Perhaps Wise thought the virus was nothing serious, or maybe he simply had confidence in his own skills—or he might've had so special thod for purging malware.
After all, it was highly likely that the siblings were part of the original developers of the HDD system, and maintaining it daily would require a very high level of expertise.
Staring at the USB plugged into the computer, Sol rcer could do nothing but pray for them.
"We'll leave the USB with you guys for now. Just let us know once you've found anything."
"In the anti, we'll make so preparations to take down that Ethereal."
Nicole had already sensed that this commission wouldn't be simple.
From accepting the job to dealing with the Red Fang Gang, everything about it had been unusual.
Now the safe was beside a high-tier Ethereal—that thing wouldn't be easy to handle. They needed to get ready.
At the very least, Billy needed a full stock of bullets and so broken parts had to be replaced.
"No problem. You guys go ahead and get ready. I'll let you know if anything cos up."
Wise nodded in agreent.
"Well then, see you two later!"
Nicole waved as she led Sol rcer and the others out of the video store.
No sooner had they stepped outside than a mouthwatering aroma wafted through the air.
Anby twitched her nose, and her stomach growled audibly.
She looked at Nicole and said earnestly, "Nicole, I want ran~"
Last night, she and Billy had fallen from a high-rise on Fourteenth Street into the Hollow. By the ti they made it out, it was already dayti.
After a whole night, plus intense combat, her energy reserves were practically empty.
And now, with that heavenly ran aroma in the air, there was no way she'd settle for filling her belly with potatoes.
"We're low on Dennies, and..."
Nicole was about to refuse.
But then her own stomach growled loudly. She glanced at Sol rcer—the MVP of the Hollow—and finally made up her mind.
Sol rcer had perford spectacularly, taking down so many Ethereal and harvesting so many cores. He deserved a reward.
Nicole gritted her teeth and said, "Everyone worked hard in the Hollow today. Let's splurge a little. We're going to [Waterfall Soup] for General Chop's ran!"
"Aweso! General Chop's handmade ran is so good!"
Anby rubbed her belly, lost in blissful mories.
Though burgers were still her favorite ti-saving food, a hot bowl of ran was a luxury she could definitely enjoy when things were calm.
"Is it really that good?"
Sol rcer asked with curiosity.
In the ga, General Chop's ran wasn't just delicious—it had better stats than an S-tier amplifier.
And it was expensive. He wondered what the real-world price was like.
"Trust , it's seriously tasty."
Anby replied with a serious expression.
"You'll see for yourself soon enough!"
Nicole grabbed Sol rcer and dragged him along.
"What about Billy?"
Sol rcer asked as they walked.
"No need to worry about , Big Bro Sol rcer! You guys go eat—I'm gonna hit the arcade!"
Billy tossed out a quick reply and happily dashed into the ga center across the street.
The ran shop was open-style, with a counter that wrapped around the kitchen area. Custors sat on tall stools right by the sidewalk. The small, sturdy General Chop was currently facing his custors, pulling noodles with his chanical arms.
Nicole, Sol rcer, and Anby sat in a row and looked over the nu.
"Welco! Nicole, what'll it be today?"
"I can make anything on the nu—or off it too!"
General Chop greeted them enthusiastically.
He rembered Nicole and Anby very well.
One was a stingy girl, the other a bottomless pit.
The handso young man beside them was new though. He must've had so bad luck to end up recruited by the Cunning Hares.
"The usual for —white bowl herbal broth noodles." Nicole looked at Sol rcer and Anby. "Don't hold back—order whatever you want."
"I'll have the white bowl braised at noodles, extra noodles!"
Anby shouted with full energy.
als were the only ti she ever showed any real spirit.
Sol rcer glanced at the nu and thought for a mont.
"Then I'll go with the black bowl bone broth noodles."
He could see the thick, fragrant broth bubbling in front of General Chop. Pork bones, old chicken, and cured ham all simred together.
The nu photo showed generous chunks of at—just looking at it made his mouth water.
But the price was terrifying. Just like in the ga.
Nicole's white bowl herbal broth noodles cost 1,800 Dennies, and his black bowl bone broth noodles were a whopping 5,000 Dennies.
Having once worked a temp job for 3,000 RMB, he couldn't help but flinch a little. (T/N: 3000 RMB = 417 USD)
Still, with the skills he had now, he figured... might as well enjoy it.
"White bowl herbal broth noodles, dine-in! White bowl braised at noodles with extra noodles, dine-in! Black bowl bone broth noodles, dine-in!"
"That'll be 9,300 Dennies!"
General Chop announced.
"I've got it."
Nicole opened her wallet and reluctantly handed over the Dennies to General Chop.
Before they sold the Ethereal cores—and after accounting for debt repaynts—this was enough for maybe two more ran als.
"You can let go now, Nicole."
General Chop tugged at the bills she was still clutching and had to remind her.
"Haha, sorry."
Nicole let go with a sheepish smile, painfully watching the money disappear into the register.
With paynt done, General Chop began preparing the ran—or rather, he started operating the two chanical arms behind him to make it.
Sol rcer watched the fluid, elegant motions of the chanical arms and couldn't help but ask, "General Chop, does this still count as handmade ran, or is it machine-made?"
This ran, and Tin Master's hand-ground coffee, were two things that had always puzzled him.
"Huh?!"
General Chop's noodle-pulling halted briefly as he answered awkwardly, "You really hit with that one."
He couldn't help but grumble inwardly. This guy definitely fits with the Cunning Hares—brain circuits totally unpredictable!
"I was just asking. Please focus on the noodles."
Sol rcer said considerately.
Beside him, both Nicole and Anby burst into giggles—Nicole practically shaking, and Anby's lips twitching into a subtle smile.
Sol rcer smiled too. He might not have gotten an answer, but the laughter of two beautiful girls was a reward in itself.
(General Chop: Oh, great, I'm just part of your silly play now, huh?)
Before long, three steaming bowls of noodles were served.
Anby's white bowl braised at noodles had the largest portion—chunks of red-glazed at glistened with juice, clearly full of savory flavor.
In front of Sol rcer, the black bowl bone broth noodles floated with large at pieces—the aty aroma slamd right into his brain.
Nicole's white bowl herbal broth noodles were vegetarian, emitting a soft herbal fragrance.
"Sss~"
Sol rcer sniffed, and the rich aroma rushed into his nose.
Just from the sll, he knew this ran would be amazing—hundreds of tis better than anything he'd had before crossing over.
But just as he was about to dig in, he heard a 'slurp' from beside him. Turning his head, he saw Nicole staring at his bowl as she sucked back a single strand of drool.
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