"""Remembrance... fading?" Star didn't quite react for a moment."

""There are no secrets that time will not reveal. Due to some past events I'd rather not mention, I find it hard to trust anyone but myself. If you don't want a secret to be revealed, the most thorough method is to destroy it. The aftertaste of the anti-truth serum will make you forget this short period of time we spent together."

""It won't take effect immediately, but rather be a slow, hazy process—like the subtle fragrance of lotus leaves, plum blossoms, glutinous rice, and sugar frosting."

""This way, the bonds between lives will be erased. Friendship, secrets, entanglements, deception—all will vanish into thin air." Ms. Ruan Mei smiled slightly, "This will make us... more at ease."

""If you wish, I will."

""Mm, I believe you." Ruan Mei looked out at the azure planet outside the window. "Occasionally, I'll think of #55 Yu Qingtou; whenever we parted, she would always mix some delicious drinks for me. I hope I don't run into #4 Polka Kakame, or it might be very troublesome."

""I wonder when the next Genius Society gathering will be. Star, is there anything else you want to tell me?"

""Do you trust me now?"

"Ruan Mei closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly shook her head: "...I can't answer. Thank you, my assistant. But if there's a chance, if you're willing—once we meet again, we can go to the 'No Man's Land' together, sailing on the calm glaciers."

""But then, it wouldn't be 'No Man's Land' for either of us. What a difficult problem."

"……"

"The scene shifted, and Ruan Mei, having left Star, arrived alone at the containment laboratory below."

"Her fingertips brushed over the cold paper of the experimental records. Just as she was about to examine them closely, she suddenly felt a subtle touch on her ankle—"

"Looking down, the Cat Cake was rubbing against her fair ankle, while Cheese Sweetheart blinked its round eyes, its shumai-like body bouncing energetically, seemingly very excited by her arrival."

"Ruan Mei's lips curled up unconsciously."

"She gently put down the record book, turned her back, and elegantly clasped her hands behind her. No one saw her fingers subtly wiggling behind her back, drawing the two little ones to follow her every step."

"Cat Cake and Cheese Sweetheart bounced happily, leaving a trail of passing marks on the laboratory floor, following that perpetually rational yet now soft silhouette, disappearing into the halo at the corner."

"—"

"Dragon Raja."

""So, they broke up?" Johann Chu asked."

""Your question has a premise, which is that they were in a relationship," Caesar sighed. "—But clearly they weren't, and not only that, Ms. Ruan Mei intends to make the other person forget everything about her."

""But didn't Ruan Mei call her 'dear'? Whether now or in the movie, this term is usually only used between lovers. Is there another meaning?"

""...There's no meaning at all, Ruan Mei just said it casually. You see, when the collaboration ended, Star's title became 'assistant'."

"Caesar even started to feel it wasn't worth it for Star. To help her, Star not only almost risked her life, but in the end, she couldn't even keep the memories of their time together. No matter how you looked at it, it was a huge loss."

"However, seeing that she finally took her creations with her, Caesar felt that she was not as heartless and irresponsible as he had imagined—perhaps she still didn't understand what "love" was, but when she saw the two little ones rubbing against her, surely a corner of the iceberg in her heart must have melted?"

"—"

"Star went to Asta's place, intending to tell her the news of Ruan Mei's departure, when suddenly her phone rang. She opened it to see an anonymous chat group called "Herta's Investigation Team" was active."

"The content posted by the group members was quite unusual, mainly involving a major incident that had just occurred in the Herta Space Station, and many people were clamoring for accountability."

"A person named "Bill Gawa" sent a news brief. Star didn't know what to expect, but when she clicked on it, she nearly dropped her phone in shock."

""Madam Herta's Solo News Flash—Good evening, all you haters! We're interrupting now with an urgent news report."

""Recently, the great #83 Madam Herta of the Genius Society went missing after being attacked at the Herta Space Station. As of now, no organization has claimed responsibility for the incident."

"On the screen, a man was frantically accusing reporters, venting his anger."

""A large number of haters have therefore issued strong protests and severe condemnations against the management's oversight and inaction."

"The group was in an uproar over Madam Herta's disappearance, and it was clear that the entire Herta Space Station was in chaos because of Herta's situation."

"—"

"Baki."

""Madam Herta is missing? Was she kidnapped?"

"Retsu Kaioh's eyes widened. He couldn't imagine how many people in this universe would dare to kidnap an Emanator of Erudition. This was like someone on Earth daring to kidnap Hanma Yujiro—not to mention whether it could be done, the key was that the motive remained a mystery."

"Kidnapping Herta, could it be to ask the Emanator to wipe out the kidnappers in one go?"

""Hahaha, I'd like to see who has such guts to challenge an Emanator." Hanma Yujiro bared his fangs and laughed. "This is a provocation, isn't it? With Herta's personality, she will definitely accept it."

""But only her puppet was kidnapped, right? Not her true self; no one has seen what her true self looks like yet."

"Miyamoto Musashi lowered his head and took a sip of tea, slowly saying, "I don't think this will be an ordinary 'kidnapping.' Assuming someone truly dared to make a move on Herta, her true self would definitely pinpoint the puppet's location immediately and quickly deal with the opponent... With her power, it shouldn't be difficult to do."

""Indeed, I can't imagine Madam Herta suffering a loss," Hanayama Kaoru suddenly said. "Everyone, is there a possibility that the kidnappers are not human?"

"Tokugawa said solemnly, "Hanayama, what basis do you have for saying that?"

""No basis," Hanayama Kaoru shook his head honestly. "I just think that normal humans wouldn't do something as provocative as challenging an Emanator. If the other party truly has strength not inferior to Madam Herta, why would they secretly steal her puppet?"

"—"

"Star was about to go to Herta's office to check the situation when suddenly her vision went black and she lost consciousness. When she opened her eyes again, Mr. Screwllum and Asta seemed to be discussing something in front of her."

""Mr. Screwllum, this was a premeditated attack..."

""Conclusion: The enemy's target is the Herta Space Station. But the method... we still don't know."

"Asta was about to say something more when a familiar male voice suddenly interrupted her."

""That's right."

"As the words fell, a tall, slender young man slowly walked over. His golden pupils gleamed faintly in the gloom, like unextinguished stars in the night sky."

""This is also why we need her."