The next morning, Wise received a text from Corin, saying they needed to go to Guangying Plaza first to get a key before entering the Hollow.
Wise drove to the plaza. It was still early, and there weren't many people. Coupled with Corin's fiery red hair, he instantly found his target in the crowd. However, as soon as he got close, Grace excitedly stepped forward and grabbed his hand first.
"Wise, you're here! Is Aethel okay? Have you been taking good care of her? I got some amazing lubricant from the Outer Ring. If you drip it into the chassis, it'll come out of the eyes! Does Aethel want to try it?"
Her concerned and urgent words sounded exactly like a mother asking the father if he had taken good care of their child.
"Hey, sis, you're a teacher right now, aren't you? Did you leave your character setting at home along with that skirt..." Just then, Corin retorted from the side, sounding a bit exasperated.
Grace finally snapped out of it. "I almost forgot! Student Corin, call me teacher and help me get into character, how about it?" Grace's lips curled into a slight smile, her eyes squinting, looking every bit the older sister teasing her younger sibling.
Hearing this, Corin first made a sound full of dissatisfaction, then actually managed to produce the tone of an elementary schooler and began to imitate one. "Reporting, Teacher Grace! Three students are having a tiff and are hiding. We can't start the chorus without finding them."
"Oh my, that won't do. But teacher is busy with other things right now. How about I send Student Corin with Wise... with this big brother here to find them? If you find them..." Grace paused here, seemingly thinking of what to reward her with, then had a realization. "If you find them, I'll reward you with the hammer I milled during my university internship!"
"Huh? Shouldn't you be rewarding me with a little red flower or extra recess snacks at a time like this?" Corin couldn't believe Grace's line of thinking. What kind of teacher rewards a student with a hammer?
"It's fine. If Corin wants them, I'll reward you later, whether it's little red flowers or snacks." (He meant actual little red flowers and snacks.) Wise said this while patting Corin's head. Her little ahoge was pressed down, but this earned him her dissatisfaction.
"Hey, hey, my sister is one thing, but how come even you are treating me like a kid, Wise?"
"Well, aren't we supposed to be acting right now? Of course, we have to make it feel real. So let's go, little Corin." Wise extended his hand to Corin, signaling her to take it. She gritted her teeth, but ultimately took his hand with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Okay, I'll leave it to you two then."
After Grace said this, Wise and Corin set off. On the way, the latter couldn't help but sigh. "Sigh. I've got so much work piling up that's crucial for the company's future, and now I have to stay behind to solve this trivial matter for an extra pineapple bun... This is totally not for me!"
Hearing Corin's words, Wise immediately took out a pineapple bun and handed it to her, comforting her at the same time. "It's fine, you've still got me, right? Have a pineapple bun first to lift your spirits."
Corin didn't question where Wise had gotten the pineapple bun from. She just unwrapped it and ate it quietly, muttering, "These days, only pineapple buns still have some warmth..."
"Oh? So I don't have any warmth?" Hearing Corin's words, Wise immediately put on a hurt expression and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, as if to let her feel his own warmth.
"No, that's not it! I didn't mean that. Wise is very warm too!" Corin began to explain anxiously. Seeing her act so cute, Wise, who had wanted to continue pretending, couldn't hold it in any longer.
Corin then told him about her experiences while infiltrating the school: speaking in a high-pitched voice every day, going to the bathroom in groups, exchanging stickers, helping to pass notes, slacking off in gym class, and practicing for a chorus performance with lyrics so childish her toes curled... It did sound quite tough, but Wise was really looking forward to that last part!
Wise was quite skilled at finding people, so it didn't take long for them to find the three hiding children. After asking, they learned that it was all because one of the girls, named Ami, was transferring schools but didn't dare to tell her two best friends. Fortunately, they made up in the end. However, one of the girls, named Lixia, even had a desire to have a "bumping into Corin at a corner with bread in her mouth" scene. One could only say, little kid, your concentration is a bit high...
In the end, the chorus performance in the plaza was held as scheduled. The principal was engrossed in listening. And at this time, Grace approached him.
"Wise, I just confirmed. The principal..."
"Already put the key in his pocket, right?"
"Right. But how did you kn... huh?" Grace's pupils constricted as she looked at the key in Wise's hand with astonishment. "When did you get this?"
"Just now."
"Huh?" Clearly, Grace had no idea how Wise had done it. She hadn't even seen him get close to the principal. But none of that mattered. The key was obtained. The next step was to discuss the plan with Corin.
Inside Belobog Heavy Industries' base.
"Thanks to you. You know, this morning my sister was complaining to me about how she's never done anything like this before... But every time she comes to my office, she habitually pockets a few of my pens before leaving. I won't pretend that didn't happen!" This habit of swiping pens was just as bad as habitually swiping lighters.
But Corin didn't waste time on small talk. After sending the specific coordinates of the Hollow to Wise, she began the operation. This time, he didn't plan on entering the Hollow with them. After all, he was still a 'weak' Proxy, at most capable of taming an extreme-risk Ethereal with a wave of his hand.
But speaking of which, what happened to those two Ethereals in the building? He hadn't heard any news about them since. It was as if they had vanished into thin air. He remembered Belle joking before that they had run out of the Hollow to find him because he hadn't delivered the sound system quickly enough. Wise just smiled and didn't pay it much mind. After all, how could an Ethereal possibly leave a Hollow?
Anyway, he had asked Lycaon to deliver that sound system later. For now, it was better to focus on the commission at hand.
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