Fu Zhu's gaze burned with a certain fervor as he stared at the pair of black wings within the display cabinet. He whipped out his pickaxe and directly shattered the cabinet before him.
The next second, alarms blared. Crimson lights flashed incessantly within the room, making Fu Zhu pause, taken aback.
He hadn't triggered any alarms when he smashed a cabinet to get the Godfall Sword on the Herta Space Station before. However, it was also possible that the Herta Space Station was being invaded by the Anti-Matter Legion at the time, and systems like the alarms were damaged, which was why he hadn't triggered one back then.
Well, since the alarm had sounded, he might as well wait here for a bit. He figured Arlan and the others would come to check the situation soon enough, which would be a good opportunity to see them after so long.
Fu Zhu reached in and pulled the black wings from the display cabinet, examining them in his hand.
[Wind Glider]
[Currently Convertible: Elytra]
Indeed.
It looked exactly like wings; if it couldn't be converted into Elytra, Fu Zhu would have to suspect the system itself was blind.
However, Fu Zhu didn't rush to convert the Wind Glider into Elytra. Although he had acted on impulse just now, subconsciously continuing his MC behavior by smashing the display case, now that he had snapped back to reality, it was only proper to inform the owner of this Wind Glider, Herta, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.
Before long, a burst of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the Curio Collection Room.
Arlan, carrying a large power sword, rushed in with a team of Defense Section members.
He was about to see who was so audacious as to break into Ms. Herta's Curio Collection Room, but when he focused his eyes, he realized it was an old acquaintance.
Fu Zhu, holding the Wind Glider, waved cheerfully at Arlan.
"Arlan, long time no see."
"Mr. Fu, Mr. Fu Zhu? What are you doing here?"
Arlan was somewhat bewildered. He hadn't received any news of the Astral Express visiting, so why would Fu Zhu suddenly appear in the Curio Collection Room?
"Well, for some reason. Oh right, I triggered this alarm. Could you turn it off first? It's awfully noisy and affecting our conversation."
Arlan nodded, took out his phone, and operated it for a moment. The alarm immediately ceased. He then dismissed the Defense Section members before walking over to Fu Zhu, a somewhat strange expression on his face as he glanced at the Wind Glider in Fu Zhu's hand.
"Mr. Fu Zhu, even if you really like this curio, you can't just go smashing the cabinet... You should at least say something to the Young Mistress and Ms. Herta... The Young Mistress definitely isn't that stingy."
Arlan's lecture made Fu Zhu feel a bit embarrassed.
"Apologies, apologies. I'll personally go and explain to Asta and Herta later. Shall we walk and talk?"
"Alright."
Arlan led Fu Zhu out of the Curio Collection Room towards the main control module. Along the way, he asked Fu Zhu about the adventures the Astral Express had experienced since leaving the Herta Space Station.
Fu Zhu was naturally more than happy to share his adventurous tales, and the two chatted quite cheerfully.
"We're here. The Young Mistress is inside, but as for Ms. Herta, I'm not sure. She's rather mysterious."
Arlan stopped outside the main control module. He still had his daily patrol duties to attend to and couldn't chat with Fu Zhu any longer.
"Alright, see you later."
Fu Zhu bid Arlan farewell and walked into the main control module. At the head of the command room, he saw Asta, sitting gracefully and leisurely sipping red tea.
"Sis Asta."
Fu Zhu called out with a smile. Asta put down her teacup and turned around. Seeing Fu Zhu, a look of pleasant surprise blossomed on her face.
"Mr. Fu Zhu? What brings you to the space station? What about March 7th and Xing? Didn't they come with you?"
"It's just me. I arrived at the Herta Space Station due to a bit of an accident."
Fu Zhu explained casually. However, Asta's words reminded him that he should probably let March 7th and the others know he was safe.
After all, not even Jing Yuan knew about his ability to revive. If he was slow to inform them, Xing, that girl, might have already built his grave.
Or perhaps, she had directly run off to inherit his room on the Express.
After all, Pom-Pom had complained to him before that Xing was very lazy on the train, not even tidying her own room and just sleeping in cardboard boxes. Those who didn't know better might think the Astral Express was mistreating her!
"Mr. Fu Zhu? Fu Zhu?"
Asta called out twice, waving her small hand in front of Fu Zhu's face, finally pulling him back to reality from his thoughts.
"Sorry, I got distracted. By the way, Sis Asta, I wanted to ask, how much would it cost to buy this Wind Glider?"
Fu Zhu presented the Wind Glider in his hand for Asta to see.
Asta merely glanced at it, then touched her smooth chin and pondered, "There's no need for money."
"This curio was collected by Ms. Herta. She studied it for a while, then lost interest and placed it in the collection room. If you wish to take it, Ms. Herta probably wouldn't have any objections. Of course, it's still best to ask. Let me ask for you!"
Asta enthusiastically turned back to her computer, attempting to contact Herta. However, Herta was notorious for playing disappearing acts, so she wasn't certain if she could get through.
Fortunately, after the communication tone rang for nearly a minute, it connected.
"Asta? If you have something to say, say it quickly. I'm busy!"
"Ms. Herta, Mr. Fu Zhu is at the space station and has taken a liking to that curio of yours called the Wind Glider. He'd like to ask if you'd be willing to part with it. If you have any requirements, I can cover the cost for Mr. Fu Zhu."
"You make it sound like I'm some kind of money-grubber, little girl. Don't you know that in my eyes, credits are nothing more than a string of numbers! Wait a moment..."
Herta suddenly paused, then sharply questioned, "You said Fu Zhu? He's on the space station?"
"Yes, Mr. Fu Zhu has returned."
Click.
Asta looked at the disconnected communication with a puzzled expression, then turned to Fu Zhu with an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Mr. Fu Zhu, Ms. Herta seems to be... busy with something."
However, just as Asta finished speaking, a series of rapid, thudding footsteps approached from the side.
Fu Zhu and Asta turned their heads in unison, only to see a Herta puppet sprinting over. It came to an abrupt halt in front of Fu Zhu, then directly reached out and grabbed the clothes on Fu Zhu's stomach, turning to drag him away.
Yet, no matter how hard Herta exerted herself, even pulling Fu Zhu's clothes into a triangular shape, Fu Zhu remained steadfastly rooted to the spot, unmoving.
Fu Zhu, a bewildered look on his face, questioned the Herta puppet still struggling to pull his clothes, "Herta? What are you doing? Tugging at my clothes in broad daylight? Don't tell me you've taken up studying biology recently?"
Hearing this, Herta let go of Fu Zhu's clothes, turned around, crossed her arms, and retorted irritably.
"What time do I have to study biology? I have little interest in that area. I'm looking for you because of the Simulated Universe! Let's go! Into my room!"
With that, Herta reached out again, but this time she switched to grabbing Fu Zhu's hand.
Fu Zhu remained standing firm, unperturbed. He held up the Wind Glider and asked Herta, "Before we talk about any Simulated Universe, can you sell this Wind Glider or not?"
"What's there to ask about this piece of junk? If you want this junk, just take it! Let's go, hurry into my room!"
Once Herta agreed, Fu Zhu began to move, following her. At the same time, he didn't forget to turn his head and bid Asta farewell.
"Sis Asta, see you next time."
"Mm, alright."
Asta smiled and waved, but soon tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face as she tapped her lips with a finger.
"Why did Mr. Fu Zhu say 'see you next time'? Is he leaving again?"
Meanwhile, Fu Zhu, after converting the Wind Glider into Elytra, was impatiently dragged by Herta into her exclusive office.
As soon as they entered, Herta pointed to a machine filled with a sense of advanced technology in the very front.
"Take a look for me. Why is it that after I added that round stone you gave me, my Simulated Universe can no longer run simulations?"
Fu Zhu, looking completely bewildered, pointed a finger at his own nose, "Me?"
What did he know about any Simulated Universe? If it were Redstone technology, he might know a thing or two.
Wait a minute... Redstone?
Fu Zhu took out some Redstone dust and a lever, walked over to the Simulated Universe's main console, connected it to the lever with Redstone, and then pulled the lever.
However, nothing happened.
Instead, Herta went over to check and discovered that the main console, which had been running, had been forcibly shut down.
Herta turned her head and raised an eyebrow at Fu Zhu.
Fu Zhu spread his hands innocently, "From the looks of it, the Simulated Universe's inability to simulate isn't because you forgot to turn the computer on?"
The corner of Herta's eye twitched. She was a genius, not an idiot! How could she possibly forget something like turning on the computer!
Seeing that Fu Zhu couldn't provide any useful clues, Herta had no choice but to continue her research herself.
"I just feel like this new version of the Simulated Universe is missing some kind of key item. Isn't the round stone you provided enough? What else could it be missing? Fu Zhu, does your hometown have any other iconic things?"
"Iconic things?"
Fu Zhu couldn't help but cross his arms and ponder what other iconic things existed in MC. The first thing that came to his mind was the Grass Block, which served as the game's icon.
But Grass Blocks and round stones were fundamentally the same thing; both were among the most common blocks in MC. It was just that the Grass Block, to a certain extent, allowed players to immediately associate it with MC.
Besides that, what else was there that, even just by hearing its name, would instantly bring MC to mind?
Villagers? Iron Golems? Skeleton Archers? Endermen? Or perhaps, Zombies?
Wait a minute.....
Fu Zhu suddenly thought of a most crucial existence—the player! That is, Steve!
If there were no player, or rather, no Steve, then the entire world wouldn't exist. A game, that game save, is born for Steve. Even if Steve temporarily leaves, that world will pause time for Steve, just to wait for his return, so that the world remains as it was!
"Herta, I think I know what your Simulated Universe is missing."
"What's missing!"
"Me."