Inside Section 6's private car.

Tsukishiro Yanagi sat in the front driving, while Sol and Soukaku shared the back seat.

"Sol, Sol—it's been a whole week! You didn't go hungry, did you?" Soukaku asked with genuine concern.

"Mm." Sol couldn't help but laugh. "Thanks for worrying, but I've been eating my fill every day."

This little loli really didn't care about anything but food—her greetings were inseparable from meals.

Perhaps for her, there was no more solemn greeting than asking whether someone had eaten.

"That's good." Soukaku's face broke into a relieved smile. "Looks like when I wished you'd always have enough to eat, it really worked."

"Haha, yes—thanks to your blessing."

Sol chuckled.

It seemed that being with someone so innocent really could lighten the mood.

At the wheel, Tsukishiro Yanagi glanced at the rearview mirror, the corners of her lips curving slightly.

So far, this Mr. Sol seemed rather mild-tempered.

She inserted herself into the conversation: "Mr. Sol, I heard you cleared out a Hollow in just the past few days, earning promotion to ACE Investigator. To purify a Hollow in just over ten days—that's lightning speed."

"You flatter me. It wasn't such a big deal," Sol replied calmly. "I was just a bit lucky, that's all."

"You're too modest. Sheer luck couldn't handle so many Ethereals." Yanagi smiled faintly, then shifted the topic. "Actually, when your Ether aptitude tested at ninety, I already had my eye on you. At the time I even considered inviting you to join Section 6."

She trailed off.

Truth be told, she regretted it. If she had acted right then, when she first learned of his ninety Ether score, she should have gone to recruit him outright.

In less than twelve days, Sol had already purified a Hollow. His strength was beyond doubt.

Unfortunately, the Cunning Hares had scooped him up first.

"No need to regret too much. I'll be handling some official missions in the future anyway—there's bound to be opportunities to work together." Sol had already decided.

"That's something I very much look forward to." Yanagi's smile deepened, her words probing. "Though, wait—I almost forgot. You're about to spar with Miss Miyabi, aren't you?"

"Right, but why isn't Miyabi the one who came to fetch me today?" Sol asked, curious.

"Miyabi? She takes this duel with you very seriously. Right now, she's bathing and purifying herself, preparing her spirit for battle."

"So, we were sent to bring you instead."

Even Yanagi found it surprising.

Miyabi had sparred with many people before, but never so solemnly.

Did I trick her into this…?

Sol remembered the excuse he'd used to brush her off last week: bathing in incense, preparing in full focus.

But if Miyabi really was treating it so seriously, then his fighting spirit was lit as well.

To crush her after all that solemn preparation—that would feel incredible… if he could pull it off.

"By the way, Mr. Sol—someone as strong as you, how is it I've never heard of you before?" Yanagi asked casually.

The flattery phase was over—now came the probing.

A powerful stranger like this was impossible to ignore.

"I lived elsewhere until recently. Only just arrived in New Eridu." Sol replied smoothly.

"Elsewhere? Then it must have been another oasis city, like New Eridu?" Yanagi pressed gently.

"That's right. It was a fine place. Abundant resources, plenty of delicious food, and endless entertainment."

Sol nodded with certainty, a nostalgic look crossing his face.

This world might be full of people acting like lunatics, but compared to the abstract clowns he'd seen before crossing over, it had far less entertainment value.

"And… does it still exist?"

Yanagi's voice grew cautious.

"Of course. And it always will."

Sol's answer was firm.

Before crossing over, he'd surveyed the global situation thoroughly. No country stood as unshakable as his homeland.

If Earth Online was truly survival of the fittest, then his homeland was most likely the one to laugh last.

"I see."

Yanagi kept her eyes on the road, not wanting to pry into what she thought must be his painful memories.

It seemed Sol's homeland had been a wonderful place—yet surely destroyed by Hollow disasters.

If he said it still lived, she assumed he meant it lived forever in his heart.

A man of deep feelings, she thought. Such people are rarely bad.

"..."

Sol was speechless.

See what? You went back and checked my old hometown yourself?

Sis, keep talking—I was just getting warmed up for a good ramble!

"Sol, Sol!" Soukaku piped up suddenly, her eyes wide. "You said your hometown had lots of food. What kinds?"

"Stinky tofu, stinky mandarin fish, roast duck, roast spring chicken, roast goose, …"

Sol happily started listing off dishes.

Soukaku's mouth began to water without her realizing. "So fragrant… so smelly… how many more are there!?"

But Sol himself had no idea how many. Just by naming them, he kept talking all the way until they reached Section 6's base—without even finishing one cuisine.

Section 6's headquarters wasn't flashy. Aside from its massive footprint, its exterior was just like a more advanced military barracks.

But what stood out was the shimmering black curtain of light only two kilometers away.

That was part of Hollow Zero—the main site Section 6 explored and suppressed.

"We've arrived, Mr. Sol. Please step out."

Yanagi opened the door for him with a smile.

She truly hadn't expected Sol to know so much about food—just listening had left her mouth watering at the wheel.

And the way he chatted so easily with Soukaku left her with the impression that he wasn't like most arrogant strong types. He was approachable—and handsome.

"Then let's go." Sol stretched his neck. "I'm really looking forward to seeing how Miyabi looks after all her incense and bathing."

"You'll see her very soon." Yanagi smiled and took the lead. "This way, please."

"Thanks, Miss Yanagi." Sol said lightly. "But no need to be so formal. Just call me Sol."

"Then call me Yanagi." Her smile warmed. "It's my honor to be on good terms with an ACE Investigator."

"Yanagi, your words are truly pleasant to hear."

Sol found that even aside from her looks and figure, simply talking with Tsukishiro Yanagi was a pleasure in itself.

Her words were sweet as honey, making one feel utterly at ease.

As they chatted, the group passed through several security gates, officially entering Section 6's headquarters.