"Ruan Mei?"
A puzzled expression appeared on Stellie's face, showing her unfamiliarity with this person.
"Ms. Ruan Mei is member eighty-one of the Genius Society, an expert in the field of life sciences," Himeko explained to Stellie from the side.
"Oh." Stellie nodded.
Herta looked up at Stellie and said to her, "Stellie, how about your Astral Express doesn't hurry to depart? When she comes over, she can also take a look at your condition. Perhaps she might have some other ideas."
"This... I'd better pass." Stellie swallowed, then shook her head suddenly.
Before coming over for the experiment just now, March 7th had thoroughly briefed her about the members of the Genius Society. According to March, Herta was considered one of the more principled and humane among these scientists.
Yet today, as soon as she was on the operating table, she directly threw her buddy onto it and started dissecting. If it were someone even less principled than Herta, Stellie couldn't even dare to imagine what would happen.
These thin arms and legs of mine can't withstand experiments.
Stellie looked towards Himeko and the others at the side.
Ms. Himeko, quickly take me away. Even if the Express doesn't have enough energy, I can carry the Astral Express and run.
Derick, on the side, controlled clone number two to remain motionless, quite leisurely.
Mainly because he couldn't speak. Otherwise, he would have eagerly told Herta, "Quickly tell Ruan Mei, I can't wait any longer over here."
There was nothing more to experiment on; the remaining research was better left for when Ruan Mei arrived.
It was worth mentioning that Herta also had researchers in the life sciences field at the space station. After obtaining clone number two's "consent," she allowed other researchers to dissect it completely.
(Incidentally, Herta's way of asking for consent was to ask if clone number two would refuse. As long as it didn't say words of refusal, it was considered consent.)
Watching this, Stellie became even more determined to run away as soon as possible.
You even bully a monster like my buddy who can't even speak? You're too cruel.
And buddy, they're cutting you open on your chest. Even if you don't bleed, you don't have to show no resistance at all, even crossing your legs as if you're enjoying it.
Are you perhaps the legendary "masochist"?
But isn't that trait usually found only among humans? Has it spread to monsters now?
Even if you don't feel pain, you can't be this eccentric.
Derick felt strange, certainly not because he was lying there being dissected. He was just anticipating his "enjoyment" after Ruan Mei's arrival.
Mm, Ms. Ruan Mei is such a good person. She will definitely inject me with some Ancient Beast genes or other monster genes at the first opportunity. Then, she'll perform some other similar "minor" surgeries like radiation, modification, and so on.
By the way, you see, my appearance is much more durable than those bugs. Your experiment for the Emanator of Propagation, you can carry it out on my clone too. You're already N-number of mature scientists; you can't be too bound by formalities. An Emanator of Propagation doesn't necessarily have to be a bug; someone like me can also work.
If it really doesn't work, you can modify my clone to look like a bug too.
Stellie couldn't stand such a stimulating scene anymore and simply turned around and left with Himeko.
As for Derick's number two clone, after being dissected by the researchers for a while and finding no further progress could be made, it was simply taken back to the room it came from.
After returning to the room, a sumptuous feast was even prepared for Derick's number two clone.
Allowing Derick to control clone number two to feast heartily.
"I didn't expect my clone to eat even better than my main body. Unfortunately, in terms of taste, my clone can't transmit the sensation to my main body."
Derick thought to himself while controlling his clone to eat voraciously.
Okhema, or rather, the entire Amphoreus, had a huge problem: a lack of resources. Even a little rich lady like Castorice, who had stored away an unknown amount of wealth, couldn't buy too much sumptuous food.
But here at Herta Space Station, thanks to Asta, that little rich lady, and the logistics technology of the Interastral Peace Corporation, Herta Space Station certainly didn't lack resources.
Derick was just controlling his clone to have a big meal to replenish energy.
Meanwhile, after Herta returned to her own office, she immediately opened a communication line.
Soon, the image of a gentle and beautiful woman in a qipao appeared before Herta.
"Oh? Herta, is there something you need to contact me about?" Ruan Mei's lips moved slightly, her gentle voice expressing her curiosity about Herta's call.
"A special creature has appeared on my side. I thought you might be interested. Its body is composed of Ancient Beasts, a living organism with Ancient Beast genes, and it possesses an immortal attribute. I wonder if it interests you," Herta said to Ruan Mei.
Ruan Mei's eyes lifted slightly.
"Indeed, such a creature is very attractive to me. Coincidentally, my experiment in your space station should also proceed to the next stage. I will come to your side as soon as possible."
Her words were still gentle and detached, but Herta, who was familiar with her, knew Ruan Mei was already very interested.
It probably wouldn't be too long before she arrived at the space station.
She could also help her study the situation of that dark creature.
As a researcher, the greatest characteristic was curiosity about things. Even if it wasn't Herta's field, she also wanted to know the truth.
...
It was impossible for Ruan Mei to come over immediately after receiving Herta's call, so for the next period, Derick's number two clone had nothing to do.
Similarly, his main body was in the same situation. With nothing to do, he either went to the Marmoreal Palace to soak in the hot springs, or went with Castorice to do embalmer's work, and occasionally went to the Marmoreal Market to help those merchants.
Especially when it came to looking after customers' children; those little kids, especially the little girls, were naturally very obedient to the good-looking Derick.
Castorice had just returned and saw Derick watching a group of three or four-year-old children.
Seeing Castorice return, Derick said to these little children, "Alright, your parents should be closing their stalls soon. Hurry home, it's time to eat."
"Okay." Although the little children were a bit disappointed, they still obediently listened to Derick's words and headed towards their homes. However, a few little girls looked at Castorice with reverence in their eyes.
"Did I offend them?" After they left, Castorice asked Derick, puzzled.
"Those little ones, they all said they want to marry me when they grow up. Now that they see you, they naturally see you as a love rival," Derick replied with a smile.
Castorice also couldn't help but laugh out loud.
She certainly wouldn't get jealous of little children; such words were far too normal.
The only one who could make her jealous was...
"Cipher, Your Excellency, what brings you here?"
Just as Castorice was thinking this, she saw a person with a fine figure and curvaceous legs approaching her and Derick. Feeling jealous, she enunciated Cipher's name word by word.
"I'm here to see Derry-O, of course." Cipher was carrying a pile of prepared ingredients and said to Derick and Castorice, "I just recently finished looting all of Titan of Trickery's wealth and came to share this joy with Derry-O. Of course, I'm also here to avoid disaster from you."
"I have no interest in your subordinate's food. Is there anything else besides this?" Castorice didn't have a pleasant expression for Cipher.
"Of course, there is." Cipher looked at Castorice. "I came to find you two regarding your trip to Styxia. The Dressmaker is a bit concerned about your preparations and wants to know when you plan to go there for reconnaissance. Of course, she's not rushing you. It's just that she needs to prepare in advance; she has to make contingency plans for all possible outcomes of your journey to the Underworld."
Styxia, a city-state located on the edge of the continent of Amphoreus, was once the nation that worshipped the Kingdom of Haizem.
At the same time, it was also the place where death first descended.
It was already evening now. Derick and Castorice were heading there, also to find a path to the Underworld from that location.
"Mm." Castorice nodded gently.
Then, she turned her head to look at Derick, her eyes filled with an inquisitive expression.
"Derick, when do you think is a good time to go? I'm ready and can set off at any time."
These few days of quiet coexistence with Derick had already satisfied Castorice. Even though she liked these peaceful days, she knew that the whole of Okhema was still under threat. If she could contribute to the embers of the Flamechase Journey sooner, then it was better not to delay too long.
The memories of these days were already quite wonderful. Even if she truly encountered danger or other situations, Castorice felt content.
Derick closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then he opened his eyes and slowly said, "Sister Castorice, if it's possible, I'd like to set off for there tomorrow."
He couldn't delay any longer.
Derick felt that if he remained idle for too long, his fighting spirit would dissipate.
"Alright."
Castorice nodded gently.
On the side, Cipher pouted and said to the two of them, "Alright, don't you two worry about any danger. Going there, how could you possibly find the Underworld on the first try? I feel it will take at least a few tries before we can successfully find the place. The first time we go, let's just get familiar with the environment there."
Saying this, Cipher even cutely puffed out her chest.
She said to Derick and Castorice, "Besides, isn't there still me? Even if you really encounter danger, I can still take you and run. Even if I can't, at worst, I'll go back to Okhema and find Tribbie and the others to open a door and send you to escape. In short, don't worry about danger; we have plenty of ways to escape here."
Hearing her say this, Castorice indeed felt much more relieved. She asked Cipher, "So, for this operation, will you be with us the whole time?"
"Of course not." Cipher shook her head. "I'm not the type who excels in frontal combat. Me, I'll just hide. I'll leave a token for you later. When you need to retreat, I'll come and get you out."
Although she really wanted to adventure together, Cipher was very cautious, worried that if the three of them were mixed together and an enemy suddenly appeared, it would directly wipe out all three of them.
"Mm, that's good too."
Castorice certainly didn't want Cipher to ruin her private time with Derick, and doing it this way was indeed the safest.
"Alright, let's not talk so much. Let's eat first," Cipher said, holding up the food towards Castorice and Derick.
"Mm... okay."
Although jealous of Cipher, facing the imminent departure, Castorice wouldn't stop them.
However, during the meal, Castorice quietly held Derick's hand, making him sit beside her – such things were also very normal.
Cipher watched, the corner of her mouth twitching. Under the table, she wanted to secretly extend her foot to tease Derick. Just as she extended it, Castorice's foot intervened, blocking her.
Seeing this, Cipher had no choice but to retract her foot resentfully.
Cipher quickly finished her food. Before Castorice and Derick could react, she directly pounced onto Derick's small bed.
Derick asked her, "Cipher, what are you doing?"
"We're leaving tomorrow. What's wrong with me resting well here?"
Cipher even skillfully rolled over on the single bed, making a provocative gesture towards Castorice.
Castorice looked at Cipher's actions, thought for a moment, then leaned close to Derick's ear and whispered a few words.
Derick's face looked a bit unnatural, but he nodded.
Then, the two of them lay down together on Castorice's bed.
"Hey, this isn't right, you two!" Seeing this, Cipher was like a cat whose fur had stood on end.
"There's only one bed, so naturally, we have to sleep together." A smile touched Castorice's lips. "If Your Excellency Cipher feels it's not right, you can switch places with Derick."
Cipher said nothing and turned her back.
Castorice, you just wait. If Derry-O can obtain the Coreflame of the Titan of Death, he will definitely solve the problem with your body. When you no longer have the ability to kill others upon touch, I will definitely get my revenge for today's events.
Seeing Cipher like this, a victorious smile appeared on Castorice's lips.
She looked at Derick and said softly, "Sleep. There's still battle tomorrow."
"Mm."
However, now that Derick's body had grown taller, the small bed felt a bit crowded. The two of them were now pressed even closer together.
Hugging tightly, Derick felt the temperature in the entire space rising, his throat as parched as if he hadn't drunk water for days in a vast desert.
No, I need to divert my attention a bit.
Derick quickly switched to his clone's perspective.
He cut his vision to the first clone.
At this moment, the first clone was in Janusopolis. It now needed to head towards the vicinity of Styxia.
Although no one except Cipher knew the exact location of Styxia, the general area could still be found.
When he reached Styxia, he would have the clone come over immediately through induction.
For Derick's main body to accept energy, he needed to let the clone devour some first.
_____
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