Chapter 92: Currency War

Seeing Ti Bao's cat‑like attitude as if her tail had been stepped on, the delicate doll‑like face of Black Curtain Lady was about to overflow with a helpless expression.

She gently inhaled, decided to change strategy, slowed her tone, with a hint of coaxing: "In that case… shall I bring you some 'outside' things? Things you can experience without going out."

Sure enough, like a pebble tossed onto a calm lake, the word "outside" instantly caught Ti Bao's attention.

Her ruby‑like eyes suddenly lit up, sparkling with pure curiosity, fixed on Heimu as if asking, "What is it? What is it?"

Heimu calmly reached into the storage compartment and took out a palm‑sized, sleek device that emitted a faint azure glow—its appearance resembled a phone.

"This is called 'Currency War'."

Heimu handed the device over, watching Ti Bao cradle it as if it were a fragile treasure, carefully turning it over in her hands, examining it from side to side.

"It's sort of… a strategy game, I suppose. If you're interested, you can open it and give it a try."

Ti Bao's fingers brushed the cold screen, and the device lit up instantly, displaying a sleek, tech‑filled interface.

Heimu leaned forward and briefly demonstrated the controls—swipe, tap, select.

On the screen, many familiar character portraits appeared, each accompanied by detailed attributes and skill descriptions, and—surprisingly—Ti Bao herself!

(This is actually a semi‑beta program the system cobbled together using core data of a "Simulated Universe" borrowed from the Black Tower Space Station. Heimu thought it could gather combat data, pass the time, and perhaps help Ti Bao indirectly "access" the outside world, so she grabbed it.)

Ti Bao's attention was instantly drawn to the flickering lights and the controllable characters on the screen.

She clumsily yet attentively tapped with her finger; the eyes that had been dim from resistance brightened again, and she even slightly part her red lips, emitting a silent gasp of wonder.

While Ti Bao was fully absorbed in "Currency War" and unable to attend to anything else, Xi Lian, who had been "imprisoned" in Ti Bao's embrace for a long time, finally seized the chance, slipping away like a slick little fish, carefully wriggling out of the warm hold, stumbling behind Heimu, trembling as she smoothed her slightly disheveled pink short hair and dress, the blush on her cheeks still lingering.

Heimu watched Ti Bao, now completely "captured" by electronic entertainment, and a glint of a scheme's success flashed in her eyes.

She then took out several pre‑prepared clear photographs from her bosom and gently placed them on the table beside Ti Bao.

The photos showed images of A Xing, Chang Ye Yue, Bai Hang, and a few others.

"Here, this is also for you."

Heimu pointed at the photos, trying to keep her tone flat, but when a certain title came up she hesitated ever so slightly, sounding a bit uneasy, "These people… are… um… my mother's friends."

She barely forced herself to finish the sentence.

"Later… they might come to talk to you, to ease your boredom."

Having done all that, Heimu didn't linger; she whispered to the still‑engrossed Ti Bao, "Take your time playing; we'll check on you next time."

She then turned, motioning Xi Lian to follow, and the two slipped out of the warmly‑filled room in silence.

Returning to the familiar Pure White Space, the subtle feeling Heimu had acquired from playing the role of "mother" gradually faded.

She halted, looking at Xi Lian beside her, who seemed still to be savoring the recent "thrilling" episode.

"Did you notice anything?"

Heimu asked directly.

Hearing that, Xi Lian snapped out of her slight reverie, blinked her azure eyes, thought carefully for a moment, then said softly with uncertainty, "They… are?"

She gestured toward the direction they had just left, indicating the Ti Bao dolls that filled the room.

Heimu nodded approvingly, her expression growing a bit solemn, "Those extra dolls that appeared in the room… are all 'Ti Bao'."

She surveyed the Pure White surroundings, "Although we don't know why they didn't show up during the last scan, this time the suddenly numerous dolls each emit a spiritual resonance that shares the same origin as Tili Biyosi. They're definitely not ordinary…"

Star Rail·Heimu Carriage

After a brief rest and analysis, Heimu's figure reappeared inside that hidden carriage of the train.

The system doll sat quietly in a corner chair, hands neatly placed on its knees like an exquisite ornament.

Sensing Heimu's arrival, she instantly stood and, in an even‑toned electronic voice, courteously greeted, "Welcome back, madam."

Heimu waved casually, walked to the Observation Window, gazed at the passing star river outside, and asked the question she currently cared most about, "How's the Black Tower been these past few days?"

Several days have passed since the Sister Incident and the Space Station's great purge.

The system doll responded immediately, its tone steady, "Based on multi‑source data monitoring and intelligence synthesis, the target 'Black Tower' and its Space Station have shown highly stable recent behavior patterns. External activity frequency has dropped markedly, internal management intensity has returned to normal levels. No obvious retaliatory signals against us or the Star Rail have been detected."

Heimu heard that, a knowing smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, as if she had long anticipated this outcome.

"Normal."

She whispered, "For a true prodigy, a momentary emotional lapse may be understandable, but being constantly provoked by pranks of this magnitude is unbecoming. Rage clouds judgment, and the Black Tower… its pride lies in its Reason String and wisdom."

She paused, her fingertips lightly tapping the window sill, then added, her tone tinged with a hint of mockery:

"Of course, this 'Calm'… if we can disregard the recent disappearance of those mask‑wearing fools who usually fear chaos and have suddenly vanished as if they collectively signed a peace treaty, then indeed… it doesn't have much impact."

Black Tower Space Station·Black Tower Office

The system's report of "very Calm" to Heimu may be an objective conclusion drawn from data monitoring.

But the undercurrents swirling beneath this "Calm" are probably known only to the Black Tower itself, seated deep within the office.

Days have passed, and the aftershocks of that absurd farce have not fully subsided.

The unsightly rumors, the Behind the Scenes Black Hand's brazen provocation, and the fact that we were duped…

Each felt like a slender yet sharp needle, precisely stabbing the nerves of this proud prodigy.

Frankly, across the entire universe she knows, there's no other being daring enough to offend her in such a despicable manner!