Chapter 34: I Ask Your Name, and You Are Erduo Longma

"This guy really went back without saying a word."

Herta was somewhat annoyed but couldn't say much about it. After all, she bore some responsibility for letting her enter this strange situation.

Herta's voice disappeared, and Star's body gradually vanished from the space.

When Star disconnected from the Simulated Universe and opened her eyes, she didn't see Tian An anywhere.

"Miss Theresia?" Star looked around, her expression somewhat embarrassed.

"She's at your feet." The office door opened, and in walked Herta, who had just finished handling her business.

"At my feet?" Star looked toward the floor beside her and found Tian An lying motionless on the ground.

"Miss Theresia, what happened to you?" Star quickly turned the young woman over and began calling to her.

"No matter how much you call, it won't work. Just take her to my place first." Herta hadn't expected her system to be invaded, but fortunately, her abilities were beyond question. The loophole that had been exploited to sneak in had already been "eliminated."

She clearly remembered checking the system earlier.

"Your room, where is it?" Star had already picked Tian An up.

"My room? I don't have a room." Herta was completely confused.

"Didn't you just tell me to take her to your place?" Star had already reached the doorway but turned back.

Admittedly, Star was impressively strong, carrying a person without any visible effort.

"I meant the cabin behind the space station. That area isn't currently open to others, so it's perfect for accommodating her."

"Uh... lead the way?" Star had no idea how to get to the back section.

"No, I have other matters to attend to. Ask someone else. My doll will meet you there." Herta walked out the door herself, leaving Star standing awkwardly while still carrying Tian An.

With no other choice, Star embarked on her journey of asking for directions.

Meanwhile, in another location, inside a pitch-black laboratory, a figure completely bound in chains knelt on the cold floor, breathing heavily.

Only when the sealed door opened did the room see a glimmer of light again.

A small figure entered and turned on the ceiling lights one by one.

As brightness filled the entire room, the figure's breathing gradually stabilized.

"Truly remarkable, trying to invade my system." The person who entered was none other than Herta, who had just left the office.

"You're quite capable for a little brat, secretly shutting down my connection port and replacing it with your own." Herta provocatively grabbed the black shadow's chin and spoke disdainfully.

Besides breathing, the shadow made no other movements.

This black shadow looked like someone had splashed black paint all over themselves and wrapped a layer of black fabric around their body. Apart from being able to determine it was a humanoid creature, nothing else could be discerned. The black mist it had emitted in the Simulated Universe was now nowhere to be seen.

"Why wrap yourself in so many ugly bandages?" Herta tugged at the shadow's body, unexpectedly triggering a violent resistance.

"You don't want me to see? Fine, then tell me your name first."

The shadow remained silent.

"Good, good, good." Herta laughed in frustration. This was no different from a naughty child who breaks someone's things, gets questioned, and refuses to answer.

"Then let me ask something else. Why did you specifically enter the Simulated Universe to attack that girl?"

The shadow still remained silent.

In Herta's eyes now, this shadow was like a novice player who refused to admit their lack of skill. Not just her—even that hacker kid from before could have handled this shadow perfectly.

"Alright, I won't question you anymore. Thirsty? Have some water." Herta produced a cup of water from nowhere and held it toward the shadow.

The shadow seemed to glance at its body, restrained by chains like entangling vines, then looked back up at Herta, completely motionless.

"Oh my, I forgot you can't drink water. Let's remove your mask then." Herta's tone was smug, with bits of black fabric scraps clutched in her hand.

Indeed, the shadow's face had been uncovered without anyone noticing.

"Eh... aren't you the one who was lying on the hospital bed in the Simulated Universe earlier?"

"Theresia... when will you wake up..." Star sat idly on the chair beside the bed, gazing worriedly at her phone.

She was messaging March 7th and the others. Upon learning that Tian An had fallen into a coma, they wanted to rush over immediately.

They should be on their way now, probably.

What a strange Simulated Universe. She had seen several Aeons on her side, while Theresia had nearly been killed.

Star thought about what had just happened—it seemed she would need to ask for more compensation from Herta this time.

Just as Star was sitting there lost in thought, the person lying on the bed had already opened her eyes and was staring straight at the ceiling.

As the saying goes, people are always dazed when they first wake up. So when Star noticed she was awake, she finally spoke her first words.

"Doctor...?"

"What doctor? It's me, Star." Seeing that she had finally woken up, Star quickly moved closer, saying happily.

"Star..." She seemed to be pondering something, her expression somewhat conflicted, then gradually relaxed.

"I see..." Muttering to herself, she then turned her gaze to Star.

"So... Miss Star, could you tell me where we are?"

"In the rear section of the space station..." Star was a bit stunned. She noticed the girl before her exuded an aura of gentleness. Every word and gesture radiated care for all things in the world.

Her pink eyes glimmered slightly. With every smile and frown, Star seemed to see fields of pink flowers.

"What's wrong?"

"Hmm... something's not right... has Theresia had an epiphany?" Star resisted the urge to get closer and carefully examined the girl she had fought alongside.

She didn't think Theresia had been possessed or changed completely. Rather... the Theresia she knew before was indeed nurturing and gentle, but seemed unwilling to open her heart to others.

But now she looked like she had been blessed by a smiling angel—that spring breeze-like feeling was more pronounced.

Hmm... Theresia: Upgraded Version!

"Theresia, how did one trip to the Simulated Universe end up upgrading you?" Star's little hands were getting restless, floating back and forth in the air.

"Simulated Universe...?"

"The one we just participated in! You were attacked by that person darker than coal." Star now seriously suspected she had lost her memory a second time.

She now desperately wanted to take out her phone, open the chat interface, select Herta as the contact, and send her a message:

"How could you be so selfish! I..."