At the dinner table in the Cunning Hares' hideout.
Nicole was devouring a double beef and cheese burger with great enthusiasm.
Beside her sat a box of Chicken McNuggets, a large fries, and a cup of iced cola.
These were part of the burger combo Sol rcer had brought back.
"What were you guys doing today? Why are you back so late?"
Nicole asked with a mouthful of burger, her words slightly muffled.
"First, we spent an hour inside the Hollow fighting Ethereals. Then we rested for a bit at the video store. After that, Sol rcer took the manager and to Lumina Square for burgers and a really touching romance movie."
Anby reported the day's itinerary honestly.
"What!? You did all that?"
Nicole looked a bit shocked.
She had assud Sol rcer and Anby would be battling inside the Hollow all day long.
She didn't expect them to only spend an hour inside.
And then Sol rcer took Anby out for food and fun? She had been worried about the two of them for nothing. Her good intentions had just been wasted.
Still, at least they brought food back. She supposed they weren't completely heartless.
Just then, Billy sidled up next to Sol rcer.
"Sol rcer, Sol rcer! You brought dinner for Boss Nicole—did you bring anything for ?"
"Ten hydraulic batteries. Want them?"
Sol rcer pulled out a pack of sealed batteries and handed them over to Billy.
Of course, he had prepared for this. If he treated Anby and brought food for Nicole but forgot Billy, that would've been bad.
He just wasn't sure if these ten batteries—worth around five thousand Dennies—were enough for Billy's appetite.
"Hydraulic batteries! How did you know this was my favorite flavor?!"
Billy bead as he took the batteries, inhaling their scent like fine wine. "Thermal power has a spicy aftertaste and causes overheating. Standard electricity is dry and bland—only good for satiety. But hydro power? Silky smooth and endlessly satisfying!"
Sol rcer laughed. "Heh, you really know your stuff."
He genuinely hadn't expected batteries to have flavor profiles. That was just absurd.
Still chewing on her burger, Nicole said to Sol rcer, "Sol rcer, don't bring things like this next ti. Spend your money on yourself."
A burger combo like this would cost at least seven thousand Dennies. Billy's hydraulic batteries probably weren't cheap either.
Add that to what Anby and Belle ate today—and the cost of their movie tickets.
That day's expenses easily added up to tens of thousands of Dennies.
Even if Sol rcer was rich, this was no way to spend money.
Sol rcer just smiled. "Nicole, you don't need to worry about that. We're all friends—and since everyone supports my business, I have to show a little appreciation, right?"
Just a bit of pocket change. Spending it was no big deal—as long as it brought joy.
"Sol rcer, you're the best! You're my best friend!"
Billy was moved, bringing his face close to Sol rcer. "When I make it big, I'll bring you batteries too—the best ones!"
"That won't be necessary. Just treat to ran twice."
Sol rcer leaned away from Billy, exasperated.
He wasn't a robot. Batteries were absolutely useless to him.
"Haha! Almost forgot."
Billy scratched his head awkwardly.
Seeing Sol rcer's reaction, Nicole could only sigh. "Alright, alright. Spend your money however you want."
Then she added, "But once your Dennies run out, I'm not giving you an advance on your salary!"
"Don't worry. That day will never co."
Sol rcer waved a finger and said casually, "Today, we took down a thousand Ethereals—nearly ten million Dennies' worth of loot."
Battery-sniffing Billy: "A thousand Ethereals?"
Burger-eating Nicole: "Nearly ten million Dennies?"
The two of them stared blankly at Sol rcer, stunned.
They turned to Anby and asked in unison, "Is Sol rcer telling the truth?"
"It's true."
Anby nodded affirmatively.
"But didn't you only spend an hour in the Hollow?"
Nicole couldn't help asking.
"Yes, only an hour. In that ti, Sol rcer and I killed over a thousand Ethereals. The Hollow itself even retreated by more than ten ters."
Anby thought for a mont, then added seriously, "Sol rcer did most of the killing."
"Whoa! Sol rcer, you're that powerful!?"
Billy jumped in surprise.
Nicole wasn't faring much better.
The idea of killing over a thousand Ethereals in an hour was absurdly efficient.
Nicole had never seen anyone in New Eridu capable of slaying Ethereals at such a pace.
In her mory, only the legendary Void Hunters could pull sothing like that off.
It sounded outrageous—but Anby didn't lie.
So, a thousand Ethereals was real. Ten million Dennies was also real.
"We're gonna be rich! We're gonna be famous!"
Nicole bead, her foxlike eyes narrowing in delight.
If they could push the Hollow back over ten ters in one day, clearing it entirely was just around the corner.
The idea that the Cunning Hares might produce a Void Hunter—and earn endless Dennies—made her giddy.
Nicole looked at Sol rcer, eyes sparkling with gold.
This guy was their very own money tree!
Truly, picking up Sol rcer had been the best thing ever.
"Nicole, eat your food first."
Sol rcer looked at her manic expression and sighed helplessly.
"Mm!"
Nicole grabbed her burger and took huge bites.
Under the impact of such great news, the already tasty burger sohow beca even more delicious.
As she ate, she said to Sol rcer, "Oh, right—your ID info has been uploaded. As long as you co with to the Hollow Investigative Association tomorrow, you'll get an official status."
Once he registered with the Hollow Investigative Association, Sol rcer would beco an official Hollow Investigator.
Then they could start accepting Hollow-clearing missions, making the Cunning Hares truly renowned.
Sol rcer: "Sounds good. Belle's video will probably be edited by tomorrow too."
Nicole: "Can't wait for her to post it—I have to see you two going wild in the Hollow!"
She was beyond curious about Sol rcer and Anby's performance.
Just what kind of teamwork could allow them to slay a thousand Ethereals in one hour?
Once that video went public, it would shake all of New Eridu to its core.
Reviews
All reviews (0)