SWNOVELXO Chapter 216: Demolished
The two of them walked into the video store, while a certain red-jacketed someone—forgotten on the street—was still passionately rambling on...
It wasn't until Zane arrived with Panta in tow that Billy received a soul-piercing question.
"Billy, what are you doing out here bothering children on the street by yourself? And where's Nicole?"
Billy turned around and froze.
Yeah... where was Nicole?
...
"So that's what's going on… Tsk. Zane, you really spoil your Bangboo—hiring people just to take it into the Hollow?"
After Nicole briefly explained the situation, Belle glanced at Zane with a bit of amazement.
"It's nothing."
Zane shook his head lightly and replied. Seeing him so calm, Nicole suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of inadequacy.
She'd lived this long, and yet she couldn't even compare to a Bangboo!
It made her seriously consider becoming a Bangboo herself. Nicoleboo… that'd definitely be popular, right?
But she quickly abandoned the idea. To be like Panta, she'd first need a master like Zane.
Take Eous, for example—constantly swamped with work. Not that she thought Proxy was bad; she actually treated Bangboo pretty well most of the time.
While Nicole was spiraling in her thoughts, Belle had already contacted Belobog Heavy Industries and was finishing preparations.
A short while later, Eous was suited up and ready.
"Mm-hmm! Mm-mm-hmm! (Let's go! I'm gonna punch Ethereals and kick mechs!)"
Panta couldn't wait and was the first to burst out of the video store, with Zane, Hare's House, and Eous right behind him.
But when Zane approached the vehicle and saw Nicole in the driver's seat, he hesitated.
"Zane, what are you spacing out for? Get in!"
Billy waved from inside the car, grinning, completely unaware of Zane's apprehension.
Nicole, on the other hand, picked up on it right away. She leaned out the window, patted the car door, and promised,
"Don't worry, Zane. This time I'll drive properly! You'll have a whole new experience—and a whole new view of me!"
In the end, after several reassurances from Nicole, Zane got in.
...
Former Brant Street Construction Site.
After stepping out of the vehicle, Zane's face remained composed.
Next to him, Panta looked dizzy beyond reason, while Eous and Belle both silently felt grateful for having delayed their HDD connection a bit longer.
"That was awesome! As expected of Nicole's driving skills!"
Billy strode forward with hands on his hips, beaming. He clearly meant it—he really liked Nicole's driving.
Anby's expression stayed calm, as if all this was perfectly normal by now.
"How was it, Zane? I told you, didn't I? Fast and smooth! That's the Nicole experience—blazing speed!"
Nicole was quite pleased with everyone's reactions and turned to Zane with pride—but he didn't respond.
He had just come to a profound realization.
With Nicole behind the wheel, there would never be a need for emergency passage or green lights.
Because to Nicole…
All of New Eridu was already a green light.
"Ah… So those are our partners, huh? Wow, one of them's even a Thiren."
Billy raised a hand to his forehead and squinted at the group in the distance, excitement and curiosity brimming in his voice. He quickly moved forward to greet the members of Belobog Heavy Industries.
Neither Nicole nor Anby found this odd. With Billy's personality, he'd get along with anyone. Zane also thought he'd probably hit it off with Anton.
But as he swept his gaze over the scene, something struck him.
His expression stiffened.
Oh no!
Billy was doomed!
But it was too late to stop him. Billy had already reached Anton and raised his hand in greeting.
"Hello there! I'm Billy from Hare's House—full model name: High-Intelligence Tactical Unit for Regional Suppression, Firepower Type! Manufactured using Lost Technology!"
"And I'm a huge fan of Starlight Knight! For this operation, I—"
Halfway through, Billy noticed the nearby woman's expression shifting subtly. Confused, he scratched the back of his head.
"This lady…"
Grace smiled gently and strolled over, half her face slipping into shadow. She slowly raised both hands.
With a twist of her wrists, her fingers bloomed like flowers—except instead of petals, she held wrenches, drills, hammers, nails, pliers, and all manner of tools.
To Grace, they were mechanical flowers.
But to Billy...
He instinctively took a few steps back, eyes locked on her as he spoke cautiously,
"Uh… Miss, I don't believe we've met before? We don't have any sort of grudge, right? So why do I feel like you're about to dismantle me…?"
Grace maintained her soft smile as she replied,
"Lost technology, huh... Don't worry. What you're feeling... isn't a mistake."
Billy shuddered—like someone had dumped ice water down his spine.
...
Inside the Hollow, en route to the next objective.
"So, anything's possible if the price is right?"
Grace clapped her hands together and asked with a bright smile.
"That's right!"
Nicole nodded firmly.
Grace's eyes sparkled, and she wasted no time sharing her idea—and asking for a quote.
"Um… If the price is too steep for the whole thing, could I buy it in parts? Like, say, just a head first…"
Nicole paused.
Yes, she hesitated.
But then her expression straightened, and she spoke with firm conviction.
"That's not gonna happen. I may love Dennies, but I don't sell out my friends."
"Billy is my beloved comrade—like family."
Grace's gaze flickered.
Meanwhile, Billy was keeping a safe distance and whispering nervously to Zane,
"Zane... Nicole wouldn't actually say yes to her, right? She wouldn't, right?"
Zane glanced over at Nicole, who was deep in cheerful conversation with Grace, and replied with hesitation,
"She probably wouldn't... I think..."
"Haha! Relax, bro! Don't worry—Grace is always like that. She wouldn't really joke about taking your life."
Nearby, Anton casually slung an arm around Billy's shoulder and said with a grin.
"Really?"
Billy's eyes lit up with hope.
"Ah, she might just take off an arm or a leg, that's all."
Billy's eyes dimmed again.
...