Chapter 193: Herta's Puppet Grand Harvest
"Hmph, you detestable brat, now you know Herta's formidable power, don't you!"
After Silver Wolf left, Herta scoffed disdainfully, as if dumping her gloomy mood into a trash can.
To be honest, against a Stellaron Hunter brat whose hacking skills could rival Screwllum's, it would be difficult for her, with her computing prowess, to completely crush them.
But even though Silver Wolf had some skill, she was still just a little brat.
"If one offends me, I will offend them back. If a little brat provokes me, they won't get off easy; I must strike hard and make her understand the baseness and cruelty of the adult world!"
For a net-addicted girl, was there anything more fitting than banning all her game accounts?
Thinking about how, at this very moment, the brat who had provoked her was probably clutching her computer and phone, staring at the ban notification, weeping bitterly and filled with regret, Herta's mood couldn't help but improve slightly.
"Screwllum, I'll leave the Simulated Universe to you for now. Caelus, bring that Curio mask and come with me."
Herta slapped away Stelle, who was secretly trying to lift her skirt, and turned to walk towards the back of the office.
"Where are we going?"
Caelus was delightedly looking at the amount of Stellar Jade on the System interface.
942 + 160 + 200 = 1302.
Less than two pulls until another ten-pull.
"The Curio Research Lab."
Punishing a hacker brat had lessened her gloom; researching an interesting Curio would improve her mood even more.
"OK."
Although the compensation hadn't been finalized, Caelus believed he wouldn't suffer any loss; after all, it was just assisting with research.
"Wait for me, I'm coming too!" Seeing this, Stelle quickly followed.
With functions similar to a Trailblaze Gate, there weren't many civilizations or factions in the inter-galactic realm that possessed short-distance spatial teleportation technology, but they weren't few either.
Even the Xianzhou Luofu had Dimension-hopping Paintings that could teleport short distances. For a genius like Herta, developing similar functional equipment was no challenge at all.
However, considering the energy consumed by a single spatial teleportation, teleportation devices were extremely cost-ineffective for non-essential situations. The space station only had a few teleportation points, and they were rarely used.
After teleporting Caelus and Stelle to the Curio Research Lab, Herta directly transferred her consciousness to a puppet that had long been kept in the lab.
The Curio Research Lab, located in the Storage Zone, houses many special analysis devices used for preliminary observation, interaction, and functional analysis of Curios.
"Place the mask into that force field generator. I'll conduct basic information tests first."
Herta bossed Caelus around without ceremony.
"Detection... completed. Next, summon the Shadow, and let the Shadow enter."
What followed was a simple, yet not entirely tedious, research session.
At Herta's request, Caelus cooperated in various types of tests, or brought detection equipment into the Shadow Realm to collect data.
There were also the Shadow Eaters, soldiers capable of devouring others' shadows. This was the most peculiar of the nine ninja types, and the main subject of research.
For Herta, Caelus's assistance was absolutely necessary.
The Curio, which Caelus referred to as the 'Tarakudo Mask', would infect ordinary people with the consciousness sealed within. Apart from Emanators, only a few powerful Pathstriders could completely ignore it.
Or special memetic life forms like the Memory Weavers of the Fount of Remembrance, otherwise they would be affected to some degree.
Naturally, none of the space station staff could resist Tarakudo's consciousness, and Herta also couldn't bear for that ugly mask to defile her great and beautiful face, so she could only let Caelus wear it.
For Caelus, with Herta's knowledge, he could understand the Shadow more deeply.
If he could grasp the essence of the Shadow, perhaps one day he could replace Tarakudo and become the true Shadow Emperor.
Failing that, it would at least be good if Herta could find a way to alter the appearance of the Shadow Soldiers!
Transforming the monstrous-looking ninjas into beautiful girl appearances would make the Shadows more pleasing to serve.
Stelle had no interest in researching the Shadow. After realizing she had never been to the Special Analysis Room before, she immediately became excited.
"Treasure chests, treasure chests, my treasure chests!"
Stelle, transforming into a gray-haired little raccoon, scurried around, rummaging through boxes and cabinets, searching for golden light.
Caelus and she had searched through all the ordinary areas of the space station multiple times, but there were some areas they lacked permission for and couldn't enter.
Given Stelle's previous precedent of destroying a biological thesis by a member of the Planar Ecology Department, even Sister Asta was hesitant to grant them access to certain important departments.
Research and testing continued for a long time.
"Peculiar energy, its waveform and operational method are completely different from Imaginary Energy... Perhaps, as you said, this can indeed be called a type of magic."
Faced with an incredibly interesting Curio and a brand-new energy system, Herta's gloom from the Simulated Universe being damaged again dissipated, and she revealed a joyful smile.
"Indeed," Caelus said, pulling off the mask from his face.
The power ceiling of the Jackie Chan Adventures world truly couldn't be quantified.
Once, Shendu fell into the demonic path and, with the Seven Demon Sorcerers, ruled Earth. Later, he was sealed within the Gates of Hell by Lu Dongbin, who had achieved immortality.
Chi Magic could be roughly equivalent to that of a 'Qi Cultivator'. For Lu Dongbin to achieve immortality meant there was a high probability of other immortals existing.
Understanding the essence of Shadow Magic and continuing to cultivate it might lead to becoming an immortal.
"Data collection is almost complete. You can go now. I'll send you a message when I need your cooperation."
As self-absorbed as ever, Herta waved her hand dismissively, truly like a heartless woman who kicks you out once she's done.
"Quickly take that fellow away."
Herta scowled, pointing at the Stellaron Ape who was confronting laboratory mice, crying out and roaring, throwing bottles and jars at each other, staging "The Little Raccoon and the Mouse."
"As for the Curio mask... leave it here for now. I'll send it back to you in a few days."
"No problem, no problem~"
Looking in Stelle's direction, Caelus smirked slyly, seizing the opportunity, and enduring the pain, he subtly hooked his right foot around his left ankle, and then forcefully tripped himself.
The sudden synchronized pain made Stelle, who was running, stumble, performing a flat fall. The weapon she was using to fight the mice hit her own head, and she was mocked by the other experimental subjects around her.
Stelle's small face immediately darkened. Her sharp gaze instantly locked onto Caelus. After a cold scoff, she made a 'nyah-nyah' face.
"Envious, aren't you? Envious? Well, you're not getting any!"
She found over a dozen Stellar Jade and went to show off to Caelus.
Caelus ignored Stelle and turned to Herta, rubbing three fingers together: "So, shouldn't you settle the testing fees for me, and the rental fee for the mask these past few days?"
Hearing that the test task rewards were being settled, Stelle suddenly jumped up with a "biu" sound, and with a "shua" sound, she kicked up a gust of wind and ran back to Caelus's side.
"And me! Mine too!"
"Oh, right, there's that too."
Herta's seemingly forgetful tone made Stelle's small face puff up.
"Don't rush, your rewards won't be forgotten."
Herta proudly lifted her head: "Speak, what do you want?"
Under Herta's regal and benevolent expression of granting rewards, Caelus excitedly rubbed his hands: "Just like we talked about before, puppets, puppets, give me tens of thousands of Herta puppets of various models!"
"Tens of thousands is a pipe dream."
Herta gave them an exasperated look.
"This mask, along with the rewards from several future tests, can be settled together. Giving you a few hundred is doable."
Only from puppet #0988 onwards did Herta begin to incorporate personalized AI intelligence into her puppets. All puppets before #0988 were identical, monotonous, and very boring.
Melting them down and remaking them would be a bit wasteful.
Giving these unchanging, boring puppets as a reward to Caelus and Stelle was not a bad way to deal with them.
"But, are you sure you want that many?"
"Give me some spatial storage equipment," Caelus said. He didn't think such equipment would be difficult for Herta.
Although there were many unique ability mechanisms in the energy systems of other worlds outside the Imaginary Tree, the differences in power systems within the Imaginary Tree wouldn't be too great.
On the continent of Teyvat, even Immortals could use the Serenitea Pot as a medium to create a realm of their own with adeptal power.
As an Emanator of Erudition and Genius Society #83, how difficult could it be for Herta to create a small world of several thousand square meters?
One should know that Ruan Mei once created a pocket, hoping to carry the universe with her, but eventually had to seal it because the dimensions within the pocket continuously expanded.
That thing could probably even hold galaxies!
"Spatial equipment, alright, what kind of style do you want?"
Herta didn't hesitate, merely showing a slightly bothered expression.
"Storage must be a ring; a necklace or bracelet would also work."
Caelus rubbed his chin: "As for the puppets..."
Puppets don't have infinite energy; they need to be charged or fed. In this regard, they were a bit inferior to the Shadow Soldiers, who neither ate nor drank and had no sensation.
"Let's start with a few dozen, and also help us customize automatic AI personalities. I want a wife-Herta, a mom-Herta, a daughter-Herta, an elder sister-Herta, a younger sister-Herta..."
"Mm-hmm!"
Stelle's eyes lit up as she nodded repeatedly: "Me too!"
Herta's mouth twitched, then she spat out one word: "Scram!"
"Puppet personalities are all randomly generated, and their bodies vary in functionality depending on their placement. If you want to change the AI, do it yourself; I don't have time."
Even if she had time, she'd be too lazy to change them, let alone into wife, mother, or daughter types.
"Hmm, alright then."
Caelus didn't insist; after all, he had his "good bro" around.
Silver Wolf's accounts were banned by Herta, so she must be resentful. If he asked her to modify the Herta puppet AI now, wouldn't she eagerly rush over?
He wouldn't even need to invoke 'Seele'; Silver Wolf would have to thank him.
"Then at least let us pick the basic AI personalities, alright?"
Although Silver Wolf should be able to change the AI, there was no need to change all of them; monotony wouldn't be fun.
"Tsk, fine, fine!" Herta rolled her eyes: "I'll send them to Herta City for you later, you can pick them yourselves there."
"Herta City? What's that place?"
Hearing this, both Caelus and Stelle were momentarily stunned.
"It's a city made up of my various puppets." Herta snatched the Tarakudo Mask from Caelus's hand.
"Holy moly! A place like that exists?" Caelus was astonished.
"Just how many puppets do you have?" Stelle's eyes widened.
"Currently, the serial numbers have reached #114514."
Herta raised an eyebrow: "However, Herta City is far from the space station, and I don't have time recently. So why don't you just pick from the puppets here at the space station?"
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