"A Doomsday Beast?! There's still a Doomsday Beast?!"
Hearing March 7th's words, Asta's already tense nerves wound even tighter.
"Hey, listen to the whole sentence, will you!"
Seeing Asta's reaction, March 7th blinked in confusion. She then planted her hands on her hips, her expression turning a bit helpless.
Slowly and clearly, she said to Asta, "Their most dangerous Doomsday Beast has already been eliminated by Miss Sparkle!"
"Oh, oh, it's already been taken care of." After hearing March 7th repeat it, Asta let out a sigh of relief.
"May I ask, Miss March 7th, is that Miss Sparkle currently in the Space Station? I'd like to express my gratitude to her."
March 7th pointed a finger toward Clara.
"Right there. That's her."
Seeing this, Clara stepped forward and extended her hand to Asta.
"Sparkle, a Galaxy Ranger. Pleased to meet you."
"Hello, hello. I'm Asta, the Station Lead of the Space Station. Just call me Asta." Asta quickly reached out and shook her hand.
She then withdrew her hand, placing it over her chest, her expression utterly sincere.
"Thank you, Miss Sparkle, for eliminating a Doomsday Beast. On behalf of the Herta Space Station—erm—the Space Station, I extend to you our most heartfelt gratitude."
"It was nothing, really." Clara nodded, then gave Asta a meaningful wink, as if hinting at something.
Picking up on Clara's pointed look, Asta, as the Station Lead, understood instantly. She pulled out her phone, ready to add Clara's contact.
"Miss Sparkle, let's exchange contacts. I'll transfer you some funds first as a personal token of thanks."
"Once the Anti-Matter Legion's invasion of the Space Station is fully repelled, I will, on behalf of the station, provide you with a proper reward."
Hearing there was money involved, Clara reflexively went to pull out her own phone. But just as her hand slipped into her pocket and touched the device, she suddenly remembered something. Her movement froze, and she slowly withdrew her hand.
Wearing an awkward expression, she said:
"Um, I came to the Space Station in a bit of a hurry and forgot to bring my phone."
"Oh, that's okay. Do you have an account number? I can transfer some funds to you directly."
"Uh…" Clara faltered. She only had the one account, as far as she could recall.
If she gave out that account number, wouldn't she be exposing herself right away?
Thinking this, Clara's face instantly shifted to a mask of solemn righteousness:
"Station Lead Asta, you jest. We Galaxy Rangers uphold justice and vanquish evil. The Anti-Matter Legion represents the side of wickedness."
"My actions in eliminating them were not for any so-called reward."
"They commit atrocities everywhere, spreading Destruction. What I did was not for the Space Station alone, but for the peace of the universe."
"Therefore, let us dispense with any talk of payment."
Despite Clara's earnest, noble expression, internally her heart was probably bleeding…
Clara: 'The money… my sweet, sweet money…'
Clara's inner self silently made a vow.
She absolutely had to prepare several more accounts in the future, for the sake of accepting payments… ahem, for the sake of receiving… compensation for good deeds.
Hearing this, Asta's expression grew increasingly respectful. For those who asked for no reward and silently protected the universe, Asta held the highest regard. Therefore, she decided to respect Clara's stated wishes.
"Is that so? I hadn't realized Miss Sparkle was so principled and kind-hearted."
"In that case, I respect your choice. The Space Station will not offer you any material reward."
'Oh, come on! Don't do that!'
Hearing those words, Clara panicked internally.
'Those words just now were nonsense from a foolish child! Please, don't take them to heart!'
"But rest assured, while the Space Station will not provide material reward, we will forever remember your deed. You are always welcome here!"
"Your spirit will be passed down within this Space Station for all time!"
Asta's expression was utterly serious as she gave Clara a deep, formal bow.
Clara: "…"
Clara desperately wanted Asta to hurl money at her, but the words were already out. As a supposed "master," she couldn't very well take them back.
Thus, Clara could only manage a strained smile and nod at Asta, accepting her goodwill.
'Once, hundreds of millions of Credits were placed before me, but I did not cherish them. It is only after losing them that I feel regret. Nothing in this world is more painful than this. If Heaven would give me a second chance, I'd like to tell Asta three words:'
"'I want money!!!'"
'And if I had to specify an amount for this money, I wish it were… ten trillion.'
Clara's inner monologue was incredibly rich at that moment, but the others didn't notice, simply taking her for someone unmoved by worldly desires.
"Asta, now that the Space Station has been attacked by the Anti-Matter Legion, does Herta know about this?" Seeing the conversation between Clara and Asta conclude, Himeko spoke up.
Hearing this, Asta shook her head and sighed. "I don't know… I don't know what Madam Herta is doing right now. I haven't been able to contact her at all."
"To her, the Space Station is just a storage warehouse, a collection room. She probably doesn't even give it a second thought…"
"Who told you I don't give it a second thought?"
Just as Asta finished her sigh, a miniature Herta figurine silently appeared behind her and tapped her shoulder.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!!" Feeling the movement behind her, Asta was so startled her hair practically stood on end.
"Herta, you're here." Seeing Herta appear, Himeko offered a polite greeting.
"Mhm." Herta stepped out from behind Asta, coming into full view of the group.
"Hello, I am Herta."
She introduced herself with utter brevity.
Herta's gaze fell upon Stelle, and an inscrutable smile played on her lips.
"Well, well. The Stellaron vessel."
Seeing Herta's demeanor, Stelle shrank back a little nervously.
Noting Stelle's reaction, Herta paid it no mind. She then turned her gaze to Clara, her sharp eyes betraying a flicker of puzzlement.
'That's a familiar aura… feels like that pesky little raven-haired brat…'
"You…"
Just as Herta was about to ask Clara who she was, Clara gave her a deliberate wink, as if signaling something.
"…"
Herta: 'Huh?'
Clara: '^_^'
Herta: "…"
"Sister Herta, it's me, your dear little sister, Sparkle~"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten me…"
Clara clung to Herta's arm, her face a picture of aggrieved innocence.
Herta: "…"
…
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