"The Cunning Hares are now open for business!"
Nicole gave a cold snort as she issued the order.
She swung her weapon case in a wide arc, striking three of the gang members squarely across the face.
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
In an instant, the three of them were lifted off their feet, twisting through the air in different poses before being sent flying over ten meters away.
"..."
Anby drew her Electro Blade. After a few flashes of blue lightning, she calmly sheathed it again.
In that brief moment, the gangsters' guns were sliced clean in half. Their legs trembled uncontrollably as they stood frozen, too terrified to move.
"Meow, my turn!"
Nekomata leapt forward with excitement, grabbing a solid concrete pillar half a meter thick from the roadside.
Though small in stature, the pillar was three times her height.
Yet in her hands, it seemed weightless—if not for the strong gusts it stirred up with each swing, one might have thought it was made of foam.
"D-don't come any closer!"
The three bandits' faces twisted in terror.
Nekomata gave a single sweeping strike, smashing into their waists.
The three were sent flying like kites caught in a storm, crashing to the ground with a splat and a thud.
Among them was the burly Boss Red Fist himself.
Against Nekomata's overwhelming strength, the gang leader was no different from his men.
He lay on the ground, eyes bloodshot, muttering in disbelief, 'Am I dreaming?'
Why were the muscles he had worked so hard to build crushed by the petite Thiren girl known for her agility?
Why were these three women—each one—so monstrously strong?!
He couldn't understand. He simply couldn't.
Dozens of seconds later, Billy blew away the smoke from his twin pistols and stylishly holstered them.
Standing amidst the groaning bandits, he said in a deep, melancholy tone, "Pathetic. I've been away from the Outer Ring for years, yet no one here's improved."
Thus, the twelve-member gang was completely defeated.
"Billy, quit showing off," Nicole smacked him on the head. "You were the slowest of us four. Go train some more later."
Billy stumbled forward, whining, "Hey, we used to be on the same level! What's going on today?"
He used to be the fastest when dealing with small fry like these.
But today, everyone else had gone berserk—each of them faster than him.
Even Nekomata, the latest member to join the Cunning Hares, had surpassed him.
Why?!
"Nicole, boss, did you all secretly do some special training? You gotta include me next time!"
He grinned pleadingly. They were a team—he couldn't afford to fall behind.
Nicole's face flushed slightly as she muttered, "Well, it's all about hard work. If you're weak, train harder. Don't make excuses."
No way could she tell him the truth.
"What about you, Nekomata?"
Billy turned to her.
"Uh…" Nekomata averted her gaze awkwardly. "I awakened my hidden Thiren powers. That's… not something that can be taught."
She couldn't possibly admit she'd gotten stronger thanks to a cat teaser wand.
"Anby?"
Billy turned to his last hope.
"My method… isn't suitable for you."
Anby looked away—a rare sight—her voice trembling slightly.
She'd gotten stronger because of Sol Mercer. And so had Nicole.
But that method… definitely wasn't for Billy.
He wasn't a woman. In fact, he wasn't even human.
"Ah! I get it now!"
Billy suddenly exclaimed, his tone sour. "You've all been secretly training under Sol, haven't you? And I'm the only one left out! That's so unfair!"
He'd already decided—he had to get some one-on-one training from Sol next time.
To grow stronger, to keep up with his teammates—he'd do anything!
"Well… that's not entirely wrong," Nicole muttered under her breath.
It was true—thanks to Sol's special guidance, both she and Anby had gained tremendous strength, practically turning into mini-superwomen.
But then a thought struck her, and she glanced suspiciously at Nekomata.
She knew about Anby's situation—but what about this one?
No way… had she been cheated again?
Nicole shook her head quickly, banishing that absurd thought.
Nekomata had even tipped her off before; she was a loyal ally, no doubt about it. Sol couldn't have gotten to her too… right?
Besides, even in New Eridu's popular multiplayer game Werewolf Kill, not everyone could be a werewolf. There had to be at least one good teammate.
"Nekomata."
Nicole called her over.
"Yes, Boss Nicole! Orders, please!"
Nekomata immediately trotted up with a bright smile.
Nicole nodded. Yes—this kind of Nekomata was definitely loyal. "Tell Billy to tie up the gang and hand them over to the Public Security once we reach town… I mean, have them sent there for reformation. We can't let them keep hurting people."
"Huh?"
Billy blinked in confusion.
Nicole had called Nekomata over… just to have him do the work? That middle step seemed completely unnecessary.
"What are you staring at? Get moving."
Nicole frowned.
"Oh—oh, right!"
Billy quickly got to work, tying up the twelve gang members tightly and securing them all to the roof of the Cunning Hares' car.
As for their twelve busted motorcycles, he salvaged what parts he could and decided to deal with the rest later.
All in all, Nicole had earned a nice bit of profit from this job—just enough to cool her anger at not catching up with Sol and Belle.
With their "human pyramid" of bound gangsters strapped atop the vehicle, the Cunning Hares' vintage car once again set off toward Blazewood.
...
Meanwhile—
At the entrance to Blazewood stood a sleek, jet-black motorcycle gleaming under the harsh Outer Ring sun.
Such a pristine machine was a rare sight in the dusty wastelands.
Sol and Belle sat beneath the shade of the town's welcome sign, waiting for Nicole's team and Wise to arrive.
"In this scorching desert, having a sweet, icy popsicle is true bliss."
Belle licked her strawberry ice cream and closed her eyes in delight.
"Indeed. Enjoying good food in a harsh environment only makes it better," Sol said, biting into his ice cream, the chill spreading through his body.
It was a top-tier treat, conjured by his own power—smooth and creamy, putting Häagen-Dazs to shame.
"Harsh environment, huh?"
Belle glanced at Sol's side profile, momentarily dazed.
How could it be harsh…
Moments like this—just the two of them together—she wished they could last a little longer.
"Look, Nicole and the others are almost here. Looks like they had quite the haul."
Sol pointed toward two black dots approaching along the dusty road, smiling.
"Too bad… we're about to get scolded, aren't we?"
Belle frowned, suddenly finding her strawberry ice cream less sweet.
"Afraid of that?" Sol chuckled. "Then next time I ask you out, will you still come?"
"Of course!"
Belle nodded firmly.
Moments like this—so happy, so peaceful—she wanted more of them. Though… for Wise's heart's sake, she'd have to limit their frequency a bit.
But just the thought that there'd be a next time made Belle smile with joy.