Everyone gathered in front of the H.D.D and placed Belle's Bangboo on the chair.
The screen then began to display the process: starting with Belle being pursued, her meeting with Nekomata, Nekomata handing over the commission, and the group entering the Dead End Hollow to search for Nekomata's family heirloom.
"Why is it so embarrassing to watch myself acting so cutesy!"
Nekomata blushed as she watched herself on the screen, her upright ears drooping in a display of deep shame.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't tell me your habit of adding 'meow' to everything you say is just an act?"
Wise turned back to look at Nekomata, sounding puzzled.
Under his gaze, Nekomata immediately became flustered.
"How could that be?"
"This is just how we Nekomata talk!...Meow."
Nekomata explained.
"Alright, we have a good grasp of the situation now."
"You and Belle's group found the Red Fang Gang's base, so you went into the Dead End Hollow today."
Belle pondered.
"That's right! Some things happened along the way, but in short, Belle and the others are currently in the Blasting Zone."
Nekomata nodded.
Just then, Fairy chimed in again, reminding everyone that the current news broadcast might be relevant to the commission.
At this, everyone turned their eyes back to the TV, where the host was introducing the current blasting operation.
A train loaded with explosives would enter the Blasting Zone to carry out the demolition.
And it was about to begin.
"Oh no, the last train is actually departing this early!"
"There's no time to keep watching the visual records; we have to stop the explosion immediately."
"Otherwise, Belle and the others are going to be blown to smithereens."
Nekomata cried out in panic.
It was clear that Nekomata was truly worried about the safety of Belle and the people inside.
"Fairy, can you detect the train's trajectory?"
Hoshimi Aya asked.
Since the situation was so urgent, there was no time to think through the plot in detail, so she would use a simpler method.
She would directly destroy the train mid-journey; with her current strength, she should be able to do it.
Although she had never used her full power before, theoretically, she possessed the strength to achieve this.
Meanwhile, the others gathered around to look at the map Fairy had calculated.
"Aya, do you have some kind of reliable plan?!"
Belle asked, looking at Hoshimi Aya.
Based on Belle's usual knowledge of Hoshimi Aya, she felt it probably wasn't a good idea.
However, given Hoshimi Aya's past behavior, she felt it was worth hearing out.
"My plan is to destroy the train while it's on the tracks!"
Hoshimi Aya said expressionlessly.
She thought this plan was excellent—simple and crude, it suited her perfectly.
Nekomata:...
Belle, Wise:...
"Aya, although we know you're strong..."
"...destroying a train by yourself, no matter how you look at it, that shouldn't be possible, right?"
Wise said skeptically.
At the very least, he didn't think Hoshimi Aya could pull it off.
"Aya, now is not the time for you to be showing off."
Belle sighed, holding her forehead in exasperation.
She knew Hoshimi Aya wouldn't come up with a good solution.
"I suggest intercepting the train inside The Hollow; we can try to block it on its mandatory path."
Wise pondered.
"...I want to help too."
"I want to join the operation."
Hoshimi Aya said, raising her hand.
"Alright, since you insist on going, Aya, you go with Nekomata to the Dead End Hollow."
"It's better to have more people looking out for each other."
"But... Aya, is your condition really okay?"
Belle nodded and asked.
She still remembered Hoshimi Aya's issue with losing control; that problem had never been resolved.
What if she had an episode inside The Hollow? Wouldn't that just cause trouble?
"It's fine, there shouldn't be a problem."
"Even if it happens, I should be able to suppress it!"
Hoshimi Aya nodded.
She couldn't just keep being a free-loader; she had to find something she could actually do.
...
Inside the Dead End Hollow.
Hoshimi Aya and Nekomata entered the Dead End Hollow with Eous.
"Hello, hello."
"Can you hear me?"
Wise's voice came through Eous.
"I can hear you!"
"Amazing! It's my first time seeing a Proxy who can communicate directly from inside The Hollow!"
"No wonder Belle always says you're the strongest Proxys in New Eridu!"
Nekomata looked at Eous in surprise.
She had met other Proxys before, but she had never seen one who could maintain contact while inside The Hollow.
There was a reason Belle said they were the strongest Proxys in New Eridu.
...
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