On the other side—
Belle's excitement from earlier had long faded.
After all, human passion was limited; it couldn't stay burning forever.
But now, she had discovered a new kind of thrill.
Looking back from the back seat, Belle patted Sol's back excitedly. "Sol, Sol! Faster! Don't let Nicole and my brother catch up!"
"Are you sure it's okay to be this excited?"
Sol tilted his head back slightly and bumped the back of his head lightly against Belle's forehead.
"Hehe, mind your own business!" Belle huffed proudly. "It's so rare to get a rush like this—I've got to enjoy it to the end!"
Just thinking about her and Sol riding ahead while Nicole and her brother chased behind made her feel giddy.
That rebellious spark buried deep in her heart gave her a forbidden kind of pleasure.
"You're all smiles now, but have you thought about how Wise is going to deal with you afterward?"
Sol shook his head, trying to calm her down.
The sudden wild streak in this beautiful girl genuinely surprised him.
He could already picture Wise's angry face as he lectured his little sister—less allowance, more chores—it was practically inevitable.
"Ah?" Belle stuck out her tongue pitifully. "Sol, you wouldn't abandon me, would you?"
"Kiss me, and I'll consider it."
Sol smirked playfully, the corners of his lips curling upward.
"Get lost!"
Belle fumed, smacking Sol's back hard. "If you don't help me, I'll tell Nicole you've been secretly flirting with me!"
"Oh no, how terrifying!" Sol said with exaggerated fear, then teased, "But tell me—did I manage to flirt successfully? Because if I did, I'm definitely not stopping there."
"You're such a jerk!"
Belle gritted her teeth, glaring at him.
Her eyes fell on Sol's slender neck—she wanted to bite him so badly.
It was his idea to take her out for a ride today, yet now he was using it to threaten her? This guy was shameless beyond repair.
"Mm-hmm."
Sol chuckled softly, neither denying nor agreeing.
"Argh!"
Belle couldn't hold back anymore. She leaned forward and bit down on Sol's neck, sucking hard.
Her voice came out half-resentful, half-defeated. "Fine! You've flirted successfully! Now figure out what to do!"
"Roger that, my vampire lady."
Sol turned his head slightly, brushing his lips against her cheek with a smile.
"You—! You're so bad!"
Belle's face flushed bright red, and she hid her head behind his back as if electrocuted.
Sol leaned back slightly, his voice low and teasing by her ear. "If Wise wants to punish you, tell him I'll grant your every wish—do whatever it takes to win you over. He definitely won't dare go too far after that."
That was what you called deterrence by yellow-haired logic.
Once Wise heard that, he'd start worrying that Belle might throw herself into Sol's arms if pushed too hard.
Sol continued, "As for Nicole, leave her to me. I'll make sure she doesn't give you any trouble."
"Mm."
Belle buried her face against Sol's back and nodded softly.
His words had pierced straight through the thin wall between them, leaving her at a loss.
She had promised herself not to let things get exposed too soon—yet under Sol's teasing, she had completely fallen.
"Since everything's settled," Sol said lightly, "open your eyes and enjoy the Outer Ring scenery—it's nothing like what you see inside New Eridu."
Belle nudged Sol's back with a faint pout, then finally leaned her head gently against his right shoulder.
The sky stretched out in a deep blue, flocks of birds soaring freely. Jagged cliffs stood tall and scattered, forming a wild, majestic landscape. Round tumbleweeds rolled lazily across the roadside, passing low sand-yellow hills of uneven height.
This was the Outer Ring—free, savage, desolate—so unlike the bustling prosperity of the city.
Belle let herself sink into the strange charm of it all, her head resting quietly on Sol's shoulder.
Why did the air feel just a little… sweet?
…
Outer Ring, On the road to Blazewood Town.
A small gang waited in ambush by the roadside, their motorcycles all coated in gray dust.
Only twelve of them—poorly equipped, worn down, and rather pitiful.
"Boss, how long are we waiting here?" one underling spat a mouthful of sandy saliva and complained, "Maybe we should switch routes. Since Blazewood Town's oil pipeline broke, there's barely any traffic—no profit here!"
"Yeah, and the Sons of Calydon are nearby! Those guys are nasty!"
He sounded scared, clearly doubting the point of this operation.
Especially since the Sons of Calydon used to be relatively restrained—until their last trip into the city. After that, they'd come back twisted and violent.
The city… was dangerous. Every Outer Ring dweller who went there came back tainted.
"Bullshit! Where's your backbone?!"
The boss—wearing red gloves—punched the man's helmet hard. "We're a gang with principles! Love your job, stick to your work! You can't just run because of a little hardship!"
"Persistence! As long as we persist, there'll be rewards!"
His eyes burned with determination.
That persistence was what made his fighting skills razor-sharp, his fists lightning-fast.
That persistence was what forged his body—muscles hard as steel.
"Yes, Boss!"
The eleven men chorused, morale rising.
Just then—
A sharp-eyed thug pointed down the highway, shouting, "Boss, look! There's a fine bike coming our way!"
The whole gang turned their heads—and there it was.
A sleek, black motorcycle, every inch of it exuding style.
That streamlined body, that matte black finish—it was a perfect masterpiece!
Compared to their clunky, modified junkers, it was like a pure college beauty standing beside a washed-up bar dancer.
"Damn, that's a real bike! That's the kind of ride a boss deserves!"
The red-gloved leader's eyes gleamed. He twisted his neck in excitement, letting out a wolf-like howl. "Brothers—get ready!"
With a single command, twelve motorcycles roared to life and sped toward Sol's bike, forming a tightening circle around him.