[Current Favorability Target:]
Name: Anby
Gender: Female
Charm: 94 (PS: This charm value is based on the author's own preferences, so it may not be accurate.)
Defining Traits: Does not show emotion on her face, likes to seriously analyze certain things, also has a rather playful personality.
Hobby: Hamburgers, the more the better, she never gets tired of them.
Current Favorability Towards Host: 62
Evaluation: A diligent worker and the most solid pillar of the team. Her hobbies aren't expensive, but she does eat a lot. Is her facial expression really always that calm? Perhaps I should test it...
Inner Thoughts:With Boss Nicole hiring Phaethon this time, the Cunning Hares' ledger is probably going to be in the red again this month.
After looking over the panel the system had set up for Anby, Wise nodded, though he was immediately a bit confused.
"System, why is there no panel for Billy?"
[Ding! Although this is the Supreme Succubus System, it will only display the favorability of those of the opposite sex to the host. However, if the host requires it, the system can upgrade and load it now.]
"Uh, about that... let's talk about it later."
(The author is still considering whether to do this, mainly for fear that some people might see it as a "turn-off point"... It's been confirmed that it won't be implemented.)
The three of them chatted during their short break, but it wasn't long before the roar of a beast echoed from nearby again.
"That's the sound of an Ethereal."
"You've got to be kidding me! They found us this quickly? I was just about to lie down!" Billy complained, holding his head.
Anby, beside him, made a deadpan black joke. "Alternatively, Billy, you could choose to lie here forever. Next year, I'll offer the new Starlight Knight belt at your grave."
"Please don't say things like that with your poker face. I can't tell if you're being serious or joking," Billy said with a hint of resentment in his voice. Wise, on the other hand, found Anby's way of speaking quite amusing.
"I think it's pretty interesting. Every time we cooperate, I get to hear a stand-up routine. It's great."
Anby's favorability increased by 5 points, current favorability 67.
"Could it be that this is the reason you keep allowing Nicole to run up a tab, Rope-master?" Anby inquired.
Wise answered directly, "Mmm, that's part of it."
"Ugh... Hearing you say that, Rope-master, I don't feel very happy about it," Billy looked somewhat speechless. How can a robot's facial expressions be so rich? Can it only be because he's a robot made with some unknown lost technology?
"Forget it, let's not talk about this. The Ethereal haven't caught up yet, let's scram!" After Billy said this, the two of them started running in perfect sync. As for Wise, who was possessing Eous, he was conveniently picked up and held in Anby's arms for ease of transport.
Mmm, this soft little belly feels even better than I imagined. Held in Anby's arms, Wise couldn't help but touch it with his short little arms, but this action quickly got a reaction from her.
"Mmm... Rope-master, could I trouble you not to move around so much? It's very ticklish."
"Uh, sorry about that. I was just trying to get a better grip."
"Then can you grab my clothes?"
"Uh, no problem."
Wise then grabbed onto Anby's clothes as they made their way to the exit. They encountered many Ethereal along the way, but Anby and Billy dealt with them all without any major trouble. After leaving the Hollow, the two met up with Nicole, who had come to pick them up. She was somewhat surprised by the precision of the exit location the Rope-master had provided.
After picking up the pair, the Cunning Hares group took Eous back to the video store. The trip was extremely fast. In Nicole's words, they had merely passed through a "normal green light with an R-value of 255." Translated into something understandable, it meant they ran a red light.
"Nicole, we've rescued the people. You can pay your debt now, right?" Belle immediately confronted Nicole.
"Hold on, this isn't over yet. My commission was to bring out the people and the item I wanted. We've only completed the first half."
"Don't worry, I remember," Wise replied. He naturally wouldn't go back on his word. On one hand, it would affect his reputation; on the other, the item inside that safe was the Super A.I., Fairy.
"Based on the situation during the evacuation, the target safe is currently within the active territory of a high-level Ethereal. The Wista Association's Ethereal guide names it: Dullahan, a high-level Ethereal individual," Anby provided the intelligence and analysis. Billy, at her side, added, "That's right, that's the one! The leader of the Red Fang Gang had some bad luck and was corroded by virulent Aether, turning him into that highly dangerous Ethereal."
That Ethereal was very strong; Billy and Anby together couldn't handle it. What made them more curious was what was inside the safe. When Billy asked this question, Nicole took out a special tooth-adorned necklace and presented it to Wise and Belle. Seeing it, Belle's eyes lit up.
"A tooth necklace? Is this for me? I'm so happy!"
"What are you thinking? I picked this up in the Red Fang Gang's building. It belonged to the gang leader. There's a USB drive inside. I think it must record a lot of important information, including details about that safe."
"Huh? So it wasn't for me? I'm so sad."
"Alright, Belle, don't mess around. If you really want one, I'll get you one later," Wise said, comforting a disappointed Belle.
"Really? Thank you, Wise, you're the best!" Belle said, happily giving Wise a hug. Nicole, seeing this from the side, couldn't watch anymore and stated her request.
Simply put, she asked them to use the store's HDD to help analyze the information on the drive, while the three members of the Cunning Hares would continue to gather information about the Hollow.
However, before parting ways, Nicole approached Wise, clearly intending to ask for a discount. But Anby didn't act as planned and instead read the parenthetical notes from the script aloud. It was a shocking scene: the leader of the Cunning Hares, Nicole, was willing to make her own female subordinate cry just for something like this.
Ahem, okay, getting off-topic. But in the end, Wise still gave them a discount on their commission fee. It wasn't like he was short on that little bit of change anyway. Plus, he could earn some Emotion Value and favorability in the process.
Nicole's favorability increased by 2 points, current favorability 70.
As expected, this was indeed the easiest way to increase Nicole's favorability.
While I'm at it, let's see what new items were added to the Emotion Value store after meeting Anby.
[Current Emotion Value: 648]
[Updated Items:]
Anby's Favorite Hamburger (includes recipe): 500 Emotion Value
Lightning-Element Short Sword: 640 Emotion Value