"Mars District? What kind of place is that?"
Zane asked, picking up on the surprise in Belle's tone.
When it came to understanding New Eridu, Belle and Wise obviously knew far more than he did.
"Mars District is on the outskirts of New Eridu. It's... a very particular place,"
Belle said after a moment, unsure how best to explain it.
Wise caught her hesitation and gestured for her to let him handle it. He tapped at the computer a few times and pulled up detailed information on the Mars District.
"When New Eridu was first established, the city was still small due to time constraints. Back then, Mars District sat on the edge of the city."
"So, it served as a garrison for the Defense Force. With weapons testing going on there, regular civilians didn't really live in the area."
"Later, as the city expanded and Hollow control improved, New Eridu grew. Mars District was no longer at the fringes. The Defense Force pulled out, leaving only a small unit to patrol the surrounding zones."
"This left a lot of land in Mars District unused. But for various reasons, few people wanted to move in. Those who did were mostly families with no other choice."
"Over time, even with a token military presence, it unexpectedly became a haven for criminals. Word is, several high-profile Proxies have been spotted operating out of there."
As Wise spoke and pulled up visuals, Zane's understanding of the area deepened bit by bit.
"In recent years, thanks to increasing pressure from hostile groups and more frequent Hollow disasters, land has become scarcer. A lot of Ether energy facilities and manufacturing plants have relocated to Mars."
"That brought in a wave of people looking for work and a place to live, and the district became much more crowded."
"Now even the local sheriffs can barely operate, and the Defense Force doesn't bother with it. The situation's spiraled into chaos."
"As far as I know, several criminal organizations have set up their bases there. It's a mess of all kinds of people."
"If the payout isn't substantial, commissions in Mars District often just sit on the ropesite untouched. Even local Proxies don't accept them lightly."
Wise's expression was serious as he explained.
"Phaethon" had taken commissions in Mars District before—thankless jobs that only brought trouble.
"Tch. Sounds like a real mess,"
Zane said with a sigh.
He'd originally thought it might be like a super-sized Sixth Street, but clearly, it didn't even come close.
Sixth Street felt more like a place for retired big shots.
Mars District, on the other hand, was a scar hiding beneath New Eridu's polished surface.
"But I'm just going after the Defense Force. I doubt I'll get tangled up with all the other shady types, right?"
Zane looked uncertain, but when he said it so directly, Belle's mouth twitched. The words she wanted to say got swallowed back down.
Did he have to phrase it that bluntly?
"Not necessarily. I'm not denying the Defense Force has done a lot of good, but there are always parasites that slip in—especially in units stationed in Mars District,"
Wise replied evenly.
Belle blinked. Why was her brother being so direct too? He usually wasn't like this in their conversations.
"I see."
Zane gave a small nod.
On one side, there was the Defense Force—a symbol of order. On the other, a chaotic district teeming with all walks of life. There was no way they coexisted without some kind of connection.
Especially when they managed to coexist peacefully.
That kind of stability usually meant shared interests.
Wise then shared the location Fairy had narrowed down.
...
"Zane, when are you heading out?"
Belle finally broke the silence.
"Right away."
"So... that interview's going to have to wait a bit."
Zane glanced at her as he responded.
"It's fine. There's plenty of time for the commission."
"Just be careful in Mars District, okay?"
Belle was clearly worried but knew it was Zane's decision to make. She didn't push, only offered a word of caution.
"Relax. You think anyone in Mars is tougher than a core Ethereal from Cretan Hollow?"
"Oh, and I'll leave Panta with you a little longer."
Zane smiled and stood, ready to go.
His words reminded Belle—this was someone who had soloed the Cretan Hollow and fought off the Defense Force.
The way they'd been casually chatting made her almost forget how terrifying Zane really was.
"Alright."
Belle nodded, glancing at the Bangboo gathered in the corner.
"Oh, and here—this is the video store's number. If you need help, just contact me or my brother anytime."
She handed him a small card.
She knew Zane didn't have a comm device, but with this number, he could use public terminals or someone else's.
Zane accepted it with a nod, then turned and left.
...
Once he was gone, Belle pursed her lips and looked back at the TV, where a reporter was still speculating about the disappearance of the Cretan Hollow.
She let out a soft sigh.
"Feels like every time Zane does something, it turns into a huge event."
"With Zane, not making waves would be the weird part,"
Wise said with a slight smile and shake of his head.
"True,"
Belle nodded, then added,
"Okay, Brother, go take a break. I've got it from here!"
Wise looked over, curious, as his sister sat down at the computer desk.
"The work for the new account is done. What are you planning now?"
"I'm building a forum site, obviously."
Belle gave him a grin, her fingers already flying across the keyboard.
"If we want Zane's Ethereal form to go viral, we have to harness the power of the internet."
"With the kind of presence he has, once traffic starts coming in, I won't even have to promote it—people will do it on their own."
"And setting it up now means that when Zane causes another major scene, we'll be ready to capitalize on it."
"You're really all-in on this, huh? But it's good—this kind of thing is your forte,"
Wise said, understanding that the online world wasn't his strength.
He preferred documentaries in his free time, while Belle was always surfing the net.
Even Proxies commissions were usually handled by Belle first—she'd delegate the rest afterward.
...