Sixth Street video store...
As the screen shut off, this part of the story came to an end.
???: "I have to say, I was touched, especially by that pink-haired chick.
To protect the secret of Phaethon's identity, she actually dragged her two companions, who had always trusted her, into giving up their chance to escape. She even lied and told them there was another way. Tsk, tsk.
Proxies and Hollow Raiders, partners in crime stealing profits from Hollows right under the Hollow Investigators Association's nose. I've seen plenty of teams screw each other over for profit.
But what a shame. The people being protected don't seem to intend to return the favor."
Wise: "Enough, hacker. I understand your demands. I'll tell you the password."
As Wise spoke, he gave Belle a meaningful look.
Belle: "Huh? Brother, what are you..."
Wise: "But to give you the password, I need access to the system first."
???: "Still bargaining? Haven't you learned your lesson?"
Belle: "Ahem... Don't get impatient. We recovered the password using the Inter-Knot's computing power, and there's a backup on the Inter-Knot. Give us back control of the system, and we can give you the password..."
??? (interrupting): "Not happening. Proxies and Hollow Raiders are all scheming types, especially Phaethon, who's been secretly trying to regain control this whole time.
Hmm? Wait. 'A backup on the Inter-Knot,' right? Hand over your Inter-Knot account. I'll get it myself."
Belle: "..."
???: "Why aren't you answering?
Ah, I almost forgot. The Inter-Knot is the foundation of a Proxy's career. Once your account is taken away, the proof that Phaethon exists will be erased along with it.
But if you want to save those people in the Hollow, you'd better make up your minds fast. Stay in a Hollow too long, and they'll turn into monsters."
Belle: "We... If we give you our Inter-Knot account, then what?
You've damaged our system. Who's going to save them?"
???: "Ha... I promise I'll save them. Happy now? Besides, you have no choice but to trust me."
Belle: "Fine, I'll give you the Inter-Knot account. If you dare break your word, I'll never let you get away with it!"
As Belle spoke, she used the newly unlocked computer to send over the Inter-Knot account, Phaethon.
[Confidential data transmission complete]
???: "You even sent over the source authentication code page. Hmm, good. Looks like you've given up completely."
Wise: "We'd like to ask a question."
Brimming with confidence, the hacker said casually:
"Since you've been so cooperative, I'm in a good mood. Ask away."
Wise: "-What exactly is in that strongbox?"
???: "Something people like you will never be qualified to touch. Heh, but I'll let you in on a little.
As you know, Hollows are constantly changing. The Carrots used to escape them are derived by calculating massive amounts of spatial data.
But Hollow observation equipment continually accumulates errors. To keep the data valid, it has to be calibrated every few days using a special set of master Hollow data-the only copy of the Rosetta Data held by the city's rulers.
What's in that strongbox is roughly equivalent to another copy of the Rosetta Data. With it, you could truly enter and leave Hollows freely."
After listening to the thoughtful hacker finish sharing his "tiny" mountain of information, Wise took a moment to digest it, then said, "I see. It looks like this thing really is valuable."
???: "You could call it the treasure every Proxy and Hollow Raider dreams of, but none of that has anything to do with you anymore. All right, bonus time is over. Tell me, where's the digital secret?"
Belle: "Have you activated the authenticated Proxy identity yet?"
???: "That's right."
Belle: "Speaking of which, we have another question-this is the last one."
???: "Hey, hey, hey. Have you misunderstood something? I haven't become your 'friend.' You're in no position to push your luck."
But Belle ignored him and continued as though possessed by a certain god of death:
"Our question is: if your hacking skills are so impressive, why didn't you just steal the secret straight from our system?
Once you knew there was a backup of the password on the Inter-Knot, why didn't you just hack into the Inter-Knot and take it?"
Those two questions made the hacker lose face on the spot. His good mood vanished, and he said angrily:
"What are you getting at? I'm warning you, don't make me go back on my promise to save them."
Belle: "Thinking about it carefully, other than controlling our system, you haven't employed any of the other tactics a hacker should.
Instead, you've been acting like a kidnapper, constantly using the safety of Nicole and his group to threaten us."
Wise continued the taunting. "Looks like that's all you've got. You're nowhere near as good as you claim."
By now, the furious hacker no longer wanted to waste words with the siblings.
???: "Shut your filthy mouths and tell me where the backup is!"
Belle: "Don't get so worked up, mysterious hacker. We're helping you right now.
You'd better listen. Can you hear sirens around you?"
The hacker quieted down and listened. There really were sirens, and they seemed to be getting closer.
???: "Y-you... What did you do?"
Belle: "Just doing our duty as good citizens of New Eridu.
With the municipal election approaching, the authorities have called on citizens to actively report dangerous individuals such as Proxies and Hollow Raiders. They even set up a hotline."
???: "Answer my question!! What exactly did you just do?!"
Belle: "To be precise, we provided Public Security with accurate information about a certain Inter-Knot account through the dedicated hotline."
After hearing that, the hacker on the other end finally pieced everything together.
???: "So that's it... So that's it! You planned this all along! You were even willing to abandon your identity as Phaethon to make me take the bait..."
Belle: "No, you're wrong. We haven't abandoned our identity as Phaethon. We only gave up an 'account.'"
Seeing that the situation was beyond salvaging, the hacker could only throw out a few threats. Except...
???: "Th-this isn't over! You'll pa... Damn it, Public Security got here that fast?! No, wait, you're not Public Security officers. You're-Aaaah!!!...
Boom! Bzzzt-..."
After a scream and an abruptly cut-off explosion from the other end, control of the HDD system returned completely, but the siblings remained silent for a long time over the commotion on the hacker's side.
Belle turned stiffly toward Wise and said, "B-brother, I know the authorities really have been cracking down on us lately, but... surely it hasn't gotten this bad..."
Wise thought for a moment, then said, "...I'm not sure either, but something definitely wasn't right over there.
Let's leave that aside for now. We need to reconnect to Eous. We can talk after we've rescued Nicole and the others."
Belle: "Mm."