's a much better argument." The Herta's eyes lit up in approval. "Although little Herta only has ninety percent of my childhood appearance, she can indeed astonish everyone."
After saying this, Herta asked Herman, "If I create the Herta Array and manufacture countless perfectly beautiful Herta Puppets, could I thereby step onto the Path of Beauty?"
"It's not impossible." Herman stroked his chin. "In fact, you could also equip little Herta with a Soul Gem and have her wear a pretty little dress."
"Oh? That's quite a good idea. Let's do it." Herta's eyes gleamed with interest.
With that, Herman ended his conversation with The Herta and opened his eyes, looking at little Herta in his arms.
"For now, set aside work and the task of manufacturing more Herta Puppets. I just spoke with Herta. She agreed to let me bring you along to the commercial negotiations. She also agreed to let you use a Soul Gem and wear a pretty dress."
"Second Herta Mom, you're the best! Muah!"
Little Herta happily planted a kiss on Herman's cheek.
"Ahem."
Hearing her words, Herman immediately coughed. At the same time, he could clearly sense the murderous glare coming from The Herta within the Simulated Laboratory.
He gently patted little Herta's head. "Just call me Second Herta. As for 'Mom,' let's forget that. After all, Herta herself created you."
Little Herta pouted. "That big Herta Mom is too mean... She made little Herta work when I hadn't even existed for a single system hour."
"But Second Herta Mo—Second Herta—you're different!"
"You're a good person! You hold me, care about me, and even let me wear a pretty dress and participate in the upcoming business negotiations and banquet."
"Compared to that Herta Mom, I respect and adore you much more!!"
Her words were filled with sincerity.
Herman felt both pleased and slightly unnerved. The reason was simple—he could already sense that The Herta's gaze inside him was growing increasingly dangerous.
After a moment's consideration, he said carefully, "Well... your Herta Mom can actually hear everything you're saying."
"What?! Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
Little Herta stiffened instantly. She hurriedly changed her tone, cupping Herman's face with both hands.
"Other Herta Mom, little Herta just experienced a bug. Everything I said was nonsense—complete nonsense!"
"Dear Herta Mom, you are the one I respect the most!"
Little Herta... was actually two-faced.
As Herman thought this, control of his body was seized by The Herta.
"Heh."
The Herta let out a cold laugh, her icy gaze falling upon the trembling little Herta.
"A bug? Impossible."
"The Herta Puppets I created are perfect. There can be no bug. After all, I am the genius Herta."
"However, you were right about one thing. I did fail to consider your feelings. I shouldn't have made you work on your very first day after leaving the factory. From now on, follow what Second Herta said and accompany me to discuss the Soul Gem cooperation."
Little Herta asked cautiously, "You're... not angry at me for speaking badly about you?"
"If I was wrong, then I was wrong." The Herta placed her hands on her hips and snorted softly. "Of course, once everything is settled and the dust has fallen, you'll work extra hard manufacturing little Hertas for me. Understood?"
"Understood! Herta Mom, long live Herta Mom! Herta Mom is unparalleled in the world! Herta Mom's beauty outshines all others! Herta Mom is supremely intelligent!"
Little Herta cheered enthusiastically.
At that moment, Herman's inner voice sounded. "I thought you were going to spank little Herta and properly punish her for talking behind your back!"
'I'm not a villain, nor am I some slave driver,' The Herta rolled her eyes inwardly. 'I was simply too eager to complete the Herta Array—to let little Hertas spread across the universe as my eyes—that I neglected her feelings.'
'Besides, this is my first time taking care of a child. Little Herta...'
Herman was surprised. "Shouldn't the First, Second, Third, and even the Fourth Mirror count as children you previously nurtured?"
'They're different from little Herta,' The Herta shook her head inwardly. 'Before becoming Intellitrons, they had already accumulated sufficient data unique to themselves. The moment they became Intellitrons, they were effectively adults—just like Pearl on Screwllum's planet...'
Herman understood. He immediately said to The Herta, "Then contact Pearl and confirm the situation."
"Very well."
The Herta raised her head and looked toward the camera.
The Fourth Mirror responded at light speed, "Madam Herta, I have already contacted Miss Pearl on your behalf. She reports that she has finished reviewing cosmic legal statutes and even passed the bar examination online within a single system hour."
"Miss Pearl has now obtained her lawyer's license and officially become a cosmic attorney. She may proceed with her legal duties."
The Herta was astonished. "A lawyer? She just passed the bar... How could the timing be such a coincidence?"
The Fourth Mirror replied, "Of course it isn't a coincidence, Madam Herta. Pearl contacted the Celestial Differentiator on Screwllum's planet. Once the Differentiator Intellitron learned that Miss Pearl would be presiding over legal matters, it immediately coordinated with the Interastral Peace Corporation to temporarily organize a bar examination."
"Of course, I reviewed the examination paper. Miss Pearl's answers were impeccable. She achieved a perfect score of 100 on the cosmic bar exam."
"I have already notified Miss Pearl to proceed to the Soul Gem factory. She will arrive shortly."
"She'll be too slow on her own," The Herta said. Without hesitation, she removed Herta's Key from around her neck and gave a calm order. "Go fetch Pearl immediately—at maximum speed. As for locating her position, the Fourth Mirror will access the Blue Federation's real-time satellite map and transmit the coordinates to you."
"Leave it to me."
Herta's Key spun more than a dozen times in midair before rapidly transforming into a wand as tall as an adult. It shot out the window at extreme speed. Without a rider, the wand reached an unprecedented velocity—Mach 10.
In mere seconds, Pearl was delivered to the Soul Gem factory by the wand.
When she arrived, her gaze was still somewhat dazed. The reason was simple—the Herta Magic Wand had suddenly carried her into the sky at breathtaking speed, making her think she had been kidnapped.
Now that she had regained her senses and noticed the unfamiliar surroundings, her mind only steadied when she saw the person before her.
"Miss Herta, was it you who had the Herta Magic Wand bring me here just now?"
The Herta gave a faint sound of praise. "Indeed. Pearl, you truly are talented—to master cosmic law and pass the bar exam in such a short time."
Pearl crossed her hands over her chest and bowed respectfully. "Compared to you, Miss Herta—who unraveled the universe's Fourth Cosmic Conundrum, the Solitary Waves Theory—I am still far, far inferior."
"Logically speaking, if Miss Herta were to seriously study cosmic law, you would likely pass the examination even faster than I did."
"I'll pass on that. I have no interest whatsoever in studying law. In any case, the upcoming commercial negotiations will be entrusted to you. If there are loopholes in the contract, do not hesitate—point them out directly."
"Yes, Miss Herta."
After bowing again, Pearl shifted her gaze toward little Herta. A faint trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.
"Miss Herta, and this one is...?"
A slight smile curved The Herta's lips. "Who do you think she resembles?"
"She looks like you in your childhood, Miss Herta. Could it be that she is a newly manufactured mech—Intellitron? Have you already completed the Herta Puppet project you mentioned before, and even produced a finished model?!"
By the end of her sentence, even Pearl's cold mechanical lips trembled.
The reason was simple—she had already discerned that little Herta—Herta Puppet 05—was an Intellitron, not a mere robot.
Pearl knew that only a few days ago, Miss Herta had just begun researching this project. Yet in such a short span of time, a completed product had already been created. This far exceeded Pearl's calculations.
According to her projections, Miss Herta should not have been able to manufacture a fully completed Herta Puppet so quickly.
Scientific research, in theory, ought to proceed step by step.
Miss Herta should first have developed a Herta robot. Then, over time, the robot would gradually accumulate sufficient self-data and undergo sublimation, transforming into an Intellitron. Only afterward would her replicated personality be implanted...
Not leap directly to the end result and manufacture a Herta Intellitron Puppet in one stroke.
It simply did not align with Pearl's understanding.
Within her cognition, on Screwllum's planet and even throughout the cosmos, robots required vast spans of time to accumulate enough unique self-data before achieving their final sublimation—from machine to Intellitron.
Even the Celestial Differentiator had once told her that, according to its core calculations, the Aeon of Erudition, Nous, had likewise accumulated sufficient self-calculation and completed comprehensive computations of universal truth before ascending to Aeonhood.
Yet now, Miss Herta had shattered convention and produced an Intellitron with astonishing speed.
At this moment, Pearl finally understood the true weight carried by a formal member of the Genius Society. She also finally grasped why, in the short time since Herta became a genius, cosmic superpowers such as the Interastral Peace Corporation, the Xianzhou Alliance, and the Family had rushed without pause to seek cooperation with her.
...
"That's right. This is the Herta Puppet I created. Isn't she adorable?"
"Extremely adorable. Even in your childhood, Miss Herta, you possessed extraordinary beauty. Your wisdom and appearance are both flawless." Pearl spoke in repeated admiration.
"Well said!" Little Herta beamed and clapped her hands.
The Herta nodded in satisfaction. Then she walked to the window and gazed outward at the massive Xianzhou Yuque that blotted out the sky and nearly obscured the sun, along with the fleets of the Interastral Peace Corporation and the Family.
"Pearl, little Herta—the envoys have arrived. We should depart at once for the Blue International Diplomatic Hall. Our Soul Gem commercial contract will be negotiated there."
"Yes, Miss Herta."
"Yes, Herta Mom!"
Pearl responded with a bow, while little Herta answered earnestly.
"Make yourself a bit longer."
The Herta looked at the Herta Magic Wand floating in midair. "There are three of us going this time. The original length won't suffice."
"As you will, Madam Herta."
The moment the wand's voice fell, its body extended with the wind, reaching a full three meters in length.
The three swiftly mounted it.
Whoosh!
Carrying all three, the Herta Magic Wand shot forward like a gale, racing toward the Blue International Diplomatic Hall.
At its speed, it could circle the entire planet of The Blue in less than a day, let alone traverse the Blue Federation's territory.
In only a few minutes, the wand had already delivered the trio to the Blue International Diplomatic Hall.
From atop the wand, The Herta noticed someone already waiting above the hall.
It was a woman dressed as flamboyantly as a little peacock, her attire exquisitely ornate. Judging from her style alone, Herta determined that she would be well suited to wearing a Soul Gem and becoming a green magical girl.
At that moment, Herman's voice echoed within The Herta's mind.
'The one already inside the Blue International Diplomatic Hall is the Arbiter-General and Seer Strategist of the Xianzhou Yuque—an existence who holds the Yuque Talisman and leaves nothing uncalculated.'
'Her name is Yao Guang. I told you about her before. She underwent the Rainbow Ordainment and bore the Eight Arrows of The Hunt. She commands the mighty spiritus Kālacakra Skyplume, representing the perspective of Lan the Hunt among the seven aspects of The Hunt...'