On Base, Asta Bites!

The trio proceeded onward, heading towards the Master Control Zone.

Inside the space station, researchers bustled back and forth, their busy figures weaving between various labs and consoles. Beyond the transparent viewports lining the corridors lay the deep, brilliant expanse of starry space. Massive celestial bodies rotated slowly, emitting soft light that added a touch of romance to the cold, metallic environment.

Before long, they arrived at the entrance to the Master Control Zone.

Wilder was already waiting there, his corporate uniform impeccably ironed, his posture ramrod straight. When he saw Daziel and March 7th appear at the end of the corridor, a warm smile immediately spread across his face, and he strode forward to greet them.

"Mr. Daziel, Miss March 7th, welcome to the Master Control Zone. Miss Asta has been waiting for you," Wilder greeted enthusiastically, his tone carrying just the right amount of respect.

His gaze then naturally fell upon the Herta puppet walking behind Daziel. His eyebrows subtly twitched, a flicker of shock flashing in his eyes. But just as quickly, the smile returned to his face, masking any emotional fluctuation, leaving nothing amiss.

"Mr. Wilder, please lead the way," Daziel responded politely, his tone calm.

Wilder nodded and turned, guiding the three towards a conference room.

The metal door to the conference room slid open silently, revealing the scene inside.

Asta sat poised at the conference table, fingertips lightly fiddling with a document, her expression focused and serious. Her attire today was no different from usual: a well-tailored white and purple jacket over a simple white blouse and black skirt, outlining her elegant figure. Her long, fair legs were gracefully crossed, feet clad in exquisite black high heels. A cascade of pink hair spilled over her shoulders like a waterfall, accentuating her snow-white skin and picturesque features, perfectly highlighting her aristocratic air under the soft lighting.

Hearing the door open, Asta looked up, her gaze lifting over the document. When she saw Daziel and March 7th, her face instantly lit up with a smile.

"Daziel, March 7th, you're finally here! Please, come in," Asta stood up to welcome them, greeting them warmly.

"Miss Asta, long time no see," Daziel and March 7th replied courteously.

Asta's gaze then landed on the Herta puppet standing beside Daziel, and a clear look of surprise flashed in her eyes again. "Lady Herta? Why have you come in person as well?" Asta's tone held a hint of confusion, clearly taken aback by the puppet's presence.

The Herta puppet lifted her head slightly, her tone flat but carrying an undeniable weight as she explained, "There are some matters that require Daziel's assistance. This puppet will be leaving the space station with him later."

Asta listened, nodding thoughtfully. However, she showed excellent composure and didn't press further, temporarily setting aside her curiosity.

"Please, everyone sit down. Make yourselves comfortable," Asta gracefully gestured for them to take seats around the conference table.

Daziel, March 7th, and the Herta puppet sat down in turn. Wilder stood silently beside them like a dutiful assistant, awaiting instructions.

Once everyone was seated, Daziel broke the slightly delicate silence first. He looked directly at Asta, getting straight to the point, "Miss Asta, you invited me here specifically. What is this about?"

Asta didn't answer Daziel directly but turned her gaze towards Wilder beside her...

Wilder understood implicitly. He cleared his throat with a light cough and began, "Mr. Daziel, allow me. Regarding your Aether Spirits, it's like this..."

"Normally, all generated Aether Spirits initially have independent personalities. However, after players upload their data, the project team performs standardized processing, adjusting certain information to ensure every Aether Spirit absolutely obeys the player's commands. This is a fundamental setting of the game." He paused, organizing his thoughts, "However, Mr. Daziel, your Aether Spirit data miraculously bypassed this step, almost as if... it possessed some kind of special exemption. It was uploaded directly to the game servers without any modification—even more astonishingly, the embedded field for independent personality was completely preserved. Theoretically, this shouldn't happen."

March 7th listened, wide-eyed, letting out a small gasp. "Something like that happened? That sounds outrageous! I thought your project team designed it this way on purpose, trying some special operational gimmick!"

Hearing this, Wilder looked somewhat embarrassed. He scratched his head awkwardly and explained with a wry smile, "Miss March 7th, you misunderstand. It certainly wasn't designed intentionally. If every Aether Spirit had an independent personality, the operational costs would increase dramatically. This situation is entirely a bug, an error in our programming."

March 7th pouted her pink lips, complaining indignantly, "Since it's a bug, and such a serious one, shouldn't there be some compensation? Maybe not server-wide, but what about compensation specifically for our Daziel? Are you just going to brush it off with 'programming error'? That's way too cheap!"

"Well... there indeed isn't any compensation plan at the moment." Wilder's smile became even more awkward. Representing the IPC, he apologized sincerely to Daziel and March 7th, "I am truly sorry. I can only express the company's sincerest apologies to you both."

Daziel curled his lip, sighing inwardly. Compared to the game companies from his previous life, the games this corporation makes are still too greedy. At least Mihoyo knew to symbolically hand out 100 Stellar Jade for major bugs. This company doesn't even offer a fart. They sure have thick skin.

However, Wilder's explanation brought sudden clarity to Daziel's mind.

He abruptly remembered that in the original storyline, the Trotter with a special personality was Asta's private collection, something she had spent a fortune acquiring through special channels. It was precisely because of this Trotter's uniqueness that it attracted the covetous eyes of Topaz's fan club, leading to a series of subsequent events.

But now, in this timeline, the special Trotter that should have belonged to Asta had vanished through some strange twist of fate. In its place was the Aether Spirit with an independent personality accompanying him—Topaz.

However, since Asta has a penchant for collecting special Aether Spirits and is willing to spend lavishly for them, doesn't that mean... Asta is after my Aether Spirits?

Daziel's brow furrowed slightly. He raised a hand, interrupting Wilder's somewhat official apology. His gaze shifted back to Asta, his tone serious, "Wilder, thank you for the explanation. But I believe Miss Asta invited me here for more than just these technical details."

"Miss Asta, forgive my bluntness, but if your purpose is to purchase my Aether Spirits, then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I've already made it clear: my Aether Spirits are not for sale, no matter the price you offer."

"Daziel, you misunderstand, you really misunderstand!" Asta heard Daziel and quickly waved her hands, explaining anxiously, "I have absolutely no intention of taking something cherished by others, nor do I have a penchant for forced purchases. I'm just... just incredibly interested in Aether Spirits possessing special personalities."

"Based on the information I currently have, besides the Trotter you have out now, you also possess an even more powerful Aether Spirit, one that also has an independent personality and consciousness. Daziel, I simply want to ask how you cultivate such special Aether Spirits. I'm willing to pay you for the cultivation method!" Asta's eyes were filled with curiosity, fixed intently on Daziel, her tone earnest.

Hearing Asta's slightly rushed explanation, the awkwardness on Daziel's face eased somewhat. He couldn't just tell Asta it was all thanks to his 'Inner World System', could he? No one would likely believe such a thing; they'd probably think he was crazy.

"Miss Asta, you... really want to know?" Daziel chose his words carefully, hesitating for a moment before confirming again.

Asta nodded without hesitation, her tone firm, her eyes eager. "Of course! I'm genuinely fascinated by this! If possible, I'm willing to pay any price."

Looking into Asta's eyes, Daziel took a deep breath and finally made a decision. He turned his head, looking towards Oleg at the side, his tone probing slightly. "Wilder, what I'm about to say might involve some... rather private content. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, could you perhaps... step out for a moment?"

Wilder paused slightly upon hearing this. He glanced at the serious-looking Daziel, then at the expectant Asta. Though puzzled, he nodded. "Alright, no problem. Coincidentally, I need to attend to some other matters elsewhere in the station. However..." He paused, a slightly apologetic smile appearing on his face as he added, "If the two of you reach any form of... large transaction agreement, or if any business cooperation is involved during your discussion, please be sure to notify me immediately."

"Why is that?" Daziel asked, confused.

"According to company regulations, such large-scale transactions between players are subject to... a handling fee," Wilder said, looking a bit sheepish.

Hearing this, the corner of Daziel's mouth twitched involuntarily. These damn capitalists, trying to make money even off this! These guys really deserve to be strung up on the roadside.

Daziel cursed the company's vampiric nature internally but remained outwardly composed. He simply nodded slightly, his tone calm, "Understood, Wilder. Rest assured, we will abide by the company's regulations."

Having received Daziel's assurance, Wilder said no more. He politely excused himself, turned, and left the conference room, closing the metal door behind him.

With Wilder's departure, the atmosphere in the conference room instantly became subtle. Daziel, March 7th, the Herta puppet, and Asta sat around the table, their gazes meeting.

One guy, three girls... perfect for a party, right?

Daziel took a deep breath, refocusing his gaze on Asta opposite him, and slowly began, "Miss Asta, actually... cultivating Aether Spirits with independent personalities is far more complex than you imagine. It could even be said that it's not something other players can replicate."

"It involves some... unconventional methods. Or perhaps, some... secrets difficult to mention."

"Unconventional methods? Secrets difficult to mention?" Hearing Daziel's words, Asta grew even more curious. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes locked onto Daziel, her voice filled with anticipation, "What kind of unconventional methods? And what kind of secrets? Daziel, please, you must tell me! I really, really want to know!"

Daziel's words were like a stone dropped into the calm lake of Asta's heart, sending ripples outward.

"Then let's have a battle," Daziel said startlingly, giving an answer Asta hadn't expected at all.

"Eh? Why battle?" Asta's delicate face instantly filled with astonishment. Her beautiful eyes, like clear lake water, rippled with confusion. She hadn't anticipated Daziel would suddenly propose such a seemingly unrelated request. Asta had expected the conversation to revolve around the secrets of Aether Spirit cultivation, but it had taken an unexpected turn, jumping straight to a battle.

"After the battle, Miss Asta will naturally understand," Daziel didn't explain the reason directly.

Asta's heart felt like it was being tickled by a feather, ticklish and itchy. Curiosity sprouted like bamboo shoots after spring rain, growing wildly.

"Alright. Since Mr. Daziel insists, I'll do as you say," she nodded without hesitation, agreeing.

Neither wasted any time. They decisively flipped a coin, the crisp clink of metal echoing in the relatively quiet conference room.

The duel begins!

"I choose you!" Asta's clear voice rang out, and instantly, three enormous figures materialized on the field. They were three Aether Spirits of astonishing size and imposing presence. Upon appearing, they dominated a large portion of the field like three small mountains, exuding immense pressure. These were all Overlord Aether Spirits that Asta had spent a fortune meticulously collecting, each possessing strength formidable enough to make ordinary players tremble.

Daziel's gaze swept over them, quickly identifying one as the troublesome Voidranger: Reaver from the Antimatter Legion. It gripped a menacing bow, holding it high, instantly stirring up whistling winds, seemingly heralding an imminent storm of attacks.

The other two Aether Spirits, however, were entirely beyond Daziel's knowledge; he hadn't even seen them in any records. One resembled a lion, covered in hard armor, letting out a deafening roar as if to shatter the very air. Its sharp claws scraped across the ground, easily leaving deep marks, leaving no doubt about its terrifying power. The other was a fighter composed of countless rocks, standing like a mobile mountain, radiating an aura of indestructible solidity. Just standing there, it projected an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Aetherium Wars isn't some simple cash-grab game; it's a AAA title popular throughout the universe, possessing extremely vast and complex game content. It's perfectly normal for there to be some Aether Spirits I haven't seen before. After all, his journey among the stars had just begun, and the planets and monsters he had encountered were merely the tip of the iceberg.

"Although I haven't researched Aether Spirit battling deeply, these are ones I spent a lot of effort and credits collecting. Mr. Daziel, you should be careful," Asta's tone held a note of warning mixed with pride.

"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Asta. However, I think you're the one who should be careful," Daziel replied. Faced with these three Overlord Aether Spirits, two of which were complete unknowns, he remained fearless. He simply waved his hand casually, sending out his own Aether Spirits.

"Trotter, Cocolia, I'll leave it to you."

Appearing on the field this time wasn't the huge, distorted form of the Mother of Deception, but Cocolia in her human form. After all, while the conference room was spacious, the complete form of the Mother of Deception would still make it feel too crowded. Even though it was virtual data, objective environmental factors still played a role.

When Asta saw the beautiful blonde mother-figure Cocolia appear, holding an ice lance, posture upright, she couldn't help but be momentarily stunned. "There's... actually such an exquisite... and beautiful Aether Spirit?"

The battle didn't proceed as the one-sided crush Asta had anticipated. Although the Trotter was small and seemed harmless, it displayed astonishing agility. Amidst the storm of attacks from the three Overlord Aether Spirits, it danced as if on a razor's edge, its form elusive, managing to narrowly dodge lethal blows by a hair's breadth every time.

What shocked Asta even more was Cocolia. The ornate ice lance in her hand, and the fierce blizzards summoned with her every move, inflicted massive damage on Asta's spirits with each attack, their health bars dropping visibly fast.

As time went on, the three initially imposing Overlord Aether Spirits gradually fell into a disadvantage, starting to seem overwhelmed. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Asta's fair forehead, her eyes filled with disbelief. Her initially relaxed expression turned grave. She couldn't comprehend why her Overlord spirits seemed so vulnerable against Daziel's.

In contrast, Daziel maintained a calm and composed demeanor, as if everything was proceeding exactly as he expected, entirely under his control.

Finally, under the relentless tide of Cocolia's attacks, the three once-majestic Overlord Aether Spirits collapsed one after another, completely losing their ability to fight. The lion spirit let out a sorrowful roar and fell heavily, kicking up dust; the Wind-Set Outাজzer knelt weakly, its bow slipping from its grasp and clattering dully to the side; the giant rock fighter crumbled like a mountain whose foundation had been hollowed out, breaking apart into a pile of scattered rubble.

Asta watched the scene unfold and smiled lightly; she wasn't particularly concerned about winning or losing. She expertly flipped a coin, recalling her Aether Spirits, then walked over to Daziel.

"Now you can tell me, right, Daziel? How did you manage to obtain that kind of special Aether Spirit?"

Meeting Asta's expectant gaze, Daziel slowly began to reveal the special secret of his Aether Spirits.

...

A few minutes later.

After hearing Daziel's explanation, Asta froze on the spot as if petrified.

"So... you're saying... Mr. Daziel, your Aether Coin possesses such incredible power that it can preserve the personality and memories of captured humanoid Aether Spirits? And this Trotter with its rear in the air... is actually that shrewd, capable, and decisive senior manager of the Strategic Investment Department, Miss Topaz? And if I want to see her real self with my own eyes, I have to... do... that... with you?" Asta's voice trembled uncontrollably as she tried to process the overwhelming flood of astonishing information, attempting to make sense of it, to find some logic.

This sounded like the crudest joke, utterly dissonant.

"Yes, Miss Asta. I haven't exaggerated, nor have I deceived you. That's simply how it is," Daziel nodded again, his tone firm.

"I don't believe it! Prove it to me!" Asta suddenly raised her voice, a hint of desperation in her tone, as if denying something, or perhaps trying to muster courage. "Come on, Mr. Daziel! Please... just try it with me once! I absolutely have to verify this for myself, whether it's true or false!"

Asta's sudden words struck Daziel like a thunderbolt, leaving him completely stunned, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. This was entirely beyond his comprehension, leaving him momentarily flustered.

"What? Is... is that not allowed?" Seeing Daziel frozen there as if struck by lightning, Asta pressed again.

Daziel took a deep breath, trying to calm his chaotic thoughts, his expression turning serious as he looked at Asta. He couldn't help but righteously lament inwardly—

It seems the vile meme contamination brought by the Stellaron is indeed too severe... Even a wise researcher like Miss Asta has been affected so deeply, becoming so... forward and uninhibited.

Fine, so be it. In that case, let me purify the meme contamination within her heart. Letting this continue isn't right. Isn't this precisely what a partner of justice like me should do?

With this thought, Daziel's eyes sharpened, and he nodded solemnly. "Since Miss Asta insists so strongly, then, to satisfy Miss Asta's thirst for knowledge, it is naturally my undeniable duty and responsibility."

Just then, a cool voice suddenly echoed in the room, abruptly interrupting the escalating conversation between the two.

"March 7th and I are still in the room, Daziel. What do you think you're doing? Could you please be a bit more considerate of the situation?"

The Herta puppet had, at some point, shifted her gaze from the thick document in her hands towards Daziel. Only then did Daziel realize others were present.

Hearing this, he gave an awkward laugh and quickly explained to the Herta puppet, "Lady Herta, you misunderstand. It's not really what you think..." As he spoke, his mind raced, trying to figure out how to handle the situation.

After a moment, his gaze fell upon Asta's large, sturdy desk, and an idea struck him.

"Don't worry, Lady Herta. I'll change... the method so you won't see a thing."

March 7th had been feeling a bit jealous due to the somewhat ambiguous conversation between Daziel and Asta. Now, seeing Daziel look towards the desk, she instantly understood what he intended to do, and her cheeks flushed crimson. This method reminded her of the experience under the desk in Qliphoth Fort, and she quickly turned away, unable to watch.

The Herta puppet remained expressionless, but a strange glint flickered in her eyes.

Asta also gradually realized what the method of "not letting others see" entailed. Her breathing became slightly rapid, her heart raced, and a blush crept onto her face. She felt both nervous and excited, filled with anticipation.

"Then... let's begin. Please be gentle, Mr. Daziel." Asta's voice trembled slightly. She slowly walked towards her desk, then obediently crouched down beneath it.

Daziel watched Asta's movements, took a deep breath, and tried to remain calm. He walked over to Asta's chair and sat down.

"Miss Asta, are you ready?" Daziel asked in a low, slightly husky voice.

"Mm... I'm ready, Mr. Daziel," Asta replied softly.

When Wilder finished his business and returned to Asta's office, he found the door closed, which felt slightly odd.

He raised his hand and knocked lightly, a dull, restrained "knock knock" sound. "Miss Asta? Daziel? Is anyone there?"

The sound penetrated the door but vanished without a trace, receiving no reply. The office inside was utterly silent, as if sealed off from the outside world.

Slightly puzzled, Wilder politely asked again, "Excuse me, may I come in?"

Still silence.

He hesitated slightly, then pushed the door open.

The sight that greeted him was somewhat bizarre—

Daziel was seated atop Asta's large, sturdy desk. He wasn't sitting casually, but rather bolt upright, back straight, hands resting naturally on his knees, his expression solemn and serious, as if performing some sacred ritual.

March 7th was sitting in her previous chair, hands covering her face, head turned to the side, seemingly unwilling to witness whatever was happening.

The Herta puppet remained seated, impassively flipping through the document in her hands, as if everything around her was irrelevant.

"What's going on with you all?" Wilder asked curiously, his gaze shifting between them. "Where is Miss Asta? Where did she go?"

Hearing his voice, Daziel adjusted his posture slightly and replied calmly, "Miss Asta stepped out. She might be back in a little while."

"Is that so." Although Wilder felt puzzled, he didn't press further, merely nodding.

The atmosphere in the office was slightly awkward. March 7th kept her face hidden, not daring to make a sound. The Herta puppet continued scanning the document like a precise machine. Wilder vaguely sensed something was wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint what. The strange atmosphere made him slightly uncomfortable.

Just as he was about to find a topic to ease the tension, a faint sound came from under the desk.

Drip! Drip! Drip!

It sounded like... some kind of wet sound.

Wilder froze instantly. He looked incredulously at the desk, then back at Daziel.

"What's that sound?" Wilder asked curiously.

"Oh, probably just some small animal Station Master Asta keeps. Pay it no mind," Daziel replied. His expression remained serious, but the tips of his ears were slightly red, and his body trembled faintly.

___

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