[HSRGSS] Chapter 87: A New Deal

When Lucian and Asta brought a Herta puppet with the serial number 89757 into Herta's laboratory, Herta herself was lazily reclining in her streamlined ergonomic chair, smiling with delight at a computer screen.

"Hmph, I've just banned forty-two of your accounts—let's see you try me again. What a pathetic little hacker."

It was obvious that Silver Wolf had already taken the hit.

In the first place, she never had a mysterious helper to back her up, so she naturally stood no chance against Herta's counterattack.

Seventy-six accounts, and she managed to save thirty-four, which was already impressive.

Lucian couldn't help but picture Silver Wolf's about-to-cry expression from the original story.

Even though it was Lucian who had done all of this hacking conspiracy, it was Silver Wolf who was taking the blame for him. No wonder Elio didn't want her to mess around with Lucian.

Needless to say, there was always some truth to what the older generation said.

"Yo, you're here."

Herta saw Lucian and Asta enter and immediately stood up, pointing at the Herta puppet Asta had brought.

"There you go, your 'Herta'—free labor for a hundred years."

It had a figure similar to Herta's childhood self, with a fixed, eternally polite smile on its face, looking a bit stiff.

However, Lucian couldn't bring himself to smile.

Just as he expected, Herta was playing word games with him.

"I want you, not a puppet."

Hearing Lucian's emotionless words, Herta smiled.

"How crude. Which one isn't me, the real thing or the puppet?"

"Look at the video—'Herta' working for you for a hundred years, right? Literally, it meets all your requirements."

Herta tilted her head slightly, her violet eyes sparkling with childlike mischief, as if she could see right through the secrets of the galaxy.

"I never said the 'real deal' had to do the work, did I?"

As she spoke, Herta spread her hands, as if showing off a flawless work of logic.

Meanwhile, Asta, upon hearing their conversation, felt her mind almost freeze.

Was this really something that narcissistic, empathy-lacking Madam Herta would say?

'Unless Mr. Lucian has something equally valuable.'

Asta could only guess this much.

Lucian did not look at the exquisite Herta puppet at all—his gaze passed over it, falling instead on Herta's face, which practically declared 'I've already won.'

In the next moment, a faint smile flickered at the corner of Lucian's mouth, like a stone dropped into a deep pool, stirring only a slight ripple before vanishing.

'Well, well, this woman really holds grudges, huh... Not willing to take a loss, not even a little... Interesting.'

Lucian then leaned close to Asta's ear and whispered something, his voice so low that only she could hear it.

Asta immediately went to fetch a cylinder projector device and placed it beside Lucian.

"In that case, I should keep my promise and let you see Droidhead."

Lucian looked up, calmly meeting Herta's suddenly sharp violet gaze, then pressed a nearly invisible sensor on the side of the cylinder.

"Here you go—the Droidhead you wanted to see so much."

Buzz—

A faint humming sound resounded, and soon, a slowly spinning, 3D hologram appeared at the top of the cylinder.

It was none other than Nous's 3D hologram.

Seeing this, the corners of Herta's mouth gradually dropped, and her smile faded.

"You... You're playing me?"

Herta questioned Lucian with disbelief in her eyes.

Lucian smiled indifferently and patted the head of the Herta puppet.

"Right back at you."

In an instant, the atmosphere became tense, which made Asta start to panic.

One was Madam Herta, and the other was obviously no pushover.

If these two really started a fight, it would be big trouble!

"H-Hey, let's all calm down, okay? Sit down and talk it out."

Asta grabbed Lucian's arm, hoping to act as a peacemaker, but he released his hand from her grip and turned around.

"We're even. Goodbye."

Leaving these words behind, Lucian walked toward the exit.

As Lucian looked like he was really about to leave, not caring about his relationship with her at all, Herta felt a very complicated mix of emotions.

Even though she had only known this man for a few days, and it was barely even a partnership, she felt a strange urge to make him stay.

In all her life, this was the first time she had ever wanted to keep someone from leaving.

Her instincts told her she would regret it if she let Lucian go—and she was someone who always trusted her instincts.

As for Lucian, his expression was calm as he walked, looking like he truly didn't care.

As he walked, however, Lucian muttered softly with each step he took.

"Three..."

One step.

"Two..."

Two steps.

"One..."

And on the third step...

"Wait!"

Herta suddenly shouted, then rushed over and grabbed Lucian's arm.

"It was just a joke, okay? No need to go that far!"

Asta, on the other hand, stood there in a daze, completely stunned.

She couldn't help it.

Was this really the first time Herta had ever gone out of her way to keep someone here? Even grabbing them herself while looking so desperate?

'Unbelievable... Is this really something Madam Herta would do?'

'Shouldn't she have just arrogantly given orders and told people to show him out like always?'

'Just what sort of leverage did Mr. Lucian have to make even Madam Herta back down?'

The more Asta thought about it, the more confused she became.

Meanwhile, Lucian's gaze returned to Herta's face, taking in her cheeks puffed out with embarrassment and frustration, her eyes full of unwillingness yet resignation.

Seeing her like this, Lucian's smile deepened just a little, a sense of calm coming from finally breaking the deadlock.

"Oh, it was a joke? I thought you were going to go back on your word. I should've known—the great genius and beautiful Madam Herta wouldn't be so shameless as to twist words and break promises, right?"

Lucian's words were laced with sarcasm, deliberately provoking Herta, which succeeded.

Now, Herta was so angry that she had nowhere to vent.

"Enough!"

"I, Herta myself, will work for you for ten years. In exchange, you have to let me meet the Nous in person at least five times. Deal or not?"

Herta shouted seriously and pulled Lucian's arm closer to herself.

It was clear she really wanted to keep him and was willing to compromise.

"Deal." Lucian nodded calmly. "Alright, to make sure you're convinced, I'll let you meet Nous tomorrow, then we'll sign the contract."

He was banking on Herta's desire.

She wanted to research Nous, maybe even ask THEM questions, to break through the knowledge singularity. Everything she wanted hinged on meeting THEM, but at this moment, only Lucian could make that happen.

As a result, Herta was utterly at Lucian's mercy.

If it had been anyone else, she would have blacklisted them on the spot.

Just like that, the two reached another agreement.

Lucian still gave Herta some face, agreeing to reduce her 'labor term' from a hundred years to just ten, so for the next ten years, she herself would be his top worker.

Asta, still in complete shock, stood silently by the side.

She had just wanted to break up the fight and keep things from getting out of hand, but now, what had she just heard?

'Madam Herta... working for Mr. Lucian for ten years... meeting Nous?'

How did these words even fit together in a single sentence?

It was just so unreal!

If the IPC, the Intelligentsia Guild, the Genius Society, the Blue, or the staff of Herta Space Station ever found out, their jaws would hit the floor.

In her heart, Asta was now full of admiration for Lucian because he was the first person to ever truly have the upper hand with Herta, which was something seriously impressive!

Done with the new deal, Herta quickly adjusted her mood and went back to her usual self.

"Now that we're on good terms again, let's get back to going after the Stellaron Hunters."

Right after saying this, Herta video called Screwllum with her mirror, with Lucian standing right beside her.

Before long, an intellitron appeared on the mirror—a robot with a machine head and a tuxedo, looking like a proper gentleman.

[Herta—]

Before Screwllum could even finish speaking, Herta immediately interrupted.

"Screwy, come to my space station. I need your help to deal with a big shot among the Stellaron Hunters."

[Logic: I am currently conducting experiments in a distant galaxy. I am unable to return to the space station for the time being.]

Upon hearing this, Herta quickly remembered that Lucian's spatial ability was quite advanced, so maybe he had a way.

However, just as Herta was about to turn to Lucian to ask, his face appeared right behind Screwllum in the mirror.

Herta: "Huh?"