"O-Oh I'm sorry!! I thought I heard people on the other side of the car and.. um... I got too excited at the prospect of leaving the Hollow.." A cute, small girl with pale green pigtails and dressed in a peculiar maid outfit bowed to both Nekomata and Belle after seeing Nekomata clinging to Belle as if her life depended on it.
'Ah yes. Another girl I'm taller than. I gotta improve my image and look reliable to these Short Queens..' Belle cleared her throat and started petting Nekomata's head while smiling at Corin, the maid with a buzz saw.
[+5 Affection points!]
Belle ignored the soft purring and the slackening of Nekomata's arms while she clung to her and waved at Corrin.
"No problem! Are you lost? If so, we can help you out in exchange for a little help. See, we need to move a few things.." Belle stated, feeling Nekomata rub her head into her hand with a dreamy expression.
'Hehe.. all that time petting cats in the neighborhood has paid off. Should stop before she melts into a little puddle though.' Belle hummed and set an unwilling Nekomata down as Corrin enthusiastically agreed.
"Y-Yes! I'd be happy to help if it gets me out of the Hollow, um.." Corrin paused and looked at the drooling cat Thiren and always-casual Belle.
"I'm Belle. This is Nekomata. Nice to meet you, Miss Maid!" Belle greeted.
Corin blushed and bowed her head, "I'm Corrin! Nice to make your acquaintance!"
"Awesome! Come on, we need to hurry. After you help us move some stuff, I'll guide you to the exit." Belle stated before moving on.
Corrin and Nekomata followed close behind her. The squad began mowing through the basic Ethereals in seconds. Belle was surprised at how freakishly strong Corrin was when the girl frowned and bisected three Ethereals in one fluid swing of her buzz saw. Even Nekomata could only cut through two with some strong resistance.
When the fighting finished, the three stopped within a trainyard where multiple platforms and rotation devices meant for the train sat, unused for years.
"Ahh.. I think we need to move these train cars into the three other positions to divert the train." Nekomata muttered to Belle while wearily looking at the heavy train cars scattered around.
"And nothing to automatically move these things huh.." Belle rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Um.. y-you just need those train cars moved into those three positions, right?" Corrin asked shyly.
"Yeah. Hm.. maybe we can get Fairy to find a functioning train or something..?" Wise answered.
*SCREEEEETCH!!*
While Wise was talking to Fairy on the HDD, Belle and Nekomata watched the little maid push the heavy train cars down the track all by herself. As if she were just pushing a shopping cart.
"Heh.. well okay then! Nekomata, control the lever while I go help Corrin push." Belle ordered, immediately going to help Corrin.
-Five minutes later-
"Okay.. I talked to Fairy and I think we could pull a Metro Exodus and get one of those carts working to pull.... the...." Wise reconnected after talking to Fairy, just in time to see Belle and Corrin finish pushing the last cart and change the train's route to the nearby tunnel.
"Pfft! Fairy why didn't you just tell my brother not to worry?" Belle snickered, rubbing the dust and rust shavings off her hands.
[Response. It was just too comical imagining second assistant's expression when he would return and see the task completed]
"Hey now.. I already get messed with by Belle enough. Don't add yourself into the mix.." Wise sighed, though Belle knew he was probably sulking and plotting revenge after Fairy got one over on him.
"Hah.. all done? Do you need anymore help?" Corrin asked, almost looking hopeful.
"No no. I can't trouble you anymore, cutie. The Hollow exit is right down this street before the train tunnel's exit." Belle replied, guiding Corrin along an empty street with ruined cars strewn about, until they reached an Ether fissure leading out of the Dead End Hollow.
"O-Oh um.. it was no problem at all, Miss Belle. I'll tell mister Lycaon, Miss Rina and Ellen about you. I'm sure they'll be as grateful as I am.." Corrin smiled sweetly, took a bow and exited the Hollow swiftly.
"Hnnngh... her cuteness levels are peak!" Belle sighed and looked over to Nekomata again.
"Heh.. yeah, Corrin was really nice huh?" Nekomata agreed with a little nod.
"Now! To rescue my sexy little Imp.. Let's hijack this bitch, kitty!" Belle declared as she ran into the tunnel with Nekomata and Eous.
Once inside, they saw the two lights in front of the train approaching their positon from within. The train started to slow down, giving the two the chance to board. Belle, Eous and Nekomata jumped onto the top of the train and latched on as it began to pick up speed again.
[Master, I am picking up multiple signatures within the train. Ether weapons such as those used in Public Security. Please be advised]
Belle snorted, inwardly noting that the men inside the train were just mercenaries disguised as Public Security Officers. Basically, they appropriated SWAT level gear and were taking the train to where Perlman was, so he could send them to keep the residents still within Canvas street from breaking free and running to the authorities in New Eridu.
Originally, whoever was controlling Eous was supposed to run as soon as they saw the fake Pubec officers and wait back in the shop for Nekomata. But since Belle already knew everything beforehand, she knew all they needed to do was hijack the train and get the people out of Canvas street before Perlman caught on. Then, they could go ahead and safely take the people back without needing to fight the Dead End Butcher and taking Perlman hostage.
"Um... hey, Belle? This latch is too small for us to get through. Meow.. even if I tried to squeeze in it'd be a tight fit!" Nekomata grumbled.
"True.. and you're pretty petite." Belle remarked, ignoring the silent pout Nekomata was giving her.
Belle shrugged and pointed her Ether/Mana arm at the train car. The shifting metal parted and revealed its long range form.
"Plan B it is!" Belle grinned like a kid on Christmas while Wise made Eous dive away.
*VRRRRR!!!*
"WHAT THE FUCK!! AN ETHEREAL ATTACK!?" One of the mercenaries inside screamed as a laser carved through the roof of the train car... and a few of the armor plates a few of his men were wearing.
Then, a blue haired girl in a tanktop, short shorts and sneakers hopped in from the top. Her odd metallic arm immediately grabbed the first guy by the Pubsec helm he was wearing and crushed the metal before tossing the now concussed merc into the wall, where he now lay in an unconscious heap.
"What-ho, bitches! This here's a train hijackin' and nobody needs to die. So why don't you surrender niiiice and quietlike-" *BANG!* *BANG! BANG!* *BANG!*
A hail of Ether gunfire rang out as several of the mercenaries started shooting at Belle. Of course, as soon as the first shot went off, Belle dove forward and Manji kicked the closest merc to her. Then Nekomata dove through the opening and sliced the back of a merc's legs before uppercutting another's chin with a rising knee.
"Wooo-ee!! Call me Arthur the way I'm boutta fan this bitch out~" Belle grinned, took a rifle off the ground and started blasting.
Wise, in Eous' body quickly moved toward the front of the train to redirect it toward Canvas Street.
After a couple minutes, Belle and Nekomata stood around several unconscious and a few half dead mercs in Pubsec uniforms. Belle tossed the rifle aside with a cheeky grin and strolled over to the front, where Wise and Fairy had Eous conducting the train.
"Whew.. We really pulled it off meow~." Nekomata sighed, wiping the sweat off her brow.
"Hehe.. things are looking up for team Belle huh? Whadda we do when the plan changes? Adapt." Belle declared, proudly raising her chin.
[Master, I've detected a high concentration of Ether and Mana nearby. Range: 5km away]
[Recalculating... Range: 4km away.]
"No..."
[Recalculating... Range: 3km away.]
"No no..."
[Recalc- Master, I would advise you to brace yourself, the kitten and the second assistant]
*CRAAAAAAASH!!*