Outer Ring Highway
"Sol, there's a gang up ahead."
Belle leaned closer against Sol's back, her voice tinged with excitement.
Yes—excitement.
A small-time gang like that? They could never be a match for Sol Mercer.
"Beating up these losers isn't fun," Sol said with a sly grin as he twisted the throttle. "Might as well let them slow Nicole down for us, don't you think?"
He had zero interest in wasting time on such small fry—they weren't even in the same league as him.
"True, that makes sense," Belle said, then frowned as a thought struck her. "But… my brother's not exactly athletic. What if those guys hurt him?"
"It's fine," Sol said calmly. "The Cunning Hares' old sedan isn't fast. Wise already caught up to them—they're together now."
He certainly wouldn't let his brother-in-law get caught up in any kind of strong-man-locks-pretty-boy disaster.
A silver-haired, gentle-looking guy like Wise? Definitely the type Outer Ring thugs would drool over.
"Oh, that's fine then! Come on, faster! Don't let my brother catch up!"
Belle, reassured, tugged at Sol's abs, urging him forward.
"Okay, no problem."
At that moment, twelve dusty motorcycles roared around them, forming a half-circle that boxed them in tight.
Belle's voice rose in alarm. "They've blocked the road in front of us… I don't think we can go around them."
"Relax," Sol said, a confident smile on his face. "Just watch me perform."
"Stop right there, kid!" the gang's leader yelled, his eyes gleaming as he admired Sol's sleek black bike. "We're a gang with principles! Leave the motorcycle, and we won't make things hard for you!"
It was pure obsession in his eyes. That black machine—so perfect, so elegant—was love at first sight.
As for the handsome rider? Completely irrelevant.
"See you later, gentlemen. The car behind us is a better catch."
Sol revved the throttle and pulled sharply on the handlebars.
With a deafening vroom, the motorcycle lifted off the ground—and soared cleanly over the gang's formation.
The thugs below panicked, slamming their brakes and tumbling over one another in chaos.
"B-Boss! They—they flew over us!"
One underling gawked, dumbfounded. He had never seen such riding skill—only the Motor League's champion, Pompey, who had won the Tour De Inferno multiple times, could pull off a stunt like that.
"Idiot! Of course I saw it!" the red-gloved boss snapped, smacking the man's helmet. Then, with grudging admiration, he muttered, "Only that level of mastery deserves a beast like that."
"So, uh… do we chase them?" another asked timidly.
"Chase what?!" the boss barked. "They're long gone!"
Then his expression changed, sly and calculating. "Besides, didn't you hear him? He said the car behind them is better."
He swept his gaze over his men, voice turning dark. "This time, block the road properly. If anyone lets another target slip away… they're spending the night in my room for a little 'training.'"
He licked his lips, eyes darting toward a few of his men's firm backsides.
Real men ride bikes. Real men handle men. That's a man's romance.
"Yessir! We'll finish the job!"
The eleven underlings clenched tight, shouting in unison, voices echoing across the barren road.
…
"Billy! Drive faster! I want that bastard Sol caught—now!"
Nicole yelled from the back seat of the Cunning Hares' old sedan, fury written all over her face.
"I'm trying, Boss!" Billy protested. "But this car's ancient—it just can't go any faster!"
Despite leaving earlier, they'd already been overtaken by Sol and Wise. Even with Billy's legendary Outer Ring bike skills, this rust bucket couldn't keep up.
"Damn it!"
Nicole slammed her fist against the leather seat.
She could already picture Sol and Belle together on that bike, all cuddled up and smug. Just thinking about it made her blood boil.
She could even understand the thrill of it. If she were on Sol's bike, with Belle chasing behind, it would be such a wicked rush.
But no—she was the one being left behind!
"Nicole, something's up ahead," Anby said calmly, eyes narrowing. "Looks like… they're planning to rob us."
"Yeah, totally!" Billy confirmed awkwardly. "Outer Ring's like that—kind of… free-spirited."
"Ugh! I'm so done with this!"
Nicole clawed at her hair in frustration. She hadn't caught Sol, and now bandits were blocking her path.
"Nicole, want me to take care of them?" Nekomata cracked her knuckles eagerly, her eyes glinting.
Ever since Sol's intense nightly training, her power had grown significantly—she was dying for a real test.
"Of course! Take everything they have!" Nicole shouted, eyes blazing. "Let them learn what happens when you mess with the Cunning Hares!"
Her gaze locked on the red-gloved boss. The timing was perfect—these idiots had interrupted her chase.
They were going to pay for that.
Even their junky bikes could fetch some money, and the thugs themselves were worth a decent bounty at the New Eridu Public Security.
That might almost make her feel better.
"…."
Wise sighed, easing off the throttle to follow behind their car.
Great, he thought. Looks like Belle's about to get thoroughly bullied by Sol.
As a caring older brother, that realization hurt.
Moments later, the Cunning Hares' old sedan screeched to a stop before the gang.
"The car up front's junk, but the one behind looks nice," the red-gloved boss said, rubbing his chin. "Not ideal, but we'll take what we can get."
He still couldn't get that black bike out of his head—it was the one that got away.
"Yeah, boss, this one's a real beater," one thug muttered.
"Looks like they're broke city folk," said another.
"Man, talk about bad luck. Robbing poor folks now."
They were all unmotivated, muttering in disappointment.
Bang!
All four car doors burst open at once.
Three women and one robot stepped out, their expressions dark and menacing.
Being called poor? That was unforgivable.
"Brothers, charge!" the boss barked, waving his arm.
Eleven men jumped off their bikes, weapons in hand, and charged at the four standing before them.