Seeing Sol standing there with such calm and unshakable poise, Billy was stunned.

"Damn it! Something's overflowing—my eyes burn!"

He stood from a distance, completely overwhelmed by Sol's aura of dominance.

He gets it. Boss Sol just totally gets how to look cool.

Anytime, anywhere—Sol could put on a show of effortless badassery like he was born to do it!

Billy couldn't help but admire him. This level of naturally embedded coolness… now that is what I aspire to learn!

"Becoming a Void Hunter isn't that easy..."

Nicole, Belle, and Wise had intended to argue—but the words just wouldn't come out.

Because to most people in New Eridu, "Void Hunter" was a name so distant it might as well have been myth. Meeting one was near impossible, let alone becoming one.

Even the siblings' main account, Phaethon, had never encountered a single Void Hunter.

But to Sol, who not only had the ambition to solo Hollow runs but also the actual capability to do it, maybe becoming a Void Hunter was just a matter of time.

Guys… who else can relate? The big shot is literally sitting next to me!

"Now then, accepting what's inside this safe shouldn't be a problem anymore, right?"

Sol smiled as he spoke.

Everyone shook their heads in unison—no objections.

With a real boss in their midst, what was there to argue?

Belle thought for a moment and then said solemnly, "If fortune comes our way, may we never forget each other!"

Sol couldn't hold back a chuckle. "When one rises to power, even the dogs and chickens ascend. How could I ever forget you?"

Belle gritted her teeth with a crack, glaring fiercely at Sol.

Still so damn infuriating. Who are you calling chickens and dogs!?

"Since we've decided to keep the safe, let's open it together right here." Sol looked toward Wise. "You guys still remember the password, right?"

"Of course we do. My memory's great."

Belle took the safe from Nicole.

"Open it up, open it up! I can't wait to see what this treasure looks like!"

Nicole clung to Sol's arm, eyes full of excitement and nervous anticipation as Belle worked on the keypad.

After tapping a few digits, the safe clicked open.

Inside was a rectangular black data drive.

"We'll need to plug it into a computer. Is it okay to try it here?"

Sol looked to Belle and Wise.

"Should be fine, unless there's another virus hiding in it..."

Belle muttered suspiciously.

That last fang-shaped drive had been a disaster—cost them their main account.

"It's fine. Just isolate it to a standalone terminal."

Wise stroked his chin thoughtfully.

It would be like using an offline PC—no matter what's in the data drive, it wouldn't affect anything else.

Before long, Wise and Belle had quickly prepped an isolated backup machine.

Under the expectant gaze of the group, Belle plugged in the data drive.

A blue dialogue box popped up.

[Please connect to the Inter-Knot to access the main database.]

"This data drive seems to be just a key—the actual content's still in the Inter-Knot." Belle frowned.

"What does that mean?" Wise rubbed his chin, clearly puzzled. "This thing… is connected to the Inter-Knot?"

No one truly knew the origins of the Inter-Knot. It had existed since the early days of New Eridu's founding—a non-governmental Hollow exploration forum.

With vast influence and mysterious origins, even the government couldn't do anything about it.

"A treasure on par with the Rosetta Data—it's normal for it to have a complicated activation process." Sol mused aloud. "Either way, let's give it a try."

This result didn't surprise him.

According to what he knew, Fairy—along with the other three super AIs—had been implanted into the Inter-Knot's database by the mysterious Thiren organization after they invaded.

The data drive in this safe? Merely a key.

And what those two mysterious figures had said—waiting for someone fated to unlock it—was deeply meaningful.

Maybe the key itself didn't matter. What mattered was who held the key.

That could also explain why there'd been no movement for months after the safe was swallowed—because there might be many keys, but only a few can use them.

"Alright then, I'll use a dummy account to log in."

Belle quickly created a fresh Inter-Knot account and logged in through the terminal.

[Entering verification interface. Complete verification to unlock more content.]

"Doesn't look like it's something you can just waltz in and take." Belle looked toward Nicole and Sol. "Which one of you wants to go first?"

"Nicole, you try it."

Sol gestured to Nicole.

He wanted to test whether only specific people could be recognized by Fairy.

And as the one who took the commission, Nicole had first dibs.

"Why don't you go first? You did the most work during this mission—someone as capable as you deserves it more."

Nicole was clearly tempted, but after a moment of hesitation, she tried to defer.

This treasure was too valuable. And Sol had contributed the most—it only made sense he should go first.

"No need to push it back and forth. You might not pass the verification anyway." Sol smiled gently. "Even if you do, the Cunning Hares are family. What's yours is mine."

He didn't care who Fairy chose—as long as he could use it, that was enough.

Whether Belle, Nicole, or Anby was recognized—he'd treat it like it was his own.

"Alright then..."

Flushed, Nicole stepped in front of the computer's webcam.

Looking at the screen, she couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation. If she got this treasure that let her enter and exit Hollows at will, just how many dennies could she make in the future?

[Verification initiated. Scanning Inter-Knot database.]

[Verification failed: a Hollow Raider with extremely poor credit, heavy debts, and insufficient professional competence.]

"Haha! Boss Nicole, this thing's so accurate!"

Billy couldn't help laughing.

Sol, Belle, and Wise also burst out laughing.

"Billy!" Nicole shouted in shame and fury. "That's slander! It's flat-out slander!"

She glared at the screen, dark aura radiating. "This thing must be broken. I'm gonna smash it!"

"Calm down, Nicole—that's my computer!"

Belle blocked her hastily.

"Billy, you're next!"

Nicole glared at Billy.

That damn robot laughed the loudest just now—let's see how he does!

"No problem, Boss Nicole." Billy confidently strode up to the screen. "Someone as dazzling as me—a Starlight Knight—is bound to pass!"

[Verification initiated. Scanning Inter-Knot database.]

[Verification failed: a mysterious antique from the Outer Ring, a chuunibyou robot.]

"HA! Billy, this thing's got you pegged!"

Nicole laughed loudly, pointing at him. "An Outer Ring chuunibyou relic!"

You laughed at me? Who's the joke now!

Anby gave a slight nod. "Accurate. Fair."

"Let me go! I'm going to smash this thing! I'm a high-level, firepower-focused combat platform!"

Billy was filled with shame, roaring at the screen.

Wise had to physically restrain him—or Billy might've turned the machine into collectible scraps.

"Anby, your turn?"

Sol looked at her.

"Mm."

Anby gave a small nod and calmly stood before the computer.

[Verification failed: a retired Defense Corps member with a fondness for hamburgers.]

"Well, that's fair... but still rejected." Nicole looked toward their last hope. "Sol, it's up to you!"

"I'll give it a try."

Sol stepped forward, not expecting much.

Three people had already failed—seemed like Fairy was really picky. Maybe it only recognized the siblings.

Still, no harm in testing it. He'd only been here a week—shouldn't have much of a dark past.

[Verification initiated. Scanning Inter-Knot database.]

[Verification failed: a flirtatious scumbag who hits on everyone, a strong yet reckless brute. Access denied.]

"…"

Sol stared at the computer with dead eyes.

Fairy… you just wait. I'll make sure you pay for this.

He looked toward the others and asked solemnly, "You guys believe that's slander, right?"

"I believe it."

Wise nodded seriously, shielding Belle behind him.

"I believe it."

Nicole echoed, though her eyes sharpened.

She wasn't jealous, but a playboy in the Cunning Hares? That'd be bad for their reputation. Time to fix him up.

"I believe it."

Anby nodded sincerely.

"Thank you for trusting me, Anby."

Sol was genuinely touched as he looked at her slightly baby-faced expression.

Didn't expect Anby to back him up in this moment.

From now on, all your burgers are on me!

"I believe the computer's evaluation."

Anby finished her sentence.

"…"

Sol rolled his eyes.

So white on the outside, so dark inside. She really believed it, which somehow made it worse.

It's settled—next time I'm buying you a spicy blast burger with a javelin-sized straw!

"Alright, all of us failed. Time for you two siblings to give it a shot."

Sol took a deep breath and changed the topic.

"Eh!?"

Belle looked at Sol, surprised.

She hadn't expected this to include her too.