78 Chapter 78: Herta: Gotta Add Money!

Strictly speaking, at the beginning, Lady Herta didn't have high expectations for Chase. For a member of the Genius Club, the numerous and incredibly complex problems in the world seemed too simple to her, just like a high school graduate on Earth playing house with a child, completely lacking in challenge.

So when Chase mentioned wanting her help to achieve consciousness transfer across spaces, she was actually a bit disdainful. After all, for her, this was not a big problem.

The puppet network she currently controlled was a proof of that. She had long surpassed mere consciousness transfer.

But when Lady Herta saw Chase casually summoning a rift connecting to the imaginary space, and then pulling out a crystal filled with pure imaginary energy, she admitted that she was a bit unsettled.

What kind of technique is this?

Lady Herta could sense that the young man named Chase in front of her hadn't embarked on any path.

Those who hadn't embarked on path could only be treated as ordinary people in this world. Ordinary people, even if they trained their entire lives, would find it difficult to reach the heights of path walkers because ordinary people couldn't use imaginary energy through path. The martial arts that ordinary people exhausted their entire lives learning might just be a casual strike for a path walker.

But what did she see? Someone who hadn't embarked on path actually possessed space powers that even experts would find hard to master, not to mention directly bypassing path and using the power of imaginary space.

As the saying goes, the expert sees the door, while the layman sees the excitement.

Chase's casual actions made Lady Herta's recently extinguished passion for research ignite again.

Although the pure imaginary energy crystal Chase brought was very tempting and could provide research assistance for Herta's studies on imaginary space and the Tree of Existence, Lady Herta instinctively felt that Chase had even greater research value.

This was the intuition of a researcher.

Compared to the imaginary crystal with research significance, the Chase in front of her was like a coal mountain compared to a gold mountain, just a tip of the iceberg. Anyone with discerning eyes could see which one had more research value.

At this moment, in Lady Herta's eyes, Chase was no longer the dull young man who had disappointed her. He had become a treasure. Lady Herta was holding a big hammer, trying to knock some gold coins out of him.

So, Lady Herta straightforwardly extended an invitation to Chase:

"Do you want to research together with me? I'll study you."

After hearing the first half, Chase was initially happy, thinking that the second round of the Little Angel Resurrection Battle might have a chance. However, after hearing the second half, his mouth twitched, barely holding back a failed attempt at controlling his expression.

Oh no, awakened from a near-death illness, and the test subject is myself?!

He glanced at Welt, and Welt's calm brown eyes showed a hint of helplessness. Only now did Chase truly understand what Welt meant when he said that Lady Herta's personality wasn't exaggerated at all.

A truly whimsical researcher...

It seemed that Lady Herta had no idea of the impact her words had on Chase. She stared at him with her bright purple eyes, as if she wanted to devour him.

"How about it, want to research with me?" she repeated her invitation.

Bella timely stepped forward to stand in front of Chase. Even though she wasn't as tall as her big brother, she tried to show a fierce appearance, attempting to drive away this woman who had ulterior motives toward her big brother.

Chase, with a look of helplessness and indulgence in his eyes, patted Bella's head and smiled gently.

"This is my little sister, Bella," he introduced to Lady Herta. Lady Herta, with a pensive look, nodded, looking at the black-haired and black-eyed Chase and the blue-eyed Bella with grey hair, deep in thought.

The difference in their characteristics was too great. There was a high probability they weren't related by blood.

Beg me~ Chase really wanted to say this and see the woman desperately jumping around because she couldn't lower her face. That would be very interesting.

However, Stella had already proven the impracticality of this method through practice.

If Chase said this, Lady Herta would probably be delighted to beg him like a little sister, and then, in a matter-of-course way, drag him onto the dissection table in the laboratory.

He must put an end to Lady Herta's dangerous idea of independent scientific research.

After thinking for a moment, Chase gave his answer.

"Research is fine," he paused, and in Lady Herta's somewhat delighted eyes, continued, "but researching me is not."

Herta's smile, lifted because of joy, suddenly dropped, a formidable opponent indeed.

"Never mind, this isn't the place for a chat. Come to my office; it's quite spacious," Herta said, not upset.

"Can I sleep directly when I'm tired?" Chase inexplicably wanted to continue this conversation.

"If you want to, that's not impossible. However, I can't guarantee your safety while sleeping. You might find yourself lying on the operating table after being attacked by legion's virtual troops while asleep, and then you'll have to undergo my treatment," Herta replied. "But, where did you hear this joke from within the interstellar universe?"

"You have this joke on your planet too?" Chase was surprised.

So, this classic joke has transcended worlds and is still being spread.

But what does she mean by not guaranteeing my safety while sleeping, and virtual troops in her office? What kind of place is this?

"Hmm~" Herta neither confirmed nor denied, "Well, hurry up and come to my office. Stella will take you there. Remember to bring that imaginary crystal."

Stella finally had a say and immediately stood with hands on hips, saying, "Chase, let's go. I'll take you!"

Stella walked ahead on her own, leading the way with light and cheerful steps, looking somewhat happy, with a hint of triumph in her demeanor.

Chase naturally followed, but after walking for a while, he stopped and, seeing no sign of Herta moving, couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you coming with us?"

"I'll be waiting for you in my office," Herta replied as a matter of course.

"Ms. Herta has many puppets in the space station, not just this one..." Stella quietly approached Chase, passing on some information.

Chase understood instantly. Although he had been curious about Herta's puppet bodies when they first met, he didn't ask out of politeness. But now, after hearing Stella's words, he instantly grasped the situation.

No wonder when Chase proposed the question of "consciousness transfer" to Herta, her initial reaction was disinterest. It turns out she had already cracked it...

Chase let out a sigh of relief. Perhaps this lady Herta could really help the Little Angel win the second round of the resurrection battle.

But he wondered if the existing technology could also work on consciousness within the Stigmata's space...

...

Holding Bella's hand, Chase followed Stella to Herta's office and indeed saw a small Herta puppet waiting for them.

Well, it seems Stella was right; Herta does have many remotely controlled puppets. Chase encountered a few on the way here, but they all seemed disconnected, just standing there blankly.

"Yo, you finally came," Herta greeted as Chase approached.

After the greeting, she said to Stella, "Stella, quickly test my simulated universe."

Stella awkwardly smiled at Chase and walked over to the large machine, starting an immersive simulation experience.

"What is a simulated universe?" Chase couldn't help but wonder.

"It's a program written by four geniuses from the club," Herta seemed excited when talking about the simulated universe, pointing to the large machine. "It's like the world we live in but more streamlined and customized."

Talking about her creation, Herta seemed more talkative, losing some of the previous distance. "I call it the Meta-verse!"

"But the name seems to be a bit trendy, so I changed it to Simulated Universe."

Chase nodded in agreement. Herta had just vented her complaints, and he didn't know how to respond.

"Right," Herta agreed with a smile. "If you're interested, you can also experience it. It's free of charge."

Chase, however, showed disdain after hearing that. He stared at Herta, his eyes full of scorn for capitalists. "Stella told me you rewarded her for helping you test. Did I remember wrong, or is it you trying to exploit the information gap?"

Exploiting is shameful! Although he himself is a freeloader, that doesn't stop him from scolding those who want to freeload on him.

It's like a joke he once saw on the internet:

"I hate two types of people, one is racist, and the other is black."

Herta's smile instantly froze, and she originally wanted to coax Chase into testing the simulated universe and collecting more data, but it seemed that this plan was foiled.

Too bad.

A bit regretful, Herta walked to the control console of the simulated universe, making a slight adjustment.

"What are you doing?" Chase was curious.

"Adding some difficulty for Stella," Herta said indifferently.

Chase fell silent. Isn't there any acting?

"Never mind, let's talk about business." Herta adjusted the difficulty of the simulated universe, changing the topic and extending her hand towards Chase, palms open.

Chase was a bit puzzled and placed the prepared imaginary crystal on her hand. Herta naturally took it, indifferent, and continued, "What do you want me to help you with, consciousness transfer?"

After a pause, Herta continued, "In my opinion, your body is very healthy; there's no need for consciousness transfer."

"Not for me," Chase shook his head. "It's for my sister."

After hearing this, Herta looked at Chase with suspicion, then shifted her gaze to Bella, her purple pupils filled with puzzlement.

"Not Bella, my other sister," Chase seemed to have guessed what Herta was thinking, couldn't help but smile, and then showed the Stigmata Mark in the palm of his right hand.

[Stigmata Mark · Sirin: You possess all the abilities of the Herrscher Sirin.]

"This Stigmata Mark is a specialty from my hometown. The consciousness of my other sister is inside, but I can't find a way to bring her into the real world temporarily."

Herta relaxed her easygoing expression. Although she was already proficient in the research topic of consciousness transfer, it seemed that Chase added a prerequisite—

Consciousness transfer between the Stigmata Mark and reality. It's not as simple as the usual transfer between machine and machine, machine and biological, or biological and biological.

After all, Herta had never encountered a breakdown product like the Stigmata Mark before. If she wanted to achieve the kind of consciousness transfer Chase mentioned, she would have to first study the Stigmata Mark and then find a suitable container to receive the consciousness.

Thinking about it made her feel a headache.

However, it was indeed an opportunity to study something new, but...

After weighing the imaginary crystal in her hand, Herta spoke, "This simulated universe consumes a bit too much energy."

"What does Ms. Herta want to say?" Chase sighed helplessly.

"Gotta add money," Herta said indifferently.

Chase fell silent. He didn't expect to encounter a money-demanding monk even after changing worlds.

"Is this simulated universe your beloved relatives and friends, your brothers and sisters?" he asked, trying to negotiate.

"So, gotta add money." Herta naturally caught the cue. "Also, you're quite good at making jokes."

"Do you have the nerve to say that to me?" Chase looked at Herta disdainfully. He had spent a short time with Herta, but in this brief period, he completely removed the filter he had for high-end scientific geniuses.

Although he had seen genius scientists like Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein before, Herta, a genius with such a casual attitude, was something he had never seen.

Of course, the slight strangeness between him and Herta also dissipated because of these few playful interactions.

"What do you want?" Chase frowned, realizing he didn't have many impressive things to offer.

The Tai Xu Sword Qi? He himself hadn't fully understood it, and his sword heart had only reached the [Mirror], still a long way from [Tai Xu]. Moreover, of the five elements of Tai Xu, he had only mastered three, and this half-bottle of water wouldn't be impressive to a true genius like Herta.

The magic system he created in the second simulation? That was also not feasible; it was the happiness magic of Celine. How could he casually give it to someone else?

"Um... let me think," Herta looked at Chase, one finger gently tapping her cheek, lost in thought.

"Testing the simulated universe for me for free, how about that?" she proposed after some thought.

Chase could only reluctantly agree. He couldn't help but shift his gaze to Stella, who was still suffering in the simulated universe. He felt a sense of impending doom.

When he's in the simulation, he hopes Herta won't increase the difficulty too much.

At this moment, Stella emerged from the simulated universe, her hand touching her slightly swollen head. She asked Herta in confusion, "Why did the monster's difficulty suddenly increase halfway through?"

Herta remained composed. "It's just a random event; the system is being adjusted. It's normal to have glitches."

Chase turned his head, not daring to look at Stella.

He won't tell Stella that it's his fault that the difficulty suddenly increased.

Does Herta not say it? Then I won't either.