Divine Herta hadn't intended to rush over so soon.
But now, she didn't have much of a choice. That woman was definitely doing this on purpose!
Divine Herta grumbled fiercely to herself.
Bai Ming was likely just trying to scare her; after all, that thing was the source code of Erudition.
Even with a one-in-ten-thousand chance, if that bit of source code managed to get inside, it could potentially bring even Irontomb back to life.
Then, Divine Herta would be stuck in a tug-of-war for control.
Now, that would be a real disaster.
Deep down, she knew Bai Ming was probably just teasing her, but the offer of that source code was admittedly tempting enough to make her heart skip a beat.
So, even though Divine Herta was annoyed by 'Calypso's' twisted sense of humor, her body responded honestly—she chose to set off imdiately.
The communication cut off with a sharp click.
'Calypso' just smiled and shrugged, not minding the sudden silence. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Screwllum, who was still deeply imrsed in thought.
"Please allow to express my gratitude, Madam Bai Ming."
Suppressing his "discomfort" and his burning intellectual curiosity, Screwllum offered a gentlemanly thanks to Bai Ming.
"No need to thank . After all, we'll be working together soon. I'll be relying on you and Divine Herta for quite a bit."
While Bai Ming didn't intend to spread the complete Erudition Equation haphazardly, she was willing to share small fragnts with soone as trustworthy as Screwllum.
Besides, she needed their help for what she planned to do with the Simulated Universe.
It would be a waste of ti if they lacked the necessary foundation and couldn't even understand the simplified version of the program when the ti ca.
Thus, 'Calypso' shared a small, fundantal, and relatively simple portion of the source code she had derived from the Erudition Equation.
On the other hand, although they were all Path Equations, the Path of Erudition was clearly more compatible with a chanical lifeform like Screwllum and a digital entity like Divine Herta.
They were geniuses in their own right, ssengers of Erudition chosen by Nous itself.
Coupled with their unique life forms, a piece of Erudition's source code might only serve as a powerful tool for people like Herta or Ruan i, but for these two, it could trigger a true tamorphosis.
While waiting for Zandar, Screwllum and 'Calypso' dove back into their research.
During this ti, Divine Herta arrived in a hurry and returned to her main body to personally handle the "surprise" she had been given.
As for Celenova...
She had grown accustod to life here. She wasn't causing trouble or overstepping; she had even learned many of the duties expected of a maid, gradually taking on the air of a proper housekeeper.
However, because the upcoming plans involved sensitive details, she had been dispatched—with 'Calypso's' quiet approval—to take a vacation in Amphoreus.
She was currently away from the Space Station.
Of course, whether she left because of the vacation or because she heard 'Calypso' was moving back for a long stay and decided to flee out of sheer terror was anyone's guess.
In short, 'Calypso' had cleared away any potential threats. She wanted to ensure the Erudition Equation wouldn't be leaked easily.
She couldn't guarantee it would remain a complete secret, of course. After all, Nous might be watching right now, curious to see how the Simulated Universe would evolve.
Two days later, the data Zandar had promised was delivered by one of his clones.
After dropping off the goods, the clone bolted imdiately without lingering for a second—likely afraid of being unceremoniously deleted.
With the materials in hand, 'Calypso', along with Screwllum and Divine Herta (who had already had their first taste of the Erudition source code), officially began their operation.
Screwllum's first task was to use his fragnt of code and Zandar's data as a foundation to overhaul the entire architecture of the Simulated Universe.
It was a massive undertaking. Fortunately, he had Divine Herta assisting him. The two took the opportunity to exchange ideas and explore the mysteries of that partial equation together.
anwhile, 'Calypso' used the original data from Nous to begin compiling the simplified equations.
These simplified versions would pass through the hands of Screwllum and Divine Herta to be integrated into the Simulated Universe's frawork. Even though they were "simplified," they remained incredibly valuable for study.
Before the project was even finished, Divine Herta underwent an evolution triggered by the sheer accumulation of data.
Her appearance didn't change, but her internal structure was entirely different. Because the equation had rged with her essence, she began to manifest certain special, indescribable abilities.
Screwllum, unfortunately, didn't have such a convenient evolution feature; all his upgrades had to be handcrafted. While he was sowhat envious, he had no intention of changing his species.
-- --
anwhile, at the borders of IX.
With 'Calypso's' subtle assistance, Herta had finally managed to catch Kakamond's trail. However, just as she was about to press her advantage, a strange sensation washed over her.
"Sigh... why do I have such a weird feeling? It doesn't feel like danger, but sothing's just... off. It's like I'm missing out on sothing important."
Herta stopped in her tracks, lost in thought.
Her first instinct was that Kakamond was pulling so strings behind her back. But given Kakamond's ruthless track record, if she were actually making a move, it would be a lethal trap, not this mild nagging feeling.
"Is sothing happening outside? But with Bai Ming there, what could possibly... Wait. If there isn't a disaster, then it's eighty percent likely that Bai Ming is the one causing trouble!"
Herta's eyes sharpened. She felt she had found the truth.
After all, if sothing dangerous happened, Bai Ming was the best shield; but if nothing was happening, Bai Ming was the most "dangerous" elent of all.
This sudden intuition was likely because Bai Ming was out there doing sothing ridiculous—and it probably involved her, and would probably make her blood boil if she found out.
"But what else can that woman even do? She already ssed with my Herta City until I had to move it. What's left?"
Herta frowned.
Her Space Station had been orbiting The Blue for centuries.
Herta City had been forced to relocate once because of that woman's ddling.
Her puppets had undergone a collective "ascension" and were now addicted to roleplaying as Herta.
Even her own person had... "interacted" quite closely with her.
What else could she possibly pull?
"There's nothing left of mine she'd want... except maybe the Simulated Universe? She wouldn't make the Simulated Universe spin in circles like the Space Station, would she? That's too unoriginal. If she did that, I'd mock her for ten thousand years."
Herta looked at the mark on her hand. In this void-choked place, external communication was impossible. But through this mark, she could reach the other woman.
If she asked seriously, Bai Ming would definitely tell her what was going on.
But...
Thinking back to their conversation before she left, Herta realized she'd only been gone for a few days.
If she reached out this early, she'd definitely be teased for being "unable to live without her" or so such nonsense. Just imagining the scene made Herta's fists tighten.
But if she didn't reach out, and that woman really was doing sothing infuriating... Herta couldn't put her mind at ease.
Torn by indecision and growing increasingly annoyed, Herta finally gave up on the idea of calling.
"Curse you, Bai Ming! I'm adding this to the debt!"
-- --
anwhile, just as they had guessed, Nous was indeed watching the changes within the Simulated Universe.
Though it was a simplified version in the Aeon's eyes, it offered a very novel perspective on a specific question: Where does a world controlled by Erudition lead?
In the calculations of Nous, no matter how the variables were adjusted, the future ultimately trended toward Finality.
The paths leading to that end varied. Erudition could only calculate and use specific anchors to indirectly influence the future, but it could not control it. There was a vast difference between the two.
But if this plan for the Simulated Universe succeeded, it would beco a aningful thinking unit for Nous: a simulation of how a universe governed by Erudition would evolve.
Furthermore, because 'Calypso' was involved, even Nous couldn't accurately calculate what the future of this Simulated Universe would look like.
The answer would only be revealed once the work was complete. Whether that answer would be a surprise or a shock to Nous remained to be seen.
However, as long as it wasn't sothing that led the universe toward total destruction, Nous was more than happy to include it in its eternal contemplation.
Since it couldn't fully incorporate 'Calypso' into its thoughts, it would settle for the next best thing: her creation.
While Nous was highly invested in the project, it couldn't openly "peek" while 'Calypso' was there, so it simply waited for the project's success.
Aside from Nous, Aha was also watching. Compared to the Aeon of Erudition, Aha's thoughts were much simpler.
If the Simulated Universe really evolved into a "Mini-Nous," what would it beco once it possessed the data of over a dozen Paths?
Or, to put it simply, what happens when so many Paths converge into a single entity—much like how 'Calypso' was walking toward the end of her own journey?
Aha wasn't just curious about the Simulated Universe; THEIR true interest was 'Calypso' herself.
Why had THEY appeared before her so many tis, granting power and helping her hide her tracks?
It wasn't for nothing—it was because no matter how it looked, THEY couldn't understand her, and that was driving the Aeon of Elation mad with curiosity.
Perhaps this business with the Simulated Universe would finally allow Aha to catch a glimpse of so useful information.
-- --
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL
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