Zenless Zone Zero: I'am a Dullahan!

But the good news was, the price they paid was only a promise—Panta and Eous didn't actually have to sell themselves.

And a promise like that...

If they stalled long enough, Grace would probably forget about it.

After wrapping things up with Grace, Belle decided to chat with Anton. In her eyes, Anton was by far the easiest person to get along with at Belobog Heavy Industries.

"A kids' show? Haha, oh that one! We'd originally agreed to send the president, but the production team said, 'We invited guests for a children's program, not children as guests!' So..."

Belle had asked Anton about the show she and Wise had watched back at the video store before taking the commission, and he explained the situation.

"But honestly, it's a good thing the president didn't go to the studio. That jerk of a host would've brought up that thing out of nowhere…"

Anton looked a little relieved. Belle raised an eyebrow—that thing? What was that supposed to mean...?

While she was still wondering, Anton quickly changed the subject and began talking about himself.

"At Belobog Heavy Industries, if the president handles people, Chief Ben handles the finances, and Grace handles the tech... then I'm probably the one who spends the most time on-site!"

"Of course, sometimes I have to entertain clients, sometimes I have to throw on a tie and go negotiate. Someone once told me, 'There are no tough jobs—only brave men!'"

"Hahaha, that line always gets me fired up!"

Anton flexed his muscular arms and let out a hearty laugh. Clearly, he really liked that saying.

After chatting a bit longer and getting a general idea of the situation, Belle joined the conversation between Koleda and Ben.

Meanwhile, Zane had been pulled aside by Grace to help her with the intelligent machine that had gone silent after Ben's earlier blow.

"Yes, yes, right here! Adjust the visual perception system—thank you, thank you..."

After Zane straightened the machine's head, Grace held her tablet in one hand and raised the other.

"Good boy, look at my fingers. How many do you see?"

The screen on the intelligent machine's head showed a shifting expression, but it didn't respond to Grace's movements. She frowned slightly.

"That reaction... did it take a hit to the head earlier? Should we pop it open and take a look?"

As soon as she said that, Zane's previously laid-back demeanor shifted—he immediately went serious, ready to jump in.

He'd been interrupted twice earlier and hadn't gotten a single good hit in. He still felt like he had unfinished business...

But the next second, the intelligent machine answered Grace's question, and her face lit up with a smile.

"Back to normal! That's my good boy!"

Zane let go and stepped back, glancing helplessly at the now fully recovered machine. If it had taken just one more minute...

Grace took the machine for further diagnostics, and Zane turned to look at Belle. Before he could take more than a few steps, Koleda's complaining voice drifted over.

"Not sure what's going on lately—maybe it's because we just landed the Old Capital Subway renovation project—but there's been a surge of people wanting to join Belobog Heavy Industries."

Koleda sighed and continued.

"Manpower was never a huge issue, but now the screening process is turning into a nightmare. I've been so exhausted lately, I feel like I'm shrinking..."

"Yeah, and having too many people puts pressure on our budget. But if we don't bring in fresh blood now, we'll be short-handed once the next big project starts."

Ben shook his head with a worried look. As the company's financial lead, he took such issues very seriously.

Balancing development and spending—it really wasn't an easy task.

After a bit more conversation, Belle saw Zane approaching. She smiled and waved.

"Zane, just wait a little longer—then we'll head back and get ready!"

With things wrapped up at the Brant Street construction site, Zane climbed into Belle's turtle-shaped car, and they headed back to the video store with Panta and Eous in tow.

...

"Hey, Zane, didn't you say the Dead End Hollow is kind of a complicated place? My brother warned me about it too. I'm curious—what's really going on in there?"

On the drive back, Belle turned to Zane, her curiosity piqued. She'd been to the Hollow once before, so if anything had changed, she wanted to be prepared.

"I'm not entirely sure. Like your brother, I just have some suspicions..."

Zane shook his head slightly. Trigger hadn't uncovered much either, and the true situation inside the Hollow remained unclear.

"Then, if something does go wrong... will you protect me?"

Belle turned her head, a mischievous smile on her face as she looked at Zane.

"Uh…"

"Well? Will you?"

Just as Zane was about to answer, he suddenly froze—wait a second.

Belle was turned around, talking to him.

So then... who's watching the road?

"Eyes on the road, Belle!!!"

...

Inside the video store.

"Tch, you seriously don't trust my driving…"

Belle shoved open the car door and got out, glaring in dissatisfaction at Zane as he climbed out of the backseat.

Zane looked calm, like he'd already accepted his fate. He simply waved a hand and said nothing.

"Hey, Zane, you still haven't answered my question…"

Belle leaned over to him with a grin, bringing up her earlier question again. Zane quickly replied,

"Yes, yes, yes—okay?!"

"But wait a minute, you're not even going into the Hollow. It's just me and Eous, right?"

Zane frowned at her, visibly confused.

Belle froze, then lowered her head in thought.

Right... she didn't have to go into the Hollow herself. So why had she been so worried about danger?

"Ugh, brother! You totally threw me off!"

She stomped her foot and was about to go find Wise to give him a piece of her mind—but then she stopped, raising one hand mid-step.

"Wait, no... that's not it!"

Her eyes narrowed in sudden realization.

So her brother had been worried about Eous's safety from the very beginning—and when she said "we" or "I," he'd lumped her and Eous together!

That meant Wise was worried about Eous all along!

And here she thought… she thought…

"Belle, what's wrong?"

Zane looked at her, surprised, as she suddenly frowned in deep thought.

What's up with her now?

"It's... nothing."

Belle waved him off, steadied her breathing, and started toward the back door of the store.

But as she walked, her pace quickened.

Finally, she flung the back door open with a bang and, under Zane's gaze, ignored the strange stares from the customers inside as she dashed straight into the room.