"Himeko, do you have any ideas about the current situation?"
Hearing Welt's words, Himeko paused for a moment before speaking.
"Mr. Argenti just mentioned that he and Mr. Velite were piloting a spacecraft in the cosmos to evade a giant true sting bug. Due to the influence of The Propagation's power, their spacecraft lost its autopilot function."
"That's why Mr. Argenti resorted to manual piloting, which ultimately led to rear-ending the train."
Himeko recounted the information she had just received from Argenti, then looked up at the puzzled group and continued.
"Everyone, please take a look at the scenery outside the window—a blood-red and dark expanse."
"In the records of the Cosmic Compendium, I've come across similar accounts. So, if my guess is correct, we're likely inside the belly of that giant true sting bug right now."
At her words, Miss March 7th widened her eyes in disbelief, and Stelle mirrored her reaction.
Even the usually calm and composed Dan Heng couldn't help but frown. Welt remained silent, seemingly contemplating how to escape this predicament.
"So that's why. Because we're inside the bug's belly, the spacecraft malfunctioned?" The red-haired knight Argenti had a moment of realization. After a brief pause, he seemed to make a decision.
Stepping forward, he performed a standard knight's salute to the group.
"Trailblazers of the Astral Express, I have an unreasonable request. I hope you'll agree to it."
"An unreasonable request?" Himeko's brows furrowed slightly. From her first impression of this Knight of Beauty, he didn't seem like someone who would make excessive demands.
"Yes. I hope the Trailblazers of the Astral Express can help me escort Mr. Velite to a safe location. As for me…"
The red-haired knight looked up, offering the group a resolute and elegant smile. "I have a plan to help everyone escape."
— — — —
"You're actually an emissary of Causality."
Upon learning Yun Fan's true identity, Miss Ruan Mei immediately displayed an intense level of excitement.
Without any reservation, she stepped forward, closely examining the boy's condition before reaching out with her delicate hand toward Yun Fan's jaw.
Yun Fan had anticipated Ruan Mei's behavior. After all, this woman was a fanatic life scientist.
Whenever she encountered a satisfactory specimen, she instinctively wanted to study it, and physical contact was a crucial way to assess an individual's health.
But how could our Mr. Yun Fan let her have her way?
'Slap!'
With a crisp sound, Yun Fan unhesitatingly grabbed her wrist just before her hand could reach his neck.
"Miss Ruan Mei, please have some self-respect. Overly forward girls aren't always appreciated by men."
"Appreciated? I'm sorry, I don't have such emotions, or rather, I've never experienced such feelings," Ruan Mei said, shaking her head, her beautiful eyes revealing a trace of confusion and bewilderment.
"If the 'appreciation' you're referring to is the instinctual reproductive behavior between organisms, then as long as you allow me to study your body, I can…"
Before Ruan Mei could finish her response, Lady Herta, who bore the title of Yun Fan's girlfriend, could no longer stand by.
She decisively wedged herself between the two, using her body as a barrier to forcibly separate Yun Fan and Ruan Mei.
After doing so, Herta looked up, glaring dangerously at Ruan Mei's expressionless face.
"Ruan Mei, we may be partners, but blatantly trying to steal my man right in front of me seems a bit inappropriate, don't you think?"
Facing the cold gaze of the mature girl, Miss Ruan Mei fell silent for a moment, seemingly lowering her head in shame.
Seeing this, Miss Herta let out a slight sigh of relief. But before her nerves could fully relax, Ruan Mei continued speaking.
"If you're worried that I'll compete with you for the position of main wife, Herta, then please don't be concerned. My relationship with Mr. Yun Fan is…"
"You're dead to me!!"
After a chaotic commotion, an exasperated Herta and a somewhat bewildered Ruan Mei finally settled down.
On the research lab's sofa, Herta and Yun Fan sat on one side, while Screwllum and Ruan Mei sat opposite them.
Once all four were seated, Lady Herta cleared her throat with a light cough.
"Before we proceed with the discussion and documentation of the life of the Aeon of Causality, Lord of Samsara, I need to make three points clear."
Lady Herta raised three fingers, her expression serious and her gaze solemn as she addressed Screwllum and Ruan Mei.
"First, Mr. Yun Fan was invited here at great cost to me. So, if you wish to use this data for experiments outside the Simulated Universe, you'll need to pay a price. Do you agree?"
"Agreed." "Of course, that's only reasonable," Screwllum and Ruan Mei responded affirmatively in unison.
"Good," Herta nodded with satisfaction, then raised two fingers and continued.
"The second point is somewhat related to the first. The data on the Aeon of Causality must not be shared with any third party. Do you agree?"
"Acceptable." "Seconded."
"And the third point."
Herta raised three fingers, her gaze slowly shifting until it landed on Ruan Mei.
"Ruan Mei, you must not, under any circumstances or methods, harbor improper thoughts toward Yun Fan. Do you dare to swear this on the Path?"
As her words fell, Herta's eyes locked onto Ruan Mei, who sat across from her, her gaze burning.
Hearing Herta's words, Yun Fan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Honestly, he hadn't expected Herta to be so possessive. There was no emotional foundation between them, yet she was still determined to keep him to herself, even against her "best friend."
"Ruan Mei, do you agree? Do you dare to swear on the Path?"