An ether aptitude of 90 points!?
The revelation left Nicole momentarily stunned.
But she quickly snapped out of it—someone was trying to poach her new recruit!
"Hey, Su Chen's with the Red Fang Gang!" Nicole declared, yanking Su Chen away from the middle-aged HIA researcher with a fierce glare.
"Red Fang Gang?" the researcher blinked, confused.
Wasn't that just a lowlife street gang in New Eridu? How could they have a genius with an ether aptitude of 90?
Then he squinted at Nicole. That pink hair, that sly grin—she was unmistakably the infamous boss of the Cunning Hares.
"Wait a second, you're the head of the Cunning Hares! Kid, don't follow her—she'll have you eating potatoes for life!" the researcher shouted.
But Nicole had already dragged Su Chen halfway down Sixth Street.
"Hah! I can't believe I snagged a genius!" Nicole said, her light green eyes sparkling as she sized up Su Chen.
An ether aptitude of 60 was enough to explore Hollows. But 90? That screamed future Elite Hollow Raider—maybe even a legendary Proxy.
"Nicole, pretending to be Red Fang Gang? Bold move," Su Chen teased.
It was a desperate bluff, but she'd sold it with such conviction. Classic Nicole.
"Outsmarting Ethereals and rivals is how rabbits survive. Stick with me, and you'll be set," Nicole said, wagging a finger proudly.
"But I heard that guy call you infamous," Su Chen said, grinning.
"Infamous? Pfft!" Nicole tossed her pink twin-tails dramatically. "I'm a jack-of-all-trades, a Dennies enthusiast, and a cunning mastermind—but I'm a great agent and an even better boss!"
Su Chen's expression turned skeptical.
Great boss? Sure, Nicole had charm, and Anby and Billy stuck with her despite the potato diet, so she wasn't all bad. But great agent? Her clients would probably weep, given her habit of tweaking commissions or "misplacing" their goods.
"What's that look?" Nicole huffed, folding her arms. "Fine, since you're a 90-point ether genius, I'll let your disrespect slide—for now!"
"But seriously, picking up a random guy with an aptitude of 90? Kinda suspicious," she added, eyeing Su Chen up and down.
No matter how you sliced it, Su Chen's sudden appearance was odd. An ether aptitude that high practically screamed hidden motives. Everyone in the Cunning Hares had their secrets, after all.
"So, Boss Nicole, you kicking me out?" Su Chen asked, unfazed.
Yesterday, he'd needed the Cunning Hares' shelter. But now, with his Proxy-like system and sky-high aptitude, he could make it as a solo Hollow Raider if he wanted.
"You crashed into me yesterday and think you can just walk away? Dream on!" Nicole snapped, glaring. "A 90-point genius who can cook and work for free? You're not going anywhere!"
The memory of Su Chen landing face-first in her chest yesterday still made her flush. Letting him go would be admitting defeat as the Cunning Hares' boss.
"So, what's the deal?" Su Chen asked, spreading his hands.
He was an undocumented newcomer in New Eridu, with no way to prove his origins. Since last night, his ordinary life had vanished like a Hollow portal.
"I want you to take my surname, Demara. That'll earn my full trust," Nicole said with a sly smile.
"You're asking me to take your name? Is this a marriage proposal?" Su Chen said, stunned.
Marrying into a rich woman's family didn't sound bad—soft meals, easy life. But Nicole, rich? Her wallet was as empty as a Hollow after a raid.
"Not marriage!" Nicole snapped, cheeks reddening. "It's about building a bond, like I did with Anby. You're a 90-point mystery, but you seem harmless. So, yes or no?"
She placed a hand on Su Chen's shoulder, forcing him to meet her serious gaze. Her subtle perfume hit his senses, and her presence was… distracting.
Su Chen stared into her light green eyes. She wasn't joking. This cunning rabbit was genuinely trying to recruit him.
Taking the Demara name was like adding a nickname—no big deal. But agreeing too easily felt like selling himself short.
After a moment, Su Chen said, "I'll take Suchen Demara, but on one condition."
"What's that? No salary talk!" Nicole said, leaning forward eagerly.
Su Chen's eyes flicked to her figure but quickly refocused. "I want you to take my surname, too. Su Nicole."
Two could play the bonding game. If Nicole wanted trust, he'd make it mutual. Plus, a small part of him enjoyed teasing the boss.
Nicole hesitated for a split second, then grinned. "Deal! Surnames swapped, no Dennies involved. Perfect."
Her gaze softened. "Let me reintroduce myself: Su Nicole Demara. Welcome to the Cunning Hares."
"Suchen Demara," Su Chen said, shaking her hand with a smile. "So, I wasn't in yesterday?"
"Nope. Yesterday, you were an unpaid intern. Now, you're family," Nicole said, smirking. "Still no salary, though. We're kinda broke."
"It'll get better," Su Chen said, unbothered.
With his system's daily card draws—each worth millions of Dennies in potential—he wasn't sweating the small stuff. Only a New Eridu corporate consortium could bankroll his full potential, but the system's free draws kept him worry-free for now.
Back at the Cunning Hares' base, Nicole gathered everyone with a dramatic flourish.
"Listen up! Suchen Demara's officially one of us!" she announced.
"By the Starlight Knights, that's epic! Swapping surnames? So cool!" Billy said, striking a heroic pose. "Call me Su Billy Demara, defender of justice!"
Anby, calm as ever, said, "Welcome to the Cunning Hares, Suchen Demara."
But inside, Anby felt a twinge of oddity. Sharing the Demara name with this mysterious newcomer was… strange. Like losing something, yet gaining something new.
"Looking forward to working with you," Su Chen said, shaking Anby's hand with a smile.
"Ahem!" Nicole coughed loudly, stealing the spotlight. "To celebrate Suchen's joining, we're hitting a high-end buffet in Lumina Square! It'll come out of your future salaries!"
"I'm gonna devour 50 ether batteries!" Billy cheered, his robotic joints whirring with excitement. For him, batteries were the ultimate delicacy.
"Nicole, what about the debt to Phaethon?" Anby asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No worries! Wise and Belle can wait a couple of days," Nicole said, patting her chest confidently. "Welcoming family comes first!" (Wise and Belle, in unison: "Pay up, Nicole!")
Anby swallowed her retort, her stomach growling. After weeks of potatoes, a buffet sounded divine. "Let's go quick, then. More time to eat."
Su Chen watched the lively trio, a grin spreading across his face. Less than two days in New Eridu, and he was already hooked. It wasn't just Nicole's charm—the Cunning Hares' chaotic, cheerful vibe felt like home.