"Give me a gift? Why did you suddenly think of that?"

At the mention of gift, Nicole Demara immediately perked up, her eyes sparkling. "But you don't know my preferences. Just convert it into Denny for me instead—it's practical and convenient."

Gifts were troublesome. Denny was both practical and simple.

"Not that kind of gift." Sol Mercer shook his head, speaking with a trace of pity. "I noticed you're only wearing one stocking, and it's even full of holes. Looks a little pitiful."

"W-what!" Nicole panicked instantly. "What do you know! This is women's fashion. Don't you think it looks stylish?"

Fashion was true enough—but so was not wanting to spend money.

But to admit in front of her own employee that she couldn't even afford stockings? That would be utterly humiliating.

Seeing her expression, Sol instantly understood—he had guessed right.

Speaking of fashion, Belle also wore just one stocking, but hers had no holes.

Judging by Nicole's reaction, her holey stocking really was from saving money.

Still, Sol didn't expose her. Instead, he pretended to sigh regretfully. "It is quite stylish. But since that's your fashion choice, I suppose you don't need new stockings. Too bad though—I already bought some. If you don't want them, I'll give them to Anby."

"Eh? No way!" Nicole immediately spoke sternly. "You already confirmed this gift was for the boss—how could you just turn around and give it to someone else? Bring it to my room tonight, I'll try them on."

This was Sol's first gift to her. If he gave it to Anby instead, what would that make her?

"No problem." Sol agreed readily, then grinned. "But these stockings are a new style. You might not know how to wear them—so I'll help you put them on tonight."

Nicole rolled her eyes. "Scram, scram, scram! I'm a grown woman. Do I really need a man to teach me how to wear stockings?"

Sol immediately looked displeased. "Nicole, that just shows you lack insight! Stockings were originally invented for male cavalry. Women don't necessarily understand them better than men!"

"Fine, fine, fine, you're the expert on stockings, alright?" Nicole snapped. "But when it comes to wearing them, I'll do it myself. I don't need anyone's help."

Of course, she knew what Sol was really thinking. But that was something she would never agree to.

Forget about him helping her wear stockings—he wasn't even allowed inside her room.

After last time, she no longer believed a word of Sol's smooth talk. He had said it was just a hug, but it ended up as a kiss.

This time he claimed it was only about helping with stockings, maybe just touching her leg—but who knew what else it might become?

"Fine."

Sol didn't press the matter.

Disappointment was temporary. Hope was forever.

One day, he wouldn't just help her wear stockings—he would rip them apart after she had put them on.

Nicole breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Speaking of which, judging by our progress clearing out Ethereals, today should be the last day, right?"

Sol confirmed, "Yes, today's the last day. We've already completed the mission of clearing the Companion Hollow in Crete."

Based on what Bertha and Lyla had shared during last night's conversation, after yesterday's cleanup with Anby, the Hollow had already shrunk to 34% of its original state.

They only needed to eliminate around a thousand more Ethereals to finish the job.

And today, working together with Nicole, they had already surpassed that number. The mission was as good as done.

"So today we've already finished clearing the Hollow. The efficiency is really something." Nicole couldn't help but marvel.

From the moment they accepted the mission, only one week had passed—and Sol had already completed it.

This speed was leagues faster than either the New Eridu Public Security or the Defense Force.

But she quickly noticed the bigger picture. "That means, very soon you'll be an ACE Investigator! You'll soon receive one hundred billion Denny! You'll soon hold seventy percent ownership of the Hollow!"

"You're about to become the newest billionaire in New Eridu!"

Just running the numbers left Nicole stunned by Sol's wealth.

Together, these assets were worth more than what the Cunning Hares could earn in hundreds of years.

And yet Sol had only been in New Eridu for twelve days—and already amassed more than the Cunning Hares could in a lifetime.

That kind of money-making ability made her practically drool with envy.

"Not quite so fast." Sol replied more calmly. "The one hundred billion Denny reward won't be distributed until the fifteenth of next month—one month from now. As for the seventy percent Hollow ownership, that still requires joint development with partners."

"Until the Hollow Investigative Association finalizes everything, all I'll have is the title of ACE Investigator—and one hundred thousand internal merit points."

He still had to wait until next month. The fifteenth of next month would be the moment he truly soared.

One hundred billion Denny—that was one thousand draws.

Ten pulls guaranteed a purple card, thirty guaranteed a gold card, and one hundred offered a selectable gold card.

One hundred billion Denny guaranteed at least 100 purple cards, 33 gold cards, and 10 selectable gold cards.

No matter what kind of power level the world ultimately settled into, or what kind of unknown crises might appear—he would be secure.

Nicole, unaware of Sol's inner thoughts, remained excited. "Hey, hey, hey—what's yours will be yours sooner or later. Doesn't make a difference."

"And besides, just those one hundred thousand Investigator Merit Points alone—those are more valuable to any Hollow explorer than even one hundred billion Denny."

Sol tilted his head curiously. "How so?"

Nicole explained, "Merit Points can be exchanged internally for all kinds of supplies. The higher your Investigator rank, the rarer the items you can redeem. Some of those things can't be bought on the outside at all! Like S-Rank Drive Discs, or S-Rank W-Engines."

"Oh." Sol's response was flat. "Can they be exchanged for money?"

W-Engines and Drive Discs—those world-specific items didn't really fit with what he could draw from the system. He had little use for them.

It would be far better to exchange them for cash—or give them away as gifts.