"This trip turned out to be far easier than I imagined."
Belle sighed softly as she looked at the fallen men scattered across the ground. "In fact, I didn't even get to do anything."
"But as long as the result is good, that's what matters, right?"
Sol Mercer stood leisurely beside Belle, giving her a gentle nudge.
He hadn't treated this as a serious battle to begin with—coming to the Outer Ring was more like a sightseeing trip. After all, he couldn't exactly expect an interstellar Godzilla to pop up here, could he?
"So you called me here just to hang out?"
Belle's expression brightened as she spoke.
"That's the main reason," Sol said with a faint smile. "But if we really end up entering a Hollow, we'll need a Proxy we can trust. And I think you're very trustworthy."
"Wow!" Belle was completely caught off guard by that perfect one-two combo. She was practically floating. "Who could possibly disagree?"
"Alright, alright, what are you two whispering about over there?"
Nicole interrupted, sounding thoroughly annoyed. "All of us worked our butts off just now—while you three were over here slacking off."
Three?
Wise felt a flicker of joy at being mentioned. Otherwise, standing between Sol and Belle, he might have started thinking he was invisible.
"I was protecting Belle and Wise's safety," Sol said casually, smiling. "And with Big Boss Nicole leading the charge, I didn't want to steal your thunder."
"Don't think I'm that easy to fool."
Nicole's face betrayed a hint of pride, though she still huffed in mock annoyance.
After enduring countless rounds of Sol's smooth talk, she'd gradually developed some resistance.
Sol thought for a moment, realizing Nicole's level was definitely rising—it was getting harder to trick her.
Still…
He pointed toward the other side of the highway, tone suddenly serious. "It seems things aren't over yet. The true leader of The Vanquishers has returned."
Immediately, everyone's attention shifted.
A powerful-looking motorcycle was racing toward them at high speed.
A broad-shouldered, imposing middle-aged man wearing a dark red coat brought the machine to a perfect halt, stepping off with a grim expression.
His face radiated authority, his frame solid as a fortress—he had the natural bearing of a born leader.
The true head of The Vanquishers, master of the Outer Ring Motor League—the Overlord, Pompey.
But as he arrived, the Vanquishers' members on the ground didn't cheer as though they'd been saved.
Instead, they quieted their groans and shamefully turned their faces away.
Pompey stood like a thick wall, his voice low and heavy. "Caesar, you led people into The Vanquishers' territory and injured all of my men. What's the meaning of this?"
His gaze fell on Caesar—the only one among Sol's group he recognized and respected.
"Uncle Overlord, we came to find Perlman's whereabouts," Caesar said, looking sheepish, her earlier 'I came, I saw, I conquered' arrogance completely gone. "But we accidentally clashed with your men, and… well, this happened."
Pompey nodded slightly, feeling somewhat relieved.
At least Caesar's attitude showed she hadn't brought outsiders to meddle in Motorcycle Alliance affairs.
He helped one of his wounded officers up and asked, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
The man glanced nervously at Sol's group before lowering his voice. "The Public Security officers came twice before. We cooperated, but didn't find Perlman. Today, the Sons of Calydon came with people, and Lucius said they were here to pick a fight. We figured there was an issue with route assignments, so we struck first to teach them a lesson."
The bald, musclebound man now looked like a meek kitten, barely daring to raise his voice before Pompey.
But Caesar immediately protested, "Uncle Pompey, don't listen to his nonsense! We didn't come here over route issues—we came to help a friend retrieve Perlman! The route problem, the Sons of Calydon will resolve through the Tour de Inferno!"
"I see."
Pompey's expression softened as he thought about Lucius's usual hot-headed attitude. Looking at the honest, straightforward Caesar, the pieces began to fit.
He scanned the area, not seeing Lucius anywhere.
Sighing, he turned back to Sol's group, bowed deeply, and said sincerely, "My apologies, everyone. Lucius is young and impulsive—he misunderstood your intentions. The fault lies with us, The Vanquishers."
"Boss Pompey!"
The injured Vanquishers on the ground were shocked and ashamed.
They had dragged their leader into a mess and made him bow his head—it was humiliating.
Caesar didn't step forward immediately. She glanced at Nicole, Zhu Yuan, and Sol. She was only here to lead the way; she couldn't make the big calls.
Sol took a decisive step forward. His tone was calm but firm. "Today's matter isn't just a misunderstanding. You might be a respectable man, but this Lucius you speak of—he's not merely 'young and impulsive.'"
It was his trap to begin with, so it was fitting he be the one to say it.
"Don't push it too far!"
The Vanquishers' men glared furiously at Sol.
Their beloved boss had already apologized—why couldn't this guy show a little respect?
"Hm?"
Sol gave them only a cold glance, not even bothering to speak to nameless extras.
"…"
Under that simple look, the Vanquishers' members froze, sweat pouring down their faces.
It wasn't about courage or loyalty—it was instinct, a primal fear triggered by something beyond comprehension.
"And you are…?"
Pompey's face darkened, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
This young man looked like a pretty-boy idol, yet his presence and tone revealed the aura of a domineering powerhouse.
"My name's Sol Mercer, ACE Investigator from the Hollow Investigative Association."
Sol casually pulled out a long-unused ID and said evenly.
Of all his many titles, this was perhaps the most convenient one to reveal his true standing.
"A pleasure," Pompey said sincerely, already believing him from his bearing alone. "If you suspect Lucius has done something wrong—and it seems his rashness has indeed caused this unnecessary fight—we can summon him right now to face you."
"No need," Sol said with a light smile, pointing toward the truck barricade nearby. "Officer Qingyi has already brought both Lucius and Perlman here."
"Looks like I've arrived just in time."
Qingyi cheerfully lowered the two men she had slung on her staff and said brightly.