Outer Ring—the road from Blazewood to Pallet Town.
The road was thick with dust, and gusts of sand whipped across from time to time, making the already rough terrain even harder to drive on.
Without an experienced driver leading the way, most vehicles would likely crash before reaching their destination.
Right now, a large truck was clearing the path ahead, followed by four motorcycles and three cars.
It was Sol's group, en route to Pallet Town to inquire about Perlman's whereabouts.
Today, however, Nicole Demara had finally seized her chance—she had successfully kicked Belle off Sol's bike and claimed the passenger seat for herself.
Though it was a little like dropping the bowl and cursing afterward, Sol had to admit—the ride today felt noticeably more comfortable than yesterday.
After all, as everyone knew, Nicole was… well-endowed.
Not far behind, Belle drove her car, visibly irritated.
Nicole suddenly tightened her arms around Sol's waist and exclaimed loudly, "The wind in the Outer Ring is so strong! I'd better hold on tight or I might fall off!"
She shot Belle a triumphant glance over her shoulder—the sweet taste of revenge.
"If you're scared of falling, I can switch with you," Belle called out, pretending to be concerned but clearly annoyed. "I wasn't scared at all yesterday!"
"No way," Nicole replied, pressing her cheek against Sol's neck. "With Sol protecting me, I'll be perfectly fine."
"Ugh, sopretentious," Belle muttered through gritted teeth, her tone sharp with jealousy.
That had been her spot yesterday—and now Nicole had stolen it. Unforgivable.
"Woohoo!"
Nicole laughed out loud, unable to hide her glee.
At that moment, the scene mirrored yesterday's—but the pain of it wasn't Belle's alone.
Behind them, Zhu Yuan, who had only recently played the role of Sol's "girlfriend" for cover, now found herself experiencing the strange, bitter feeling of being cheated on… despite never actually dating him. The sensation was simply bizarre.
The one suffering the most, though, was Caesar—riding parallel to Sol's motorcycle.
"…"
Caesar stared at the overly lovey-dovey couple beside her, filled with a mix of envy and melancholy.
Seriously? Just like that? You're shoving love down everyone's throats—and it's so damn sweet!
Tone it down, you jerks!
They were both leaders—yet one of them was single, while the other had a boyfriend. How was that fair?!
Sol noticed Caesar's face flashing red, green, and white like a traffic light, which made him uneasy. Quickly, he changed the subject. "Caesar, how far are we from Pallet Town?"
"You're asking me?"
Caesar blinked, snapping out of her emotional theater. It took her a moment to gather herself before replying, slightly embarrassed. "About an hour's ride left. The Motor League divides transport routes between groups, and each faction usually sticks to its own territory. We rarely cross into another's zone."
"I see." Sol nodded thoughtfully. "So, if the Sons of Calydon come with us today, there's a good chance we'll run into trouble. You sure you're fine with that?"
"That's nothing to worry about. If the Vanquishers are really hiding someone like Perlman, the Sons of Calydon won't back down."
Caesar scratched her head with a sunny grin. "And besides, we're all friends here—of course we'll help if we can."
"Oh? Then I'll treat you all to a feast once this is over," Sol said with a matching smile.
Perfect timing, too—Burnice had mentioned wanting to host a party. He could easily provide the abundant and delicious food.
Tsk tsk. The mission hadn't even begun, and he was already thinking about the celebration.
Getting a little too relaxed there, Sol.
He mentally straightened himself. Even a lion gives its all when hunting a rabbit.
Heroes are as plentiful as the sand by the river. Never underestimate anyone.
…Meanwhile, in Pallet Town…
This was the headquarters of the Vanquishers, the current dominant faction of the Motor League.
While it couldn't compare to the prosperity of New Eridu, it was still far more developed than Blazewood.
In recent months, the Vanquishers' true leader, Pompey, had been away on negotiations—discussing a deal to open a new trade route with another power.
As a result, all actual control of the group had fallen into the hands of their strategist and second-in-command: Lucius.
"Boss Lucius, a convoy just entered our territory," one of the members hurried over to report to a thin, sharp-eyed young man who looked as cold and dangerous as a wild coyote. "The lead vehicle looks like it belongs to the Sons of Calydon. And there's a Public Security car with them. We don't know what they're here for."
The unexpected visit clearly unsettled the Vanquishers. The presence of New Eridu Public Security only deepened their unease.
After all, the Outer Ring was vast and desolate—a lawless frontier. Public Security officers only came this far when something serious was going on.
"The Sons of Calydon and Public Security, huh…" Lucius murmured, his expression darkening.
He wasn't sure why the Sons were here—but he did know why the Public Security might come.
Because of Perlman.
That man held far too many secrets about the city's major corporations—and he was a pawn of the organization behind Lucius.
Yes—Lucius himself was a pawn too. A piece placed here to seize control of the Outer Ring. If he succeeded, both he and the organization would win. If he failed, he was nothing but a disposable dog.
But even pawns had thoughts of their own—ambitions to break free and survive.
So, when Perlman escaped into the Outer Ring, Lucius recognized his opportunity.
Perlman possessed leverage against Justin Bringer—dangerous, invaluable information that could shake the city.
The first few times Bringer's men came searching, Lucius hid Perlman well—without leaving a trace.
He knew exactly how dangerous Perlman was to Bringer and his backers. Until they caught him, they would never sleep easy.
But Lucius also knew the organization's methods all too well. That was why Perlman had remained hidden—undiscovered by both Public Security and the organization.
Now, seeing another search party arrive, Lucius wondered grimly—was this just a test, or had Bringer already confirmed that Perlman was in his hands?
He was deeply cautious—but not about to hand Perlman over so easily.
"Boss Lucius, what should we do then?"
The subordinate looked nervous, spooked by the size of the incoming group. "Should we call Boss Pompey? The Sons of Calydon are one of the groups he respects the most."
Lucius snapped out of thought, shooting him a sidelong glance. "Pompey's in the middle of an important negotiation. We can't drag him into this. I'll handle it myself."
"Tell the brothers to get ready for a fight. Wait for my command before making any move."
He knew Pompey's temperament. If Pompey returned and found out Perlman was here, the man would hand him over without hesitation—and Lucius would be punished.
"Yes, Boss Lucius."
The subordinate nodded, though still hesitated. "I really think we should still tell Boss Pompey… this might be too big to handle."
Lucius' cold eyes flicked toward him. "Then tell him this—I've got it under control. He doesn't need to worry."
"Y-yes, sir."
Startled by that icy gaze, the man shivered and quickly scurried away.
"Pompey, Pompey—everyone remembersPompey," Lucius muttered, eyes narrowing darkly. "Once I take full control of the Outer Ring and bring the Vanquishers to glory, you'll all see who the real boss is."
He sneered, already setting plans in motion.
Soon, he'd stir the flames of conflict, twist truth into lies, and rally overwhelming numbers.
Three tactics combined—fire, deceit, and force.
Enough to crush those intruders and remind them:
The Outer Ring isn't a place just anyone can lay hands on.