White Noise's answer shocked everyone present. They hadn't expected such a massive secret to be hidden inside this small box.
"You want our box? But why should we give it to you?"
Geno frowned, staring at the animated avatar wearing headphones on the screen. The other party seemed to hold some kind of trump card.
"This involves our upcoming transaction. First, control of this computer now belongs to me. That is to say, I control all the data stored on this computer, including the safe's password."
Hearing this, the hearts of the Phaethon siblings tightened again. Since the other party controlled the information to this extent, their residence and identities naturally...
"That's right. Naturally, I know where you live. With just a movement of my finger, all kinds of information about the legendary Proxy [Phaethon] will spread across the internet like snowflakes in a blizzard. However, I have principles. I won't do things that bring no benefit."
With White Noise's voice, it felt as though a Sword of Damocles had been suspended over everyone's hearts.
"My demand is simple. Hand that safe over to me, and I will return the Phaethon account to you. How about it?"
Hearing White Noise's demand, Geno's brows furrowed tightly. It wasn't that the demand was difficult, but rather...
"You expect me to believe the words of a hacker? We have no way to counter you."
Although White Noise spoke prettily, in reality, Geno and the others held no initiative. This feeling of having no control over anything made him feel very insecure.
"Fine. To express my sincerity, I can make another concession."
White Noise's avatar flashed, and the HDD system soon returned to normal. Belle and Wise were once again able to perform operations on the computer. But they soon discovered that all the Hollow data they had accumulated over so many years had been completely wiped clean.
"Our data! Is this your so-called sincerity?"
Wise questioned White Noise on the screen in great anger, but clearly, the other party did not take the anger of the weak seriously.
"This is the price for questioning me. I do not like people defying me. You should be rejoicing that I am at least still willing to converse with you."
White Noise was right. With his abilities, the Proxy siblings were now completely playthings in his hands, easily manipulated. Merely losing some data was practically a steal for them considering the alternative.
But unfortunately, the Proxy siblings didn't see it that way, because for Wise, this had been an undeserved calamity from beginning to end.
"I have already shown the sincerity I should. Now, it is your turn."
White Noise no longer wanted to continue bickering with them. He manipulated the computer, popping up another window, completely unimpeded by any operations from the siblings.
"This is a [Carrot]. It points to a designated location in Crete Hollow. I want you to bring the safe there and complete our transaction."
"Do not keep me waiting too long."
Without waiting for Geno and the others to reply, White Noise simply cut the connection.
Dead silence.
The small studio fell into a dead silence. White Noise's sudden intrusion had caught everyone off guard.
Not only Wise and Belle, but Geno, Nicole, and the Anby sisters were also helpless in this situation.
"What do we do now? Are we going to do as he says?"
Twiggy furrowed her brows and stepped forward to play the bad cop.
"I'll state this upfront: we have no obligation to make sacrifices for the misfortunes of others."
After all, if they were unwilling to hand over the safe, that was acceptable, though their relationship with the Proxies would drop to freezing point thereafter. Although, by then, the Proxy siblings might not have the time to hold it against them.
Nicole and Anby, standing to the side, wanted to persuade them, but when the words reached their lips, they couldn't think of a reason for the two to help the Proxies. Their friendship wasn't that deep.
The friendship between them and the Proxies... they might care about the Proxy siblings, but Geno and Twiggy... before today, they didn't even know them—or so they thought.
Geno, however, obviously didn't give much thought to this question, which wasn't that difficult.
"Does that even need to be said? Since the other party has gone this far, we have to make this trip to the Hollow whether we want to or not."
At these words, not only Nicole but also the Proxy siblings were surprised.
"Why?"
Why help them? Clearly, it had nothing to do with them. Belle didn't understand. Clearly, they didn't need to consider the siblings, so why...
"What do you mean 'why'? You guys are my fans. How could I possibly let you down?"
Geno flashed a big grin and struck a pose he thought was very cool.
Although for the Proxy siblings, they had only started interacting today, for Geno, that was enough.
Twiggy revealed a helpless expression; she knew Geno would say that. The reason she added that remark earlier was to make the Proxy siblings realize that Geno's kindness was not so cheap. After all, he was an idiot who would risk his life for someone he had only just met.
"Then it's happily decided. I'll go back and get the box. You guys guide us, and we'll go meet this White Noise."
After speaking, Geno turned and left, leaving a group of bewildered people looking at each other.
"Is he... always like this?"
Anby, who hadn't spoken until now, turned her head to ask Twiggy, and Twiggy nodded, giving an affirmative answer.
"Yeah, he's just such an idiot. But the amazing thing is, none of us can bring ourselves to hate him."
Twiggy called Geno an idiot with her mouth, but the curve of her lips couldn't be suppressed no matter what.
"Indeed, an idiot."
Seeing this, Anby also smiled helplessly.
"But, surprisingly, not annoying."
Belle and Wise glanced at each other, their thoughts mirroring Anby's exactly. A person like this, just like a light novel protagonist, really couldn't generate any ill will.
Twiggy looked at the Proxy siblings and knew they had also been won over by Geno's unique charisma, so she turned to address them.
"In the current situation, there is actually still room to turn things around."
Twiggy's statement attracted the attention of the others, and she didn't keep them in suspense. Soon, she said to the Proxy siblings.
"I have a plan, but it requires you to make a small sacrifice."
Hearing this, Belle and Wise naturally wouldn't refuse. A mere small price was still acceptable compared to the threat of being doxed.
"We want to help too."
Nicole leaned in with her hands on her hips. This matter involved her too; after all, she was the one who asked the Proxies to crack the password, so she had to take responsibility.
Anby naturally didn't say much, silently following along. Twiggy smiled faintly. She completely approved of where Anby belonged now.
"The plan is this: first we need to..."
*
On the other side, Billy, who was still waiting at the Hollow entrance for his boss, was so idle he was about to sprout weeds.
"Have they... already forgotten about me..."
The cold wind rustled; everything was understood without words.
____
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