"Me?!" Nicole squeaked.
"Mm. Looks like Corin hit a little too hard," Lycaon said smoothly. "As an apology—Corin, give Miss Nicole a dose of Lord Chiya's special medicine."
"W-wah…" Corin hesitated, visibly torn.
Nicole waved it off. She opened the small safe she carried with her, pulled out a vial, uncapped it, and poured it straight into her mouth.
"No need. I've got my own."
"Nicole," Anby said flatly, "why didn't you think to use it earlier? Stupid Nicole."
"I was worried, okay?! What if the moment I healed up, that chainsaw girl went back into gravity mode again?"
"Huh?! No!" Corin blurted out, panicking. "Corin's awake now! Corin already knows Miss Nicole is just a girl who talks big with her mouth, but actually doesn't dare do anything—colorful thoughts but no guts—so Corin won't attack!"
"PFF—!"
Nicole nearly choked on the spot.
"Huh?! Miss Nicole! Are you okay?!" Corin rushed forward, alarmed.
Watching Nicole wobble like she'd just been "basic-attacked into a crit combo," Anby sighed. She stepped forward—drawing Lycaon's attention—while casually scooping up Eous, who'd been standing there with one hand on his round waist and the other stroking his chin like a stern little strategist.
In the next second, Anby flipped Eous around to face her.
"Phaethon. What do we do now?"
"…The only route to the outside has been blown up," Belle's voice came through. "If we want to get those civilians out too, there's only one way left."
"Okay. I'll ask about their pay first."
After the brief whisper-conference, Anby turned back to the patiently waiting Lycaon and finally asked the question Nicole had been dodging like a debt collector.
"Sir—since I'm part of Cunning Hares—may I ask what your fee is?"
Lycaon's gaze paused on her.
"Oh… the aura on you, miss…"
"What about it?"
"…Nothing. Forgive my abruptness."
He tucked away whatever caution had risen, then smiled and raised a finger.
"Generally speaking, our fee is usually this number."
Staring at the single finger, even Anby—normally unflappable—swallowed.
Clinging to hope, she asked:
"Three…? Three ten-thousand dennies?"
Lycaon just looked at her kindly, saying nothing.
But behind him, Rina's subtle smile—half-hidden behind her hand—and Corin's puzzled head tilt made it painfully clear:
Anby had just asked the dumbest possible question.
Rina supplied the answer with surgical elegance.
"My dear miss—something like my full maid uniform alone costs 2.2 million dennies."
"Two?! Two point two—MILLION?!"
Nicole let out a shriek. Nearby, Billy immediately started daydreaming about how many Starlight Knight collectibles and Monica tickets 2.2 million could buy.
"Wait—so you're telling me…" Nicole trembled, turning toward Corin. "If I—your employer—got beaten up for no reason, and it counts as part of the contract… I can sue, right?"
"So, uh… about the fee…"
"You intend to request a reduction?" Rina asked gently. "Well—Victoria Housekeeping did, admittedly, act a little impulsively this time. Miss Nicole, we can accept a reasonable reduction."
"N-no, I mean… can you waive it—uh, free order?"
"..." Lycaon sighed.
Seeing the situation spiraling, Anby cut in hard before Nicole's poverty killed the negotiation outright.
"Let's table the fee for now, Mr. Lycaon."
Then she lifted up Eous—who was still visibly confused at being handled like a prop.
"To be frank—this Proxy is also one of the planners."
"Even though your timely rescue prevented Cunning Hares from being wiped out, the situation for the residents still waiting in Canvas Alley is critical."
"The train's only route back to New Eridu has been destroyed."
"I know you can find a way out—you found us in this maze-like Hollow, after all. But for the residents waiting where they are, if we leave now…"
"…that means they have absolutely no hope left."
"So I—Anby of Cunning Hares—want to sign another contract with you."
"Oh?" Lycaon's ears practically perked.
"We hope you'll trust this Proxy—trust her plan."
"If we want to save the people of Canvas Alley… this is the only way."
Lycaon fell into thought.
Anby and Belle both clenched their fists.
Then—Lycaon, Rina, and Corin all bowed with perfect grace.
"Then Victoria Housekeeping is willing to—"
"…to serve you."
A new voice cut in.
"Ellen?"
"CHIYA-CHAN?! (Doctor Chiya! Lord Chiya! Little brat?!)"
Like a ghost, the final employee of Victoria Housekeeping—Ellen Joe—appeared, with Chiya draped over her back.
"Boss," Ellen said to Lycaon, "I got your message. So I came."
Lycaon turned, brows knit.
"Ellen. If it were any other time, I'd forgive your willfulness. But what comes next is far too dangerous for Doctor Chiya. Why would you—"
"Lycaon," Chiya interrupted. "I asked her to."
"Lord Chiya's request…" Lycaon bowed his head slightly. "Forgive my impertinence—may I ask why?"
"Well… the minor reason is that the medicine I'm researching needs materials taken from a powerful Ethereal."
"But the main reason is…"
He looked at them, completely sincere.
"With all of you here… what is there for me to be afraid of?"
Silence.
Lycaon didn't speak for a beat—then bowed again.
"I won't say words like 'wager.' For Victoria Housekeeping, we don't need to 'bet' anything to prove ourselves."
"But at this moment, Lord Chiya… we will make a small exception."
"On Victoria Housekeeping's honor—on our lives—"
"We will protect you… until the very last moment."
Watching that full ceremonial vow unfold, Cunning Hares—who rarely did "formal"—felt utterly outclassed.
"Wah! Chiya-chan—Cunning Hares will protect you till the end too!" Nicole wailed, suddenly earnest.
"Uh… no thanks," Chiya said. "Nicole, you being this serious is freaking me out."
"And also—did you all already decide to go fight the Dead End Butcher before I got here?"
"Why would you say that, my lord?" Lycaon asked.
"Because the instant I said 'powerful Ethereal,' Eous' eyes went wide."
"And in this Hollow, there's only one strong Ethereal: the Dead End Butcher."
"Sharp observation," Chiya said proudly. "A doctor must be perceptive!"
"Perceptive…" Lycaon murmured.
He flicked a subtle glance at the women present—catching the obvious and hidden intensity in their eyes—and whatever amusing future scene he imagined made his smile grow warmer, more genuine.
"Uh… Lycaon," Chiya said cautiously, "you're smiling different today."
"Ahem." Lycaon cleared his throat. "It's nothing. Lord Chiya—let us depart."
Chiya still felt something was off, but after staring at Lycaon's ready-to-go face for a long time and finding nothing concrete, he let it go.
"Eous. I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to me, Chiya." Belle's voice sounded almost giddy. "Heh heh… Dead End Butcher—your time has come!!!"
Victoria Housekeeping—everyone.
Cunning Hares—everyone.
Versus the Dead End Butcher.
…The advantage is ours.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 80)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter50)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter50)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter50)
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