CHIH 411-420 (Patreon)

First Part.

Chapter 411: Invitation

When under the gaze of an Aeon, one may encounter extraordinary opportunities.

Of these, wisdom is the most unique.

The gaze of The Erudition signifies that the recipient is a top genius in the universe, thus granting an opportunity to seek answers from the Droidhead.

Of course, the first to arrive was Fu Li. After recording the scene, They conjured a Light Cone and distributed it to everyone present before quickly leaving.

Nous noticed Fu Li's actions and rushed over to see what had happened.

What it saw shocked it. What kind of hidden dragon and phoenix could create such a thing in the universe?

This far exceeded Nous' calculations.

Therefore, it determined that Bronie, Vill-V, and Dr. Mei could be considered geniuses.

The story that had ended had been given a chance to continue. This scene, which almost overturned the laws of the Imaginary Tree, was something even Nous could not fully calculate.

Therefore, it wanted to gather more data to better understand this new and unknown variable.

Dr. Mei obtained the answer she sought. The answer given by Nous appeared in Vill-V's mind even before she asked the question.

Only this being born from the depths of the void could not be fully analyzed by Nous.

Because the power emanating from this being was simply too immense, it required time to slowly unravel. Nous felt, for the first time in a long time, the sensation of calculating an Aeon.

No, it also felt somewhat like calculating The Elation.

For some reason, Bronie also possessed that kind of chaos unique to The Elation.

"When will you stop calculating so that the future will no longer be certain because of your calculations?"

Bronie posed this question.

The more Bronie understood the powers of the Law of Truth, the more she realized that even if everything in the world could indeed be calculated, under the blessing of the power of imaginary numbers, this calculation would guide the direction of the Imaginary Tree to become absolutely fixed.

What if this fixed future leads to an apocalypse?

Bronie did not want such a scenario to occur.

The moment Bronie saw Nous, Nous trembled. It was a power that was similar yet different, a power truly walking the path of Erudition.

And the end of that path lay the Aeon.

So this was Bronie's question.

[It will stop after reaching its maximum variable in five years.]

Without needing to send knowledge into the other's brain, Nous answered Bronie's question in a mechanical, synthesized voice.

Five years.

That's quite a long time.

However, the problem wasn't too serious. Having received a satisfactory answer, Nous disappeared before Bronie's eyes.

The Aeon who followed was merely there for show.

After all, the earlier appearance had indeed attracted everyone's attention. Such an oddity had been born in the universe; who knew what impact it would have on the future of the universe?

However, the information about Nanook was clear: don't let Them encounter that; if They did, it would surely bring destruction to TARDIS.

The fact that the Aeons showed up here made Bronie feel a little uneasy.

What did the other party mean by this? Were they eyeing the TARDIS defense system?

Or were they worried about her, causing trouble like the other Aeon had?

Bronie didn't bother thinking about it. She snapped out of her reverie of worshipping the Aeon and looked at her dazed companions behind her.

"It's clear we've successfully created a history that even the universe will remember. This Light Cone is proof, and the answers we obtained earlier are proof as well. Be prepared! In the eyes of those gods, our Earth is as weak as summer snowflakes. One day, something an Aeon casually leaves behind might bring disaster to our planet. So be prepared for the arrival of a new era."

Bronie turned back and entered the coordinates of their next destination into the TARDIS control panel.

The breathing inside the TARDIS grew louder, and the slight tremors startled the still-stunned Vill-V.

"You're right, Bronie. Earth's civilization is facing an unprecedented challenge. Although it's a very long process, I think we still have a chance to witness it."

"Are the stars in the sky... enemies...?"

Kevin thought of Mei's words.

But only three seconds later, a heavy thud echoed from inside the TARDIS, and the whirring of the machinery gradually subsided, like an elevator reaching its destination.

"We're here, Earth, Antarctica!"

Bronie pushed through the crowd to the TARDIS door and gently opened it.

Outside was a frozen wasteland. A penguin happened to be passing by, staring in astonishment at the sudden light and the two-legged, hairless monkey in the distance.

Kevin had never seen anything like this before.

This wasn't a spaceship created using the power of the Herrscher of the Void.

How far was it from Earth to the Moon?

How much time had passed?

"This really is..." Kevin stepped out of the TARDIS. The biting wind and the penguin's calls told him it was all real.

He really had traveled from the Moon to Earth's Antarctica!

"I must say, you've truly made a magnificent invention. If space travel becomes this easy, the future of cosmic civilizations will be drastically change. If I were from the IPC, I would do everything in my power to get my hands on this."

Dr. Mei's words reminded Bronie.

The Aeon was greatly shocked this time, and it was unknown how many people in the IPC knew about it.

But at the very least, it was definitely on the Genius Society's list.

It's unclear which little genius came up with this idea, but as soon as Nous looked at someone, that genius's invention could directly mark that person for the Genius Society to send an invitation.

So Bronie, Vill-V, and Dr. Mei's names were directly marked, and even their appearances were recorded.

Herta, as the society's latest genius, naturally received the message about the new candidate members.

It's Earth... doesn't that sound like the hometown of those people who stole her doll a few years ago?!

Vill-V?

She didn't know her.

Bronie?

The face looked vaguely familiar, reminding her of that brat. However, seeing the maternal smile in the portrait, Herta immediately ruled her out.

This wasn't the Silver Wolf she knew before.

That Silver Wolf was just a brat, an arrogant nobody.

Finally, there was Mei. She looked ordinary, but receiving an invitation from the society meant she was no ordinary person.

Alright.

The universe was vast, but the sudden appearance of so many geniuses made Herta genuinely begin to take an interest in Earth.

Unfortunately, not only Herta but even the people at the IPC didn't know where this so-called Earth was.

The marketing department had run themselves ragged, even risking their lives to venture into star systems that even the Aeon had never visited, but they hadn't found any trace of Earth.

How could a civilization powerful enough to produce three geniuses so quickly be weak?

It's safe to say that even if you shoved the heads of everyone in the IPC down a toilet, they still wouldn't have imagined that such an absurd thing as the Cocoon of Finality existed, let alone that its utilization of the Imaginary Tree far surpassed that of most geniuses.

In this toxic environment, the geniuses and the Cocoon of Finality fought to a standstill. With their civilization severely damaged and unable to recover for a long time, their actions still managed to alarm Nous.

Who could have predicted this?

Herta had a clue. After all, Bronie had taken the entire Golden Courtyard on a bizarre space tour back then, which was indeed quite outrageous. Therefore, Herta figured that the scene must have been the result of an experiment conducted by some genius.

The Game for the Brave?

Presumably, that genius and Stephen got along very well.

....

"The IPC definitely wouldn't dare mess with me now. After all, if they angered me, I'd take TARDIS and head straight to their headquarters planet and burn their sun to a crisp. No one in the universe dares to easily provoke a genius, especially geniuses who have banded together in a Genius Society."

Joining a Genius Society has one advantage: you can find other kind-hearted geniuses to help you, exchanging favors for assistance, which greatly protects your safety.

Smart people know not to provoke geniuses, let alone an organization whose influence extends across almost the entire galaxy.

"So, Bronie, what are your goals next?"

Dr. Mei was pondering what she should do next, but leaving Earth clearly required Bronie's help, so she needed to know what Bronie, with TARDIS, planned to do next.

Whether she could hitch a ride on her coattails.

"Let's meet the geniuses first. I'm quite interested in their Simulated Universe project. After all, they want to simulate an Aeon through a Simulated Universe to glimpse an Aeon's essence. I want to transform it into a giant amusement park and also plan for the future development of TARDIS."

"So you still lean more toward the Path of Elation?"

"No, Dr. Mei. After Lily came along, my mindset has changed somewhat... Okay, don't look at me like that. I just want to know whether the Fool's confrontation with the Genius will produce some interesting results."

If the Fool defeats the so-called Genius, then wouldn't the Genius become a joke?

This would be a huge joke on the entire universe, and Bronie wanted to see everyone's reaction.

Therefore, when Bronie started talking about Lily, there was no trust in Dr. Mei's eyes.

"You want to deny those geniuses, but you yourself are a genius."

"Hmm... maybe I'm not actually a genius, just someone who pioneered a whole new field in exploring the laws of imaginary numbers?"

"My dear Bronie, excessive modesty is just narcissism! If this doesn't count as genius, what does? Ask yourself, how much of a role did we play in solving the problem of Finality? Who orchestrated our resurrection?" Vill-V couldn't stand it anymore. The more Bronie denied her talent, the more it hurt everyone else.

It's like the neighbor's kid saying they only got 99 on a test, one point short of a perfect score, and therefore feel like a failure.

Wouldn't the students who scored below 99 feel even worse?

"Alright, I figured that would do the trick, so I achieved the effect I wanted. But never mind, I'll be taking TARDIS to the Herta Space Station next. Want to try meeting some other geniuses?"

Poor Mobius wasn't included. It just goes to show that Mobius's path is too niche. Unless she truly cultivates an Aeon-level being, Ruan Mei will always be one step ahead.

However, Bronie still believed Mobius would achieve it sooner or later. Besides, the path of infinity she pursued wasn't the path that Nous was focused on. So no matter how talented she was, if she didn't meet Nous's selection criteria, she wouldn't be chosen.

As for Nous's selection criteria?

It's not just about possessing talent beyond the reach of mortals.

More importantly, it's about whether the genius is on the path that Nous requires.

"I don't think it's appropriate. After all, we don't know whether they're enemies or friends." Kevin was wary. His intuition told him these geniuses might not be entirely good people; they might even be madmen.

"Then shall I scout ahead?"

Vill-V was very interested in this. As for how many people she cared about in this world?

Not many.

"I think it's completely unnecessary. A simple exchange can confirm each other's talents. A smart person wouldn't go through the trouble of making an enemy of a genius. So, a simple tea break should suffice."

This was a high-EQ response from Dr. Mei. A low-EQ response would probably have been saying that Kevin was worrying unnecessarily.

Everyone here was intelligent; there was no need for such hostility from the start.

Since they were already here, they could simply leave if necessary. If things really turned sour, no one would have a good time.

Besides, everyone here was someone Nous had taken an interest in. Their research areas overlapped considerably. Perhaps they would need each other's help in the future.

"Let's choose TARDIS for tea. I'll set up a private meeting room and tea room, prepare some Earth specialties and pastries, and take care of the omnic food. I'm more familiar with that."

After confirming the location, Bronie began thinking about how to send an invitation.

Dr. Mei was also considering designing an invitation in her own way, while Vill-V suggested a magic trick.

Finally, Bronie decided to use a Herta doll to deliver the message, adding a fun little riddle to conceal the method of reply.

Then, after the Genius Society suddenly sent out three invitations, in the Herta Space Station's main control module, before everyone's eyes, a Herta doll suddenly plummeted from the sky and landed face-first in front of Asta.

Revealing a blue-and-white bowl of skin.

"Ms. Herta!? Are you... alright, doll?"

Asta didn't dare move, afraid Herta would misunderstand her. Heaven knew what had happened. Information about the Genius Society was all insider knowledge, and the IPC staff weren't influential enough to know everything immediately.

So Asta was quite surprised by Herta's sudden appearance.

Herta connected to the doll, controlling it to stand up and dust off imaginary dust.

"It's nothing. Three new, cautious juniors sent me an invitation and even set up some interesting little puzzles for me. Looks like they're experts in the field of imaginary numbers. Coming up with a conjecture from this angle... the society's going to be lively in the future!"

---

Chapter 412: Giving the Geniuses a Small Shock of Honkai

Bronie's puzzle wasn't particularly difficult, but after hacking into the Interastral Peace Corporation's network through the Herta Space Station's network, Bronie posed a problem that ordinary people couldn't access, but that Herta had definitely researched.

The difficulty wasn't high, but there were many solutions. The main purpose of the puzzle was to probe the other party's way of thinking.

This was a self-introduction for the geniuses, and also a clash of ideas.

Therefore, upon receiving the invitation, Herta's competitive spirit immediately flared up.

"Alright, alright, so this is how you play the game, huh?

"I'm going to show this puzzle to Screwllum!"

The solution wasn't too long, but Screwllum expressed that he was more concerned with the impact of the question on subsequent research than the question itself.

That is, the direction Bronie and the others were researching.

Behind the seemingly joking question lay an exploration of the Imaginary Tree and a concern for the future development of the world.

Perhaps the Aeon, walking a certain Path, was driving the development of the Imaginary Tree, which would trigger some terrible disaster.

Screwllum hadn't yet figured out exactly what the other party wanted to say, but the way the reply was given was somewhat peculiar.

"The other party used imaginary energy to build a temporary bridge. After designing the endpoint of transmission, no factor could interfere with the transmission. Once the cause was established, the process was no longer important. This method is worth our consideration and study."

Screwllum had already arrived at Herta's office. After both of them wrote down their answers, the envelope suddenly burst forth with imaginary energy and then disappeared from Herta's hand.

Herta hadn't quite seen what happened, but wasn't this method of communication a bit too extravagant?

"Hmph, I'll have to ask those guys how they did it. Maybe the network will never be limited by environment and distance again!"

Herta admitted that the method of communication was indeed a bit flashy, but there was no doubt that it contained some techniques she hadn't yet mastered.

But that didn't matter; if she just took a closer look, she might be able to figure it out.

She just didn't know how it was related to the mystery from before.

"Then let's look forward to it. But there's one thing you should be careful about, Ms. Herta: not all geniuses are good people."

Screwllum said this, but when had Herta ever been afraid of anyone?

Even if someone blew up the entire Herta Space Station, it certainly wouldn't harm her in the slightest.

And Screwllum wouldn't suffer much harm either. At most, the little princess of the Interastral Peace Corporation would be gone, and she would anger the entire Interastral Peace Corporation.

Then it wouldn't be her problem anymore.

"How long do you think it will take them to get here? The Interastral Peace Corporation has been searching for years and still can't find Earth's location. Are they hiding very well, or are they actually in a very remote place?" Herta felt a bit restless, so she started a conversation with Screwllum.

Screwllum pondered for a moment. "Deduction: Earth's location in the Milky Way should be remote rather than hidden, as hiding a planet is extremely difficult. The Interastral Peace Corporation commissioned the Garden of Recollection to search, but they found no valuable clues in the Memory Zone."

"Additional information: I saw in the Genius Society's internal information that an invitation was sent to Dr. Mei over three hundred Amber Eras ago, but Earth is in a very special location, so there was no response after the invitation was sent."

"Even the Memokeepers couldn't find it? Those guys are quite capable. I didn't expect that Dr. Mei received an invitation over three hundred Amber Eras ago. And then suddenly becoming active again after so long... could it be that she possesses time travel technology?"

"Perhaps, but I have detected an unknown fluctuation of imaginary energy, right here, right now. It seems the guest is about to arrive. Herta, please be aware of your surroundings."

Screwllum stood in front of Herta, looking at the empty office door. Herta, hiding behind Screwllum's tall mechanical body, curiously looked in the direction he was looking.

A faint ripple spread through the tranquil space as a phantom resembling the elevator of the Herta Space Station slowly appeared, gradually solidifying.

The TARDIS's breathing filled the office, its rhythmic cadence resonating with the two geniuses. Witnessing the unknown always stirred excitement.

The long road of scientific research might dull a genius's enthusiasm, but witnessing the unknown ignited their passion like the sun.

The elevator doors opened, and Bronie, gripping the edge of the doorframe, peered inside.

"Hi? Come on in. The TARDIS is about to depart. What you're about to see is something you've never experienced before."

Seeing only the two of them, Bronie invited them in with a smile.

"Question: What's behind this door?"

The others possessed synesthetic beacons, allowing them to understand each other, but Screwllum still remained cautious.

He realized that, upon truly meeting Bronie, her appearance was remarkably similar to Silver Wolf, one of the group that had kidnapped the Herta dolls.

It was like Silver Wolf after she had grown up.

That's strange.

Can people suddenly grow up in a short time?

Or did that girl use some kind of anti-aging method?

"This is the TARDIS cockpit, my future home for space exploration and also my future laboratory. It's a world that no one can enter."

Herta took a few steps and walked around the TARDIS twice.

"Why is it styled like the elevator in the Herta Space Station?"

"This is a cognitive filter. The TARDIS can modify its appearance to match the environment, reducing its presence in the eyes of others. The exterior of the TARDIS itself doesn't look very big."

"It does look small. Is it some kind of teleportation device? It doesn't seem like it..."

Herta looked at the thing and hesitated. Wouldn't the space inside be very small? Wouldn't it be terrible to be crammed together with the others?

With a skeptical mind, Herta entered the TARDIS, but what she saw was completely different from what she had observed before, and it shocked her deeply.

"Wait..."

Herta looked outside in disbelief, then back inside.

She then placed one hand on the outside of the doorframe and the other on the inside, trying to determine if she was hallucinating or if the interior space was truly as large as she perceived.

And the result was...

"The space inside is much larger than it appears from the outside!?"

"Truly a miraculous creation. It's clear your research in the realm of imaginary numbers far surpasses that of most geniuses. Does this mean your TARDIS can appear in any corner of the universe?"

"Theoretically, it's possible. The future goal is for this child to be able to easily travel to any location on the Tree of Existence—a time machine. Of course, the name TARDIS comes from the abbreviation of 'relative dimensions of time and space' in our language, which is also my expectation for this child's future."

"How big is it inside?"

"It can grow. Currently, it's only the size of a star system, but there's a lot of empty space, so it hasn't been fully utilized yet."

Bronie honestly answered Herta's question. After all, it wasn't a secret, so her tone even carried a hint of boasting.

Undoubtedly, Bronie was indeed showing off. After all, this thing had alarmed a true Aeon!

"Truly astonishing technology. Would you consider exchanging technology? I mean, if these technologies were applied appropriately, they could benefit the vast majority of civilizations in the universe."

Although he spoke about benefiting others, Bronie actually felt that Screwllum was testing her moral standards.

So, upon hearing this, Bronie simply rolled her eyes, dismissing Screwllum's words.

"Do you have that much time to care about whether those people are doing well or not? And Herta, do you think that if such advanced technology becomes widespread, people will use it in legitimate fields? Most technologies are first used for military purposes and then for everyday life, so let's not talk about these pointless topics."

In truth, Bronie knew that these two geniuses didn't care about others' situations and had no intention of revealing their technology. Unfortunately, they didn't understand her, so she definitely needed to express her thoughts to improve mutual understanding.

The TARDIS itself possessed an autopilot capability; the control panel was mostly for show. However, the ritualistic feel of launching a long-distance voyage was still necessary. Otherwise, Bronie felt something was missing.

Locking onto the target, then proceeding directly.

The steady breathing of the TARDIS wasn't noisy; instead, it gave one a sense of being protected by it.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot to introduce myself. I was born in the Sea of Quanta near Earth, so I'm considered Earth's savior, Bronie. The two over there who's still taking a nap are Dr. Mei and Dr. Vill-V. They are scientists who fought against a unique catastrophe on our Earth fifty thousand years ago."

Seeing Bronie introduce herself, Vill-V quickly removed her magic hat and offered a sincere greeting.

"I don't know if your world has a concept of day and night, so I'd like to wish you a good morning, noon, and evening~ I'm the magician Vill-V, and also another mother of the TARDIS! Bronie's role for me is..."

"Engineer!"

"Yes! That's right, an engineer. I never imagined she brought us here from fifty thousand years ago just to work for her and build the TARDIS. I should really hang her on the sun."

"Even hanging from a street lamp isn't enough for you..."

Bronie couldn't help but complain.

Dr. Mei who just woke up gently placed her hand on Vill-V's shoulder, comforting her.

"I am Mei. I met Nous fifty thousand years ago. Unfortunately, Earth's civilization was facing a life-or-death crisis at the time, and to preserve the flame of civilization, I didn't have time to respond to Nous's invitation."

Hearing their self-introductions, Herta's gaze toward Bronie began to change.

Curiosity?

Doubt?

Shock?

A complex mix of emotions formed in her eyes.

"Time travel? Are you kidding me?"

"Perhaps Earth's environment is unique, or perhaps the Imaginary Tree isn't as absolute as you think. The power of stories is altered by stories themselves. This is also part of my research—making miracles happen anytime, anywhere."

Bronie shrugged, indicating she wasn't joking.

At that moment, the TARDIS successfully landed.

"Where are we?"

Screwllum pondered what benefit the other party could gain from lying to him, but he couldn't fathom what advantage they could possibly have. So he decided to observe for now and change the subject.

"Dr. Mei, remember the snow globe I made before?"

"Wait, I remember you put it in the TARDIS..."

Mei found a drawer and pulled out a snow globe.

Sa's remains were inside. Sa's body had provided considerable assistance in the construction of the TARDIS, and even today, Mei could derive significant research results from this corpse.

"Found it!"

Mei took out the snow globe, and Bronie proudly approached.

"We're inside now!"

The snow globe contained a purple ocean, with a huge, bizarre humanoid body lying in the water like a drowned corpse washed ashore.

Atop the drowned corpse's head, a tiny TARDIS rested, its faint fluctuations of imaginary energy seemingly telling the two geniuses that this snow globe was actually a miniature world created using a special imaginary field.

"How many good things do you have left? How about I trade you some curios to play with?"

The opponent was a master of manipulating space and imaginary energy!

After a brief moment of surprise, Herta's competitive spirit instantly surged.

To put it another way, she felt her research field was being challenged, and if she failed, she would lose face in the Genius Society.

It was unclear whether Bronie did this intentionally or unintentionally.

But ultimately, the desire to explore the truth overcame this pointless competitive spirit. Thoroughly understanding the snow globe in Bronie's hands was more important than anything else.

The TARDIS doors opened again, and this time, Screwllum didn't hesitate and stepped out through them.

Looking through the door at the snow globe in Bronie's hand, a tiny Screwllum was inside. Screwllum's every movement corresponded to the miniature Screwllum's movements.

"Instead of exchanging artifacts, why don't we have a cup of tea and chat to understand what each other needs? Then we can negotiate the price!"

"Your actions... it's like the Masked Fools trying to sell me fakes!"

"Trading! That's right, one of the important behaviors in the early stages of human civilization was trading! Perhaps some core details can't be revealed, but I think with your talent, once you get a little inspiration from trading, you'll definitely be able to reach our level, right? So let's calm down and have a good talk. I think you won't be disappointed!"

----

Chapter 413: The Travel Plan

The tea party held atop the giant's head in the Sea of Quanta proceeded smoothly.

The food and tea prepared by Bronie were of the highest quality on Earth.

If described in stories, these dishes contained rich narratives, so much so that even the mechanical Screwllum could sense the splendor of Earth's civilization.

While no core technologies were exchanged, the interaction fostered a deeper understanding between the two sides.

For example, why would this civilization suddenly produce three geniuses? What exactly had Earth experienced?

There were also questions regarding the feasibility of time travel, the nature of the Imaginary Tree, and its correspondence with space-time.

The past cannot be changed, but if the Imaginary Tree itself—or rather, if one's authority is sufficient—can alter the past, then perhaps The Enigmata possesses similar power.

But Mythus and Nous are antagonistic. How did Bronie manage to reconcile them?

This brings us to the Sea of Quanta itself.

Later, Herta realized that studying only imaginary numbers was insufficient. The entire universe, the Imaginary Tree, and the Sea of Quanta together constituted the complete universe. Opening only a small, partial window to the truth would not reveal its full extent.

However, research on the Sea of Quanta was actually Herta's weakness.

For Screwllum, dealing with such an uncertain ocean was even more difficult.

To understand the rules of the Sea of Quanta, you could not precisely define them; you had to negate their definition. This uncertainty was something cold, mechanical calculations could never anticipate.

It was like a glass of water. You could not simply say it was water, but rather define it by what it was not. Only through massive negation could you barely define it as something roughly like water.

This was truly a challenge for the two geniuses, yet the drowned corpses floating in the Sea of Quanta seemed to tell a story.

Finally, with complex emotions, the two returned to Herta's office on the TARDIS, the taste of Earth's food still lingering on their lips and their minds already drifting toward the more distant path of truth.

"Screwllum, what do you think of those three?"

"Dr. Mei is a great leader who embodies both emotion and intuition, yet the orders she issues as a leader are absolutely rational. Her research talent in the Sea of Quanta is no less than yours or mine. As for Miss Vill-V, she split herself, creating the ascending Path of the Chaotic Spiral. Her pursuit of miracles far surpasses your pursuit of truth and mine."

Screwllum's analysis was quite good, especially regarding Vill-V's personality switching—Conductor, Magician, and Expert. Although only three were active, Screwllum could discern the hidden ones.

It could only be said that human emotions and thoughts were truly fascinating things. Screwllum had always been fascinated by these complex feelings.

"What about that show-off brat?"

"She probably had a baby recently, so she's displaying more maternal affection and childlike innocence. But that's just a new mask layered on top of her fundamental personality. Perhaps we can piece together what kind of person she is from the games she makes, or perhaps from her works."

As geniuses, they usually dedicated themselves entirely to the pursuit of truth. For them, scientific research was both work and entertainment, so they rarely pursued entertainment such as playing games.

However, Screwllum noticed the rabbit mask pinned to Bronie's waist and found a Masked Fool named Haxxor Bunny online. She had created many games and had attracted the attention of companies.

"But without a doubt, the technology and power she possesses far surpass those of a normal Emanator, so I have reason to suspect that she could embark on the path of an Aeon at any time. As for what the driving force behind her Path will be, we cannot tell yet."

Perhaps it was The Elation, or perhaps something else entirely.

"So tell me, can she really control time travel?"

"Ms. Herta, didn't you already have the answer in your heart when you asked that question?"

"Although I don't really want to admit it... Hmph, I guess she's better than me!"

Yes, after their exchange, the two geniuses pieced together everything Earth's civilization had experienced from Bronie's story.

The entire galaxy contains something called the Cocoon of Finality, which operates through the Imaginary Tree, constantly testing and transforming the civilizations within the galaxy.

The Venusian civilization and the Martian civilization were essentially complete failures.

Facing such calamity, Earth's civilization persevered to the end during the first era's cycle, preserving the spark of civilization and successfully resolving the crisis after it sprouted.

However, Bronie, as a child born in the Sea of Quanta, single-handedly gathered enough knowledge and resources to successfully free Earth's civilization from the Cocoon of Finality's calamity and fully master its powers.

After that, Bronie gained some authority over the Imaginary Tree, acquiring knowledge and technology from it.

From snippets of conversation, Screwllum could sense the troublesome nature of the Cocoon of Finality, especially the existence of the Herrschers, who essentially unleashed some form of imaginary power upon certain individuals, only to use it to destroy civilizations.

It was like a Stellaron.

No, the twelve Herrschers projected by the Cocoon of Finality were essentially twelve Stellarons, and they needed to be dealt with in a short period. This was indeed not a problem that a normally developing civilization could solve.

Therefore, the emergence of these three geniuses was quite reasonable.

"I'm really looking forward to Ms. Bronie supplementing us with data and rules regarding the Sea of Quanta in the upcoming simulated universe project, because The Remembrance, The Nihility, and The Enigmata are more active in the Sea of Quanta."

The goal was to simulate and nurture Aeons through a simulated universe, then contact them by fulfilling destinies, and finally inquire about the mysteries of the Aeon-filled universe.

Bronie seemed quite interested in the simulated universe, though it was more likely that she was interested in creating a real one.

After all, Screwllum sensed Bronie's ambition.

She was not content with merely controlling the Imaginary Tree; she wanted to thoroughly study it and then transfer it into her TARDIS.

Therefore, when Bronie said that the internal space of the TARDIS was only about the size of an ordinary star system, her complaint about its small size was genuine.

Screwllum felt conflicted about this.

An ordinary person would have simply dismissed it as an unrealistic dream.

But he was facing a genius even Nous recognized.

She... perhaps truly was walking ahead of everyone.

It was just that the air about her was rather heavy with mortal pleasure. Herta did not know whether this was a cruel joke played by The Elation or whether Bronie was truly on the Path of Erudition.

Let's just wait and see.

...

The Genius Society soon released its latest news: three geniuses had suddenly appeared. Whether these three geniuses wanted to communicate with others was unknown, and no one even had the means to obtain their contact information.

The IPC tried to contact Herta, as everyone hoped a genius could help the IPC expand its territory, thus increasing its power.

Unfortunately, Herta only brought back some of Dr. Mei's old papers—papers on fields the IPC had not yet explored, though they were not exactly cutting-edge technologies. She then stated that the three geniuses were all independent and uninterested in the IPC's invitation.

The IPC had no choice but to say that it would continue to monitor the situation and that if there were any research funding difficulties, it had plenty of money to help.

Although Bronie heard the message, she was not particularly interested.

After all, how could the IPC's logistics keep up with Bronie's mining speed in the Sea of Quanta?

Back on the moon, Bronie hugged Lily, who had come to greet her.

"Alright, we've made a deal with Aunt Herta! We can play there to our hearts' content from now on!"

Lily was lifted high into the air, letting out a happy laugh.

Although she did not understand what her mother was saying.

After hearing Bronie's words, Ellie looked at Mei and Vill-V, who were engrossed in reading a pile of books. She felt utterly ashamed of herself by comparison.

"So, Bronie, what new goals do you have now? It seems like you've made some kind of deal with those geniuses."

"Hehehe, of course! I just fooled them! Stealing the Herta Doll is history! From now on, I'm a member of the prestigious Genius Society! I'll definitely have more face when I go to the pub in Penacony!"

Bronie let Lily ride on her shoulders. This height was something Lily had never experienced before, and the novelty made her smile even brighter.

"Face!"

Lily repeated Bronie's words cooperatively.

"So satisfying vanity can be considered a form of pleasure?"

"Of course! But you should probably start packing. I'm going to build a new home in the TARDIS, along with a huge garden and amusement park. I could even bring over the scenery of the bygone Elysian Realm! But before that, I need to figure out how to get a sun."

"A sun... too?"

"Exactly! The interior of the TARDIS is too cold, so of course we need a sun to warm it up! One isn't enough, so we'll use two. If two aren't enough, we'll use three! But the easiest way to find a suitable sun is to find a star system that once housed a civilization."

Bronie stroked her chin, pondering which star systems in the universe were nearly destroyed and how she could salvage a sun from them.

Should she ask the people on the Astral Express?

Or should she go find the people from the Garden of Recollection?

But the Astral Express was not even operational yet. Even if she found them, getting help would be almost impossible.

Finally, Bronie focused her attention on the IPC's network.

Yes, the IPC had the widest information network, so all she needed to do was find the locations of a few planets largely destroyed by external disasters within the IPC's records, and she could find a sun.

After all, Bronie figured nobody really wanted a sun.

Aside from the people of the Garden of Recollection salvaging memories to preserve the past landscapes of those civilizations, who would want to stay on a planet belonging to a destroyed civilization for long?

Bronie figured there would not be many.

It was just scavenging, almost no different from what she was doing.

The only difference was that what she found was bigger.

"Finding a sun... I've never even thought about this before..."

Ellie marveled at Bronie's increasing skill. She had never imagined Bronie could pluck a sun and place it inside the TARDIS.

Bronie pointed to the sky. "What other people see as a sun is just a star here. Isn't that incredibly romantic?"

"Oh my! I hadn't even realized it until you said that!"

Ellie followed Bronie's finger toward the sky, unable to resist reaching out as if she really wanted to grab a star.

Sometimes, saying that the stars in the sky are actually suns can ruin the romantic atmosphere, but surprisingly, when Bronie said it, it became even more romantic.

She put Lily down from her shoulders and took Ellie to her room.

The atmosphere had reached that point, so there was nothing more for Lily to do.

Lily looked blankly at her two mothers leaving her behind, filled with immense confusion.

Unfortunately, she was destined to remain unaware of the fight her mothers were having next door, and also unaware of what it meant.

....

After a period of intense passion, Ellie asked, "Plucking the sun, and then? Any other plans?"

"Perfecting the simulated universe, and then going on vacation to Penacony! We'll leave the kids with Eden, borrow some money from Herta or Screwllum, and spend time in Penacony with just the two of us!"

Penacony was said to be a world-renowned vacation destination. Some people even worked their entire lives just to visit it once.

How could Bronie not be curious about such a place?

Although the family's grand celebration was still some time away, that did not stop Bronie from taking Ellie on a trip.

Most importantly, when there was no crisis, wasn't that place perfect for a vacation?

Ellie would definitely love it there.

"Is the baby really okay?"

Ellie was clearly concerned about the baby. After all, since Bronie gave birth to her, Ellie had felt a sense of responsibility and considered the child in everything she did.

"It's okay. Of course it's okay. We're just on our honeymoon, and in a way, it's also a site inspection for Eden's future concert. Eden will definitely be happy to help us take care of the baby!"

---

Chapter 414: A Date on a Star

Growing up in a research environment is important, but so is an artistic one; only then can one be considered well-rounded.

Without even a moment's attention to the girl's condition, Bronie handed the child over to Ellie and immediately began piloting the TARDIS to the world of Moonshield.

According to the company's records, the world of Moonshield had been completely destroyed by the Antimatter Legion. They were currently organizing a team to salvage the Memoria from that world. Then, primarily through the Garden of Recollection, they would reassemble this Memoria into a Bubble World in the Sea of Quanta.

In a way, this could be considered a form of preservation.

However, the workload was considerable, and the Garden of Recollection's Memokeepers also needed to expend a great deal of energy distinguishing which data was other people's imagination and which was data preserved from the real world.

Regarding the Garden of Recollection's actions, Bronie didn't find anything wrong with them, except for the method of reproducing civilization.

Were the lifeforms born within that civilization still the original lifeforms?

Bronie didn't think so.

Having witnessed resurrection before, Bronie was somewhat influenced by Otto and naturally leaned toward Otto's views.

She herself also carried some kind of continuation of her past, same of those Memory Replicas of the Elysian Realm, perhaps Mobius would be more accepting of this?

After learning about the situation in the world of Moonshield, Bronie piloted the TARDIS directly to the sun above the star system where Moonshield was located.

"Can you feel the heat?"

As the TARDIS hovered above the sun, Bronie boastfully opened the TARDIS's gate.

However, the sun's light and heat didn't flood in. Instead, the filter at the TARDIS's gate allowed Ellie to see the billowing flames on the sun's surface.

"What a beautiful sun! Countless wonders exist in the universe, yet stars are but tiny specks among them. Looking at one up close, I feel so small..."

The sun is significantly larger than Earth, so at such a close distance, opening the gates of the TARDIS revealed a scene of billowing flames engulfing the entire field of vision.

Especially since the gates of the TARDIS were directly facing the sun's surface.

"Yes, this magnificence is about to be mine! Watch closely. Don't blink!"

Bronie projected a control panel and remotely controlled the TARDIS to activate the capture system on the sun before her.

Although this was Bronie's first attempt at this, she felt it shouldn't be a problem.

She experimented with high temperatures using the power of the Herrscher of Flame.

She experimented with transfer using the power of the Herrscher of Void.

She even experimented with mass using the power of the Herrscher of Stars.

The final results showed that there were virtually no problems, so Bronie dared to try boldly.

A sun...

As the portal began to expand, even light could no longer penetrate it to reach the planet in the Moonshield world. The IPC members on Moonshield all ceased their work.

The same was true for the Memokeepers of the Garden of Recollection.

Such a massive, unknown entity was devouring the sun, and darkness gradually enveloped the entire galaxy. How could anyone resist stopping to observe?

Unfortunately, nothing could be discerned with the naked eye.

The Memokeepers could sense a vast flow of Ether and imaginary energy.

It was completely different from the power of The Destruction.

The IPC's instruments couldn't analyze much. They only sensed that this was perhaps a demonstration by a recently emerged genius.

Was this a demonstration?

The IPC personnel couldn't determine what this so-called genius was capable of.

However, the good news was that the TARDIS's appearance in space had been recorded. It resembled the exterior of a space station.

So who would build a space station so close to the sun?

This bizarre scene was ultimately dismissed as a disguise, but at least a clue had been found.

Unfortunately, the members of the Genius Society stated that the space station's appearance wasn't worth investigating further because the photo contained memes, meaning different people would observe completely different details.

Then the finger was pointed at the Garden of Recollection.

But the Garden of Recollection felt wronged. Having roamed freely through the universe for so long, where had they ever seen such a scene?

Using memes as a disguise?

While some memory users did possess this ability, it was fundamentally a very powerful technique. Normal memory users didn't have this capability. Besides, what use was a sun to a powerful memory user?

In the end, the IPC's people and the Garden of Recollection's people searched the original location of the sun for a long time but found no valuable clues. Even entering the Sea of Quanta at the scene didn't yield a single memory related to the culprit.

The universe, isn't it amazing?

The IPC members, including Diamon, had never witnessed such a scene before. They immediately reported it to their superiors, and the Interastral Peace Corporation broadcasting team compiled the incident into news and released it. This was a major event for everyone in the universe.

After all, there was a person like this in the universe.

Someone who could silently and suddenly arrive in your home star system and inexplicably steal your sun.

Who wouldn't be terrified?

The company members knew they had done many bad things. What if one day a member of the company was foolish enough to offend her? Wouldn't they suffer an undeserved disaster?

Fear stems from the unknown.

And Bronie displayed so much of the unknown that no one was quite sure what she was doing.

After seeing this news, Herta immediately thought of Bronie.

The memetic information from the photo gave Herta a sense of familiarity, and Screwllum's judgment further confirmed Herta's own thoughts.

[Herta: The guy who took someone's sun, was that you?]

[Haxxor: I thought nobody wanted this!]

This strange statement immediately told Herta that Bronie wasn't denying it.

Considering the size of the space inside the TARDIS.

It was quite reasonable for Bronie to take a sun.

[Herta: I didn't ask you for anything. People from the company were bothering me, so I just said a few words to get it over with. Do you need me to cover anything up for you?]

[Haxxor: Just say it was taken by the Masked Fool Haxxor. You've seen the mask before.]

[Herta: So you're not just a Genius, but also a Masked Fool?]

[Haxxor: Hahaha! Didn't expect that, did you? This is a mask personally issued by the Aeon. Although I don't know which unfortunate, pitiful person it came from, I really like this thing because it truly contains the Aeon's power.]

The Emanator of Nous is rather special. Although the Emanator's actions can indeed be considered Nous's will, Nous does not directly grant power.

As for the other Emanators, of course, it's different.

The Aeons occasionally provide goals, but also power.

Even The Elation is the same.

[Herta: I'm starting to suspect you're a Masked Fool sent by the Aeon to cause trouble.]

[Haxxor Bunny: Why don't you ask Nous?]

Nous has never been deceived by The Elation. Even though The Elation once gave all Their power to a bug, that bug still didn't gain Nous's attention.

But Bronie is different.

Even quite special.

A Masked Fool and a Genius?

First a genius, then acting like a fool—that's Herta's understanding of Bronie.

But is that right?

Herta doesn't know; only Bronie knows.

But as long as she cooperates with Herta's research and doesn't cause any major trouble, Herta doesn't care. After all, if she really causes trouble, neither Herta nor any other member of the Genius Society will let Bronie off the hook.

[Herta: I understand. And hurry up and come to the space station to test my Simulated Universe!]

[Haxxor: Let me have a drink with my wife on the surface of the new star we found first.]

Bronie is similar to the Masked Fools in her pursuit of pleasure and is a little capricious.

Herta, looking at the chat history, speechlessly told Screwllum about it.

Screwllum believed that having a lover can anchor one's emotions, and to some extent, emotions can help individuals think from different angles on the path of scientific research so as not to feel lonely on the road to pursuing truth.

Herta almost believed him.

After all, very few people in the Genius Society are married.

The path to pursuing truth is destined to be lonely because mortals cannot understand the thoughts of geniuses, and it is difficult for them to accept some of their ideas.

"The sun can burn everything, yet it doesn't feel scorching. No living thing can approach here, but you've made this place harmless. You're really becoming more and more romantic!"

Watching Bronie mold the surrounding flames into the shapes of flowers and even place a table on the surface of this sea of fire...

Ellie didn't know how Bronie handled gravity and temperature, but with such a beautiful scene, did she really need to think about those principles?

"Thanks to you, Ellie. You know, love always makes people instinctively learn some wonderful things. Aside from having children, I think romance is my greatest reward. We enjoy the most beautiful scenes in the universe together, creating beautiful memories."

A glass of wine was handed to Ellie.

Bronie transformed her clothes into a gown, looking elegant, noble, and even a little aggressive.

Ellie didn't dislike this side of Bronie. In fact, the old Bronie liked to do this too—it was incredibly endearing!

Taking the glass, Ellie smiled shyly.

"The stars are right beneath our feet~"

"Yes, the stars are right beneath our feet. If you want me to turn them into jewelry, that's not out of the question."

"No, I bet the IPC already got their eyes on you. The way you were playing on your phone earlier, you were probably communicating with Herta, right?"

"Miss Pink Elf, you're so observant! But geniuses are meant to be willful. Geniuses aren't bound by ethics and morality. The more the IPC stirs things up, the more likely it is to make a fool of itself. I'd love to see the IPC make a fool of itself. It's as funny as the IPC's slogan of preservation!"

"Indeed, the development of the Interastral Peace Corporation is truly full of dark humor. Expansion built on flesh and blood—was it really for the preservation of those civilizations? I don't know whether the IPC is good or bad..."

Precisely because the IPC is sometimes good and sometimes bad, but generally considered a good company, Bronie hasn't really targeted the Interastral Peace Corporation.

However, while the company's expansion is shady, Bronie doesn't mind giving them a taste of their own medicine just to teach them a lesson.

Not to uphold justice, but simply to make herself happy and feel satisfied.

"Why think so much? If they provoke me, I'll get back at them; if they try to please me, I'll take it. The world isn't that complicated. Strength is everything. Besides, even IPC won't get much out of Ellie."

"Oh dear, that's nothing compared to my darling! The universe is vast. Only after truly sensing a trace of an Aeon's aura did I realize there are so many great beings in this universe. That makes me even more curious about what Beauty is like..."

"Beauty... you can look up what the Knights of Beauty have done, and you'll know. Immersed in their own world and freely expressing their own aesthetics, they might have a great conversation with Ellie!"

"Do I have chuunibyou?"

Ellie felt something was off about Bronie's words. Why did those Knights of Beauty sound like Don Quixote?

"No, but there's a sense of martyrdom in them, those Knights of Beauty. Although their actions are rather comical right now, like a Don Quixote on a cosmic scale, their beliefs are pure and beautiful, just like yours, Ellie."

"Is today's Haxxor Bunny made of dessert? Such a sweet tongue!"

Perhaps due to the alcohol, Ellie's face began to flush.

"In my heart, Ellie is the most beautiful being! Even if a Knight of Beauty came, I would still proclaim Ellie's beauty to them!"

"Oh my, you're melting my heart~"

Amid this unique scenery, the romantic atmosphere Bronie created grew stronger and stronger.

On the surface of this sun, what wasn't fiery enough?

Two fiery hearts collided, igniting a passion hotter than the sun itself.

Two hours later, the TARDIS finally emitted the breathing sounds of its operation.

Inside Herta's office, the TARDIS landed in its classic London police box form.

"Herta! I'm here to test the Simulated Universe! I was thinking that if it's just a Simulated Universe, that's pretty boring. How about I offer some constructive suggestions to make it more interesting?"

"Like the games you made?"

Herta's answer was quite unexpected to Bronie.

Herta, you've played my games?

"You've played the games Giovanni helped me publish? That's great! So, how about it? Want to trust my talent?"

"When I hear you say, 'I was thinking,' I always have a bad feeling, but... why not? If you can offer constructive suggestions for the Simulated Universe, that would be even better."

Seeing Bronie's increasingly happy expression, Herta's heart skipped a beat, and she slightly regretted her decision...

----

Chapter 415: Simulated Universe Crashes

"So who is this? Can you introduce her to me?"

The little Herta doll stood with its hands on its hips, looking up at the ambitious pink-clad girl.

It had to be said, this pink-clad girl was quite pretty. If she had to compare, she'd be about seven-tenths as beautiful as her.

She only invited Bronie to experience the Simulated Universe, but she didn't expect Bronie to bring other people along, people she didn't even know.

Bronie pulled Elysia along, linking arms intimately, and introduced her. "This beautiful girl is named Elysia. She is my..."

"Husband!"

"Hmm?"

"The child is yours, so now I'm your husband!"

She didn't expect Elysia to have planted a trap here!

Bronie didn't deny it. Instead, she snuggled up to Elysia in a coquettish way and continued.

"Yes! That's right, it's my husband!"

"Hiss—" Herta looked at Elysia incredulously, then at Bronie in disbelief.

"Are you two serious?"

"We already have a child. Today, I brought Elysia here to experience the work of a genius. But don't worry about her interfering with our work. Elysia has always been by my side."

Seeing Bronie say this, Herta immediately took out various documents and transferred them to Bronie's phone.

"Alright, the Simulated Universe isn't completely perfect yet. You can look at these documents first. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Screwllum or Ruan Mei, or you can experience it yourself."

"Simulated Universe..."

"I was even thinking of naming it Metaverse."

Hearing Elysia repeat the name Simulated Universe, Herta was eager to share her naming sense.

However, the concept of the metaverse was initially a marketing ploy by capitalists seeking profit. Later, Earth's civilization discovered that its technology was insufficient to support its creation and thus declared it a scam.

Of course, similar scams also occurred within interstellar society under the economic umbrella of the Interastral Peace Corporation. It's just that everyone was busy with real life.

Who had the time to immerse themselves in the metaverse?

So, in the end, the metaverse issue fizzled out.

"The metaverse sounds even more fake. Simulated Universe would seem much more impressive! Think about it. If even the universe could be realistically simulated, wouldn't the person who created this device be a genius among geniuses?"

"You're quite pleasant to talk to!" Hearing Elysia's praise of the Simulated Universe, Herta immediately cheered up.

Alright, the slight dissatisfaction in her heart vanished instantly.

"They are indeed geniuses, and it's rare to see four geniuses working together, especially Screwllum's technology, which depicts the world with the precision of divine calculation. So, Elysia, would you like to dance with me in the Simulated Universe? Let's see if cold machinery can simulate our romantic dance."

"Sure!"

Herta saw Bronie extend her hand as if inviting Elysia and then realized that Bronie wanted to do something with Elysia in the Simulated Universe.

"Don't break my Simulated Universe!"

Bronie scoffed at Herta's warning.

"If it breaks, can the Simulated Universe still simulate the Aeon?"

"Tsk, that's easy to say, but don't cause too much pointless destruction!"

"Even if you say that, I know!"

Simulated Universe—

Activated!

Elysia and Bronie entered the Simulated Universe hand in hand.

Their consciousnesses were uploaded while their bodies temporarily stood at the entrance.

"Hey, can you hear me? How's it going?"

Herta's voice rang out in their minds, reminiscent of the Herrscher of Sentience's presence inside them years ago.

"Not bad."

"Good. Data is loading. Since there are two of you, we'll choose a familiar place you've both been to. Try to recall it as clearly as possible. The Simulated Universe will read this data and recreate it."

Bronie and Elysia exchanged a glance.

"Where should we choose?" Elysia asked.

"Elysian Realm. Isn't that where we first explored things deeply?"

"Okay~"

Beautiful memories flooded their minds, but then Screwllum's voice interrupted their reminiscence.

"I'm sorry, ladies, but if you're recalling the real world together, the Simulated Universe won't produce that kind of reading. If it's a virtual world formed by cognitive synesthesia, it will create many uncertainties in the data. Could we change the region?"

"Then how about New Zealand, Elysia? Do you remember where I proposed to you?"

"I'll never forget it~"

Watching their exchange, Herta hiding behind the screen sighed helplessly. Herta wanted to swear, but after racking her brain for profanities, she couldn't find many suitable words. Her mind was mostly filled with knowledge.

Are these two crazy?!

This is an experiment!

Damn it. After being force-fed this display of affection, Herta couldn't help but feel a little curious.

Is falling in love really that interesting?

Can even geniuses become addicted to it?

"A beautiful scene. I imagine you two created many wonderful memories together back then."

"Yes, Screwllum. This flower field was prepared by someone several months in advance. Besides its beautiful scenery, it also matches the battle scene you wanted."

"Was it Wendy?"

"And Durandal and the Honkai Beasts, a major feature of our hometown. You'll definitely love them."

Bronie snapped her fingers.

In the Simulated Universe, she created a portal with her own will and conjured Honkai Beasts from imaginary space, covering the garden.

Flowers were trampled, and broken petals fluttered in the wind.

"Truly intriguing silicon-based lifeforms. Their birth is quite peculiar. Is this the disaster that struck your homeland?"

The moment the Honkai Beasts appeared, Screwllum began paying attention to them. The peculiar energy form was similar to Imaginary Energy, but the method of application was Ether.

These two should never have been able to merge, yet they appeared together through Bronie's hands.

This energy could be used to create monsters that ordinary people couldn't handle.

The good news was that Bronie seemed to have complete control over this power.

"These are Honkai Beasts, the most common monsters in the disasters that ravaged our homeland. They can't communicate. Their only goal is to spread disaster and exterminate humanity. They appeared with the birth of civilization and persisted until its death."

Elysia drew her bow, shooting an arrow into a Honkai Beast's head. The Honkai Beast instantly transformed into a crystal flower and exploded.

Immediately afterward, another Honkai Beast was injured, and more crystal flowers grew from its wound.

"But isn't the power Elysia uses the same as Honkai? Only the way she uses it is a bit peculiar. Screwllum, have you noticed anything?"

"It's a bit complicated, but I feel it's similar to our conjecture."

"Is it that..." Herta pondered for a moment, but the data concerning the Aeon in the Simulated Universe panel suddenly began moving.

[Hahaha! Let me see which guest has come to our false world! Oh... my child of high hopes, the child who creates miracles! Do you remember our promise on the Imaginary Tree? Have you figured out what to do?]

"It's the Aeon of Elation. Damn it, how did They sense the situation in this world again? Bronie, don't talk to Them, otherwise there will be a lot of bugs in the Simulated Universe..."

"The one who made the promise with me wasn't you. It was that guy outside."

[Hahahaha! Aha, how embarrassing! I know! I knew it all along! But you're still on that path. If you're willing to do a good deed and make this world real, how about I bring you more fun?]

"It actually recognizes you? No, what promise did you make with the Aeons? No, this is clearly a Simulated Universe. How could it possibly have any connection with the Aeon outside?"

Herta was completely confused.

Just as the arrival of the Aeon of Elation would bring a chaotic and unpredictable future, the Aeon's current behavior was truly perplexing.

Even though Screwllum had set the Aeon of Elation's personality program to zero in terms of social ability, They still actively sought out Bronie.

What went wrong?

"Of course I'll consider it, but how about you cooperate with the geniuses' experiments first?"

[No way! Fools and geniuses are enemies! Aha, even if it's a huge loss of face, Aha absolutely won't listen to geniuses! Sigh]

With that, the Aeon disappeared from Bronie's location, while the Honkai Beasts had already been cleared away by Elysia. She then picked the most beautiful crystal flower and presented it to Bronie with both hands.

"Good news, the Aeon of Elation is gone. But bad news, the Aeon of Elation committed suicide, and there's been no movement from the other Aeon data."

Even across the Simulated Universe, Bronie could hear the helplessness in Screwllum's voice. He hadn't expected the Aeon of Elation to be the first to become active, but the topic the other party raised created even more questions.

Fortunately, things weren't entirely without progress.

"So, Bronie, what kind of deal did you make with the Aeon of Elation?"

Herta also noticed that Bronie and the Aeon were communicating in some way.

This was strange since the Aeons usually ignored everyone, whether in the real world or the Simulated Universe.

Herta had originally planned to find an anonymous guest disguised as the deceased Aeon of Trailblaze to speak with the other Aeons and obtain information from their interactions.

Could Bronie be an existence similar to an Aeon?

"Tell me, tell me, tell me... tell me... tell me..."

Suddenly, Bronie and Elysia's movements slowed drastically, and the entire Simulated Universe abruptly shut down.

The two were kicked out of the Simulated Universe, which gradually dimmed.

"What did you do?! Bronie?!"

This kind of error couldn't have been caused by normal means.

The entire Simulated Universe seemed to have been infected with a virus. But could a regular virus really affect the Simulated Universe?

Screwllum thought it was impossible. He was an Omnic, after all, and extremely knowledgeable about viruses. To prevent Rupert III's return, Screwllum had studied code alone for several Amber Eras.

"Probably because of me?" Elysia raised her hand and answered somewhat awkwardly.

"You used the power of a Herrscher, didn't you? The Herrscher of Humanity's power is very special. The Simulated Universe has probably never encountered such power before, so a system error occurred."

"I thought that since the Honkai Beasts had appeared, it should be fine... hahaha..."

Elysia awkwardly fiddled with her fingers, feeling very guilty. She had wanted to demonstrate her power and then dance with Bronie.

Unexpectedly, the Simulated Universe suddenly collapsed.

"So that's it. A power yet to be explored, a power completely beyond our calculations?"

Screwllum now clearly understood the true meaning of the disasters Earth had experienced. No wonder countless civilizations were destroyed, and three geniuses emerged after the disaster was overcome.

Who could withstand that?

"Nothing is unanalyzable. The power of the Herrschers, born from Honkai energy, causing the collapse of the Simulated Universe—doesn't that mean our understanding of this world has blind spots and biases?"

It's also possible that the Herrscher's power is a projection of Finality, so the Simulated Universe couldn't process something of such immense scale all at once and therefore crashed.

But would Bronie be the kind of person to admit it so easily?

Wouldn't she have to pay out of her own pocket then?

"Hmm... you have more secrets than I imagined..."

Herta's gaze toward Bronie began to wander, and when the Simulated Universe actually malfunctioned, a pained expression appeared on her face.

Leaving aside the extent of the damage to the Simulated Universe, the inspection and repairs alone would cost a fortune. Asta would certainly have something to say about that.

But the gains were greater than Herta had imagined.

Compared to other geniuses, Bronie clearly had a closer connection to the Aeons, and her power was also far greater than that of other geniuses.

While concealing her true power, she revealed a power called Honkai and incidentally created Honkai Beasts.

It's simply outrageous.

But it's also reasonable.

Geniuses are like that. They always like to hide their true selves. Geniuses who have experienced many disasters are even more guarded.

It's a miracle she didn't develop a twisted mentality.

"My agreement with Aha was to give Them more fun. What could be more fun than creating a real world and then giving Them even more? They probably want me to plant a new Tree of Existence, so don't worry. Aha has no designs on Nous."

After Bronie said this, Herta felt that her words were somewhat unbelievable.

There's no way around it. When dealing with a Masked Fool, it's best to be prepared to be fooled.

Next time she talked to Bronie, she would need to be more careful...

----

[Chapter 416: Next Stop, Penacony]

The Simulated Universe suddenly and inexplicably broke down. Seeing this, Herta hid somewhere, crying and making a scene.

After all, she had invested money and effort, painstakingly building the Simulated Universe, and even asked Ruan Mei to cultivate a virtual Aeon.

Even an Aeon like Nihility who possessed immense power could operate within the Simulated Universe.

But now, with Bronie's arrival—and it wasn't even Bronie doing the work—the massive amount of data directly overwhelmed the Simulated Universe's computing core.

Was this reasonable?

Of course not!

But Bronie had offered an explanation.

Countless civilizations in the universe are constantly suffering from disasters, and the disasters that Earth has experienced are quite unique.

Individuals known as Herrschers possess, to some extent, imaginary powers, and the primordial powers of the Herrscher of Human are exceptionally special.

The Tree of Imaginary Numbers is also known as the Tree of Existence.

So, what is the origin of the Tree of Existence?

Humans.

All existence is based on human thought, and the meaning of time is born from human perception.

Therefore, Bronie, together with Elysia, released her powers in the Simulated Universe, aiming to further expand its influence.

The final result was that the immense power of existence directly caused the Simulated Universe to crash. Behind the complex calculations lay infinite possibilities.

How could finite computing power possibly calculate an infinite future?

Looking at the test results, Screwllum couldn't help but wonder: what exactly was this Elysia beside Bronie?

Or rather, what had she become?

Could it be that Bronie's earlier promise to create a completely new Tree of Existence was true?

The difficulty of achieving this was immense. They had not even figured out what an Aeon truly was, yet they were already dreaming of surpassing and annihilating one.

Such words are usually uttered only by Masked Fools.

Geniuses could never truly make such a statement.

So, were a Masked Fool's words credible?

Bronie's every move left the geniuses bewildered and confused. It had to be said that the Masked Fool was incredibly adept at manipulating people's minds.

Especially those Fools who understood geniuses very well.

Sometimes, geniuses really became the Fool's source of amusement. While geniuses genuinely did not care much about mortal opinions, the problem was that some fools thought they were on par with geniuses and tried to challenge them.

This could cause trouble for the geniuses and force some foolish people from the IPC to re-evaluate them.

After much thought, Screwllum concluded that even as a Fool, Bronie was someone they could get along with.

After all, she was the creator of TARDIS, turning the impossible into possible. She could even easily analyze something like the synesthesia beacon directly from Herta's puppets.

This was not something a normal fool could do.

Therefore, Screwllum still believed in Bronie's talent and believed that even if Bronie fooled everyone, she would still find a way to obtain what she wanted.

Having confirmed this, Screwllum immediately bestowed upon Bronie permanent VIP status in Penacony, the kind that allowed her to bring two extra people in at any time.

Did the Penacony Family have any objections?

No, they were overjoyed.

Another genius had arrived in Penacony. Didn't this enhance Penacony's prestige as a resort destination?

No matter what kind of monster or demon the other party was, the Family's motto was inclusiveness, ensuring that everyone would be served comfortably.

So, after Bronie placed the order, all of Penacony sprang into action, preparing the most luxurious vacation experience for a newly born genius.

The peculiar TARDIS, once placed in its designated location, could not be moved by anyone, but this was already within the Family's expectations.

Screwllum had thoughtfully reminded the Family beforehand just how magical the TARDIS in Bronie's hands was. As long as it remained in place, even if the entire planet were destroyed, the TARDIS would still exist.

"Bronie, when you saw Penacony from outside, did it remind you of a spinning top?"

"Remember Inception on Earth? There are similar themes in the universe, and the most memorable thing about dreams is that spinning top."

Bronie's words made Ellie thoughtful.

"It seems like everyone's inspiration is similar?"

"Maybe the Creator God is being lazy again?"

"Hahahaha..."

If a Fool had said this, those who heard it would have only smiled knowingly.

But if a genius said it, Bronie would laugh at their panicked expressions.

Who could guarantee whether Bronie was speaking as a Masked Fool or a Genius?

Ellie sensed Bronie's unique sense of humor.

"So many people..." Entering the hotel lobby, Ellie was captivated by its opulent decorations.

Bronie had mentioned before that Penacony was once a huge prison. Later, its inhabitants joined The Harmony, forming families that transformed it into a resort.

She spoke of Penacony's history casually, but Ellie felt there must have been many stories behind it.

Looking at the constantly flying ball cages near the hotel lobby, Ellie realized that Penacony still retained a touch of its prison atmosphere.

Perhaps this was an indispensable part of Penacony's culture.

"Let me tell you, the average net worth of Penacony residents is a whopping 3.5 billion credits!"

"Wow! That much money?"

"Hehe, of course!"

"But do we have enough money to spend?"

"Well... don't worry about that. First, the game Mr. Giovanni helped me release has received extremely high praise throughout the universe. With so many people in the universe, sales are much higher than on Earth!"

"How much?"

"After taxes and Giovanni's share, it's 300 million so far, and there will be more to come. Plus, I published a paper for the IPC on some basic theories of Ether, which is currently a relatively unexplored field within the Genius Society. That brought in another billion or so."

Bronie still found those numbers a little unreal. But when she thought about the sheer amount of credits in her account, everything seemed absurd.

A few games.

A paper.

Was that all it took?

Others might work their whole lives and still not be able to spend that much here, even during a short visit. The gap in ability and Bronie's subjective perception was indeed enormous.

It was fair to say that the original Danganronpa setting had been a bit conservative.

As for the paper, Bronie felt it was a trap set by the IPC.

They were trying to corrupt a genius with dirty money.

Of course, no genius would fall for such a pointless trick, but the goal of currying favor had certainly been achieved.

It just went to show that there were quite a few smart people within the IPC.

"This is outrageous. This world..."

"That's why there are so many Masked Fools!"

With that, Bronie, arm in arm with Ellie, went to the front desk of the Reverie Hotel.

After identifying themselves, the staff were visibly shocked and immediately became extremely respectful.

As expected of a top-tier service industry leader in the current universe, their service was impeccable.

Within minutes, their Dream Passes were expedited and delivered to them. Then, led by members of the Hound Family, they arrived at their respective section of the Reverie Hotel.

"Here, guests can enjoy dances, soda, and fine wine at any time. All the information you need to know about the Reverie Hotel is written in your Dream Pass. If you have any questions, please contact us via the Dream Phone in your room. If you wish to change rooms or check out, please process the request through your Dream Pass. We wish you a pleasant stay at the Reverie Hotel!"

Having finished his work, the Hound Family guard opened the main door to the Reverie Hotel.

Before them lay an elegantly styled bar.

The slow-paced jazz music and the occasional clinking of glasses made Ellie feel as though she had traveled through time.

No, it was precisely because she had entered the universe that such scenery could exist.

In Earth's historical records, there was a period in America that embraced a glamorous age of prosperity.

That feeling was very strong in Penacony. Bronie had given her a history lesson before bringing her here.

At first, Ellie did not think much of it. But after reviewing the information and seeing the scenery before her, everything seemed strangely familiar.

"Let's find an empty seat and sit down. Would you like some alcohol or SoulGlad?"

"Let's try SoulGlad first. After all, there's still plenty of time in the dream. If we get drunk too early, we won't enjoy it."

"Then let's start with a classic SoulGlad. It's been improved countless times, and it brings a dreamlike pleasure."

"That sounds..."

"Completely non-toxic and harmless!"

The more beautiful the description, the more unreal it felt.

The Family emphasized it.

Bronie emphasized it.

Then the promotional videos emphasized it too.

But were dreams always beautiful?

Ellie had an indescribable feeling of unease.

Then she saw Bronie's mischievous grin.

"You rascal! You're definitely hinting at something!"

"Hahahaha. There aren't many absolutes in the world, but don't worry. The Family will definitely handle any mess well, except for the watchmaker's legacy left behind by the former Nameless."

She raised her glass and clinked it against Ellie's.

Upon tasting SoulGlad, the joyful bubbles burst in Ellie's mouth, followed by a gentle sense of relaxation spreading through her body.

Just like the Family's advertising slogan.

SoulGlad was a beverage created purely to bring joy to customers.

The sensation came and went quickly, and Bronie quickly deciphered its ingredients.

Ether technology?

The Harmony?

Perhaps both.

"It's quite a novel experience. I'll bring some back for everyone to try. Lily should be fine with it as long as she doesn't drink too much."

"Fine? Even if SoulGlad isn't addictive, isn't it too stimulating for a child?"

This comforting sensation was something no other beverage on Earth could achieve.

Perhaps the original SoulGlad had not possessed this effect, but after countless years of refinement and the addition of countless technologies and innovations, the classic SoulGlad flavor had long since become the true Dream SoulGlad.

"It's like a dream. After a beautiful dream, the wonderful feeling is fleeting. Can you still recall that moment of wonder?"

"Now that you mention it, it makes sense..."

After all, this drink had stood the test of time, so it was definitely safe.

Ellie downed the drink in one gulp and gazed tenderly at Bronie across from her in blissful intoxication.

"It feels like all the fatigue from daily life has vanished~"

Bronie gradually relaxed and met Ellie's gaze.

Perhaps she was using her eyes as a mirror, lending them to Ellie.

"You've worked so hard all this time~"

"Haha, being silly during pregnancy was definitely tough."

Bronie could not help but complain. That period had indeed been quite tiring for her, but afterward, her attitude toward the child had undergone a complete transformation.

Originally, Bronie thought she would not be able to tolerate the little one's noise at all.

But it seems there was nothing truly unbearable.

The pressure had been building all this time, something Bronie had not even realized until they came here.

"You should bring the kid here sometime!"

"Normally, I wouldn't come back after one visit, but if it's for the kids, it doesn't matter."

"Why don't you want to come a second time?"

"Because the beauty here is too illusory. Coming back too many times would be addictive, and I'm not the kind of person who easily settles for the status quo!"

"That's true, but if you're tired, it's okay to stop and enjoy it for a while. I don't think you're short on time, right?"

The mentality of an immortal...

"Ellie, you're right! So, want to see what our couple's room is like?"

"Of course! We came here to see the dream world!"

Ellie answered matter-of-factly.

Bronie led Ellie through the bar and up to the second floor.

The room assigned to Bronie by the Family was the most luxurious couple's suite, complete with adjacent dream pools that allowed them to enter the same dream simultaneously.

Of course, if the dream became too intense, guests could temporarily leave the dream pool and enjoy the Family's services in reality.

The room also featured a huge double bed, perfect for couples to enjoy their own private games.

Ambient lighting and various small props and potions enhanced the experience.

The Family catered to guests from all over the universe, so all sorts of bizarre activities existed, much to the amazement of Ellie and Bronie.

Looking at the dazzling array of items, both of them hesitated for a moment.

"Should we enter the dream first, or the body first?"

"Bronie, I want to experience the feeling of this 'infinite spiral of ice and fire two-headed dragon' with you. I'm really, really, really curious!"

Bronie could not help but swallow hard.

"Are you sure you want to?"

"We still have plenty of time, don't we?"

---

Chapter 417: A Trip to the Shopping Mall

It must be said, since the IPC has developed countless times beyond the scale of the Amber Era, they are truly astonishing in its research and development across different industries.

After experiencing the extremes of ice and fire, Bronie and Ellie finally entered the Dream Pool, stepping into Penacony's beautiful dream.

The afterglow of happiness lingered, and during the process of entering the dream, it felt as though they were truly floating.

"Darling~"

"Ellie."

"It feels like we're flying?"

Like a shooting star falling from the sky into Penacony's golden moment, Ellie's subjective feeling was as if she were truly flying, just like in the zero-gravity chamber inside the TARDIS.

"Strictly speaking, we're not flying but freefalling."

"Eh, then we're about to..."

Bronie grabbed Ellie and pulled her into her arms, using her soft body as protection and pressing close to her.

Of course, Bronie knew that no matter what kind of protection she used, it wouldn't be very effective, but how could she miss the opportunity to create a romantic atmosphere by being so close?

With a loud thud, Bronie and Ellie landed face-first in the middle of the square.

"Ouch, I didn't cushion the impact at all, and I actually hurt you!"

Ellie felt a little dizzy, but surprisingly, she didn't seem to be seriously injured.

She didn't know what had happened to cause this unexpected turn of events, leading her into a dream like this.

And this dream felt both very real and very unreal.

"No, Ellie is so sweet and soft. How could she possibly hurt me?"

Perhaps it was due to the emotional fluctuations within the dream's rules.

If she had known that the "sage state" was also considered an emotional fluctuation, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths.

Besides, girls can charge in without a cooldown, and the "sage state" is practically non-existent.

In short, she regretted it.

Very regretful!

"So where are we now?"

Looking up at the sky, the twilight gradually transforming into a sea of stars was breathtakingly beautiful, but unfortunately, the exact position of the sun was obscured.

"Every region in Penacony is frozen in a beautiful moment. We're currently at the golden hour, which could be the moment night is about to fall or the moment dawn is about to break. In any case, the Penacony nightlife is just beginning."

"I can't see it~"

Ellie looked into the distance, seeing only dense buildings, making it difficult to discern the horizon. She could only vaguely sense the sun's position.

Behind her was the hotel entrance. Normally, she would have entered through that door using dream-entry methods.

"Maybe there are other places where you can see the sun's position. This golden hour, with its bright lights and dazzling displays, would be a popular spot. Want some ice cream?"

There happened to be a mobile food truck in the park near the hotel entrance, with ice cream floating around as a treat for all guests to enjoy.

"Hey, we just drank Solomon..."

"In dreams, you can eat as much as you want without gaining weight!"

"Really!?"

Ellie's eyes lit up like a cat seeing its food can being opened.

"Of course. It's similar to how I sent you to Phosphorus last time. I set up a projection clone in the Bubble World, then connected your consciousness. It can contain your original power without any danger to your life."

"So if I'm in Phosphorus, I can eat as many desserts as I want without gaining weight?"

"Phosphorus is short of supplies. Can you even bring yourself to eat?"

Bronie's reminder made Ellie realize the issue, but after a brief moment of disappointment, she turned her grief into appetite and devoured half an ice cream in one bite.

"Mmm, great! I feel less thirsty!"

The thirst was from their previous contact. Although she had drunk water, the dryness hadn't subsided.

Now it was fine. There was no need to worry about that at all.

Then Ellie fed the half-eaten ice cream to Bronie.

"I always share good things with you! I really love this vanilla ice cream!"

"In Penacony, if you see any local specialties you like, just tell me, and I'll buy them and send them to the TARDIS."

"You can even take things from the dreams?"

"Essentially, the Dreamscape of Penacony is a Bubble World with special rules. As long as Ether is used properly, printing objects isn't difficult, and I'm not short of money!"

Her extravagant remarks had a domineering CEO vibe, which Ellie loved.

After playing with the money-spraying machine and the dream phone for a bit, she finally walked out of the hotel.

Many luxury flying cars and unicycles were parked at the hotel entrance, allowing guests to travel to any destination within Penacony.

The dream passport also marked a parking spot. If you bought a car in Penacony, you could park it there.

Of course, taking the car out of the Dreamscape might require spending more credits, but it was significantly cheaper than cars outside the hotel.

Even the road design was full of suggestive elements.

After all, the hotel entrance was right on a busy street, and to reach the later classic areas, you had to navigate this dangerous road.

The car had an autopilot system and might make a token evasive maneuver when encountering pedestrians, but this was only symbolic. If a pedestrian was startled and froze in place, there was still a high probability of being hit.

The car's evasive maneuvers were random, veering left or right, which was equally dangerous.

As for traffic lights?

They only gave pedestrians about ten seconds, after which they had to wait ninety seconds.

It felt a bit like the traffic rules in Grand Theft Auto, forcing players to break them.

Having a car would change everything.

The hotel entrance's elaborate design served as a bit of a scare for Bronie, but thankfully, it only bothered ordinary people. For Bronie, it was a different story.

Want to bump into Bronie?

Bronie had a million ways to avoid a serious accident.

It's just that knowing the implications of the traffic planning was slightly unsettling.

Penacony's environment shouldn't be scrutinized too closely. Otherwise, you'll always find hidden tricks. The best way to enjoy it is to bring enough money, forget your brain, and fully participate in the revelry.

Fortunately, the ubiquitous buffet trucks in Penacony were always overflowing with all sorts of desserts and drinks, some for a fee and some free.

To be honest, Bronie was a little confused about the distinction.

Could it be because they used Ether with memory bubble technology, hence the extra charge?

But Bronie figured they all tasted pretty much the same.

"According to the tourist guide, the closest place to us is... um, the Oti Shopping Center. There's a doctor there named Edward who sells dreams. Want to have a sweet dream?"

Bronie glanced at the map and immediately spotted the most unique attraction in Penacony.

"Great! I'm curious about what kind of dreams people in the universe have!"

"You could also sell your dream to Dr. Edward, who would then process it and turn it into a product. Spreading your Ego, Ellie. It would be really interesting, wouldn't it?"

Ellie's interest was completely piqued by Bronie, and even her steps became more cheerful.

Perhaps the smiles of the other people on the street were equally infectious.

But Bronie wasn't interested in the passersby; she was focused on Ellie's smile.

"Then we'd better hurry!"

Crossing the street, they arrived at the entrance of the Oti Shopping Center. Golden Soleda water gushed from the fountain, and countless bubbles hissed.

Tourists passing by would occasionally scoop up a cup of Solara and drink it, a gesture that seemed to elicit disgust from other visitors, perhaps because they subconsciously thought the fountain was dirty.

Ellie, like a nimble elf, arrived at the shopping mall steps, only to be blocked by a formidable enemy!

"Hey! What kind of monster are you?!"

"Drink this bottle of Solara, and you'll have sweet dreams~"

The comical billboard had grown legs. Its large, watery eyes blazed as it ran straight toward Ellie.

This scene was absolutely terrifying for Ellie!

The billboard had grown legs?

And it was chasing after her in a truly terrifying manner, chanting strange, brainwashing advertising slogans.

"Bronie QAQ~"

Bronie grabbed Ellie's hand and, without looking back, headed straight for the main road.

But the billboard persisted relentlessly.

But...

Bang—

"Ouch! A car accident!"

"Hahahaha! Look at how ridiculous this billboard is!"

Bronie laughed loudly, and Ellie subconsciously felt a little guilty.

But when she saw the billboard immediately stand up, shake its head as though trying to shake off the dizziness, and then return to its original position as if nothing had happened, Ellie breathed a sigh of relief.

"The billboard can even chase after people. That's really a bit scary..."

"But the effect is great, isn't it?"

Although she suffered a slight setback at the entrance of the shopping mall, it didn't affect Ellie's mood. However, compared to the shopping mall, Ellie's gaze was fixed on the giant Clockie statue in Clockie Plaza.

"Our Earth civilization also had rubber-hose-style animation, right?"

"Yes. It was popular during World War II and the Cold War. Penacony's Clockie, in particular, lasted for several Amber Eras, accompanying countless people throughout their childhoods. A civilization's history is a microcosm of its culture, and Clockie, to some extent, represents the entirety of Penacony's culture. Moreover, past episodes may have even revealed the entire development of Penacony."

"The crocodile in it, does that actually represent the IPC?"

"Looks like Ellie, you're getting smarter and smarter!"

"Miss Elf has always been smart!"

After Bronie said that, Ellie angrily refuted Bronie's preconceived notions about her.

"Alright, alright, Miss Pink Elf. Scared by the billboard, want to go check out the clothing stores in the mall? A girl's wardrobe needs a lot of clothes!"

Although Bronie had prepared countless outfits in the TARDIS, even if Ellie changed outfits every day, she could go for years without repeating one.

But who would complain that Ellie didn't wear enough nice clothes?

Ellie looked good in anything. Even Penacony's style suited her perfectly, in Bronie's opinion.

Clearly, Ellie was very interested in the new clothes, and perhaps part of that was due to the artistic inspiration of Eden.

She bought almost every appealing style in the store, and after what seemed like an eternity, Bronie emerged exhausted.

"I should have known better than to show you this store..."

"Oh, Bronie, how could you say that? Those nice clothes weren't just for me! With a figure like Bronie's, it'd be a shame if you didn't have lots of clothes! Don't end up like Mei, always wearing a white coat and black stockings!"

"Fine. From now on, you'll have to take care of my image!"

The clothes were temporarily entrusted to family members for safekeeping and would be delivered to the TARDIS when Bronie was about to leave Penacony.

So, after leaving the store, Bronie and Ellie were still empty-handed.

The next destination, naturally, was Dr. Edward's Dream Shop!

Selling beautiful dreams and experiencing beautiful dreams—the Dream Shop offered it all. Bronie felt she'd miss out on a lot of fun if she didn't make good use of the place.

"Welcome to the Dream Shop! Dr. Edward is at your service! What kind of dream would you like to experience right now?"

"I want a dream of a wonderful encounter!"

Ellie loved encounters with beautiful and new things, so she wondered whether similar cosmic encounters might exist here.

"A tasteful choice. Meeting you is the beginning of a more beautiful memory, always evoking contemplation. The use of negative space is the most evocative element in art. I believe you have a heart that seeks beautiful art. The dream bubble is complete. Don't worry about its origin; all dreams are authorized to me by their owners. Of course, the dreams of deceased clients will not be sold."

A blue dream bubble gently floated into Ellie's hand. She placed it on her forehead and sank directly into the dream.

Meanwhile, Bronie looked at Dr. Edward with her large, bright eyes.

"Hello, guest?"

"I have a brand-new business opportunity called Dream Adventure. It specializes in providing horror, thriller, or adventure dream bubbles and turning them into a live-streaming industry. I provide the dreams and prizes; you host and provide the venue. Revenue sharing is a separate matter. Interested?"

"Oh? After the livestream, aren't you worried that viewers will easily find the solution?"

"Hehe, simple dreams are definitely out of the question, but who can blame me for being a genius? Of course, I'm a Society Genius and also a Masked Fool, so I plan to use my talents to bring some fun to everyone. Want to join?"

"Oh! Distinguished guest of the Family, I think no one in all of Penacony would refuse your proposal. So let's have a proper discussion about the details of these dreams. I think you're prepared, right?"

Several dream bubbles appeared in Bronie's hand. Dr. Edward could sense the vast amount of information within them with just a glance.

"This is a special kind of Ether bubble, similar to a memory bubble... My God, Dr. Bronie, your memory-editing techniques are beyond the comprehension of mortals! This is a world; you've created a miniature world!"

Then Dr. Edward felt a sense of absurdity.

How many Amber Eras had passed? How many dreams had he witnessed within Penacony?

And this was something he had never seen before.

He could sense that accepting Bronie's invitation would make him infamous throughout the entire universe!

----

Chapter 418: The Rehearsal for the Charmony Festival?

Several years passed in the dream, but in reality, it was only a fleeting moment.

When Ellie came to her senses, she realized she had truly been dreaming, but the beautiful emotions lingering from the dream remained unforgettable.

Why do people slumber?

Perhaps it's because the things in dreams are so beautiful that no one wants to face a worse reality.

Ellie understood this and also understood why Bronie wanted to create a dream world like Penacony through Project Stigma.

What if a patient in a hospital who couldn't run or jump experienced a wonderful life of her own in a dream?

Unfortunately, not everyone can vacation in Penacony. After all, an ordinary person might work their whole life and still not earn enough money for a vacation there.

Even if someone did come to Penacony, they might not have enough funds to maintain the high-cost lifestyle there.

Many delicacies in the dream are free, but they cannot fill an empty stomach. Everything in the outside world is incredibly expensive.

Of course, this "expensive" refers to the average person earning less than 10,000 credits a month.

For Bronie, making money is quite easy.

"Waaah, Bronie~"

"Did parting after that encounter make you feel sad?"

Bronie gently hugged Ellie, letting her snuggle against her chest.

"A little, but it's not a big problem. Besides being beautiful and illusory, dreams also have a touch of absurdity. I always feel like I see many Bronies in my dreams! Encountering different Bronies is quite wonderful."

So this is what a dream is like?

It seemed Dr. Edward's dream bubble could be altered to some extent based on the user's subconscious. Ellie appears to be having a lot of fun, so Bronie was satisfied.

"Bronie, what about you?"

"Hehe, I'm not planning on trying the Dream Bubble yet, but Dr. Edward and I have a collaborative project later that will definitely surprise you!"

At this moment, Mr. Giovanni, whom Bronie had contacted, arrived at the Dream Shop from the World's End Tavern.

"Hello, Miss Haxxor Bunny. I saw your dazzling mask from afar. I heard you wanted to start a very interesting collaborative project, so I came here. And this lady, it's an honor to meet you. My name is Giovanni di Giorgio da Epsilon, a small private merchant from Epsilon. You can just call me Giovanni."

Giovanni's impeccably tailored suit accentuated his broad chest, while his exquisite gloves and sophisticated pocket watch gave him a rather refined appearance.

His first impression on Ellie was probably that of a gentleman.

However, seeing the half-red, half-black mask that added a touch of frivolity to his otherwise serious attire, Ellie felt a little confused.

The Masked Fool?

"Mr. Giovanni, your mask is so impressive. This is my other half, Elysia. Mr. Giovanni is the sponsor of the upcoming Dream Adventure. He can handle the livestreaming and funding for the event. I'll provide the technology, and Dr. Edward will provide psychological counseling."

"Yes, psychological counseling. Your concern for everyone participating in the event has truly moved me. The technology you provide is practically ushering in a new era of gaming. Would you be willing to promote it?"

Bronie's method of utilizing Ether was arguably among the most advanced in the entire universe.

Whether it was memories, dreams, or even remnants of events from past worlds, Bronie could create them all.

To be honest, Giovanni felt that his friend here was like an omnipotent god, except perhaps for a slightly lower total energy level, which might make encounters with Aeon-level enemies rather troublesome.

"Promotion? Not necessarily. We can encrypt this technology, package it into a game engine, and offer it to everyone for game development. As for making money later... hehe, we'll talk about that later!"

"So, Bronie, you were already thinking about this event while I was experiencing the dream world?"

Ellie finally understood. She wondered where Bronie had found the extra time to contact Giovanni while they were playing together.

Even the Bubble World appears to have already been created and was ready at any moment.

"No, no, no. How could I be distracted on a date with you? This is something I prepared beforehand!"

Hearing Bronie say this, Ellie tentatively believed her.

But for some reason, looking at Giovanni beneath his mask, it seemed as though he was smiling happily.

"Haha, Ms. Haxxor Bunny's invitation was indeed sent out a long time ago. I only heard about your plans to come to Penacony the day before yesterday. Since I'm nearby, I thought we could hold the next event here. So, Ms. Haxxor Bunny, may I ask about the scenarios you've prepared for the upcoming 'Bubble Worlds'?"

"Of course. The theme of these Bubble Worlds is 'Layers of Fear,' which mainly focuses on psychological horror and includes a very simple escape-room element."

Bronie then projected a portion of the game screen.

"Wow, such a heavy hit right off the bat? Exploring the mental world of a mentally ill person and using that mental distortion to induce discomfort and fear in players—that's certainly a good way to have fun."

"The second one is The Evil Within, with gory horror, puzzles, and adventure at its core. You know, among the games I released before, The Evil Within was a fairly classic horror adventure game. But when you experience this kind of game with such realistic graphics, hehehe, the feeling is completely different from what you get through a screen!"

"When I played this game back then, I was definitely scared. If you bring it into a dream world for a close-up experience, hahaha, I think the people in the tavern would really love to see some unlucky fellow scared out of his wits."

Giovanni gave Bronie's The Evil Within a very high evaluation.

After all, under the economic system of the IPC, everyone tended to favor online games because they were a more sustainable way to make money. Through subsequent updates, players would continue spending money.

With a buy-to-play model, once the hype died down, no one would mention it again unless the game went on sale.

Therefore, the current gaming environment in this universe was dominated by online games, preferably those with social elements designed to keep players glued to their screens 24/7.

After all, more playtime and more players meant more money.

"Happiness is often built on the suffering of others—a very simple truth. But I'll keep the third Bubble World a secret for now. That thing is truly a marvel, and its genius-level difficulty and terrifying interrogation effects... I won't reveal it just yet..."

This was not a Bubble World but a creation called the Time Cage, built upon Bronie's understanding of the rules of imaginary numbers.

Those captured inside would lose most of their power and be simultaneously hunted by a memetic lifeform within a maze-like environment.

The memetic lifeforms would pause their pursuit upon receiving information about themselves from the victim, but they would resume once the predesigned countdown ended unless they extracted all information concerning the victim's entire life.

This thing was a bit too vicious, but it was not entirely without a solution.

However, the solution was so demanding that only geniuses had even a slight chance of solving it.

"I almost forgot. Besides being a Masked Fool, Ms. Haxxor is also a Genius. And in the tavern, everyone has been discussing how, among all the Fools throughout history, you're the only one who has earned the title of Genius. Everyone is curious about what kind of person you are!"

Giovanni's first impression of Bronie was that she was very young and had many friends, which did not seem like a Fool at all.

However, the game's theme revealed Bronie's hedonistic aesthetics, while the overall tone was actually quite childish.

Was it built upon the suffering of others and then shared with everyone, or was it a game style that leaned toward action and warmth?

On the contrary, her genius side seemed more prominent.

"In front of geniuses, I'll act more like a fool. In front of fools, I'll use my genius to gain a sense of superiority. If you don't want to be treated like a fool, don't even think about amusing yourself with me. I'll turn you into a super-bored corporate slave!"

For a Masked Fool, that was quite a vicious threat.

Turning people into corporate slaves and preventing them from having fun!

Carrying huge debts every day, having to watch the boss's face, or else losing their job entirely!

"I believe everyone will trust your abilities. Turning people into corporate slaves is truly a terrifying threat!"

"Besides the Time Cage, the last one is this Gurren Lagann Bubble World, right? It's a massive and complex Bubble World. It's a pity I only provided you with the game back then and not the anime I made. Gurren Lagann is a really exciting anime~"

The last Bubble World was also the most complex and magnificent.

Everything would proceed according to Bronie's wishes, but the gameplay would be significantly reduced.

Players would replace Simon as the protagonist, but different players would inevitably achieve different endings.

The AI personality trained within the Bubble World could easily help Bronie achieve her desired outcome.

However, Bronie believed that regardless of the player, they would likely all be influenced by Kamina.

"Oh, that's really interesting. I'll try to make a trailer later. The event can be held in Penacony in about three business days, of course, with Dr. Edward's help."

As they spoke, their gazes turned toward the large-eyed man behind them who had remained silent the entire time.

It wasn't that Dr. Edward was slacking off. He simply couldn't take his eyes off the Bubble World in Bronie's hand.

He only reacted when Giovanni called his name again.

"Of course, I will do my utmost to help! For the sake of the Family's development of Penacony, this is only natural!"

"Very good. Giovanni, draft the contract. This is the Bubble World GM privilege, and later the visitor privilege. If you want to experience it yourself, feel free to try it. I look forward to a fun-filled livestream event online."

"Of course! I'm looking forward to it too!"

It would be best to let those Masked Fools experience it.

Of course, behind this event, Bronie's Time Cage would also be placed as a hidden level. If certain endings were achieved upon completion, there would be a chance to experience it. This was also mentioned in the event announcement.

A hidden level prepared by a Genius, granting access to something related to the Genius Society.

This temptation was like a moth drawn to a flame for everyone in the universe.

An opportunity to come into contact with a Genius!

Perhaps, in the future, they might be noticed by a genius and rise to the top in a single step?

With such a genius aura, even IPC personnel were attracted to participate in the event. After all, the hidden level was released under the banner of a genius's masterpiece.

As a result, the IPC, along with members of the Genius Society, came to experience the game Bronie had prepared.

The entire Penacony instantly became lively, perhaps even more so than during the previous Amber Era Music Festival.

Now it was the Family members' turn to sweat profusely.

Wasn't this Charmony Festival not supposed to take place for several more years?

How had a genius suddenly appeared and announced an event?

Unfortunately, both Giovanni and Bronie were offering substantial funding, and with Dr. Edward's approval, the Family members felt they could profit greatly from the event.

So why refuse?

This unexpected event was treated as a rehearsal for the Family's Charmony Festival.

Everyone quickly became involved, and the genius's influence and authority were on full display.

Meanwhile, Bronie continued enjoying her holiday with Ellie, determined to make the most of this golden opportunity.

"You know what, Ellie? While exploring the uncharted areas of the Golden Hour, I found a great place! Almost nobody goes there, and the scenery is absolutely stunning—a completely different vibe from the bustling city we're in now!"

"Oh? Where is it?" Ellie immediately asked, intrigued.

All she saw was Bronie pointing toward the rooftop of a restaurant not far away.

"Through the sewers, I can take you to an unknown location~"

----

Chapter 419: The Dance of the Dream

“This feels a bit like the rooftop terrace of our Golden Courtyard building. We used to stargaze there all the time.”

“Don’t get too complacent with this environment. There’s more interesting stuff to come!” Bronie said, leading Ellie further up the terrace. The terraces of Penacony connected together, creating the feeling of entering another world.

The ground floor was for tourists, while the terraces were for staff.

But if you didn’t reveal your tourist identity, who on the terrace would care about anyone else’s true identity?

“The Family's Construction Authority. From here, we can see the entire landscape, and we can even see members of the Dreamweavers who aren’t working. We’ll need to be a little more discreet!” Bronie snapped her fingers, and a mysterious power enveloped them.

“Is this some kind of magic to reduce our presence?”

“Yes, yes, yes, this is Magical Girl Haxxor's magic time. Please observe carefully, Magical Girl Ellie!” Taking Ellie’s hand, Bronie continued onward.

In the Dream's Edge, the walkable paths were mostly broken, requiring staff to rely on various tools for stable movement.

Using these tools to reach their desired destinations felt a bit like playing a puzzle game. To prevent Ellie from forgetting how to use her brain because she had become too accustomed to relying on other methods, Bronie entrusted all the puzzle-solving to Ellie.

Ellie declared that magical girls could fly, but Bronie immediately grabbed her skirt and pinned her to the ground, subjecting her to a rigorous puzzle-solving session.

Although the puzzles weren’t particularly difficult, Ellie still stumbled and spent a considerable amount of time on them.

From Dreamweaver Plaza to the unfinished rooftop garden, the poor members of the Dreamweavers were unexpectedly approached by tourists even during their rare moments of relaxation.

Now they had to work overtime.

Then Ellie used magic to send the tourists flying, and seeing their dejected expressions brought her a strange sense of satisfaction.

Well, the Dreamjolt Troupe’s main job was to relieve tourists’ stress.

Whether it was a hug, a beating, or a few acrobatic tricks, these were the rules written into the underlying logic of the Troupe—everything was for the player’s benefit. Any guest holding a Dream Passport would directly receive all the services of the Dreamjolt Troupe.

Furthermore, different levels of service would be provided based on the guest’s combat power.

A dazzling display of magic sent all the unfortunate Dreamjolt Troupe flying, and guided by Bronie, they arrived at the Construction Authority.

“I feel like you’re taking me to a really beautiful place. We’ve been going uphill the whole time, and many of the tall buildings along the way have already reached their tops, but this one seems to be the tallest?”

“Remember the city map in Super Mario Odyssey?”

“Oh! Now that you mention it, I do remember! It really does feel that way! It’s just a pity we can’t just move to the building like Mario does through special means.”

“But reaching the building through our own wisdom, doesn’t that give us a sense of accomplishment?”

“That’s true~ If this place isn’t beautiful, then you’ll be severely punished!”

“A beautiful place gets a reward, right? And the punishment and reward are the same, right?!” Bronie couldn’t help but complain, while Ellie just chuckled and got away with it.

“The scaffolding around us is starting to increase...”

“After all, this place will be developed into a tourist attraction in the future, which is considered very futuristic in the Family’s plans. But don’t doubt the vision of the Family’s dream architect. Sometimes, even if it’s just a half-finished product, the beautiful scenery created by the city planning is still worth seeing. And listen carefully.”

There were no more monsters on the road. It was as if the monsters from the Dreamjolt Troupe were deliberately avoiding this place.

However, judging by Ellie’s sense of direction, it felt like she had circled around the edge of the Golden Hour for a long distance, only to end up back where she started.

As Bronie had requested, Ellie began to listen intently.

Faintly, Ellie heard singing.

“It’s a song by the famous cosmic singer, Miss Robin! I believe Eden can achieve that level in the future, to the point where Eden’s singing can be heard everywhere. Of course, if you’re interested, Ellie, I can also have Giovanni prepare it for you. I believe that with your talent, it’s definitely something you can do easily!”

“But if I become an idol, I can’t have little fairies with you! Didn’t we agree on that?”

Ellie remembered that.

But it was true. Having children would be a dark chapter in her life as an idol. Although there were plenty of people with similar tastes in the universe, if they knew Ellie’s partner was a genius, it would likely affect her idol career completely.

Next, Ellie and Bronie fell silent, the only sound being the echo of their high heels clicking on the floor.

Upon reaching the rooftop, Ellie noticed the sky was no longer its deep blue color but was instead filled with a rosy glow.

Starlight dotted the gradually changing sky, and countless shooting stars streaked across the horizon.

All the buildings stretched out before them, the city of Penacony forming a magnificent concrete maze.

“To keep a heart from sorrow, Robin’s song plays here from time to time because it’s so close to the opera house.”

Actually, the opera house wasn’t visible from the rooftop, but behind it, in the direction Bronie and Ellie had come from, it was practically within reach.

This wondrous opera house floating in the air was arguably Penacony’s most iconic landmark, as Robin would sing there during the Charmony Festival, and afterward, the Embodiment of Harmony would descend.

And the place of descent was right there on top of this opera house.

“That’s wonderful...” Ellie watched a shooting star streak across the sky and instinctively wanted to make a wish, but then she felt a little strange.

After all, did making a wish when a shooting star streaked across the sky in a dream really work?

“Haha, I bet you’re wondering if making a wish upon a shooting star in a dream works, right?”

“You guessed it...”

“Actually, the purpose of making a wish isn’t to get a result but to set a goal for yourself and have a beautiful expectation for the future. You can make a wish on any shooting star!”

“So, Bronie, what did you wish for?”

“A happy and fulfilling family life, of course! I hope this happiness can last forever, that I can discover more of the mysteries of the universe, and, of course, have many more interesting adventures!”

“Then my wish is that your wish will come true!”

Ellie seemed very satisfied with her current life.

“You could be even more greedy, but it doesn’t matter!”

“I can’t even imagine what I’d be like if I were a little more greedy! But I do wonder if many couples will pledge their lives to each other here in the future?”

It had to be said that Bronie had an eye for finding treasures.

In such a bustling metropolis, she had found such a beautiful place.

Ellie wanted to remember the scenery before her.

She could show it off to Mobius and Eden in the future.

“Of course there will be, but once the area opens, it won’t just be the two of us anymore. There will be many, many people. Fortunately, getting here is quite difficult, so for now, it’s definitely just the two of us.”

“Such a beautiful view, such an atmosphere. My lovely wife, would you like to dance with me?” Their simulated cosmic dance had failed last time, so Bronie could only make it up to Ellie in bed.

She didn’t expect Ellie to still remember.

“I want to emphasize that you are my wife.”

Bronie, of course, had no reason to refuse, so she gently extended her hand.

But Ellie had a trick up her sleeve.

The moment she touched Bronie, she subtly pulled her.

Caught off guard, Bronie stumbled and fell directly into Ellie’s arms.

A small hand stroked her cheek, while the other hand grasped Bronie’s hand and wrapped around her slender waist.

“Is that so? Who’s the wife now?”

As they moved, Ellie and Bronie’s high heels clicked to a tango-like rhythm.

“How long have you been practicing this move?”

Bronie pulled away from the embrace, but her hand maintained a subtle connection with Ellie’s.

After a misstep, Bronie instinctively began to dance a feminine step. Her reserved movements seemed to display her beauty while simultaneously rejecting Ellie’s intimacy.

Ellie slowed her pace, the rhythm seemingly testing Bronie’s defenses.

“Although I’m definitely not as good as you in scientific research, I’ve put in a lot of hard work when it comes to dance~” She gently pulled Bronie closer, her small hand roaming unsavorily between Bronie’s legs.

Bronie touched Ellie’s arm, seemingly in refusal, yet their faces were pressed incredibly close together.

The rhythm of their hearts synchronized, as if a wondrous connection had formed between their minds and bodies.

They gently closed their arms around one another, then separated.

Amid the pull and tug of the dance, Ellie’s subtle movements kept stirring emotions, and Bronie felt the air itself begin to simmer.

It had to be said that dance, especially tango with its interactive, pulling dynamic, truly delivered an unparalleled sensory experience.

Romance, intimacy, or perhaps the playful rivalry between lovers?

In this harmonious space, Ellie and Bronie’s emotions reached a state of perfect harmony, as if their souls were intertwined—a more romantic exchange than any contest in bed.

“Seriously... you’ve got me.”

Spinning, leaning, drawing closer.

“My stubborn little cutie, I know you like this feeling~” Without giving Bronie a chance to catch her breath, Ellie launched into a deep kiss, signaling the end of their synchronized dance.

Yes, Bronie thoroughly enjoyed the romantic atmosphere Ellie created.

It had to be said that Ellie was unbeatable in this regard!

Damn it, if she keeps playing like this, I might have to give birth to the next child myself!

Like someone holding their breath and sprinting for two hundred meters, Bronie was finally released by Ellie at the final hurdle.

“The world in my dream... it seems a little lacking. Maybe it’s because in dreams we don’t need to breathe or eat?”

Ellie helped Bronie up from her embrace, and Bronie pulled Ellie to a nearby bench and sat down slowly.

“I’m sorry, I shamefully lost first... I didn’t satisfy you!”

Sitting on the bench, Bronie held Ellie’s small hand with her left hand while her other hand clutched her long skirt at her knees.

Her thighs rubbed together, and a faint blush appeared on her face.

“It’s not that I’m dissatisfied. It’s just that the experience was quite novel! It’s a feeling I’ve never had before. I’d love to experience it more often! And just now, even though there was no background music, we still managed to keep the beat. Does that count as a kind of ‘co-cooperation’?”

“Yes!”

Now Bronie realized that something had been missing from the dance.

Oh, it was the music.

And it was supposed to be a song by Miss Robin.

Unfortunately, Bronie had been completely immersed in dancing with Ellie, enjoying only the interaction between them.

Oh dear, so embarrassing!

She couldn’t think about “co-cooperation” at all!

This wasn’t usually like her.

Calming herself down, Bronie rubbed her hands back and forth on Ellie’s thighs and, finally feeling that the time was right, slowly stood up.

“Alright, Ellie, I think my underwear is already soaked through. Although the Dream Pool looks like it has water inside, it’s actually more like a projection. So, for hygiene reasons, we really need to take care of this!”

“That’s true. It’s getting late. We should eat something before entering the dream. But speaking of which, is resting in the dream considered resting?”

“Of course! That’s how it is in the Family. We work in real life during working hours and rest in the dream during our free time. Of course, it’s not impossible to work overtime in the dream, but the pay is lower than normal overtime.”

“Isn’t that terrible?!”

“Hahaha, but so far, no one has left the Family! Not a single one!”

“The power of the Family is truly terrifying...” Ellie suddenly realized that Penacony might not be as wonderful as the Family portrayed it to be.

But thankfully, she and Bronie had create wonderful memories together.

...

“Yes, the power of the Alliance, if pushed to its limit, is indeed very dangerous, and this danger isn’t limited to the Family. It also affects the tourists.”

Walking back to the hotel, they saw an old man sitting silently on a bench beside the Penrose triangular sculpture at the entrance to the Family Construction Authority, like a statue.

The Bloodhound Family staff glanced at him intermittently, as though monitoring a prisoner.

Penacony’s Dreamscape was supposed to be a place of joy. Even among the staff, there shouldn’t be such a lifeless presence.

“This old man... do you know him?”

“Maybe I know him, maybe I don’t. But we’ll find out if we look into the situation. At the very least, I think he’s definitely not a member of the Family.”

Chapter 420: Having Authority Means Doing Whatever You Want

"The word 'hometown'... it does feel somewhat distant to me now. I never imagined that after so many years, the one I'd be chatting with would be the Masked Fool. Yet you possess a completely different aura, an aura that contradicts the Fool's."

"I'm Bronie, a recent member of the Genius Society. I'm here at Penacony with Ellie to have some fun and enjoy some entertainment."

"Genius... yes, that endless flow of inspiration, that constant pursuit of truth—what an ancient yet familiar word. The contradictory identities of Fool and Genius appear before you. The unknown within you fills me with curiosity and joy, emotions I haven't experienced in a long time..."

"It seems you also have a heart passionate about exploration. Do you want to walk the path of Trailblaze? Or the path of Erudition? From what I see, within this almost lifeless body, a burning soul still lurks. What has made you this way?"

Ellie quietly watched Bronie question the old man before her.

However, the old man noticed the Bloodhound Family staff approaching from behind Bronie. They seemed to ignore both him and Bronie as they walked away. He knew the girl before him possessed a rather powerful.

"I'm sorry, I'm not even sure who I am, so it's difficult to answer your question. As for your mention of 'fiery passion,' I don't sense it..." The old man's eyes dimmed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

It seemed he rarely spoke to anyone, so he wouldn't miss any opportunity to chat.

He forced a smile.

Bronie then asked, "May I sit here? I'm quite skilled in memory and consciousness; perhaps I can help you find the treasures forgotten in the sea of consciousness."

"Then I'll trouble you!"

Without hesitation, it was clear the old man cared deeply about his past.

Was this a subconscious act, or was it simply his nature?

The projection of Fenghuang Down appeared, and red feathers slowly drifted down from the sky.

Upon probing the old man's consciousness, the fragmented state immediately reminded Bronie of Hua from years past.

Would Hua's mind have been this chaotic back then?

Perhaps Fu Hua during her time at St. Freya Academy was indeed this chaotic, remembering only her name and her mission.

However, under the Family's surveillance, this old man could do nothing but sit here alone, gazing at the sunset on the horizon.

"What a miraculous power. I feel like some images are appearing..."

"Chadwick? Is that your name?"

"Ah? Didn't I introduce myself before? I'm sorry. My name is indeed Chadwick. Just now, your help allowed me to find some fragments of my past memories in the dead sea of consciousness..."

The once-amiable old man's expression gradually hardened after recalling certain events.

While outwardly calm, an uncontrollable surge of emotion erupted within him, causing his limbs to tremble.

"I saw some kind of weapon, accompanied by endless killing and death. It seems to be related to me."

"The development of civilization is always accompanied by the advancement of weapons. Deterrence is of great importance to peace, but frankly, if such weapons were ever used, the situation would become extremely dangerous."

Bronie immediately thought of nuclear bombs, but for a cosmic civilization, nuclear bombs might not be considered a significant deterrent.

After all, for a star system as vast as our solar system, no matter how large a nuclear bomb's yield might be, it would be impossible to destroy the entire galaxy at once, right?

But advanced civilizations have extended their defenses to the edge of the galaxy. How could nuclear bombs easily get close?

Therefore, as defensive capabilities improve, the power of weapons must be upgraded accordingly.

"I don't think I'm a violent person, but those lost lives should all be related to me... I also saw a group of extraordinary people. I'm one of them... perhaps... a senior of yours? The Genius Society, I finally remember! That familiar aura I once sensed—you have it too!"

Genius.

Dazzling wherever they go.

The rules of the world are shaped by geniuses, which is why Bronie could easily bypass the Family and chat with him on their territory.

"A genius, stuck here in this Dreamscape like a senile old man, and already gone for several Amber Eras... Wait, let me tell Herta and Screwllum about this."

"And most importantly... I've actually allowed time to erode my heart without even thinking of saving myself? Could it be..."

The old man's gaze swept over the Family members behind Bronie. In that instant, the brilliance of a genius shone through him. His aging body seemed not to have dulled his sharp mind.

After piecing together the information from his recovered memories and the few details Bronie had mentioned, he concluded that the Family members had exerted some kind of influence on his consciousness.

"The power of the Harmony is something ordinary people can't contend with. It's all thanks to your genius. Every Amber Era has a Charmony Festival, and afterward, the Aeons of Harmony perform miracles there. Who knows? They might accidentally make someone a member of the Family. I didn't expect you to be so tenacious."

Bronie took a picture, compared it with a portrait from the Genius Society's internal records, and sent the information to Herta.

[Hataka: I found an old man in Penacony. He was affected by the Harmony's power. His body is dead, but he still has the ability to write his own story. He calls himself Chadwick and is a member of the Genius Society. I think this has some credibility.]

[Herta: Hiss, I'm waiting for you at the space station. That old guy has something very valuable! And don't tell anyone else!]

If she had enough power in the universe, she could definitely force the Family to relent, and then she could claim this treasure for herself.

Unfortunately, that wasn't possible for now.

The Dreamscape, while mostly connected to Bubble Worlds, is indeed quite different from the real world.

Bronie wasn't sure whether her examination was entirely accurate.

So she decided to go to Herta.

"I've already told Herta about you. I'll be back soon to rescue you. Take this feather; it will protect you from the Family's attacks in the Dreamscape." Bronie handed the feather to Chadwick. The old man carefully held it, his eyes resolute as he suppressed his anger.

Why was he angry?

Chadwick didn't quite understand yet, but he knew his anger was directed at the Family.

"I look forward to your good news, Dr. Bronie."

Hearing someone address her like that, Bronie was taken aback.

Was this some kind of title used among geniuses?

"Are the Family members really that evil? They actually captured a genius and imprisoned him in the Dreamscape, almost driving him into dementia!"

Ellie felt a chill run down her spine. Luckily, Bronie was highly skilled; even in the Dreamscape, she could use her abilities to shield herself from others' perception.

"Because dreams provide access to memories, and memories are a crucial vessel for a genius's knowledge. Furthermore, since the Family lacks the abilities of those who can directly retrieve memories, they can only assimilate through association. But regardless of which genius it is, these people can't easily control them."

"My favorability toward the Family has decreased again!" Ellie's favorability toward the Penacony Family had decreased even further.

But it was understandable.

The Penacony Family is a large organization; with so many members, occasional imbalances are normal.

It's just that this Family seems to think it has grown too powerful.

They actually dared to target the Genius Society. Don't they think the Genius Society has the means to destroy Penacony directly?

"The more virtuous they appear, the more glaring their darkness becomes. This is a psychological gap that comes with growing up. However, under normal circumstances, the Penacony Family wouldn't dare target a genius on its own, so we need to investigate further."

With that, Bronie led Ellie out of the dream.

As Bronie rose from the Dream Pool, the Ether in her bubble-like state dissipated. Only then did she realize her pantyhose were soaked.

She sighed and slowly removed the pantyhose, then projected a new pair and had Ellie help her put them on.

Bronie began recounting how Bronya had learned a "pantyhose killing technique" as a child. Once the pantyhose became wet, a quick stranglehold around the neck was enough to kill a mercenary.

Ellie found it quite intriguing.

Bronie then began preparing for her temporary departure.

After all, a genius isn't an unknown visitor. Thanks to the convenience of her interdimensional anchoring, she could easily travel to previously explored locations.

A huge pile of clothes was then delivered to the entrance of the TARDIS.

The bags and packages filled all the remaining flat space where the TARDIS had been docked.

Finally, Bronie had drones deliver the items piece by piece, a sight that seemed quite astonishing to everyone else.

After all, the TARDIS appeared quite small from the outside, yet it contained gifts larger than the TARDIS itself.

Someone recorded this genius's actions, and many within the IPC also observed them.

Could there be some deeper meaning behind this?

Or did Bronie, this genius, simply enjoy shopping?

Even a small action by a genius could immediately attract attention. Members of the Strategic Investment Department immediately began considering the possibility of purchasing large quantities of clothing to win Bronie over.

However, this idea was quickly rejected by higher-ranking members.

After all, such behavior would be far too deliberate. It's best not to act rashly before understanding someone's personality. After all, not long ago, the sun of the Moonshield was stolen. Although there was no evidence, judging from Herta's response, it was Bronie who did it.

No one really dared provoke someone who could travel to any part of the universe at any time and casually steal another civilization's sun.

Really.

Therefore, the deterrent effect Bronie had established was extremely strong.

The TARDIS returned to Herta Space Station from Penacony. When the TARDIS door opened, they saw Herta standing with her hands on her hips at the entrance.

"This is so slow!"

"It's because I bought a ton of clothes at Penacony, and the staff couldn't get into the TARDIS, so I had to use drones to carry them in bit by bit!"

Of course, the Herrscher of the Void's abilities had been used, but Bronie clearly felt that Herta was deliberately making things difficult.

"No need to rush, Herta. Let's assume Chadwick has already lingered in tens of thousands of systems within Penacony's Dreamscape. Then we don't need to worry about these few minutes."

"I don't want to just wait around. After all, what he possesses is incredibly valuable! It might provide us with newer technology for building our Simulated Universe! As you saw, Bronie, the Chadwick you met in Penacony was the real deal... cough, cough. I mean, his research is extremely valuable!"

"Weapons?"

"That's right! Calderon Chadwick, seventy-ninth member of the Genius Society, specializing in fields including imaginary number application theory and orbital mechanics."

"I didn't expect him to rank a bit higher than you."

"Rank and status aren't the same thing! And according to your logic, wouldn't you rank lower than me?"

"Imaginary number application theory, huh? It overlaps with my research to some extent, especially when applied to weapons. It reminds me of my causal reversal."

She had used it on Sa's forehead back then, but many people couldn't understand how such an attack had been launched.

It was actually related to imaginary numbers.

"Since the flame of life was ignited within my core, throughout this long journey across the sea of stars, I've rarely encountered a soul truly worthy of the title 'genius.' Lady Herta beside me, Lady Bronie before me, and Chadwick as well."

"And you even complimented me. Thank you. But Bronie, what did you mean earlier when you said he still has the ability to continue writing his own story?"

"The death of the physical body doesn't signify the complete death of the individual. The final radiance of his soul was devoted entirely to resisting the Family. His knowledge didn't disperse, and he still exists in the Dreamscape—that's proof. Of course, I think the Family probably already considers him dead. I'm certain of that."

Thanks to Otto, that obsessed man who spends all his time pondering what true death and resurrection really mean.

And within imaginary space, that insignificant thread of Chadwick's story had not yet been completely severed. He was still writing his own story and still making an effort.

In other words, he could still be saved.

"Hiss—you've gathered all the information from a person's entire life and condensed it into a miniature imaginary number tree? How is that possible..."

Herta stared at the model projected by Bronie. It displayed the key moments of Chadwick's life, from birth to fame, to bombarding a vast star system with weapons, and finally being sent to Penacony to engage in a silent battle against the Family.

Life was like a video that Bronie could pause, rewind, and examine at will. Most importantly, it was presented from a third-person perspective.

"Nothing is impossible, Ms. Herta. With authority, you can do whatever you want!"

"Fine, fine, you win!"

Although reluctant to admit it, Bronie's trick had indeed thoroughly shocked Herta.

Meanwhile, Screwllum stared at the screen, nearly crashing.

This was authority?

This was the Tree of Imaginary Numbers?

This... was incomprehensible!