"The space station is under invasion by the Antimatter Legion. Please, everyone, remain calm. I have already informed Ms. Herta."
"Ms. Herta has also responded. With her capabilities, the situation will be resolved swiftly!"
The moment Clara pushed open the door, she heard Asta's voice echoing from the broadcast.
"While the invaders are being dealt with, please stay safely inside your rooms."
"The rooms are constructed from the highest-grade materials and will absolutely guarantee your safety."
"Such hard work," Clara couldn't help but sigh softly as she listened to the ongoing broadcast.
Though Asta's voice sounded perfectly calm, Clara reckoned she was probably frantic with worry on the inside.
As for whether Asta had actually managed to contact Herta, Clara personally doubted it. Herta's office was pretty well insulated; she might not even have heard the explosions rocking the station. And with the fresh data on the Aeons just gathered from the Simulated Universe, she was likely completely absorbed in her research right now.
Asta was the only one on the station with direct access to Herta, but as the Lead Researcher, she was undoubtedly swamped—no spare moment to go looking for Herta.
Thinking it over, Clara realized Asta was probably using Herta's name to reassure and settle the station's personnel. After all, Herta's prestige here was sky-high. Invoking her name would surely help calm the staff.
"Hmm… wait a second."
Clara's eyes gleamed with a sudden thought. Wasn't this the perfect moment to make a fortune?
The timing, the place, the opportunity—everything was aligned. It'd be harder not to strike it rich now!
'Time to aim for that hundred-billion credit mark!'
"Hehehe~"
The thought of her balance soon boasting a hundred billion credits made Clara giggle gleefully to herself.
Just as she was lost in her daydream, the space above her head began to warp and twist. Several foot soldiers of the Antimatter Legion materialized right over her, poised to strike her down in one blow.
But the instant they were about to reach her, an immense pressure bore down on them, slamming the grunts flat onto the floor.
"Tsk tsk, and here I was, not even looking for trouble, yet you come knocking on my door?" Clara sauntered over to one of the Voidrunners and planted her foot on its head.
"Pay better attention in your next life."
With those words, she gradually increased the pressure, crushing the Voidrunner's skull beneath her heel.
Seeing their companion popped like a bubble, the remaining Voidrunners trembled uncontrollably.
"Mhm-hm~" Paying them no further mind, Clara hummed a tune and skipped merrily away.
"..."
Watching her retreating back, the remaining Voidrunners felt the oppressive force vanish and let out a collective sigh of relief. They shakily got to their feet, pausing for a fraction of a second in silent mourning for their obliterated fellow.
But just as they were about to turn tail and head home, they all froze in place… The next instant, explosions tore through their bodies, splattering blood across the entire corridor…
...
Master Control Zone
"Arlan, any luck reaching Ms. Herta?" Asta massaged her temples, staring at the large swathes of system failures displayed before her.
"Sorry, we still can't get through to Ms. Herta at all."
The boy beside her answered with a grave expression.
Station Master Asta had used Ms. Herta's name to temporarily pacify the personnel, but if this dragged on too long and they discovered Herta was completely in the dark about the situation…
Things would get messy then.
"Aran, I need you to cover the evacuation teams," Asta said, eyeing the multiplying red dots on the system map.
"Understood." Arlan nodded and promptly left.
"Phew… We can hold for now, but if that Doomsday Beast reaches the station…" At that thought, Asta bit her lip anxiously.
Just as she was racking her brain for a solution, a voice chimed in from behind.
"Asta, dear, seems you've hit a bit of a snag."
"Would the super adorable Miss Clara be of any assistance in easing your troubles?"
Clara appeared behind Asta and cheerfully patted her shoulder.
"Eek!" The sudden voice and touch made Asta jump, nearly stumbling to the floor.
Recognizing Clara, Asta inwardly sighed in relief. Recalling Clara's offer, she thought for a few seconds before asking:
"What payment would you require?"
Asta knew that hiring an Emanator would come at a steep price. But with Herta unreachable and the station lacking the firepower to counter a Doomsday Beast…
While the station's structural integrity was robust enough that a single Doomsday Beast would only cause limited damage, the real fallout would be her ruined reputation as Lead Researcher. She'd have no choice but to go home and inherit the family fortune then. /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~
Asta wanted no part of that.
Clara said nothing, merely raising a single finger.
Seeing that single digit, Asta gritted her teeth.
"Ten billion credits? Done."
"Huh?" Clara blinked in confusion.
"One hundred billion? Fine! But I'll need some time. I can give you an IOU," Asta added hastily, misreading Clara's stunned expression as dissatisfaction with the amount.
(Author's Note: The exchange rate between real-world currency and credits is roughly 1:100, so 100 billion credits = 1 billion real-world units. Hence, Asta can't produce it immediately. But not having it on hand doesn't mean she doesn't have it.)
"N-no… no need for that. I… I believe you, Miss Asta." Little Clara was utterly flabbergasted. She'd only been thinking of asking for one billion.
After all, it was just a Doomsday Beast. She could swat it like a fly—basically free money.
But she never expected… Asta was even more extravagant than she'd imagined. Throwing out ten billion had already dazed her. Then following up with a hundred billion? Clara was completely bowled over.
One hundred billion. Was she a hundred-billionaire now?
Snapping back to reality, Clara placed both hands on Asta's shoulders, her expression utterly serious.
"Asta, I promise you, him, and everyone—that Doomsday Beast won't even leave a scrap behind!"
Doomsday Beast: Seriously?
...
Clara: Regarding Asta (2)
Hah? How dare you speak my deity's revered name so casually?
…
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