Calling at the Door to Check the Water Meter!

The rich ramen broth filled her mouth.

After finishing it with great satisfaction, Belle set down her bowl, said goodbye to Master Qiao Pu, and returned to the Video Store.

"Mm-hmm-hmm~ hmm-hmm..."

She hummed an unknown tune under her breath.

After pushing open the door, she looked at the videotapes in the wall cabinet, one finger resting against her lips.

"I've got plenty of free time today. How about watching a movie? That Mission Impossible from last time was pretty good.

I'll try another one."

As she spoke, Belle began rummaging through the boxes.

Knock, knock, knock...

Someone knocked on the door. Belle stood up and looked toward the entrance.

"Who is it?"

Outside the door, Hoshimi Miyabi heard the question from within and began recalling something.

Hoshimi Miyabi: "Harumasa, if I were visiting a stranger's home, what should I do to seem polite?"

Asaba Yuma climbed up from the table, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and spoke.

"I suggest that Section Chief be more subtle. Just say—calling at the door to check the water meter."

"Why would I say that?"

Seeing Hoshimi Miyabi's puzzled expression, Asaba Yuma gave a wicked grin.

"You wouldn't know this, but back in the old days, water meters meant serving tea to guests, while checking meant asking politely."

"I see. I understand now."

Back in the present, Hoshimi Miyabi heard Belle's question and answered without hesitation.

"Calling at the door to check the water meter."

The moment those words came out, Belle inside the house shuddered violently.

"C-check the water meter... Wait, I-I'll be right there. Please wait a moment."

After saying that, Belle hurried into Wise's room and called out.

"Big bro~ This is bad! Someone from the Public Security Bureau is at the door."

"! What? Don't panic yet, Belle."

"Have our identities been exposed?!"

"That shouldn't be possible. Very few people know who we are."

Getting up, Wise put down his phone and walked out of the bedroom.

The two went downstairs and arrived at the front door.

"Um, may I ask who you are?"

"You? There's only me. Anti-Air Sixth Division."

After calming herself down, Belle slowly opened the door a crack.

She looked outside.

Well, damn. It was Hoshimi Miyabi.

"Y-you... What can we do for you, Miss Miyabi?"

"I need your help with something."

"Oh, so that's what this is~"

Letting out a sigh of relief, Belle invited her inside.

"What do you need, Miss Miyabi? Please, go ahead."

"Mm, it's quite simple. Could you tell me where Miss Fu Hua has gone?"

"Huh? Ah Hua~ Isn't she at home?"

"No."

"Then... I don't know where she went either."

"Could you give me her Shengwang Account? I need to speak with her about something."

"Um, what is it? I can pass along the message for you."

"That works too. Please ask her this.

Miss Fu Hua, I would like to spar with you today. Would that be convenient?"

"Sure, I'll ask her right away."

Taking out her phone, Belle sent Fu Hua a message.

Taixu Mountain.

After Bernice and Paipai landed, they were in no hurry to leave. After all, they had not finished eating yet.

Fu Hua was the same. She had just been about to pick up her bowl again.

When she received Belle's message.

Belle: Ah Hua~

Belle: Um, Miss Miyabi asked me to see if you're available.

Belle: She wants to spar with you.

Fu Hua: Oh, it's her.

Fu Hua: I can, but I'm not in the Inner Ring right now.

Belle: Huh?

Belle: Then where are you now?

Fu Hua: The Outer Ring, Taixu Mountain.

Back at the Video Store.

After reading Fu Hua's messages, Belle smiled at Hoshimi Miyabi beside her.

"Sorry, Miss Miyabi. Ah Hua isn't in the Inner Ring right now. She went back to Taixu Mountain."

"Taixu Mountain? Where is that?"

"The Outer Ring."

"Good. Then let's go."

As she spoke, Hoshimi Miyabi grabbed Belle's hand and prepared to leave.

"Um, Miss Miyabi, why are you pulling me along?"

"Because you can show me the way."

"Wait, wait, Miss Miyabi. My little sister is frail; she can't handle you tossing her around.

How about you two exchange contact information? You can go by yourself."

Hearing that, Hoshimi Miyabi nodded.

"That will do."

After a while, Belle still had not quite recovered.

She stared blankly at Hoshimi Miyabi's profile picture on her phone, which was a large headshot.

"This... Miss Miyabi's profile picture is pretty distinctive."

Hoshimi Miyabi, alone with a sword in hand, headed toward the Outer Ring by herself.

As for Fu Hua, after learning that Hoshimi Miyabi was looking for her, she did not think much of it.

"Fu Hua, Fu Hua, the boss messaged me. They're already getting things ready over there, so let's go."

"When we get there, I'll treat you to my specially mixed fuel drink."

Nearby, Paipai grabbed Bernice.

"No rush, no rush, young people. We just ate, so let's digest first before we leave."

"Miss Paipai is right. Miss Bernice should rest for a while too."

Fu Hua agreed as she drank hot tea.

"Hey~ Why are both of you like this? You need to have energy!"

Bernice put her hands on her hips and looked at Paipai sunbathing and Fu Hua drinking tea.

"Hey~ You only need that kind of energy when you're young. Old people should slow down."

Things were very leisurely on this side, but on the other side...

"Miss Miyabi!!! You went the wrong way! That's a Hollow over there!!!!"

Belle's startled cries came frequently through the earpiece.

"No matter. It's perfect for warming up before fighting Miss Fu Hua."

She did not care in the slightest that she had fallen into a Hollow.

Hoshimi Miyabi unlocked her phone with her fingerprint, drew her demon blade, and entered her unstoppable mode.

This Hollow was not very large, somewhere between a small and medium-sized one.

Therefore, the Ethereals inside could not withstand Hoshimi Miyabi's Six Beans One Great Infinite Cycle at all.

Slash, slash, slash—

Belle's mouth twitched as she watched the big fox on the screen.

What Void Hunter was this? She was practically National Highway Grand Transport.

And she was not crashing into Ethereals. She was crashing into Hollows.

One small Hollow every ten minutes, one medium Hollow every half hour.

That night.

Fu Hua and the others arrived in Wildfire Town. After talking with Caesar and the others,

they gathered together for barbecue.

"Fu Hua~ Come on, let's keep going!"

Bernice's face was flushed red. She had already downed fifteen huge, extra-strong fuel drinks.

It was already impressive that she could still hold on, but she put down her cup and collapsed onto Fu Hua's shoulder.

"Hehe, no, Fu Hua~ Can you really drink that much? Why aren't you drunk yet?"

"No. It just doesn't show on my face."

Lighter, who had already been drunk under the table, silently raised a thumbs-up.

That was right. Fu Hua had only planned to eat some barbecue, but Bernice insisted on dragging her into drinking fuel drinks.

And now, Fu Hua had first drunk with Lighter. Thirteen cups went down, and Fu Hua was completely fine.

Seeing that, Bernice felt her competitive spirit flare up.

"To preserve the title of Fuel God of the Outer Ring, even if my opponent is so strong that I can barely breathe, I will still, still—"

Clang—

After downing another cup, Bernice directly collapsed to one side and fell asleep.

Lucy, sitting on the sofa behind them, stared in dumbfounded disbelief.

"Holy crap, Miss Fu Hua, are you immune to alcohol or something?"

"Probably. It has been a long time since I last drank."

"Hahahaha, you two are such lightweights! Watch me have a go with Fu Hua—"

Caesar burst into laughter and joined the battle.

Before long, eight empty bottles stood on the table before her, while she lay peacefully asleep on top of Bernice.

Covering her face, Lucy said speechlessly.

"Caesar! That's enough—"

"Hey~ Lucy's worrying for nothing. The boss survived a disaster. What's wrong with having a few drinks?"

"Paipai~ Stop drinking. You still have to haul cargo tomorrow."

"Got it, got it. I'm only having a couple of sips. Look how worried you are. Careful, or you'll get pimples."

"Paipai!! I'm getting angry—!"

"Eh—! R-right, sorry, Lucy. I'm just trying to give you less to get angry about, young people~"