Pedal to the Metal

Everyday life?

Exusiai rather liked this kind of everyday life.

She stroked the [staff] with its Originium device removed. It looked like a Vector submachine gun. Exusiai never went anywhere without her gun, even hugging it to sleep. If Lungmen did not prohibit armed fighting within the city, she would definitely keep it loaded with Originium rounds at all times.

The car sped through the wheat fields.

Exusiai suddenly thought of something and looked back. The car had torn through the fields, leaving scattered crops in its wake.

It was obvious.

"We've been driving for so long, and we still haven't shaken them off?"

She rubbed her hands together, eager to get started.

Texas coolly said, "That's why I pushed the speed to the limit. The axle's about to snap, the tires are worn down to nothing, and the windows got smashed earlier..."

"And we lost a can of cola."

Exusiai added, "That's the most unforgivable waste to you, isn't it?"

"Indeed."

Realizing she had lost a can of cola, a hint of gloom flashed across Texas's expressionless face, but she quickly got over it.

"It was Pepsi anyway."

The battered car roared through the wheat field, its piano-black paint covered in mottled scratches. Like a beached whale, it kept bouncing up and crashing down. The axle let out a desperate wail amid the shaking, clearly not long for this world.

Without a rearview mirror, Exusiai had no choice but to stick her head out the window several times to check on the enemy.

"The drone's coming."

Exusiai stroked the Vector, wishing it could somehow produce a few Originium rounds. She really wanted to shoot that thing down.

"Contact the boss."

Texas spoke, then hesitated a moment later. "Don't tell him we wrecked the car yet."

"Got it!"

The call connected. The boss seemed to be drinking again. Exusiai heard a burp rise from deep in the penguin's throat. He sounded dispirited, but there was no time to worry about that in an emergency.

"Boss, we've been intercepted by unknown enemies again. We're currently in a highway chase. Send some backup."

"Hm?"

A hesitant voice came from the other end. "First, make it clear. Are you chasing them, or are they chasing you? My car isn't damaged, is it?"

"We're being chased."

"How embarrassing."

Hearing that Exusiai and Texas were not the ones chasing others down and slaughtering them, Emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was hardly surprising for those two to be hunted down. But Exusiai's continued failure to report the car's condition was beginning to make Emperor uneasy.

"What condition is my car in right now?"

"..."

Exusiai stuffed the communicator by Texas's ear, her gloved finger brushing across her cheek.

"Just a minor scrape."

As Texas spoke, she yanked the steering wheel left, dodging a massive boulder lying across the path ahead. The passenger-side door scraped against it with a teeth-grating shriek. The black paint was stripped away, revealing the rough, natural color of aluminum beneath.

With a composed expression, she said, "It's no big deal. Don't worry."

"Texas, you're an experienced driver and my most mature, dependable employee. Don't betray my trust."

At last, there was some good news. Emperor hurriedly prepared to notify Croissant, who had been sent out. Though she was currently tasked with saving Emperor's musical inspiration, an employee was in danger, so Emperor's own affairs could be set aside for now.

The call ended.

Texas continued speeding. As her longtime partner, Exusiai could already tell that Texas simply wanted to drive fast.

"Croissant will be here soon."

Texas said only that. Her hands remained on the wheel as she opened her mouth toward Exusiai. The latter immediately understood and took a box of Pocky from Texas's jacket pocket, pulling one out and placing it in her mouth.

"Today's Pocky is lemon tart flavored."

Exusiai took one for herself as well. With a Pocky stick between her lips and the Vector in hand, her short hair fluttered in the wind, making her look exceptionally cool.

"Don't try to look cool."

With Pocky in her mouth, Texas's words came out slightly muffled, more like a murmur.

Yae Shrine.

Hoshino was counting money. Croissant stared at the blue banknotes, doing her best not to get jealous.

Then she seemed to think of something.

She pulled out a stack of snow-white papers bearing the bold black words Confidentiality Agreement. Croissant handed the agreement to the shrine maiden. Hoshino stopped counting, took it, and began reading—just as expected of a famous rapper, she never messed around with this sort of thing.

"...Hm... Since this involves creative burnout, you need to seek stimulation? This matter cannot be disclosed to anyone other than Party A and Party B. Otherwise, the agreement will be void, the commission will be terminated, and we will cease all business cooperation with Party B..."

"Any questions?"

"Nothing. I thought a rapper's agreement would be full of FLOW and internal rhymes, but it's surprisingly ordinary."

Hoshino looked it over. Seeing no issues, she decided to sign it.

Naturally, she wrote the three characters for Yae Sakura.

Each side kept a copy of the Confidentiality Agreement. Croissant carefully put away Penguin Logistics's copy, then rose to take Hoshino to the secret bar, where she would unleash a storm of blades upon Emperor's throat and soul.

As for the reward...

Emperor had smugly declared, "I can give her... my, Penguin Logistics's friendship."

Such a punchable line did not make the shrine maiden laugh. Instead, she considered it with utmost seriousness before actually agreeing.

It seemed that aside from being a mystic, she was also quite helpful.

Croissant's impression of Yae Sakura Shrine gradually shifted from confusion to mild fondness. If the shrine maiden could also support her logistics business and let Croissant earn some extra cash, that would be even better.

Croissant's good mood was shattered by a message.

It was a call from the boss. Hoshino watched as Croissant avoided her and stepped into the corridor to answer it. Her long ears perked up slightly as she tried to listen in.

The words were extremely muffled.

Even with her hearing, she could only vaguely make out a few keywords. Texas and Exusiai were apparently being followed on the road, the enemy had deployed civilian-grade reconnaissance drones, and they hoped Croissant could go provide support first.

"Because I can take a beating?"

Croissant asked helplessly, but she still accepted the support mission.

She turned around and briskly returned to the Tenshukaku. Facing Hoshino, Croissant apologetically said, "Exusiai and Texas from our company have run into some trouble. I need to head out and support them immediately. We'll discuss what happened earlier another day. Please remember, the confidentiality agreement remains in effect until sixty years after Emperor's death, when it may appear in a personal biography."

"Please wait."

Hoshino called out to Croissant as she was leaving. "Since I've gained Penguin Logistics's friendship, I'll provide some help as well."

She spoke righteously, secretly delighted.

Hoshino had unlocked Kallen by dismantling antique firearms. The Vector in Exusiai's hands was a modern firearm—perhaps it could trigger the system's unlock conditions?

Hoshino felt it was worth a try.

Croissant froze for a moment. "Thank you. You're truly a good person."