Only after the conversation with Ruan Mei was over did Herta's reply finally arrive—slow and late.
Since she usually responded first, this sudden delay left 'Sparkle' feeling a little unaccustomed for a moment.
[Big Herta: You need something?]
[Nameless: Are you busy?]
[Big Herta: It's all that mess you stirred up. The Interastral Peace Corporation is so concerned about Amphoreus they even reached out to the Land of Light. They never liked asking that place for help before.]
[Nameless: They care that much? I thought they'd just keep an eye on it.]
[Big Herta: …]
[Big Herta: Irontomb could overturn their entire rice bowl—of course they're panicking. If the IPC falls into chaos, the only power left free to roam the universe would be the Land of Light. They can't possibly let that happen.]
[Big Herta: Speaking of which, did you already know something like this would happen? Is that why you gave the Ultra the ability for individual hyperspace jumps?]
[Nameless: At the time, I just thought it'd be better to make their abilities well-rounded.]
[Big Herta: Anyway, I've also been called in by the IPC for technical support. The Lord of Silence seems to know something, but she didn't tell me.]
[Nameless: So this really does concern you. I'll head over to your place after I meet up with Screwllum.]
[Big Herta: What's so important you have to come here? Isn't the space station big enough for you to run around in?]
[Nameless: You'll know when I get there.]
[Big Herta: Tsk, fine then. I want to see what's got you so interested.]
After ending the chat with Herta, 'Sparkle' remembered that the Land of Light's law enforcement across the universe relied almost entirely on individual power, not technology.
Once Irontomb emerged, the IPC might not hold up, while the Land of Light could unexpectedly rise to prominence through this crisis.
Even if the Land of Light didn't necessarily have such ambitions, the IPC would definitely be wary of it.
No wonder they were being so proactive.
Cutting off the communication, 'Sparkle' first saw the Fictionologists safely back to the Land of Light, then returned to Herta Space Station after a long while.
As always, it was AI Herta who came out to greet her:
"You're back? Why the childlike form this time?"
"...It's not that small, is it?"
'Sparkle's' retort lacked conviction—Sparkle really was on the petite side.
AI Herta didn't dwell on it.
"Mr. Screwllum is expected to arrive at Herta Space Station in one system day."
"Got it. I'll wait here for him then."
'Sparkle' nodded.
She was starting to feel accustomed to treating Herta Space Station as her own territory.
Mainly because AI Herta had always acted that way toward her.
And crucially, Madam Herta herself didn't seem to mind.
Speaking of which.
If AI Herta was so capable, would Asta still join the space station as its station head in the future?
Bai Ming was deeply curious—after all the messy things she'd stirred up, what would the world look like when the main storyline began?
She wasn't sure exactly when Asta would arrive at the station, but considering the Stellaron Hunters were also starting to gather, it probably wouldn't be too many years from now.
If Herta never brought it up, she could always take the initiative and ask around herself.
Centuries had passed.
Compared to when it first launched, the space station was clearly much livelier now. The number of researchers onboard had also grown to quite a substantial figure.
Naturally, 'Sparkle's' appearance drew many eyes.
After all, a strange woman who looked like a child suddenly showing up at the station, accompanied constantly by AI Herta—it was only natural people would wonder.
If her appearance hadn't been so different, the researchers might have even speculated that 'Sparkle' was Madam Herta's secret lovechild or something.
"Hmm… the space station really has flourished, hasn't it? But why is the organizational structure and regulations still the same set I laid down back then?"
'Sparkle' casually picked up a passing transforming robot, checking the station's recent status through its screen.
She found that aside from more people coming and going, the rules were still the ones she had established.
"Madam Herta saw no need to change them, and neither did I. The academic atmosphere here remains quite good, so we kept them as they were."
"Mm… fair enough."
Letting the little robot go, 'Sparkle' wandered with interest toward the Curio containment sector, casually draping one of the station's white coats over herself.
According to AI Herta, the Curio she had left at the station long ago—Number 1, the AllSpark—had been analyzed and upgraded by Screwllum with Madam Herta's permission.
Since Screwllum wouldn't arrive for another day, she might as well go see what improvements he had made.
'Sparkle' made her way to the containment sector, to the chamber numbered [1].
The AllSpark remained there as before, unchanged.
But the explanatory notes written by Madam Herta herself had clearly been reviewed countless times by researchers over the years.
Well… it was a Curio analyzed by Madam Herta in person. The chance to see her handwritten notes alone was enough to send these scholars into raptures.
That much was understandable.
'Sparkle' wasn't in a hurry to retrieve the AllSpark.
Instead, she glanced at the explanatory notes beside it.
Screwllum had also left a handwritten note detailing the upgrades.
'Sparkle' browsed through it with keen interest.
Screwllum's perspective differed slightly from her own.
To him, a design that emphasized transformative ability to such an extreme would inevitably sacrifice structural stability for the sake of complexity.
On the other hand, the AllSpark's design philosophy also resonated, to some extent, with the combat style of Intellitrons.
Take Planet Screwllum, for example.
They fully embodied the hallmark Intellitron approach: upgradable, replaceable.
Through various modifications, each Intellitron unit could seamlessly transform into combat units of different sizes and roles, wielding integrated weapon systems as naturally as their own limbs.
In extreme situations, they could even merge multiple units into a single, upgraded super-warship or similar entity.
And the form of their bodies never affected the Intellitron's sense of self.
To Screwllum, while the AllSpark had its flaws, its transformative capabilities also held significant reference value.
Then there was the light-based lifeform later created by 'Sparkle' together with Herta and Ruan Mei.
That technology, which allowed free conversion between energy and matter—if combined with the concept of transformation and applied to Planet Screwllum—would undoubtedly push the entire technological capability of Planet Screwllum to a new generation.
This document recorded some of Screwllum's preliminary ideas and research in that direction.
Though still incomplete.
"Has Planet Screwllum completed the upgrade?"
"Mr. Screwllum only mentioned that he was satisfied with his visit to the space station that time. But over these past few centuries, Planet Screwllum hasn't demonstrated any similar capabilities. I'm not certain whether the iteration has been completed or not."
"Is that so…"
'Sparkle' raised an eyebrow.
In her view, given the level of completion shown in these notes, there was no way Screwllum would still be stuck on this technology after centuries.
He had most likely already finished the technological iteration but kept it as a hidden trump card.
--+--