The next morning at dawn.
Wisteria Cake noticed an unfamiliar Herta puppet among them.
Her attire, her accessories—even the diamond on her magic hammer—far surpassed those of ordinary Herta puppets.
"Who are you?"
"Herta Ninety-Nine. Just call me Ninety-Nine."
Wisteria Cake studied her carefully. Then it hit her—this was the one who'd been giving Herta advice lately.
"You used to be Herta #99? The one stationed on the platform?"
Herta Ninety-Nine's expression soured.
"Wisteria Cake! When we're about to see Madam Ruan Mei, address me as Ninety-Nine. Honestly. 'Herta #99.'"
Wisteria Cake glanced at Herta.
Herta feigned composure with a cough.
"Enough. Ninety-Nine, Wisteria Cake—you're both part of my plan to win back Ruan Mei. Stop arguing."
---
The [Mirror] teleportation ended.
Herta, Ninety-Nine, Wisteria Cake, and the cat-cakes materialized.
One hundred thousand Herta puppets were already waiting. Ruan Mei, Tingyun, and Forgotten Cake stood farthest away.
Herta smirked dismissively.
"Interesting, Ruan Mei. How did you convince these puppets to help you?"
Herta #3156 snapped angrily.
"Herta! A just cause gains a lot of support. I served you for three Amber Eras—nearly five hundred years. And what happened? Dismissed over a trivial matter!"
"Your personality is terrible. Standing with Madam Ruan Mei is the correct calculation!!"
The other puppets echoed.
"Yes! The correct calculation!! Format the terrible Herta. Honor Madam Ruan Mei!"
Herta Ninety-Nine glared at them.
"Madam Herta is perfect. How can you stand against perfection?!"
Every puppet fell silent. Their remote praise mode was about to activate.
In unison, they chanted.
"Madam Herta, unmatched in the universe! Madam Herta..."
Tingyun sensed something wrong. She glanced at Ruan Mei.
"Benefactor Ruan Mei... will these puppets turn on us?"
Ruan Mei shook her head slightly. All signals in the lab were blocked. In an instant, every puppet snapped out of it.
"Everyone. Clear-headed now?"
"Yes!"
"Unleash your magic!!"
One hundred thousand Herta puppets raised their hammers and leaped into the air.
"Never seen—"
Herta yawned. Every puppet froze mid-air, suspended in time.
She walked through the void, step by step, toward Ruan Mei.
Thousands upon thousands of [Mirrors] materialized around her, reflecting her image—forming a kaleidoscope of space and time.
Tingyun and Forgotten Cake stared, dumbfounded.
Legend said Herta's research into space and time was unparalleled.
Witnessing her casually wield such power—everyone except Ruan Mei was stunned.
Even Wisteria Cake hadn't expected Herta to be this terrifying. And she wasn't following the plan.
Ruan Mei Cake whispered.
"How powerful is the real Herta? Why didn't she use this before?"
Wisteria Cake explained.
"The curios in Herta Space Station alone could destroy half the universe. The real Herta herself? An absolute unknown."
"Last time, she probably held back. To save face for Ruan Mei."
Wisteria Cake edged closer to Ruan Mei Cake. The stronger Herta is, the more outrageous my backing.
Ruan Mei Cake... you're mine.
Nearby, Silver Wolf Cake watched Herta with despair.
"Sigh. When will the real Silver Wolf reach even half of Herta's level?"
"Feels like revenge is far away."
Back at the space station, the real Silver Wolf—holding a universe-limited console—suddenly sneezed.
Ruan Mei sensed it. Space and time here were gradually converging with Herta City.
She had to admit: beneath the Aeons, aside from Polka—blessed by Nous—few could match Herta.
She played her lute. A cold plum blossom domain materialized.
Herta smiled and shook her head.
"Don't misunderstand, Ruan Mei. I just wanted to check my reflection. You know how much I care about my appearance."
Both domains shattered simultaneously.
When everyone came to, Herta stood before Ruan Mei. A gift box in her hand.
"Ruan Mei. When's your birthday?"
Ruan Mei set down her lute and accepted the box.
"The last day of next month."
Herta already knew. She just wanted an excuse to give the gift.
"Well... ahem. Consider this a birthday gift from the beginning of last Amber Era."
Ruan Mei opened it. Inside: an ordinary violet orchid.
Even Ruan Mei—stoic as she was—showed a flicker of confusion.
"Hmm? Not a curio? Not one of your pastries?"
"Well?"
Ruan Mei nodded slightly, her voice soft.
"Thank you. Oh, Herta, do you know the language of violets?"
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TL Note
Bonus Chapter Progress: 138/175