Sixth Street, RandomPlay Video Store.
When Sol rcer and Anby arrived, they found Belle and Wise deep in conversation.
Their discussion halted the mont they noticed the two entering.
Belle greeted them with a smile. "The decoding on that USB stick still needs a bit more ti—it should be done by tomorrow. You're a little early."
"We're not here for that. It's sothing else." Sol rcer then asked, "Did you find any viruses or anything in that USB?"
Maybe Wise's skills picked up on sothing hidden?
"There weren't any viruses. That USB is perfectly safe."
Wise answered in a low voice.
With his level of skill, no hidden viruses went undetected.
"Well, guess I was just overthinking it."
Sol rcer replied calmly, though he sighed inwardly.
Looks like Phaethon's account really is a lost cause.
Belle tilted her head curiously. "Right, you said there was sothing else. What was it?"
"Sol rcer's planning to clear out the Cretan Hollow over on Fourteenth Street. We need a Proxy to guide the way," Anby replied earnestly.
"Huh!?"
"Did I hear that right? You're saying Sol rcer wants to clear out a Hollow?"
Belle and Wise were both suspicious that Anby had misspoken.
Clearing out a Hollow didn't match Cunning Hares' usual operations at all.
If anything, it sounded more plausible that they were heading into a Hollow to scavenge for resources.
"You heard right. I do intend to clear a Hollow."
Sol rcer said it plainly, without hesitation.
The sibling duo stared at Sol rcer, visibly stunned.
This man seriously wanted to clear a Hollow? That was… wildly ambitious!
We're talking about Hollows—even veteran Hollow Raiders struggle just to survive in there. Only official powerhouses dared to entertain the idea of clearing one.
And even those well-equipped, heavily manned official organizations would never publicly boast about clearing a Hollow—they'd be afraid of eating their own words.
Belle darted up to Sol rcer and reached out to feel his forehead. "Doesn't seem like you've fried your brain. Then why are you spouting nonsense?"
"It's not nonsense. Clearing a Hollow ans Dennies, reputation, status. Why wouldn't I do it?"
Sol rcer brushed Belle's hand aside with a scowl.
Just saying a few words and already being treated like he's gone mad—that was definitely sarcasm.
Yep. Belle is definitely a little gremlin.
"Sure, those big powers know there's profit in it, but they still avoid it. That ans it's even more dangerous than it looks."
"You think you're stronger than those big powers?"
Belle sneered.
If the internet had anything to say, she figured Sol rcer must be dreaming. She wanted to slap him awake!
"I do think I'm stronger than them."
Sol rcer said earnestly.
Those big powers didn't have infinite ammo, invincibility fras, totems of undying, or guaranteed wins in gambles.
With his abilities, as long as he avoided the Original Hollows, a Companion Hollow would be no problem at all.
"Fine, fine, whatever you say." Belle spread her hands, reluctantly nodding.
Wise spoke seriously. "We won't accept a commission that dangerous."
"It's not dangerous. I only need you as the Proxy for today. Just culling a few hundred Ethereals."
Sol rcer explained with a smile.
"A few hundred Ethereals… just that?"
Wise and Belle both looked dazed, feeling oddly disconnected from reality.
Since when did a few hundred Ethereals count as just that?
Plenty of Hollow Raiders never even saw that many in their lifeti.
But then they recalled how Sol rcer had danced through a swarm of over eighty Ethereals in Cretan Hollow just yesterday, taking out over fifty in under a minute.
And suddenly, they fell silent.
Fifty in one minute… a few hundred in ten wasn't out of reach.
Maybe, for Sol rcer, a few hundred Ethereals really was just that.
After thinking it over, Wise and Belle finally said, "Alright, if it's only for a day, we'll take the job."
Belle looked over at Sol rcer, rubbing her fingers together. "But how much are you offering for the commission fee? Phaethon doesn't co cheap, you know."
She was being blunt—she wanted to fleece Sol rcer a little.
Yesterday, Sol rcer had thoroughly bullied her while she was possessing Eous. Now it was ti for payback.
Sol rcer saw right through Belle's scheming and chuckled. "I don't plan on paying."
"You an… you want this for free?"
Belle's eyes turned instantly sharp.
If Sol rcer couldn't give a good reason, she was going to throw him out.
Sol rcer kept smiling as he explained. "We're heading into Cretan Hollow. It's totally reasonable for a client to ask the Proxy to gather intel, right?"
"And if we just happen to clear out so Ethereals along the way to keep the Proxy safe, that's reasonable too, isn't it?"
He was, of course, referring to the commission about extracting the safe from Cretan Hollow.
"Totally reasonable." Belle froze for a second, then growled through gritted teeth. "You and Nicole really are two of a kind!"
Multiple Hollow runs for one commission wasn't unusual at all—Sol rcer's logic was solid.
Still, the way he grinned like that—it was exactly like Nicole's sly expression.
Sol rcer shrugged with a smile. "Really? Then I guess Nicole and I do make a perfect match."
"Hmph!"
Belle turned away in a huff.
Why was this guy so infuriating? Couldn't he just let her have the last word?
Wise took a mont to think, then said, "We'll agree to this. But you need to do us a favor too."
Sol rcer grinned. "No problem. We're all friends here."
"Here's the deal. We've got a long-ti custor who wants to see so combat footage of Dinsional Gun God, but we're out of stock on that title."
"So, I told him to post a commission on the Inter-Knot asking for footage of real fights with Ethereals."
"In other words, we want to film today's battle."
Wise laid it out seriously.
"That's it? Easy."
Sol rcer accepted without hesitation.
He had no intention of hiding himself or holding back. Photos, video—none of that was a problem.
In fact, standing out and boosting his reputation and status was exactly what he wanted.
Sol rcer smiled. "Well, since everything's settled, let's head out."
"Fine." Belle reluctantly handed Eous over to Sol rcer. "But don't bully Eous this ti."
"Relax. I never bully Bangboos."
Sol rcer took Eous and instinctively gave its ear a little rub.
"..."
Belle rolled her eyes at the gesture.
She was absolutely not entering Eous before they got inside the Hollow.
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