At the dinner table in the Cunning Hares' hideout.

Nicole was devouring a double beef and cheese burger with great enthusiasm.

Beside her sat a box of Chicken McNuggets, a large fries, and a cup of iced cola.

These were part of the burger combo Sol Mercer had brought back.

"What were you guys doing today? Why are you back so late?"

Nicole asked with a mouthful of burger, her words slightly muffled.

"First, we spent an hour inside the Hollow fighting Ethereals. Then we rested for a bit at the video store. After that, Sol Mercer took the manager and me to Lumina Square for burgers and a really touching romance movie."

Anby reported the day's itinerary honestly.

"What!? You did all that?"

Nicole looked a bit shocked.

She had assumed Sol Mercer and Anby would be battling inside the Hollow all day long.

She didn't expect them to only spend an hour inside.

And then Sol Mercer took Anby out for food and fun? She had been worried about the two of them for nothing. Her good intentions had just been wasted.

Still, at least they brought food back. She supposed they weren't completely heartless.

Just then, Billy sidled up next to Sol Mercer.

"Sol Mercer, Sol Mercer! You brought dinner for Boss Nicole—did you bring anything for me?"

"Ten hydraulic batteries. Want them?"

Sol Mercer pulled out a pack of sealed batteries and handed them over to Billy.

Of course, he had prepared for this. If he treated Anby and brought food for Nicole but forgot Billy, that would've been bad.

He just wasn't sure if these ten batteries—worth around five thousand Dennies—were enough for Billy's appetite.

"Hydraulic batteries! How did you know this was my favorite flavor?!"

Billy beamed as he took the batteries, inhaling their scent like fine wine. "Thermal power has a spicy aftertaste and causes overheating. Standard electricity is dry and bland—only good for satiety. But hydro power? Silky smooth and endlessly satisfying!"

Sol Mercer laughed. "Heh, you really know your stuff."

He genuinely hadn't expected batteries to have flavor profiles. That was just absurd.

Still chewing on her burger, Nicole said to Sol Mercer, "Sol Mercer, don't bring things like this next time. Spend your money on yourself."

A burger combo like this would cost at least seven thousand Dennies. Billy's hydraulic batteries probably weren't cheap either.

Add that to what Anby and Belle ate today—and the cost of their movie tickets.

That day's expenses easily added up to tens of thousands of Dennies.

Even if Sol Mercer was rich, this was no way to spend money.

Sol Mercer just smiled. "Nicole, you don't need to worry about that. We're all friends—and since everyone supports my business, I have to show a little appreciation, right?"

Just a bit of pocket change. Spending it was no big deal—as long as it brought joy.

"Sol Mercer, you're the best! You're my best friend!"

Billy was moved, bringing his face close to Sol Mercer. "When I make it big, I'll bring you batteries too—the best ones!"

"That won't be necessary. Just treat me to ramen twice."

Sol Mercer leaned away from Billy, exasperated.

He wasn't a robot. Batteries were absolutely useless to him.

"Haha! Almost forgot."

Billy scratched his head awkwardly.

Seeing Sol Mercer's reaction, Nicole could only sigh. "Alright, alright. Spend your money however you want."

Then she added, "But once your Dennies run out, I'm not giving you an advance on your salary!"

"Don't worry. That day will never come."

Sol Mercer waved a finger and said casually, "Today, we took down a thousand Ethereals—nearly ten million Dennies' worth of loot."

Battery-sniffing Billy: "A thousand Ethereals?"

Burger-eating Nicole: "Nearly ten million Dennies?"

The two of them stared blankly at Sol Mercer, stunned.

They turned to Anby and asked in unison, "Is Sol Mercer telling the truth?"

"It's true."

Anby nodded affirmatively.

"But didn't you only spend an hour in the Hollow?"

Nicole couldn't help asking.

"Yes, only an hour. In that time, Sol Mercer and I killed over a thousand Ethereals. The Hollow itself even retreated by more than ten meters."

Anby thought for a moment, then added seriously, "Sol Mercer did most of the killing."

"Whoa! Sol Mercer, you're that powerful!?"

Billy jumped in surprise.

Nicole wasn't faring much better.

The idea of killing over a thousand Ethereals in an hour was absurdly efficient.

Nicole had never seen anyone in New Eridu capable of slaying Ethereals at such a pace.

In her memory, only the legendary Void Hunters could pull something like that off.

It sounded outrageous—but Anby didn't lie.

So, a thousand Ethereals was real. Ten million Dennies was also real.

"We're gonna be rich! We're gonna be famous!"

Nicole beamed, her foxlike eyes narrowing in delight.

If they could push the Hollow back over ten meters in one day, clearing it entirely was just around the corner.

The idea that the Cunning Hares might produce a Void Hunter—and earn endless Dennies—made her giddy.

Nicole looked at Sol Mercer, eyes sparkling with gold.

This guy was their very own money tree!

Truly, picking up Sol Mercer had been the best thing ever.

"Nicole, eat your food first."

Sol Mercer looked at her manic expression and sighed helplessly.

"Mm!"

Nicole grabbed her burger and took huge bites.

Under the impact of such great news, the already tasty burger somehow became even more delicious.

As she ate, she said to Sol Mercer, "Oh, right—your ID info has been uploaded. As long as you come with me to the Hollow Investigative Association tomorrow, you'll get an official status."

Once he registered with the Hollow Investigative Association, Sol Mercer would become an official Hollow Investigator.

Then they could start accepting Hollow-clearing missions, making the Cunning Hares truly renowned.

Sol Mercer: "Sounds good. Belle's video will probably be edited by tomorrow too."

Nicole: "Can't wait for her to post it—I have to see you two going wild in the Hollow!"

She was beyond curious about Sol Mercer and Anby's performance.

Just what kind of teamwork could allow them to slay a thousand Ethereals in one hour?

Once that video went public, it would shake all of New Eridu to its core.