Since Rina had other matters to attend to today, she could only leave reluctantly. After promising to visit the video store again next time, the siblings also prepared to head back. After all, calculating the time, Corin and Grace should be arriving soon.
Returning to the video store, Wise felt Grace's intense gaze the moment he walked in. It was likely because Corin hadn't come home that night. He just didn't know if she had told Grace about the other girls. Given Corin's personality, it wasn't entirely impossible that she would tell her dear sister about it.
Fortunately, aside from a slightly strange expression, Grace didn't say much. Instead, Corin was the first to speak. "Wise, I heard Rina already decrypted that storage unit."
That's right. Since that day, Corin had gotten to know the other girls from that time a little better. For example, Rina was the hacker who helped decrypt the storage unit.
"Mhm, that's right. We actually just got the decrypted portion this morning." As Wise spoke, he took out the item Rina had given him earlier. Corin and Grace both nodded.
"That's good. Lately, I've had this feeling that the entire city is churning with undercurrents. I don't know if it's because I keep thinking about that monster, and it's affecting my mood." Corin paused here, then looked at Wise with a smile. "But as soon as I think about you all being here, there's nothing to be unhappy about. I was looking forward to decrypting the data in the storage unit sooner, but now that I'm facing it, I'm a little nervous."
"It's okay, Shortie. No matter what's in the storage unit, we'll face it together, just like before," Grace said, glancing at Wise beside her before looking away with a faint blush.
"Grace is right. With us here, you can relax, Corin. Fairy, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Understood, Master. Analyzing the data in the storage unit for you..."
As Fairy began her work, Corin made some small, nervous movements. Fortunately, Wise saw this and immediately took her tightly clenched fist in his hand, which helped her calm down a bit.
A few moments later, Fairy completed the task. "Master, an audio file has been detected. The system record time is the eve of Old Eridu's fall."
"An audio file?!" Corin's voice rose with emotion.
Wise spoke to Fairy again. "Fairy, can you play this audio?"
"Certainly."
The group sat down on the sofa and began to listen to the audio file Fairy was playing. When Corin's father's voice came on, she immediately became agitated. Judging by the sound of his voice, her father seemed to have been injured at the time. Even so, she knew it was just an audio recording from many years ago.
After listening to the entire recording, they finally understood the situation at the time. Corin's father had found the monster. To protect Corin, he went to face it alone. Besides the monster, there was also a mysterious person. It was this person who was conversing with Corin's father. From the conversation, they also learned the monster's name: [Plague Devil].
Upon hearing this name, the siblings looked at each other in shock. The other two saw their reaction and asked about it. The siblings didn't hide it and told them they had heard this name once before—from the people who attacked the courthouse airship trying to eliminate Perlman.
Corin was taken aback. "Wait, why is Perlman involved in the case we're investigating?" First, he competed with their Belobog Heavy Industries for business, and now he was even connected to this investigation.
The siblings were wondering the same thing. Furthermore, according to reliable sources, Perlman had disappeared without a trace after seizing the airship, seemingly having fled to the Outer Ring.
Just as they were considering how to gather information from there, on a rooftop in Sixth Street, Lycaon and Lina stood elegantly, observing the video store below.
"I never thought that Wise and his group would be investigating the same case as us... Lord Lycaon, now that they know about the [Plague Devil], is it really alright to let them continue investigating?" Lina asked the man beside her.
Lycaon replied calmly, "It matters not. The Master has changed the plan and given us new instructions: '[They are already entangled and cannot escape. But perhaps they can become our allies. Provide swift assistance or guidance.]'"
Meanwhile, the group inside the video store was unaware of all this, nor did they know that the store's soundproofing was so poor. After confirming there was no other usable information in the storage unit, they discussed some lingering questions about the Vista case and the events of years past.
By the time they saw the two off, it was late at night. Corin had actually wanted to stay the night at the video store, but thinking of Belle's presence, her sister beside her, and the company matters that needed her attention, she had to leave with regret.
Seeing them off, the siblings prepared to rest. However, Belle, now alone, seemed a bit scared and reluctant to go to sleep, but she eventually agreed.
The next morning, when Wise woke up, he found Belle still sleeping soundly. Not wanting to wake her, he got up and opened the shop by himself.
But just then, an unexpected guest arrived. A pink-haired woman burst in frantically and, with a running start, collided right into his chest. Reacting instinctively, Wise caught her. Based on the feeling alone, he knew who it was without even looking at her face.
"Nicole, why are you in such a hurry again?" Wise asked, looking at Nicole who was panting heavily in his arms. From this angle, he could faintly see the scenery in that great rift valley. While this was a sight he could currently only appreciate on Nicole, it wasn't enough to fluster him.
Come to think of it, with the Vista case temporarily on hold, she shouldn't have any urgent matters, right? Could it be another commission?
Finally catching her breath, Nicole pulled away from Wise's embrace with a blush. He then invited her into the first-floor room. However, after entering the room, Nicole became visibly nervous, constantly rubbing her legs and hands together. It looked like she had something difficult to talk about. Seeing this, Wise couldn't help but become curious. What could possibly make Nicole act this way?
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