'Ruan Mei' recalled the speech given by Zero in the news recording.
An involuntary, wistful smile touched her lips.
The Giant of Light was growing up so fast.
In just a day or two. Zero was already capable of saying such things.
As for the name "Hope," she personally had no objections, regardless of whether she found it fitting or not.
Because it was a decision made by the Giants of Light.
'Ruan Mei' had always held a clear self-awareness; she was just an ordinary person.
Not nearly as noble as the Giants of Light.
So she generally wouldn't, and didn't dare, to meddle recklessly in the decisions of Zero and the others.
She was simply afraid her own mediocrity might influence them, leading to consequences she'd despise.
Like that classic trash trope of the defense force accidentally creating their own nemesis.
If she really messed up that badly, she'd be too ashamed to show her face.
Turning her gaze to her own panel:
Gacha pulls were still at 1, but the progress bar behind it was already more than half full.
This recent headline from The Company had netted her a decent amount of emotional value.
Time to pull!
'Pull,' 'Ruan Mei' silently commanded.
The familiar train sped past.
Then, from its doors, emerged that equally familiar golden radiance.
"Heh."
'Ruan Mei' let out a soft, resigned laugh.
Go on, then. Do your worst.
Even if you pulled someone from Amphoreus for me today, I wouldn't flinch.
With Big Herta's card already off cooldown and the progress bar past the halfway mark, this crappy system cranking up the difficulty couldn't stop her vacation plans now.
Just as she was thinking this…
A faint, subtle chill spread outwards with the golden light.
As the glow faded, a woman with white hair and an eyepatch stood before her.
'Ruan Mei' was stunned for a moment, then her expression quickly shifted to one of relief.
"Jingliu? Oh, so this is a free win?"
Seemed she'd misjudged this system.
Wasn't Jingliu's card just handing her points on a silver platter?
Baiheng was alive, Shuhu was dead by her own hand.
Jingliu was still happily serving as a Sword Champion.
She could just take a little vacation on the Luofu, and her gacha progress bar would shoot right up.
--+--
[Role-Playing System]
[Name: Bai Ming (Ruan Mei)]
[Lifespan: 300 Years (Paused) + 4 Days (Role-Playing)]
[Transformable Roles: Big Herta (Available), Acheron (Charge: 87.1%), Celenova (Charge: 45.9%), Ruan Mei (Active), Jingliu]
[Available Pulls: 0 (50.1%)]
--+--
As Ruan Mei lay back down, leisurely scrolling through the news again, and idly pondering how she'd spend her vacation on the Xianzhou…
Thud—
Her room door was shoved open.
Lady Herta strode inside.
She stopped by the bedside.
Looked down at 'Ruan Mei' lounging lazily on the bed, and said with clear disappointment:
"How can you just laze around at a time like this!"
"I'm not lazing around? I'm clearly awake?"
"Lying here wasting time is no different from sleeping. You might as well be asleep."
Herta launched a direct and sharp attack, utterly unimpressed.
The target of this attack, 'Ruan Mei', sighed and put her phone down, yawning as she sat up.
She was still wearing the pajamas Herta had given her:
"Haah… So, what brings you here so early, Lady Herta?"
"There's something I need you to handle. You know Screwllum, right?"
Herta crossed her arms, satisfied that Bai Ming had gotten up without a fuss.
She had no patience for people lazing in bed.
Ruan Mei nodded:
"Genius Society #76, Leader of Planet Screwllum, the Mechanical Planet. What about him?"
Truth be told, in her impression, Screwllum was actually the easiest to get along with among the few geniuses she'd met.
Not that Herta was hard to get along with.
But Herta had a sharp tongue and held grudges.
Ruan Mei was aloof by nature.
Screwllum was a gentleman.
While there were conspiracy theories that Screwllum was secretly planning something big, her impression of him from the game was quite positive.
"He probably heard about our project and specifically wants to exchange ideas."
Herta lifted her chin proudly.
A look of pure triumph on her face.
Another massively impressive line item for her resume.
Even Screwllum was seeking her out.
'Ruan Mei' nodded.
While she wasn't sure exactly which aspect had piqued Screwllum's curiosity…
But…
"Then go meet him. Haven't you always looked forward to interacting with different geniuses?"
"Ah, that's the issue."
Herta snapped her fingers:
"That Ruan Mei got an inspiration, said her goodbyes early this morning and left. And I need to focus on moving Herta City ASAP, so I can't dedicate my full attention right now. So, you! Go meet Screwllum for me!"
"Me? Go meet Screwllum? Seriously?"
'Ruan Mei' glanced at her panel.
She only had a few days left, and now she had to work overtime dealing with Screwllum?
"What? Don't tell me you don't even remember the things you created yourself?"
"It's not that. The knowledge I gained during the role is still my own."
"Then it's settled. Whether it's the AllSpark or the new Path, you were the lead. If you don't go, who will?"
Herta flicked the brim of her large hat, staring back as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
'Ruan Mei' saw the situation clearly.
It looked like this trip was unavoidable. But surely Lady Herta wouldn't just wash her hands of it completely?
Wasn't she always so interested in other geniuses?
"And what about you? I don't believe you have no interest in Screwllum?"
"I'll open a chatroom and listen in. The only reason I'm sending you is because I'm rebuilding Herta City and can't focus properly."
Herta poked 'Ruan Mei''s cheek with her finger.
Her tone dripping with 'what a stupid question'.
"Ugh, fine, fine…"
'Ruan Mei' swatted Herta's finger away.
"When is it?"
"Right now! He said he wants to consult us about energy solidification technology."
"So soon?!"
"Obviously. Did you think all geniuses waste time lounging around like you?"
Herta retorted irritably, yanking the covers off 'Ruan Mei'.
"Hurry up, get changed and get ready."
"...Alright then."
The slacking 'Ruan Mei' was forced to get up and go to work.
--+--
The exchange with Screwllum was actually quite pleasant.
Screwllum was even more of a gentleman than he was in the game, articulate and clear, without resorting to personal attacks like Herta.
He seemed interested in a major version iteration tailored to the characteristics of Intellitrons.
Hence his interest in the Giants of Light's energy solidification technology.
During their conversation, 'Ruan Mei' also recalled Amphoreus.
She began considering whether to create some data lifeforms capable of solidification, similar to Digimon.
Then she could release them on Amphoreus later, just to add a bit of difficulty for Zandar.
But that was definitely a project for the future.
Bai Ming was determined to take it easy for the next thirty days.
However…
As 'Ruan Mei' bid Herta farewell and traveled using the Phase Flame, an accident occurred.
The Phase Flame didn't take her to the Xianzhou.
Instead, it brought her to a strange world, dominated by a terrifyingly massive object hanging in the sky that looked for all the world like a black hole.
This meant she had accidentally entered an extremely powerful gravitational field, where every second she spent here could equate to months or even years passing in the outside world.
Of course, that wasn't the main issue. The truly incredible thing was that this world at her feet hadn't been torn apart, despite being so close to a black hole.
And then, right in front of her…
A figure clad in strange robes, adorned with symbols heavily associated with The Equilibrium, stood waiting.
"Greetings, honored one. I am an Arbitrator. My apologies, but by Their will, I must detain you here for a time."
"…"
'Ruan Mei''s heart sank.
Oh no. Was she about to get sucker-punched by The Equilibrium?
--+--