Restocking the video store

"Sigh, I didn't expect us to buy so many new movies! If I'd known, I would've driven."

"Can't be helped. After all, our 'other identity' has to start over from scratch. Our income is bound to take a big hit."

Outside the subway station on Sixth Street, Wise picked up the car keys he had accidentally dropped, then continued after Belle with a box full of newly purchased movies in his arms.

Belle: "Didn't Mr. Huojin leave us a huge sum of money before he left, big brother? He even covered Fairy's ridiculous electricity bills. Running the video store doesn't seem all that urgent, does it?"

Wise: "Well, that's true. I was planning to take it easy, too. But then I thought about how long it's been since we updated the tapes in our store. We haven't taken many commissions lately, either, so why not use our free time to refresh the shelves and work on our side business?"

Belle: "Is that so... Big brother, don't tell me you only thought of restocking because there weren't any new movies left in the store for you to watch?"

Belle smiled, giving Wise a sidelong look as he deliberately averted his eyes.

Does my big brother really think his little sister doesn't understand a thing? He's just as much of a homebody as I am. He's simply tired of the old movies and wants something new.

Still, the timing worked out for her, too. She was almost out of things to watch herself. It was just that...

Wise deliberately avoided answering and brushed it off. "Whatever the case, we need to take the video store's business seriously."

"Mm-hmm, whatever you say~. But..." Belle pulled a random movie out of her bag and looked it over, then stared at Wise and demanded:

"Why are all the movies we bought this time so slow-paced? We need more exciting movies, don't we, big brother~?"

"Belle, we need to consider the needs of a wider range of movie fans when choosing our stock."

Realizing something was wrong, Wise immediately changed the subject midway through. "Besides, didn't we also buy that movie that recently got really popular on the Inter-Knot? That one isn't slow-paced. I remember it was called..."

Belle: "You mean 'Pacific Eridu'?"

Wise: "Right, that's the one. I remember it's science fiction. It's about a mech fighting giant, special Ethereals. Apparently, the special effects are really realistic."

"Oh~. Hearing you say that, big brother, I'll have to give it a proper watch when we get back! But about 'considering the needs of a wider range of movie fans'..."

As she spoke, Belle pulled a purchase list from the box in Wise's arms and looked it over. Then, with an expression that said she had seen right through him, she said:

"Are you referring to this purchase list of yours, where sixty percent of the titles are art films and documentaries?"

With his little scheme exposed by Belle, Wise argued back, feeling slightly guilty:

"...Um... G-gentle films help soothe people's hearts. Living in New Eridu is very stressful."

"People aren't that fragile!"

After helping the general store's "Give Change" steady his goods, which were on the verge of falling, Belle continued complaining:

"We went with your choices last time we restocked. Surely it should be my turn this time?!"

Wise: "Hey, didn't we decide on that together?"

Belle: "You led me around by the nose last time without me even noticing, so we need to reconsider our restocking plan this time!"

"Hello! Would you be interested in the Hollow Investigation Association-?"

Wise: "No..." / Belle: "Not interested..."

Wise and Belle: "Thank you." x2

"Ahem... Big~ brother~!"

Ignoring the unfortunate salesman, Belle caught up with Wise as he walked away, nudged him lightly, and asked in a wheedling voice:

"What's your answer?"

"But the one I've been looking forward to most this month... Uh..."

Having let that slip, Wise hurriedly rephrased it. "I mean, the documentary our customers have been looking forward to most is already out, so let's leave the plan as it is."

"I heard that!"

Belle pointed at the "corrupt official," Wise, and said indignantly, "You're actually using the store's earnings to indulge your own hobbies! Hmph!"

"Your accusation has been received, but this court does not accept hearsay as evidence. Huh...?"

Wise stopped when he saw Shepherd standing outside the video store, looking at his phone as he waited for the siblings.

Wise said quietly to Belle, "Looks like we have a customer from the 'other side.'"

Shepherd also noticed the siblings returning and waved in greeting.

"All right, the restocking plan stays as it is this time. Next time... We'll talk about next time later. Let's see what business we have to deal with now. Huh?!"

Still speaking as he reached the entrance, Wise turned to see that his car keys, which had originally been on him, were now dangling from the finger of his little sister Belle, who had temporarily unlocked the "theft" attribute. She spun them around to show them off.

Belle said smugly, "I think the plan could use a change, big brother~."

Wise: "When did you take those?!"

Belle: "I'll leave the client to you, big brother. As for me, I suppose I'll just have to go to the other suppliers and take care of choosing our movies!"

Wise: "What do you mean? You're going to the suppliers yourself? Hey! Belle..."

"Don't worry, I'll be sure to 'consider the needs of a wider range of movie fans'! I'm leaving the store to you!"

With that, Belle paid no further attention to her brother Wise and jogged straight off. Watching her recede into the distance, Wise smiled helplessly, but he kept feeling that something major would happen today...

Inside the video store, Wise spoke with Shepherd for a while about a secret commission from someone in charge at the Association to clear out malfunctioning mechs in a Hollow.

Shepherd wanted to use this opportunity to get on good terms with that person at the Association, so he could obtain some hard-to-get intelligence from the Association through them.

He had therefore come to discuss the commission with Phaethon. After all, he was only a middleman, and his combat ability might only be a little better than Wise's.

Naturally, dangerous work like clearing out malfunctioning mechs in a Hollow had to be left to professionals.

As a professional, Wise accepted without hesitation. Although the commission fee wasn't very high, intelligence was also very important to a Proxy.

However, Wise did not plan to take on the commission right away. He arranged a later time with Shepherd, intending to finish restocking the video store with his little sister first.

Planning to meet up with Belle, Wise first chatted for a bit with General Chop, who greeted him along the way, and took the opportunity to ask about Belle's driving route.

But as he was about to leave Sixth Street, he saw a crowd gathered at the exit and Public Security officers guarding it with vehicles parked across the road.

Looking at the noisy crowd and the fully equipped Public Security officers carrying firearms, Wise felt that something major had happened.

An officer saw Wise walking straight toward them and warned him, "Please stop here, citizen. The area ahead is temporarily under restrictions. Please do not approach."

Wise: "Hello, officer. May I ask what happened up ahead?"

Officer: "A companion Hollow disaster has occurred in a nearby block. The streets adjoining Sixth Street are within the potential risk zone, so temporary restrictions are required under the Hollow disaster response plan.

"For everyone's safety, please stay away from the streets on this side for now."

A worried expression appeared on Wise's face when he heard that, because Belle had to pass through here. According to the route he remembered, she was also very likely to pass that companion Hollow up ahead.

Officer: "Hmm? Citizen, you don't look very well... Do you have family within the disaster area?"

"..."

Wise ignored the officer who seemed intent on jinxing things, turned away, and looked at the private message Fairy had just alerted him to on his phone. It was from the merchant they bought their videotapes from.

The merchant had contacted the siblings to warn them. He had received news of the Hollow disaster and had specifically come to alert these two customers of his.

Wise's expression was grave. After telling him about Belle's situation, he paid no attention to the merchant saying he would check with the suppliers. Instead, he looked at the Fairy dialogue box that appeared below.

Fairy: This group's communication permissions have been temporarily blocked. My messages are currently visible only to you.

Please note: the general merchandise distributor Tavis's intelligence network is built on ordinary business dealings. Neither its efficiency nor its results are reliable.

Suggestion: we should use our own resources to search for your younger sister-Belle.

Suggestion: access surveillance equipment on the main roads in nearby blocks. I can search the footage for the small family car Belle is driving.

If Belle has been caught in the Hollow disaster, Fairy will recommend activating your Hongke Unlimited Company membership service to call for reinforcements.

Wise: "Hongke Unlimited Company's membership service?"

Fairy: Reminder: the membership card provided by Master Huojin includes a service for calling in private security bodyguards. The private security team also offers Hollow search and rescue services. Would you like me to activate the service?

Wise: "Activate it. Sorry for the trouble, Fairy!"

Fairy: Understood. I will synchronize the search results with the HDD system and activate the Hongke Unlimited Company membership service.