That burger was probably meant to raise Anby's favorability, but he didn't need it right now.
There was also the Lightning-Element Short Sword. From the description, it seemed to be a special weapon that could unleash lightning attacks without needing to be charged. Still, since he wasn't entering the Hollow yet, it wasn't that necessary either.
However, the fact that it could release electricity without needing to be charged made him wonder if it could serve as a free power source in the future. After all, Fairy's fivefold electricity bill would be downright terrifying later on.
Putting those thoughts aside, Wise had no choice but to create a small account on the Inter-Knot with Belle so he could offer a discount on Nicole's commission fee.
Coincidentally, Belle ended up accepting a commission she found on the Inter-Knot. The issuer was General Chop, but her hands moved too quickly, and she accepted it before switching back to their main account.
Wise could only sigh at the situation, but since the commission was already accepted, there was no point in turning it down. He decided it would be better to explain things to the client in person.
"It just so happens that Susie from the toy store Box Galaxy wants to meet us. I'm not sure if it's her who needs something or if the store owner is the one looking for us. Either way, I'll find out when I head over there."
After saying that, Wise headed out right away, leaving Belle behind to watch the store.
Because General Chop's commission would require a trip into the Hollow later, Wise decided to visit the toy store to find Susie first.
When he arrived, he saw Susie stretching with her arms raised high, her usual cheerful smile lighting up her face.
- Susie[1] -
She seemed like a lively and energetic girl.
The moment she noticed Wise, she smiled brightly, waved, and hurried over to greet him.
"Ah, Wise! Perfect timing. The boss said he needs your help with something."
"Hmm, alright, what is it?" Wise asked, glancing at her while his eyes briefly shifted to his system panel.
[Ding! New favorability target detected.]
[Name: Susie]
[Gender: Female]
[Charm Value: 92]
[Unique Traits: Lively personality, warm, cheerful, and a bit of a cute loli type.]
[Hobbies: Toys, and has a thing for cheerful older brothers (specifically referring to you, Host)]
[Current Status: Happy]
[Current Favorability toward Host: 86]
[Evaluation: An excellent candidate for a girlfriend in every aspect.]
[Inner Thoughts: Wise looks even more handsome than before.]
"He told me to say it exactly as he did, so... ahem, let me think... hmm..." Susie began to relay the boss's message, deliberately adding a bit of suspense.
"There's a new supplier bringing in some incredible toys, and I'm sure you'll love them too. If you're willing to help, they'll be on the shelves very soon."
While speaking, Susie lowered her voice and tried to mimic her boss's tone, sounding like an older man.
The imitation was surprisingly accurate, maybe seventy or eighty percent close, which made Wise raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"That was a pretty good impression, and honestly, a cute way of talking. But what exactly does it mean?"
He complimented her lightly, and maybe because her favorability was already high, Susie immediately generated 100 Emotional Value, with her favorability rising by another two.
"Really? Cough, cough, wait a second, I'm not finished yet... cough... hmm... The exit of the new supplier's route is blocked, and the helpers I sent haven't reported back. I need you to handle it. I'll send the details later."
After saying that, Susie coughed lightly again before smiling.
"That's all the boss told me."
Wise quickly pieced things together. It seemed there was an issue with the toy store's underground W-Engine business, and a new batch of products had been dragged into the Hollow.
"Got it. I'll handle it."
"That's great! I'm not entirely sure what happened, but those toys called W-Engines that had issues... they're the same kind you and your friends have been collecting, right? The boss said it was just an unexpected incident. This time, along with the usual reward, he'll also give you a sample as a thank-you gift. He hopes you'll like it."
As Susie said that, her eyes shifted slightly, avoiding Wise's gaze, which made it clear she wasn't telling the truth.
'How would a regular shop assistant know about underground dealings like this? And even know what we're collecting? There's no clear proof, but the way she's acting makes me think she might actually be the owner of this toy store.'
Then Wise watched as Susie took out the so-called sample she had just mentioned.
'Alright, now there's proof,' he thought, his eye twitching slightly.
"The latest W-Engine, equipped with a fourth-generation synchronous conduction device, can release ultrasonic waves that effectively resonate with the active wavelengths of different Ether weapons," said a familiar deadpan voice from behind.
"According to officially disclosed data, it can boost the average initial performance of weapons by 44.21%, and the survival rate of personnel using this gear can increase by at least 30%."
Turning around, Wise was surprised to see Anby.
He was even more impressed by how precise her explanation had been and thought, 'How could a regular shop assistant be entrusted with something like this? So you really are the toy store owner, aren't you?'
He also noticed that while Anby was speaking, Susie looked genuinely surprised, not at the W-Engine itself, but at how knowledgeable Anby was.
Wise glanced at Susie, and since there was "no solid" proof for now, he decided to continue treating her as a regular shop assistant.
"Cough, cough, Anby, even though Susie works here, she probably has no idea that W-Engines are actually combat equipment. So keep your voice down when talking about it," he said, giving her a subtle wink.
Anby nodded and quietly returned an 'OK' gesture to Wise.
"Huh? Ultrasonic waves? What weapons are you talking about?"
Susie looked momentarily confused, though her expression made it clear she was likely just pretending.
"It's nothing, just part of the game setting. No need to worry about it," Wise said.
"Is that so? I see, like settings for a board game, right?" she asked, blinking innocently.
"Exactly, you can think of it that way."
Wise had helped Susie cover things up, but unexpectedly, she turned to her phone, checked it, and dropped the act completely.
"Ah, hold on. The boss just messaged me. He said he has something to tell you."
After saying this, Susie lowered her voice, mimicking an uncle's tone as she spoke.
"It seems we've met an expert. Good toys can only show their value in the hands of someone like you. Once the official shipment arrives, if you come to buy, I will personally provide extra exclusive modifications for you."
"Wow, I didn't expect the boss to take action personally!" Wise said, slightly exaggerating his reaction while thinking, 'So the boss isn't even here. How did he hear our conversation? Is he constantly watching us through surveillance?'
He didn't know how to respond, but Anby politely declined.
"Thank you, but it's not necessary. Even though I'd like to buy a new W-Engine, combining the balances of all three of us in Cunning Hares still wouldn't be enough to afford the latest model."
[1] IMAGE