As expected, soon after seeing the news about Perlman, Random Play got a visitor. Fairy had warned a minute prior about someone approaching at high speed and Belle knew exactly who was coming in. Two seconds later, a cat thiren burst through the employee only section of their store, carrying Nicole's Bangboo.
"Brother, look! A cat girl. You love cats!" Belle gasped, pointing at Nekomata.
The cat girl was face down on the floor with her ass up in the air. Belle and Wise both gave her an appraising look before Wise cleared his throat and waited for the Thiren to get up.
"MeOww.. I was too hasty." Nekomata rubbed her nose with a groan and faced the siblings.
"Welcome to Random Play, the best video store on sixth street." Wise greeted, discreetly switching the HDD's screensaver to something more normal.
"Mhm~ Looking for a movie? We have a few in stock. Just recently we got a classic animated movie, 'The Aristocats'." Belle added with a little smirk.
"Oh.. uh... actually that does sound interesting but.. wait! Hold up. I need your help! I know you're Phaethon, okay? I have a commission." Nekomata claimed, fists clenched close to her flat chest.
Belle hummed and looked at the strange mark on her forehead.
'If I use the barcode scanner on her head, will it work?' Belle cupped her chin, nodding along as Wise denied her claim.
"Ah you must be mistaken. We're just two regular video store owners."
"Nyaaah..! No wait! Nicole! I know Nicole. She told me to come to you, I swear! I'm not a baddie!" Nekomata pleaded.
"Definitely not a Zhu Yuan or Rat cop no.. But don't sell yourself short! Lots of people like them petite." Belle pat her shoulder with a sympathetic smile.
Nekomata's expression blanked out for a few seconds until her face reddened. She shook her head and pouted fiercely at Belle while swatting her hand away.
"Don't patronize me! It's true! Nicole really sent me, okay? The Cunning Hares! Look, I even have her Bangboo!" Nekomata stated, shoving the yellow Bangboo in Belle's face.
*Sniff*
Belle nodded confidently, "Yup. Same perfume. I'd recognize it anywhere.."
Wise and Nekomata paused and gave Belle a peculiar stare.
"Ahem.. so, what's up? Why can't Nicole come over herself?" Wise asked after doing his best to ignore why Belle was so intimately familiar with Nicole's scent.
"They're in that place on the news! Vision's blast zone. They claim nobody's inside but that's a fat lie! As fat as Perlman!" Nekomata cried out indignantly.
"Damn that's a huge lie.. Okay, so they took a commission, right?" Belle asked, looking at Nekomata knowingly.
"They-They're looking for something.. Red Fang gang's causing trouble and.. several fights! There's so many people crammed up like.. like canned tuna!" Nekomata finished, wiping the drool off her mouth at the mention of canned tuna.
"Ah! And.. you can check Nicole's Bangboo for its visual data! That'll tell us where to start!" Nekomata added, shoving the yellow bangboo into Belle's arms.
Wise shook his head though. Knowing only the owner or the Marcel group could even access it. But, as he was about to tell her, Belle pat his shoulder as her eyes glowed. She was staring into the Bangboo's eyes and humming while Fairy was playing the visual data for her.
Belle saw everything. Nicole going into the Red Fang's territory to get information about the safe Fairy was in, Nekomata's 'coincidental' meeting with Nicole, her 'commission' to the Cunning Hares, them looking for the 'heirloom' and going to different hideouts. That was just day one of Nekomata meeting the Cunning Hares. Belle sighed.
"When did I ask Nicole to dig up information..?" Belle muttered helplessly, though she had an idea as to why she took it upon herself to go look.
It was likely due to Belle's arm. That ether, magic and metal appeared after Fairy was integrated, so she probably blamed herself for Belle's arm. Then Nekomata came along with that 'commission' of hers, not realizing it was Belle who actually dealt Miguel the killing blow.
But before she could say anything, the news updated.
"This just in! We are now live as the Vision Corporation train is about to travel through the Dead End Hollow! It's been reported that this self driving vehicle is loaded with the last batch of explosives required for the demolition. Upon arrival of the train, Mister Perlman, who is at tge surveillance point, will personally coordinate the detonation. Only after confirming that everything is in order will Mister Perlman evacuate with the technicians and return to the command center within the city.."
Belle slapped her forehead and looked at Nekomata, "We gotta haul ass and stop that train or my sexy little Imp is gonna end up in pieces."
Wise nodded before pausing again. He looked like he wanted tp say something but thought better of it. Nekomata just blinked and nodded emphatically.
"We can't stop it before it leaves. I'll be arrested pretty fast and it'll be game over for the Cunning Hares anyway. And we can't tell Pubseggs or else it'll risk Nicole going to prison too. And she's too soft for prison! So.."
That's when Fairy spoke through the HDD and Belle's system simultaneously.
[Proposal: We can intercept the train within the Hollow. But Master was already thinking along those lines, I'm sure.]
"What the!? Who is.." Nekomata bristled and stared at the HDD like an angry kitten.
"That's my automated assistant. No worries. Let's go over what we're gonna go within the Hollow." Belle coughed into her fist, diverting the curious Thiren away from her AI.
After making some rather barebones plan involving hijacking the train within the Hollow, Belle and Nekomata quickly made their way over to the Dead End Hollow with Eous in tow. Of course, Wise was going to accompany them while in control of Eous so they could make a quick exit if need be.
As soon as they arrived, Ethereals began to attack them. Only..
*BANG!* *BANG!* *CLANG!*
Belle was popping the Ethereal cores with the Halo CE Magnum while blocking some unimpressive swings with her metallic arm. Currently, she was in her Siege outfit, minus the leather jacket she had given Jane prior.
"Meow! How are you handling these guys so easily!? Aren't you just a store manger?" Nekomata asked as she ducked three Ethereals' swinging at her and followed through with three quick slashes that destroyed them completely.
She was also looking at Belle's arm in fascination and noting the white tail and weird halo. She had no idea what sort of Thiren or other race she was supposed to be.
"No! I'm THE store manager!" Belle smirked and stabbed through the last Ethereal's head with the sword of extermination as it leapt at Nekomata from behind.
[Affection points: +5!]
'Oh it finally appears again! But damn.. I thought I looked cool back there. But I guess she wouldn't be hurt by these fodder as an S rank. That aside.. why didn't I get these earlier with Jane? I thought I left a good impression?' Belle thought to herself before hearing a notification from Fairy.
[Master, allow your number one assistant to explain. Previously, you had earned 'AP' from members of the Cunning Hares because you had been integrated into their faction. In the future, all 'AP' will be earned only through joining the target's faction]
Belle clicked her tongue and kicked a random pebble in annoyance. Though the system previously never explained the details of 'Affection Points', she knew she was just as much to blame, since she never bothered to ask. Her mind was mostly occupied with girls and vigilantism. So, she simply accepted it and moved on.
"And also.. these guys are fodder. The only thing to worry about in this Hollow is the Butcher." Belle shrugged before looking to Eous/Wise.
"The train's just a few blocks up here, Belle. But we need to get to the train's control room and alter the tracks to direct it through the tunnel. Then, you will need to enter the train via a vent on the roof of the tunnel and enter the driver's compartment to shut the train down. And watch out for the Dead End Butcher, okay? I'm trying to get a read on where it may be but.. well, you know Ethereals."
Belle nodded at her brother's words and pat Eous' head. Though she knew the train wasn't empty, it was still a decent plan regardless. As Belle and Nekomata proceeded toward the control room, they saw a large abandoned train car blocking their way forward. Belle smirked as they both passed through the car and heard the sound of something metallic approach from where they had just passed.
"Eh!? Is that.. the Dead End Butcher, you think?" Nekomata whispered fearfully.
Belle shook her head and pulled Nekomata away from the train car. Right before a saw cleaved right through the metal.
*VRRRRRR!!!*
"OH MY GOD IS THAT A CHAINSAAAAW!?"