"Just wait here for now, and wait for the great heroes who will save Penacony to return in triumph."
Soon after, the trio disembarked from the Astral Express and headed into The Reverie Hotel.
Acheron, having other matters to attend to, parted ways with Lumina and Herta in the hotel lobby.
Observing the bustling lobby filled with people, including several familiar faces, Herta remarked to Lumina beside her, "I bet you're not just waiting for them to return. You're here to "network" with those people in the lobby, aren't you?"
Seeing the several strikingly beautiful young women in the lobby, Herta couldn't possibly misunderstand what Lumina's little "crush" was about, could she?
Herta rolled her eyes in exasperation, abandoning any attempt at discipline.
"Ahem, making new friends is never a bad thing, right?" Caught off guard by Herta stealing her intended line, Lumina coughed awkwardly.
"Ah, yes, yes, yes. More 'friends' to 'get to know' intimately."
Lumina: ...
Though Herta's tone remained nonchalantly flat, why did it carry such a sarcastic edge to Lumina's ears?
"Go on, I'll stay here," Herta said, patting Lumina on the back and gesturing toward the IPC delegation nearby.
Lumina's lips twitched. What's with this feeling of being given permission by one's husband or wife to go cheat with a mistress?
Herta and I are friends—best friends at most. If we went any deeper, we'd become like a mother-daughter pair, each wanting to be the other's mother. What does that have to do with husbands and wives...?
The situation even stirred up a strange sense of guilt within her.
Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought. Screw the guilt! If Herta herself doesn't mind, what business is it of mine?
This strange mix of déjà vu and guilt didn't last long, quickly dissipating.
Looking at Herta's composed expression, her genius-like arrogance radiating before her, Lumina chuckled softly. She placed her hand on Herta's head and gently stroked her hair, undeterred by the girl's murderous glare.
"Little Herta, stay put. I'm going to make a friend."
Perhaps because Herta's gaze was too oppressive, Lumina only rubbed her head for a few seconds before withdrawing her hand.
After offering a motherly reminder, she turned and walked toward the IPC delegation.
"...sigh..."
Herta watched Lumina's retreating figure and let out a long sigh.
With a wave of her hand, a mirror materialized before her, revealing a face so exquisite it could compel the Aeon of Beauty to personally descend.
"Am I not beautiful enough? Am I not a beautiful girl in your eyes?" Herta murmured, reaching through the mirror to caress her reflection.
"Why..."
"Never mind. Let her do as she pleases..."
But Herta's melancholic mood didn't last long. With a dismissive flick of her wrist, the mirror vanished, and she swiftly returned to her usual composed demeanor.
Lumina can do whatever she wants. It's none of my business anyway.
It'd be best if that scheming woman tricked her out of everything...
Then she'd have no choice but to...
Herta thought to herself, a silent plan forming in her mind.
-
"Is Herta admiring herself again?"
Though Lumina and Herta had temporarily separated, they remained in the same grand hall. Herta's behavior of looking in the mirror naturally caught Lumina's eye.
Lumina could only assume it was vanity at play. After all... Madam Herta truly was stunningly beautiful o( ̄▽ ̄)ブ
"Miss Lumina, we are deeply grateful for your timely intervention to save Aventurine."
Just as Lumina was lost in her thoughts, mesmerized by Madam Herta's flawless beauty, the nearby IPC delegation noticed her standing alone, as if waiting for someone.
Two individuals who appeared to be leaders exchanged glances, conferred briefly, and then approached Lumina with genuine gratitude to express their thanks.
"Hmm... You're the Interastral Peace Corporation's Ten Stonehearts?" Hearing their voices, Lumina snapped out of her reverie. A faint smile curved her lips as she observed the pair before her.
After temporarily parting ways with Herta, Lumina didn't immediately strike out to "make friends." Instead, she stopped in a conspicuous yet easily noticeable spot.
Given her identity and her role in saving Aventurine on Penacony, she was certain the two would come to thank her.
At that moment, the initiative would be entirely hers to control.
And indeed, just as Lumina had anticipated, the pair approached to express their gratitude.
Lumina, of course, feigned ignorance and asked, "Who might you be?"
"I'm Topaz, from the Interastral Peace Corporation's Strategic Investment Department."
"And I'm Jade."
Topaz and Jade gave brief introductions.
"Ah, Miss Topaz and Miss Jade," Lumina said with a smile and a nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard Diamond mention you both."
"It's our honor to be remembered by Miss Lumina," Topaz replied.
Although Topaz and Jade had come to thank Lumina for saving Aventurine, they still needed to go through the customary business flattery ritual.
Even though Lumina didn't need such mutual praise, Topaz and Jade did.
Complimenting Lumina and making a good impression would make subsequent conversations easier...
Lumina nodded slightly, fully aware of their ulterior motives.
In essence, they were simply buttering her up. By stroking her ego, they hoped to make future negotiations smoother.
Unfazed, Lumina chuckled softly and said, "There's no need to thank me for Aventurine's rescue. Faced with an attack from an Emanator of Nihility, I would have intervened to save anyone—Aventurine or anyone else."
"But the fact remains that you saved him. The Interastral Peace Corporation will never forget this debt of gratitude," Topaz insisted.
"Is that so?"
Having dealt with the Interastral Peace Corporation for several Amber Eras, could Lumina truly be unaware of their true intentions?
They claimed to be thanking her for saving Aventurine, but in reality, they were simply trying to curry favor with her.
Even if the person she had saved wasn't Aventurine, but one of the IPC's lowest-ranking employees—a janitor, temporary worker, or intern—the company's top executives would still come personally to express their gratitude.
Don't ask why. Their explanation would be something like, "Every life deserves respect. Miss Lumina, your intervention saved a precious life within the corporation, and we are obligated to..." and so on, a barrage of meaningless platitudes that, when stripped of their flowery language, boiled down to a single point:
Find an excuse to shower Lumina with gifts, thereby currying favor with her.
Topaz and Jade standing before her were no different.
Without further contemplation, Lumina waved her hand and asked, "So, this time, what reward has the Interastral Peace Corporation prepared to repay my life-saving deed?"
Hearing this, Topaz and Jade exchanged a glance before Jade replied, "After deliberation by the corporation's board of directors, it has been decided to..."
"Never mind, don't bother," Lumina interrupted before she could finish. "I'll set the terms myself."
Hearing Jade's tone, Lumina could already predict her next sentence.
Most likely, they'll give me all the resources from the Asdana Star System, then publicize my virtues throughout the cosmos or something like that...
Lumina could recite this kind of "repayment" by heart.
How can the IPC still be using such tired clichés after all this time...?
Lumina shook her head inwardly, a touch of helplessness in her heart. Her gaze settled on Jade and Topaz, and she decided to personally define what "saving her life" entitled them to.
"Miss Lumina, please speak," Topaz said, a subtle hint of joy flickering across her and Jade's faces.
It seemed that, in their eyes, Lumina's personal "repayment" held far greater significance than any compensation offered by the company.
Hearing this, Lumina smiled faintly. Under their expectant gazes, she slowly revealed the reward for saving her life this time:
"As for a reward... I'll choose you."
"Us?"
"Yes, you."
Lumina smiled softly, her words carrying a hint of finality.