Walnut-chan - Chapter 321: Preparing to Depart!

Geno swept a hand through the air and stood up from the sofa. Pointing at Billy's mask, he announced his decision with great swagger.

"Huh? Who, me?"

Billy pointed at himself in surprise. It was true he hadn't been back in a long time, but that decision was awfully sudden.

"That's right! And not just you! The Proxy, too!"

Geno switched gears and swung his spearhead toward Wise and Belle, leaving the siblings completely baffled.

"Do I have to come along too?"

"Of course! Aren't there tons of Hollows in the Outer Ring? I'm counting on you and Eous when we get there!"

Watching Geno bounce with excitement, Belle felt the sweat on the back of her head multiply.

Was she imagining things? Why did Geno seem so worked up today?

How could Geno not be worked up? Mayor Mayflower's reward for him included a ridiculously luxurious mansion in the city center!

Property in the city center cost far more than land on Sixth Street or in Lumina Square.

The most outrageous spots had listings pushed up to a hundred million Dennies per square meter!

Even with the Timefield family's financial muscle, buying a place like that would take some serious deliberation.

Mind you, that's the Timefield family, not Alice alone!

It took the wealth of an entire family just to attempt a purchase. At that point it wasn't a house anymore. It was the kind of asset that gained value all by itself just sitting there!

Geno's eyes were so stuffed with Dennies there wasn't a single gap left.

Watching him, Nicole felt as if she were looking at her own ugly face from the old days, and it left her oddly uncomfortable.

"But with the reconstruction after the disaster, business at the shop has slowed down a lot lately. If I leave now..."

"I'll pay extra."

"Deal~!"

After a full Sichuan-opera face change, Belle agreed in the end. Billy, who was heading out with them, got the same treatment.

But when Geno asked the others, he was turned down.

"No can do. The Vision Corporation case got pushed back because of the attack, and I have to go back to court as a witness in a couple of days. I really don't have the time."

Nicole said. She actually wanted to see the Outer Ring too, and it was absolutely not because she was eyeing Geno's double pay. Absolutely not!

As for Anby, which one Nicole and Billy would pick was never going to be a multiple-choice question.

"I can't make it either. I've started a new experiment project, and I'm going to be busy for a while."

More than the Outer Ring, Twiggy cared about the two toys she'd just gotten her hands on. Oops, make that research subjects.

What was a trip compared to the fun of an experiment?

"Alright, then the three of us will go."

Geno was a little disappointed, but there was nothing to be done. Everyone had their own business to attend to, and not everyone could free up time.

"Don't be so down. It's the same if we come find you once we're done."

Twiggy sighed. Her big boy was forever a kid who never grew up, though she didn't mind that one bit.

"Same here. The shop needs a few more days of work. I'll come find you with Twiggy and the others later."

Wise quietly took on the job of minding the house, and just like that, Geno's next destination was happily settled!

Off to the Outer Ring!

But would this trip really go as smoothly as they imagined?

Outer Ring

At a camp outside Blazewood.

A crowd of young men and women in flashy, edgy getups had gathered around a bonfire, clinking cups and having the time of their lives.

One blond-haired youth among them looked over the companions he spent every day with, and his eyes held undisguised contempt.

But whenever someone came near him, he disguised it perfectly.

"Tch. A bunch of brainless, muscle-bound idiots."

After quietly spitting on the ground, Lucius felt his disgust for these crude oafs grow even stronger.

Soon, though, he seemed to think of something, and his expression turned pleased.

"Enjoy yourselves a little longer. Very soon, this place will belong to me."

Outer Ring.

The morning after they settled on the Outer Ring trip, Geno had Belle help him load part of the HDD equipment from the workshop onto a brand-new heavy truck.

Wise and Belle's car was too small, and with the HDD equipment loaded there wouldn't be enough room, so Geno had borrowed a big truck from Nekomata and her crew.

"Long time no see, Uncle Luo!"

"Hahaha, long time no see, young Geno."

Uncle Luo had come to deliver the truck. With the post-disaster reconstruction, Nekomata and her people were run off their feet, and with their logistics business already booming, even Uncle Luo had to step out and lend a hand.

"You're looking well lately, Uncle Luo."

Compared to the lifeless man Geno had first met, Uncle Luo now practically glowed.

"Hahaha, that's thanks to you. Your investment, and Boss Nekomata, too. Now that the Red Fang Gang is on the right path, this old pile of bones feels several years younger."

As he spoke, Uncle Luo tapped his bad leg.

"Look, I'm so busy now that even a gimpy old man like me has to come out and help, hahaha."

He was poking fun at himself, but there was no complaint in his tone. If anything, he sounded delighted.

Geno's gaze dropped to Uncle Luo's leg. He remembered Nekomata telling him that they'd spent the first money they earned on a brand-new prosthetic for Uncle Luo, so he'd never need a cane again.

That was exactly why Uncle Luo could get out and run errands for the business.

"You might think this old man is nagging, but I want to say it to you one more time."

When his laughter faded, Uncle Luo turned his eyes back to Geno.

"It's not only that the Red Fang Gang can get back on the right path. There's also Nekomata. I watched that girl grow up, and now she's found a place she can be entrusted to. Truly, thank you."

As he spoke, Uncle Luo bowed deeply to Geno, so alarmed that Geno hurried to hold him up by the arm.

"Aw, Uncle Luo, you shouldn't, you're embarrassing me!"

But Uncle Luo was firm and insisted on thanking him properly, so Geno let him have his way.

"Alright, I won't hold you up any longer. Lending you the truck means I get a couple of days' rest, too, and Nekomata can't hand me more chores, hahaha."

Grumbling happily, Uncle Luo set off toward the edge of Sixth Street.

Watching his stride, no different from anyone else's, Geno smiled with deep satisfaction.