We Keep Our Word, Bonus Chapter (68)

A few days after the commission ended, Koleda came to Random Play on Sixth Street once again.

Although it was the weekend, the video store had a "STOP" sign posted on the door.

First, Griseo had a performance at 404 today. Second, they needed to discuss the follow-up to Belobog Heavy Industries' commission.

Belle sat behind the counter, sipping a drink as she listened to Koleda's account.

To sum it up simply, there was one piece of good news and one piece of bad news.

The good news was that Koleda had found a settlement bill inside the Prototype Machine's cockpit.

Its payment date and amount proved that Hors had not run off with the money, but had used it to pay off the remaining balance for the Prototype Machine.

The bad news was that the state of the cockpit pointed to one fact: Hors had most likely been shot dead.

"Sigh, it feels like there are more and more mysteries."

Belle yawned. She had thought that after all that effort, they would be able to uncover the truth.

"I'm more curious about that monster. It seems to be the source of everything," Wise said, walking out from the back room with two boxes of old discs in his arms.

Belle set her bottle on the table, sat up straight, and asked, "Brother, do you think that really was an Ethereal?"

Wise shook his head. "I don't know."

"We'll have to wait for the Public Security Department's investigation report. They're already making the necessary technical preparations and will soon be able to recover the monster's remains."

Koleda answered Belle's question while taking a memory card from her bag.

"Proxies, this is the Prototype Machine's external storage unit. Could I ask you to help investigate the clues on it?"

"An external storage unit? Something this important, and you're giving it to us..."

Belle was briefly taken aback when she saw Koleda hand over the storage unit.

After all, it contained a great deal of Belobog Heavy Industries' core data and technology related to the Prototype Machine.

"It's fine. Aren't we friends? I trust you, though I do feel pretty bad about asking."

Koleda smiled awkwardly.

"My dad put too many layers of encryption on it, so we simply can't crack this external storage unit."

"I see! Then we'll take it," Wise said as he stepped forward and accepted the storage unit. "Don't worry. We'll definitely crack its secrets."

"Mm, thanks! And please thank Griseo for me too. We have too many projects going on, so we can't make it to support her performance."

Koleda stood up, her face full of apology.

"I feel like you're a little different, Koleda. More mature, maybe?" Belle teased as she looked at Koleda, who seemed to have finally let go of her worries.

"Proxy, stop teasing me. It's getting late. Goodbye!"

Koleda smiled, then opened the shop door and disappeared around the corner in a hurry.

Belle leaned over the counter, staring at the closed door as she muttered softly.

"Big bro, have you noticed that ever since Fairy arrived, one thing after another has been happening..."

"Isn't that perfect? Our old account is gone anyway, so we can just walk the path of a legendary Proxy all over again."

Wise looked at his little sister and curled his lips into a faint smile.

Just as the two were about to return to the HDD room to discuss cracking the password, the bell on the shop door rang again.

Ding-dong—

"Huh? Aren't we closed today? Did Koleda forget something?"

Belle turned around, only to see that the one entering was not Koleda, but Cecilia.

She wore a light beige knitted cardigan, and behind her naturally followed the three little members of Angels of Delusion, along with Griseo.

"Ms. Cecilia? Nangong, Sunna, Aria, why are you all here?"

Belle smiled as her gaze swept over the group.

Cecilia smiled at Belle and said, "Well, it's like this, Managers. I came to request some time off, around a week."

Belle/Wise: "Time off?"

It turned out that Cecilia planned to take the four little ones to Weifei Land.

Half a year from now, during summer vacation, Colorful Resort in Weifei Land would be holding a music festival. Angels of Delusion, now somewhat well-known, had naturally received an invitation.

So Cecilia wanted to use this weekend to take them there in advance, get a feel for the place, and familiarize them with the local customs.

Of course, she also wanted the little ones to try out some different styles.

As for Griseo, she could collect different colors in different places.

"What do you think, Managers? It shouldn't be a problem if Griseo comes on vacation with us, right?"

Nangong, standing among the group, waved at Belle and pulled out a winning lottery ticket, speaking grandly.

"Of course, as payment, I'll cover both Managers' electricity bills for the next two months."

"Wait, Nangong? You won again?"

Sunna and Aria stared over from behind her, their faces full of surprise.

"What do you mean, 'again'? I haven't won anything in months, okay!"

Nangong bumped her elbows against her teammates on either side.

Back when their group had not yet become famous, they really had needed Nangong to occasionally use her money powers to bail them out.

But now, between performance fees, video revenue, and song royalties, they were making quite a bit of money. For the time being, they did not need her to use her money powers.

Yet Sunna and Aria still acted like misers, only taking money in and never spending any.

She had urged Sunna to get a new computer, urged Aria to upgrade her equipment and install some kind of waterproof panel... Her lips were practically worn out from talking.

"Uh..."

Belle accepted Nangong's lottery ticket. It was another classic 500,000 Denny prize, and she hesitantly looked toward her brother.

Wise had already opened the door to the back room. He had originally wanted to refuse, but immediately changed his mind. "All right, then I'll gladly accept. Sis, take it."

Though Belle was somewhat confused, she accepted the ticket anyway.

She then turned to Griseo and reminded her, "Griseo, be careful and listen to Ms. Cecilia."

"Okay, Sister Belle." Griseo nodded seriously.

Seeing this, Cecilia also waved at Belle and Wise. "Then we'll be going, Managers. See you later."

Sunna/Nangong/Aria: "Goodbye, Managers!"

"Mm, goodbye. Everyone, be careful on the way," Wise and Belle replied with smiles, watching the four girls follow Cecilia out of the shop.

Through the glass door, they could see Nangong walking in front, gesturing animatedly as she said something. Sunna and Aria flanked her on either side, while Cecilia held Griseo's hand.

Only after those figures disappeared around the corner did Belle withdraw her gaze and look at Wise. "All right, big bro, explain yourself. Why did you accept that lottery ticket?"

Wise shrugged, gestured for Belle to look toward the HDD, and replied, "You'll have to ask Fairy about that. I wanted to refuse just now."

"Fairy?"

[Answer: This is the optimal solution based on the masters' current savings and upcoming work.]

"Could Fairy explain in more detail?"

[Answer: For the sake of both masters' health, waiting is recommended. The answer will reveal itself with next week's electricity bill.]

Wise/Belle: "What is that even supposed to mean? Fairy is being all mysterious again."