"Don't move!"
"I'm quick; you should have seen it just now."
"It's nearly impossible for you to react to me."
Hoshimi Aya looked at Pulchra.
"Heh heh, exactly, exactly."
"Kitty, you'd better come back with us obediently."
Bernice said with a giggle.
Just then, Caesar and the others also rushed over.
After all, they had only set off a short time apart, so arriving this quickly was reasonable.
"Fine, I surrender."
"Can you let me leave now?"
Pulchra looked at the people who had arrived, her ears drooping slightly.
"Surrender?!"
"What does that mean?"
"What happened here?"
Caesar asked, somewhat unable to understand the situation.
"She is the one who impersonated the Sons of Calydon."
"But I've already taken her down."
Hoshimi Aya introduced briefly.
"I will return the parts from the recycling plant to the factory."
"I also give up on the section in the scrap yard."
"Let's just pretend nothing happened today."
"You said it just now: as long as I leave, you will let me go."
Pulchra said uncertainly, as she didn't know what kind of people the others were.
"Huh?!"
"Pretend nothing happened today?"
Bernice was shocked.
"What? Do you feel like you lost out?"
"After I bought the parts, no one else should have come besides you guys."
"The reputation of the Sons of Calydon should also not have suffered any loss."
"We didn't cause any substantial harm to the other party just now, and I currently have a knife against my neck."
"You guys shouldn't be at a loss, right?"
Pulchra mustered her courage and moved the knife away from her neck.
Seeing this, Hoshimi Aya directly put the knife back into its sheath.
After all, Pulchra wasn't a bad person; fundamentally, she was a good person.
It was just the environment that shaped her into this appearance.
She held a very good impression of Pulchra.
Seeing this, Pulchra seized the opportunity to put some distance between herself and the group.
"You are not the ones who are at a loss in this matter."
"It won't benefit me either if my employer finds out I failed."
"So I will claim that the matter has been handled, and you are the ones who benefit behind the scenes."
Pulchra explained.
She knew clearly that if she didn't clarify things, even if she escaped now, she would be caught the next second.
"Today's events... pretend they never happened?"
Bernice sounded a bit disappointed.
"Hey, don't push your luck!"
"What else do you want?!"
Pulchra was somewhat indignant, thinking Bernice was going to hold onto the previous incident to extort a large sum from her.
"But we were clearly having a great time just now!"
Bernice said sadly.
When Pulchra heard Bernice's words, her eyes widened, and the ears that had been drooping slightly perked up.
"Kitty, even though Aya defeated you instantly just now,"
"I can feel that your skills are very good."
"This is the first time I've met a Nekomata who is both this powerful and cute."
Bernice looked at Pulchra's expression and giggled again.
"Wait... wait a minute!"
"Y-you, what nonsense are you talking about?!"
Pulchra looked at Bernice in disbelief.
"Everything I said just now was true."
"And it's just like the legends say."
"Nekomata will never be loyal to a master," Bernice said with a giggle.
It seemed she was quite fond of Pulchra.
"Heh, after all, I'm just a mercenary who works for money."
"Besides, I honestly don't have a good feeling about that employer."
"But I cannot reveal the employer's identity."
"I don't want to bring trouble upon myself, so give up on that idea."
Pulchra thought Bernice was trying to pry information about her employer out of her.
"Mm, don't worry."
"We won't ask."
Bernice nodded.
"Hey, Bernice, you can't just make a decision on this matter arbitrarily."
Lucy interjected upon hearing Bernice.
How could they miss such a good opportunity to ask for the employer's information?
"Hahaha, just let her be."
"Lucy, what Bernice has decided will absolutely not change."
Caesar looked at Bernice and smiled, she could tell Bernice was serious about this.
"Kitty, since you don't like your current employer, how about joining the Sons of Calydon?"
Bernice inquired.
"Aren't you afraid I'll betray you?"
"The claws of a Nekomata will extend toward anyone,"
Pulchra said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Don't worry, I heard that Nekomata always choose the strongest person as their partner."
"We, the Sons of Calydon, can definitely do that," Bernice said excitedly.
"She shouldn't be one of your Sons of Calydon."
"Someone this powerful couldn't possibly have no reputation at all in the Outer Ring."
"She must just be a helper you hired, right?"
"If you want me to join your Sons of Calydon, wait until you become the strongest."
"Also, stop always calling people 'Kitty'."
"I have a name too; my name is Pulchra,"
Pulchra looked at Hoshimi Aya, as she hadn't even seen Hoshimi Aya's movement clearly just now; the person was already behind her.
"Mm, Pulchra, let's play together again next time,"
Bernice invited.
"A playmate who plays so carelessly like you, I'll pass."
"Just like you said, if I'm going to find someone, I'll find her,"
Saying that, Pulchra pointed to Hoshimi Aya, who was watching the show.
"However, I really don't dislike warm places."
After saying that, Pulchra left.
Seeing this, after securing the motorcycle parts they needed, the group also left The Hollow.
...
The next day.
Outer Ring, Wildfire Town.
Wright returned to Wildfire Town after nearly an hour's journey.
"Aya, I bought you your favorite milk tea."
Saying that, Wright handed two cups of milk tea to Hoshimi Aya.
"Wright, what about mine?!"
Bernice asked with a giggle.
"Here, I bought one for everyone."
After speaking, Wright opened the box he was carrying in his other hand.
Since he offered to treat them, he naturally had to give one to everyone.
He had specifically asked Ling what Hoshimi Aya liked to eat, and upon learning it was milk tea, he set off early in the morning.
"Thank you, but... why two cups for me?"
Hoshimi Aya asked.
A normal person should only be given one cup, right?
When Bernice saw so many cups, she immediately went to call the others, but she took her own cup with her when she left.
"Mm? The Proxy told me you usually need two cups to be satisfied."
Wright said with some confusion.
"Ah?"
Hoshimi Aya's mind completely froze upon hearing Wright's words.
Her secret habit of drinking milk tea should have been hidden very well!
How did Ling find out about this?!
Seeing Hoshimi Aya remain silent, Wright, not being very familiar with her, paused for a moment before directly going to check on the others.
He left carrying a box of milk tea.
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