After parting ways with Venti, Sam Li strolled back to Hare's House, birdcage in hand, as leisurely as ever.
Though Venti had only just arrived in this world, Sam Li wasn't the least bit worried—neither about Venti causing trouble, nor about anyone here being able to harm him. That simply wasn't possible.
In fact, Venti might even end up being a help to this world.
Once Sam Li had gone far enough, Venti began walking toward the other end of Sixth Street. A brand-new harp now rested in his arms, and as he strumd a lody of freedom, he stepped into this unfamiliar city, ready to explore a whole new world...
Half an hour later, on the other side of New Eridu, inside the Hare's House general agency—
Nicole, Nekomata, and Soldier 11 had just returned from the black market, each carrying a suitcase.
Back at Hare's House, Nicole dropped onto the sofa, pulled all three suitcases close, and hugged them tightly, savoring the weight of the Dennies.
Three full suitcases of Dennies—seriously heavy.
Nicole couldn't stop grinning.
"Thirty million... Thirty million Dennies... Hahahaha! With this money, we can finally renovate and rebuild the welfare ho!"
Nekomata frowned. "Welfare ho? What welfare ho?"
Realizing her slip, Nicole quickly corrected herself. "There's no welfare ho—you misheard."
"..."
Nekomata didn't press.
She'd long suspected sothing.
Those missing Dennies from Hare's House must've been spent by Nicole on that welfare ho. No wonder their finances were always in the red.
Of course, that was just her guess.
She still owed Hare's House a million Dennies herself. How Nicole spent the money was none of her business.
Off to the side, Soldier 11 reminded her, "Cunning hare, you seem to be forgetting sothing important."
Nicole blinked. "What is it?"
Soldier 11 took a deep breath. "You forgot to give the video store and the Sons of Calydon their cut. Or... are you planning to betray them and run off with the cash?"
She wasn't even joking.
This cunning hare was definitely capable of sothing like that.
But to her surprise, Nicole put on a righteous face.
"Run off with the cash? Soldier 11, watch what you say. You're part of Hare's House now—how can you accuse like that? I'd never take off with the money! Business is finally picking up, and there's way more to earn in the future. You think I'd disappear over this little bit?"
Before hitting thirty million Dennies, Nicole had thought it was an impossible dream.
But now that it had actually happened, her mindset shifted a little.
Thirty million Dennies didn't seem like that much after all—not when it could all fit into a few suitcases she could lift by herself.
Her next goal? Earn so much that even she couldn't carry it.
She muttered to herself, "According to the agreent, eight million Dennies go to the Phaethon siblings, seven million to the Sons of Calydon, which leaves... fifteen million Dennies."
Fifteen million Dennies.
That was Hare's House's profit from this run to the C75 Hollow.
It was half of thirty million, but still a massive sum for Nicole and the crew.
"When Anby, Billy, and Sam Li get back, we're going out for a big al."
"Really, Nicole? Can we get bluefin tuna?"
"This ti, eat whatever you want—we're not short on cash."
"I want braised high-grade Ethereals... Stewed works too."
"Soldier 11, can we keep it realistic, please..."
Nicole hugged the suitcases tighter, already planning to invite the sibling Proxies from the video store and the Sons of Calydon out for a feast.
Just as she was quietly enjoying the thought—
Suddenly, the door opened, and in walked Sam Li, birdcage in hand, just back from Sixth Street.
Nicole bead. "Sam Li! Co in and sit on the sofa. Once Anby and Billy are back, we're going out to eat!"
Sam Li nodded. "Sounds good."
The trip to Bangboo Town had taken a long ti.
By the ti Lucy, Caesar, and Piper from the Sons of Calydon returned with Billy and Anby in their truck, the sun was already setting.
As soon as he stepped off the vehicle, Billy shouted, "Is that Bangboo gang leader crazy or what? The mont he saw us, he started yelling about so 'thousand-year grudge' and wanted to fight! We even helped those Bangboos last ti, and now he treats us like enemies..."
Billy was clearly upset about Azhdaha's outburst.
But fortunately—
Once Golden Bangboo and Platinum Bangboo got off the truck and explained things, Azhdaha stopped making a fuss.
In fact, when Golden and Platinum Bangboo saw that Azhdaha was about their height, they imdiately got cocky.
They challenged him on the spot, wanting to duel for the title of Bangboo gang leader.
Whoever won would take the crown.
Naturally, Azhdaha wasn't putting up with that nonsense.
With a single swipe of his claw, he sent both Bangboos flying over ten ters—leaving Billy frozen in shock.
For a second, he even worried that Golden and Platinum Bangboo might be dead from that slap.
But his fears were unfounded.
After getting schooled by Azhdaha, both of them imdiately settled down, sticking to him like glue and begging to be his underlings.
Billy grumbled, "Those two Bangboos are all bark. One slap from Azhdaha and they went quiet."
Anby added, "At least Bangboo Town agreed to take them in."
Nearby, Lucy explained seriously, "A few days ago, when the Public Security Bureau gave us our comndation, they also sent so Bangboo parts to the gang. Now those Bangboos are busy building Bangboo Town. They said they want to create a ho of their own…"
Nekomata frowned. "Why would the Public Security Bureau send them parts? Bangboo Town isn't even under their jurisdiction."
Piper yawned. "Isn't it obvious? They saw how strong Azhdaha is and want to win the gang over..."
Either way, whatever was going on between the Bureau and the Bangboo gang had nothing to do with them.
Just then, Billy noticed the suitcases Nicole was holding.
"Nicole, boss, where'd the extra two suitcases co from?"
Nicole smiled. "Nekomata, Soldier 11, and I went to the black market and exchanged all the gear coins for Dennies. Add that to what Platinum Bangboo gave us, and our total earnings this ti hit a whopping thirty million Dennies."
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