"Herta sneered, 'Quite the bold claim. You should know this is an invitation we proactively extended, right?'"

"'I saw it. I saw Its calculations.' Polka's tone was icy. 'A moment, a moment of struggle for the geniuses, is coming. Herta, Stephen Loid, Ruan Mei, Screwllum... and you, the insect who stumbled into the web. Struggle with all your might!'"

She turned her shattered face. Stelle felt a chill run down her spine — Polka was smiling.

—

Aotu World.

"W-wow... that's amazing! But I feel like I didn't understand a single word. Why does Polka want to kill Madam Herta and the others?" Jin scratched his head, completely unable to grasp phrases like 'a deity's thoughts use the flickering of starlight as neuronal discharges.'

Kelly took the lollipop out of her mouth and explained leisurely, "Jin, simply put, the Aeon of Erudition, Nous, has calculated a perfect future for the entire universe. This future is something we ordinary people simply cannot interfere with — or rather, all our actions are within Its calculations."

"Is the Aotu Tournament also within Its calculations?"

"Yes, even the tournament's ultimate winner has been calculated by It. Even the whereabouts of your sister are inside that iron head of Its... we just have no way of knowing." Kelly shrugged. "However, the future It calculated is based on one condition: the total sum of knowledge in the existing universe. As long as that total remains unchanged, no matter how much Madam Herta messes around, Polka wouldn't bother with her. But if her actions might affect the total sum of knowledge... no matter where in the universe Madam Herta is, Polka can find and kill her."

"I think Polka's approach is too rash." Zitang Huan clenched his fists. "Isn't an increase in the universe's total knowledge a good thing? Perhaps Nous could calculate an even more perfect future model based on the increased knowledge?"

"But your phrasing is 'perhaps' — meaning you yourself aren't sure." Grey said expressionlessly.

"But who can say for sure about the future?!"

Kelly shook her head. "No, Nous can perfectly calculate the 'definitive' future, and once a calculated 【Moment】 is set, it cannot be changed. Polka-Kakamond has already seen Its calculations — I suspect it should be a future favorable to the majority. To smoothly reach that future, Polka has been eliminating any potential 'variables' that might appear along the way. Judging by her words... many geniuses have likely tried to break through the knowledge boundary before, but she killed them all. The victims far exceed just the two 'Emperors.'"

"Moreover, not all knowledge is helpful to humanity." Grey reminded. "Take Rupert II, for example. If he had successfully self-coronated, he would have deduced the Anti-Life Equation and killed all organic and Inorganic Life in the universe. The emergence of the equation would indeed expand the total knowledge, but afterward... the cosmos would fall into utter silence."

—

A string of code emerged from the device in a way that defied common sense. Its data solidified, taking on a familiar form.

"Phew... finally got in. Hopefully, the Lord of Silence hasn't noticed yet..." Stephen Loid looked around warily.

"Can we take a photo together?" Seeing the familiar little yellow duck on its cartoon avatar, Stelle, who had been chased by Polka all this way, felt a sense of familiarity.

"Um... well, I reconstructed a calculation model and wrested back some permissions from the Lord of Silence." Stephen Loid awkwardly changed the subject.

"Cheating in a player-versus-player mode is a complete desecration of the game!" He tried to put on an indignant expression, but his demeanor still carried a hint of timidity.

As the cartoon avatar waved its little hand, the Scepter System, which had been blocked by Polka, came back online. But this tiny fluctuation was like a thunderclap in the Lord of Silence's observation.

Stephen took out the 'Frequency-Shift Catcher,' trying to hide his tracks. However, the next second, a candy-colored shadow materialized, appearing from the spot where Stephen had just been standing. It coalesced into form, crushing Stephen's data like a butterfly breaking out of its chrysalis.

Left with no choice, Stelle and Herta had to continue fleeing.

Soon, she caught the familiar scent of pastries, adorned with flowers of startled deer. Ruan Mei stood leisurely in the simulated laboratory, as if she had known from the very beginning that you would pass through here.

Seeing the candy-colored shadow trailing behind them, Stelle rarely saw Ruan Mei's lips without that usual hint of a smile.

"It seems you've found quite the dance partner for the Simulated Universe."

She slowly swallowed the pastry. "However, even the Lord of Silence wouldn't have thought that a micro-fragment is still hidden within the underlying code."

"..." Seeing Ruan Mei, Herta was visibly surprised. "I thought you wouldn't come."

"I've always been very concerned about matters involving the two of you." Ruan Mei's fingers rested on the lab bench; a slight tremor foretold the approaching hurricane. She unhurriedly opened the window, admiring the oncoming storm.

"Screwllum asked me to convey a message: the bait has been laid, waiting only for the prey to take it. I trust you can decipher this obscure metaphor."

—

Harry Potter.

"Polka-Kakamond can actually force four geniuses to join forces against her simultaneously? She... how is she so powerful?!" Hermione couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. "I thought she could at most fight Madam Herta to a draw..."

Madam Herta is said to have had several audiences with Nous, yet this Ms. Polka-Kakamond seems to understand Nous even better than she does. Could she also be an Emanator? This puzzled Hermione greatly.

"Don't underestimate any genius." Ron said lightly, spreading butter on his toast. "This Ms. Polka is clearly an experienced killer, well-versed in her craft. Moreover, she has lived longer than the other four geniuses combined. Such a long lifespan is enough for her to master any field. For geniuses, knowledge can be perfectly transformed into power."

"...And, I have another conjecture."

"What?" Harry cast a curious glance.

"Think about it carefully. Back when Rupert II created the Staffs, he imitated Nous's way of thinking. Those Staffs were all his external brains. Everyone, is it possible... that when Nous casts Its gaze upon those in the universe possessing extraordinary wisdom, It intends to regard these geniuses as external brains?"

"Although it sounds quite unbelievable... we can't rule out that possibility." Hermione stroked her chin, thinking carefully. While she didn't believe the Aeon had any need to do so, treating geniuses as Its own external brains was quite an extraordinary approach.