Sol Mercer returned to the Cunning Hares with bags piled high in both arms, only to find Nicole, Anby, and Billy already seated neatly on the couch, watching the news on TV together.
[Recently, under the vigorous efforts of the Public Security Bureau, most of the Red Fang Gang involved in the research facility attack have been arrested. Their leader, Miguel Silver, fell into a Hollow—his life or death remains unknown. Deputy Director General Bringer of the Janus Quarter Public Security Headquarters stated: "We will continue to pursue Miguel. No evil shall escape the law!"]
At that moment, the three turned their heads and saw Sol Mercer pushing open the door. The mountain of shopping bags in his hands was hard to ignore.
"Sol Mercer, did you rob a supermarket?"
Nicole couldn't help but ask in shock.
"It's not that exaggerated. These only cost about 200,000 dennies."
Sol Mercer replied casually.
"Two hundred thousand dennies?! As far as I know, besides the pocket money I gave you, you didn't have much left, right?"
Nicole asked with suspicion.
After buying a phone for Sol Mercer, she'd given him 10,000 dennies as spending money—just in case he ever ran short.
Of course, that amount was deducted from the 600,000 dennies budget.
"A friend of mine saw how broke I was lately and decided to sponsor me with a million dennies per month."
Sol Mercer thought for a moment and offered a "reasonable" explanation.
He'd played Genshin before—saying he was a friend of Tartaglia wasn't a stretch.
Thanks, Childe, for the 1,000,000 dennies!
"Hiss! Are you serious? Is there really a friend like that?"
Nicole's pink lips formed a perfect ':O'.
What kind of divine friend just gives away 1,000,000 dennies?! And not just a one-time payment—it's a monthly sponsorship!
Does such a friend even exist?
Nicole looked at Sol Mercer, her eyes sparkling with gold: "Would your friend be willing to sponsor three more people?"
She wanted a dozen of such rich friends, please!
"No can do. The other person he's sponsoring spends way too much—he's barely keeping up."
Sol Mercer recalled how Zhongli spent money like water and sighed for Tartaglia's wallet.
That one million dennies was nothing compared to Zhongli's expenses.
"Eh?" Nicole paused, then asked, "Someone else? And they spend too much?"
"Exactly." Sol Mercer nodded and said, "That guy probably spends at least ten million mo— I mean, dennies per month?"
Given Zhongli's love for buying antiques and renting out venues, even ten million mora was an understatement.
"Unbelievable! He's drained our friend dry!"
Nicole said angrily.
If it weren't for that money sinkhole who spends ten million dennies every month, maybe the Cunning Hares could've landed a steady monthly income of 3 million dennies.
"You're calling him a friend before even meeting him?"
Sol Mercer asked, amused.
"If someone's willing to give me a million dennies every month, they're my best friend!" Nicole wiped away a bit of drool and then tried to advise him: "But Sol Mercer, even if you have money now, you shouldn't spend recklessly. You have to be frugal."
Sol Mercer replied, "I think the rich should enjoy life. After all, the saddest thing in life is dying before spending all your money."
"Fair point. And the happiest thing in life might be dying and not having to pay off your debts," Nicole agreed wholeheartedly, even taking it a step further.
She owed a few billion dennies—anyone would cry under that mountain of debt.
But for her? As long as she didn't pay, those debts simply didn't exist.
"Genius!"
Sol Mercer gave a sincere thumbs up.
As expected of Boss Nicole—what a scammer.
Meanwhile, Anby's lips curled up faintly. Looks like they wouldn't be eating potatoes tonight.
Billy smiled in relief too—at least no one would be stuck watching others eat potatoes tonight.
…
That night, the four of them gathered around the dinner table, enjoying a lavish meal.
"Boss Nicole, I've got something to say."
Sol Mercer spoke while chewing, "I'm planning to go take down a Hollow. Try to wipe one out."
"Eh!?"
Nicole put down her chopsticks and stared at Sol Mercer in shock.
Even Anby, usually expressionless, looked surprised.
"Did I hear that right? You said you're going to eliminate a Hollow? That's not exactly something we Cunning Hares are supposed to be doing, is it? That's kind of… on a whole other level!"
Billy shouted in disbelief.
The Cunning Hares were an all-purpose agency—in other words, they took on all kinds of odd jobs.
From finding cats and chasing dogs to pulling double-crosses on the Red Fang Gang—their work scope was downright wild.
But no matter how you sliced it, taking down a Hollow was far beyond their pay grade.
"Yeah, I've thought it through." Sol Mercer nodded seriously. "I want to make more dennies and also challenge myself to reach Void Hunter rank. Do something meaningful for New Eridu—leave my mark."
Money, fame, a few wives, and a worthwhile purpose—that's what he was after.
In one lifetime, a person should leave something behind.
Before his transmigration, he left behind a phone that must be destroyed. After transmigration, he wanted to leave behind something truly meaningful.
"Boss Sol Mercer, I'm impressed! You're just like the Starlight Knights!"
Billy had already started calling Sol Mercer "boss."
Just listen to that resolve—wanting to contribute to New Eridu! That's as noble as the Starlight Knights saving the world!
He almost saw a golden glow surrounding Sol Mercer, dazzlingly bright.
Nicole sighed, placing a hand on her forehead, and asked seriously, "Do you know what it takes to destroy a Hollow?"
"Kill the Ethereals to lower the Ether activity within the Hollow, reducing its scale." Sol Mercer said, a little unsure. "If you wipe out all the Ethereals in a Hollow, you should be able to destroy it, right?"
There might be other methods, but that was the only one he knew.
"That's right—it's the method everyone knows. Everyone wants to destroy a Hollow, but besides the original seven Void Hunters, no one else has managed it." Nicole warned sternly, "With our current strength, that's nearly impossible."
"Nothing's impossible—you just have to try."
Sol Mercer smiled.
There's no such thing as a difficult task—especially if you're allowed to cheat.
This was a world rebuilt after catastrophe. Aside from New Eridu and a few cities, most of the world was covered in Hollows.
If he couldn't handle even one Hollow, how could he face what's to come?
Nicole held her forehead again and sighed, "If it's about making money, we could just take on commissions. No need to do something that dangerous."
Billy chimed in, "Boss Nicole, we're not getting many commissions anymore."
Anby added calmly, "Because of our reputation, very few people are willing to hire the Cunning Hares now."
Nicole's face darkened: "Not the time to point that out!"
Sol Mercer chuckled and said, "If we destroy a Hollow, not only would we earn a lot of rewards, but the Cunning Hares' reputation would improve too. After all, taking down a Hollow is a huge service to all of New Eridu."
Billy sighed, "You're right… but we just can't do it!"
Anby: "Sol Mercer is right. However, the odds of success are extremely low. Based on calculations, the success rate is below 14.333%."
Sol Mercer didn't mind: "I like a challenge. A life without challenges isn't a life worth living."