"Zane, I think the fridge temperature was set a little too low. The drinks are pretty cold. I'm not sure if you'll like it,"
Belle said as she came downstairs from the second floor, carrying a tray. Two Bangboo followed her closely behind— No. 6, who had just recharged, and Amillion, who was always by Six's side.
"Brother, I brought you a drink too! I wasn't sure if you were hungry, so I grabbed some snacks just in case."
Belle entered the room and glanced at Wise, sitting at the HDD system, and Zane, who was watching TV on the sofa. She raised an eyebrow.
Why did it feel like the atmosphere had shifted so much?
Did something happen between the two of them while she was upstairs?
Still suspicious, she placed the tray on the table. Wise turned his chair around to face her, smiling.
"I didn't expect my sister to prepare something for me too."
"What are you talking about, Brother? Like I'd ever forget about you,"
Belle huffed, turning her head away in mock arrogance.
She picked up two drinks, placing one on the computer desk and carrying the other over to the sofa.
The glow of the TV illuminated Zane's face. He looked completely absorbed, silently watching what was being broadcast.
Belle's gaze fell on Zane's lap, and she blinked.
Wasn't that pillow something she usually slept with?
Right now, Zane looked... surprisingly well-behaved.
Thinking of the scenes she'd seen through Eous, Belle shook her head and pushed that ridiculous thought away.
Someone like Zane—powerful, mysterious, someone who had obliterated the Cretan Core's Hollow and fought against a whole battalion—there was no way the word "obedient" applied to him.
"Here, Zane. For you."
Zane glanced up at Belle, nodded, and took the drink she handed over.
"Thanks."
His attention quickly returned to the TV. Belle, seeing this, sat down beside him and turned her eyes to the screen as well.
Once the commercials ended, she finally understood why Zane seemed so interested.
The sweet voice of a reporter came from the TV.
"Welcome back to Nightly Live. This is Lulu, reporting. After much effort, I've obtained permission to enter the restricted area."
"This will be the latest news regarding the Cretan Hollows for all of New Eridu."
"Next, let's interview the officer in charge."
On the sofa, Belle tilted her head slightly as she listened, her short hair brushing her cheeks.
"Looks like this is about you, Zane."
Honestly, she still didn't know much about Zane's situation, especially after Eous and Hare's House had left.
"You never know,"
Zane said with a faint smile.
How much would the authorities actually reveal to the public about him?
"By the way, Zane, how's the drink?"
"It's good,"
Zane nodded.
Turning his head slightly, he noticed Belle scribbling something in a small notebook.
Curious, he leaned over slightly and caught a glimpse of her writing.
"Likes to drink soda."
"...What are you doing?"
Zane looked a little surprised.
"Gathering information. Completing the commission,"
Belle answered naturally, as if it was obvious.
"Wait... that 'interview' you mentioned earlier—was it also for this kind of info?"
"It wasn't at first, but thinking about it your way, this is the best choice,"
Belle said, setting the notebook down and explaining.
"First of all, the commission didn't specify what kind of information was needed, so this still counts."
"Second, if we want to accomplish what you're aiming for, something with strong contrast—like fighting the Defense Force one minute and rescuing people the next—is the easiest way to grab attention and make others want to follow."
"But... I still need your opinion."
Belle paused before continuing.
"This kind of information might seem trivial, but it highlights the commonalities between you and humans."
Belle didn't say it outright, but Zane understood her meaning.
Until now, people only knew he could talk and save lives—but nothing more.
Parrots can talk too. But if there's a human soul inside a parrot, it's a completely different matter.
"It's fine."
After thinking it over, Zane didn't reject Belle's idea.
He wanted people to distinguish between Ethereal Zane and human Zane—operating with two separate identities.
But he didn't need to separate Ethereals and humans themselves.
"But I should warn you,"
Belle added,
"no matter how you stir things up, it will increase the risk of exposure."
Hearing her concerns, Zane's eyes gleamed faintly, and he spoke softly.
"Isn't dancing on the tip of a knife beautiful?"
Of course, aside from the poetry of it, Zane never saw exposure as something to avoid like the plague.
Even if he were exposed—so what?
At worst, he would just become a walking natural disaster.
Belle listened and felt her understanding of Zane deepen even further.
On TV, the reporter had found the commanding officer—the same man who had fought Zane earlier.
Now, he was back to his composed, easygoing military self.
As Zane had predicted, the officer didn't reveal much. Aside from a few public reassurances, most of his answers were vague and evasive.
Some things he didn't even bother addressing at all.
Realizing there was nothing useful to be gained from the TV, Zane shifted his gaze elsewhere.
Belle, however, was still engrossed in watching.
Seeing that Zane had lost interest, Belle quickly suggested,
"Right, Hare's House also wanted some exclusive news, and Amillion is here today. Why not give them a call?"
"I'm really looking forward to seeing how Nicole reacts to you."
After all, Belle had been shocked herself. Nicole deserved to experience it too.
Zane nodded and got up, walking over to where Amillion was chatting with Panta.
He remembered how to contact someone from Hare's House through a Bangboo.
Connecting directly to Nicole cost 100 Dennies...
Seeing Amillion hold out the payment code, Zane realized he couldn't actually pay.
But he had other ways of reaching Nicole.
"Call Anby,"
he instructed.
Following Zane's choice, Amillion connected the call and stood quietly.
A voice came through.
"Hello, this is Anby... Proxy, what's up?"
A somewhat muffled voice reached his ears.
It sounded like Anby was eating something.
"I need to talk to Nicole. She should be with you, right?"
If a direct line required a toll, taking a roundabout way worked just as well.
"Uh... okay, Proxy, I'll..."
"Hey? Who are you? Isn't the display showing this call is from 'Phaethon'?"
Anby suddenly realized something was off.
The voice on the other end was clearly a guy's—
but it wasn't Belle's brother, and she didn't recognize it at all!
...