Ironclad: How can hand-crafted knight belts not be considered genius?

"Um... is it this lively inside the space station?"

Jiang Ning looked at the densely packed staff members in the cabin section; the uneven heads made Jiang Ning's trypophobia almost flare up.

"Yes, there are indeed a lot of people."

"It's okay, we'll go this way."

Alan carried Pepe and led the way.

Jiang Ning looked at this "newcomer" who was actually more familiar with the space station layout than he, the "veteran," and asked with some doubt.

"I have a question... Why are you so familiar with the layout of the Black Tower Space Station?"

Alan paused upon hearing this, turning back with some confusion.

"Mr. Jiang Ning, why do you ask that...? Shouldn't the layout of the space station be the most basic thing?"

"Uh...it's nothing."

Jiangning's molars are sore, so he keeps his mouth shut and follows Alan closely.

I'll ask Leira to give me a map of the space station later. I need to take a few seconds to memorize it, otherwise people will look down on me.

With Alan leading the way, Jiang Ning had a smooth journey.

The two of them went backstage at the ceremony together.

From Jiang Ning's perspective, a pink-haired girl in white is nervously looking at herself in the mirror.

"Go for it... Estella, you can do it... There's nothing to be afraid of, just treat it like you're dealing with the bosses of those big companies..."

Estella cheered herself up in front of the mirror, raising her hand to gently pat her fair cheeks.

Sensing the approach of the two people behind her, Estella realized what was happening and turned around in surprise.

"Alan! You've finally arrived!"

"...Huh? And who is this gentleman?"

Aista's surprise turned into doubt as she looked Jiang Ning up and down.

"This is Mr. Jiang Ning. We met on the road and decided to travel together."

Alan then explained the ins and outs of the matter.

Upon hearing this, Estelle nodded knowingly.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jiang Ning, for causing you trouble."

"It's alright, it's alright. I should thank Alan for showing me the way. Without him, I probably would have been wandering around the Black Tower Space Station for quite a while."

Jiang Ning waved his hand dismissively, rejecting Estella's apology.

"No, let's keep things separate... Mr. Jiang Ning, name your price, and I will compensate you!"

As she spoke, Aistar took out her phone from her pocket and quietly pulled up the payment code.

"No, no, no! There's really no need! Miss Estella, you're being too polite!"

Jiang Ning quickly refused.

To be honest, Jiang Ning is still penniless and really needs money.

Although Estella's offer was very tempting, he didn't want to give her the first impression that he was greedy for money.

That's terrible.

Seeing Jiang Ning's resolute refusal, Aistar felt embarrassed to force him.

Mr. Jiang Ning is truly magnanimous.

As Estella thought this, she smiled and put her phone back in her pocket.

"Miss Estádio."

A man in a black uniform peeked out from behind the curtain backstage and waved to Estelle.

"Is this your new friend?"

I apologize for interrupting your chat with your new friend, but it's almost time for my speech. Please follow me.

"Yes! I'm coming right away!"

Estella's body suddenly stiffened, and she moved somewhat awkwardly toward the curtain.

As she approached the curtain, Estelle turned back and nodded apologetically in Jiang Ning's direction.

"Excuse me, Mr. Jiang Ning, I must excuse myself for a moment..."

Jiang Ning nodded in understanding.

Go ahead and do it.

--come on!"

Jiang Ning gave Aista a thumbs up.

Encouraged, Estelle was slightly taken aback, then a sweet smile, like a flower blooming in early spring, appeared on her face.

"Thank you, I will try my best!"

Estella's figure disappeared behind the curtain, leaving Jiang Ning and Alan alone backstage.

Oh right, and Pepe too.

Pepe is currently on the ground, balancing a small pink ball on her head, having a great time.

"Miss is still as afraid of big scenes as ever..."

Alan scratched his cheek a little embarrassedly.

"It's only natural for people to feel nervous when they see so many people watching them speak."

Um, by the way, what was Ms. Estelle's speech about...?

"Aista is the new stationmaster of the Black Tower Space Station."

A familiar, slightly childish girl's voice came from behind Jiang Ning.

"Oh, I see... Hmm? That voice, could it be that..."

Jiang Ning couldn't help but swallow hard, stiffly turning his head to look at the "little loli" with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Ms. Black Tower...how are you?"

The Black Tower doll glanced at Jiang Ning with indifferent eyes.

"Don't look like you're about to die the moment you see me. This genius isn't going to eat you."

Jiang Ning quickly nodded in response.

"Lady Black Tower?"

Alan looked at the Black Tower doll with some surprise.

"You...how did you get here? Are you looking for a prostitute?...I'll go get her right away!"

The Black Tower puppet rolled its eyes at Alan, pointed at Jiang Ning, and said somewhat speechlessly.

"Don't presume to know what this genius is thinking. I'm here to see this guy."

"Yes...yes! I'm sorry..."

Alan bowed awkwardly, his body tense.

From his perspective, Jiang Ning was just an ordinary clerk who was somewhat handsome, and there was nothing particularly special about him.

But how could Jiang Ning, who is like this, have any connection with Ms. Black Tower from the Genius Club?

Thinking this, Alan curiously and secretly sized up the "ordinary" Jiang Ning.

"Uh...you're looking for me...?!"

Jiang Ning suffered cardiac arrest.

—Here it comes! Here it comes! Here it comes!

It finally happened!!!

"That's right, I..."

Just as the Black Tower puppet was about to speak, Jiang Ning spoke first.

"Tonic for teeth and mouth!!! My new invention is still lacking, Lady Black Tower's tonic should send me into outer space!"

One sentence brought Alan and the Black Tower puppet to a standstill.

The Black Tower Doll's face darkened, and a large, gleaming amethyst hammer slammed into the ground with a loud "bang."

"I told you, don't presume to guess what this genius is thinking—"

"Huh..."

Jiang Ning lowered his head and remained silent, but he felt inexplicably relieved.

"I was wrong... Please tell me..."

With a flick of his wrist, the Black Tower puppet's hammer dissipated into particles.

"My main body is going out for a while, so I may not be paying much attention to news from the space station for some time."

But the key point is—remember what I said before about the star core?

Upon hearing this familiar term, Jiang Ning looked up in confusion and then nodded.

"The 'destruction' coordinates left by the star core have not been erased. I predict that the antimatter legion may invade the space station again in the near future."

"You—as the head of the defense department of this space station—are responsible for protecting the safety of the space station while I, the genius, am away. Understand?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

"Uh... I understand! Leave it to me!"

I never imagined that my sinecure as "security captain" would actually come with responsibilities and I would receive a formal work assignment from my "boss".