After hearing the story, the group realized that quite a bit of time had passed.
Caesar still needed to discuss powering the siblings' equipment with Kasa, so Wise headed back to the gas station to find Lucy and the others, while Belle went to help Fairy.
As he arrived at the station, he spotted the curvaceous Burnice from afar. Standing beside her was the somewhat "barren" Lucy.
"Hmm? Wise, were you just thinking something rude?" she asked, shooting him a sharp glare.
"No, not at all. That's just your misconception, Miss Lucy," Wise replied smoothly, offering an excuse.
She was truly sharp. He had only entertained a fleeting thought, yet she noticed it the moment he approached. Fortunately, Lucy didn't intend to press the issue.
Meanwhile, Burnice, giggling, spoke her mind without restraint.
"Wise, didn't Caesar say she'd take you to greet the mayor? Why did it take you so long to come back? Could it be that Caesar, she..."
"I came across the Sunflints made by the people of Blazewood, so I ended up listening to them talk about the legend of the Tour de Inferno."
Hearing his explanation, Burnice showed no disappointment. Instead, she smiled brightly and continued.
"Haha, no wonder I saw Caesar beaming from afar. That's her favorite story. She even says her biggest dream is to become a hero like the First Overlord."
"Heh, if she wants to become a big shot like the First Overlord, she'd better forget those naïve fairy tales sooner rather than later."
Lucy poured cold water on the idea, though she didn't mean any harm. She simply felt that if Caesar truly wanted to become an Overlord, she needed to be more mature.
When Wise asked further, Lucy admitted that she didn't dislike the story. She just believed that, as adults, it was better to approach things more realistically.
"However, by leveraging so-called divine miracles, one's deeds can indeed spread far and wide. From that perspective, the First Overlord was clearly a shrewd individual," Lucy remarked.
"Lucy, Caesar said that if you keep saying such old-fashioned things, you'll get wrinkles."
"Nonsense! Burnice, don't listen to her nonsense. I apply face masks every day. I won't get wrinkles."
She couldn't help getting worked up. After all, she was still a young woman, and she cared deeply about such things.
"Ahem, Wise, you can see it too, right? The Tour de Inferno, rather than being a heroic feat, was actually a means for the First Overlord to gain control of the Old Oil Field."
"Your thinking is quite similar to that of a city entrepreneur. But speaking of which, Caesar calls you Montefio, Lucy. Are you related to the prestigious Montefio Family of New Eridu...?"
When Wise had asked Fairy for help with the unboxing earlier, he had learned Lucy's name.
At the time, he was surprised to realize he had essentially 'unboxed' the eldest daughter of the Montefio Family.
But what puzzled him even more was why the eldest daughter of such a family would come to the Outer Ring and even join the Sons of Calydon.
"Heh, what prestigious family? You're being too polite to a parvenu, aren't you? But you're right, that's my family."
Lucy admitted it without hesitation, and Wise took the opportunity to voice the doubts lingering in his heart.
The young lady's reason was simple: the kind of life dictated by others was never what she wanted. In her father's eyes, there was only profit and business.
"That's right, it's different in the Outer Ring! Especially in our Old Oil Field. The Motor League stands for freedom and righteousness."
Burnice's words drew a soft, knowing chuckle from Lucy.
"Heh, that's what they say. But to survive, how can anyone do without profit and business? Take the Sons of Calydon, for example. Employees need to be paid, vehicle repairs and replacements require money, and not to mention, there are many necessities the city won't sell us. Those have to be obtained through connections and money as well."
Lucy listed example after example, making it clear just how much she worried about the Sons of Calydon.
Thinking about the others, Wise couldn't help but reflect. Caesar, as the leader, had a straightforward personality and didn't understand scheming.
One could even say she was somewhat naïve.
Then there was Burnice, whose every action seemed a bit chaotic. She was always brandishing her flamethrower, occasionally causing small fires by accident.
And Piper, with her lazy, sleep-loving nature. Although she was reliable when it truly mattered, her flaws were just as apparent.
It was safe to say that without Lucy, this group would likely fall apart.
"Wise, when I said yesterday that the Overlord faction was targeting us, I wasn't speaking idly. The Sons of Calydon's reputation has surpassed the Vanquishers in recent years. It would be strange if they weren't jealous."
As she spoke, she let out a small sigh before continuing.
"But due to recent poor network connections, our income has dropped significantly, and recruiting new members has also become a problem. So, for the future survival of the Sons of Calydon, we must secure the position of Overlord."
Lucy's words were firm and filled with unwavering confidence, giving off a reassuring presence. Wise couldn't help but voice his thoughts.
"With you around, it's truly reassuring."
"Ugh... honestly, don't say such strange things! Never mind, I'll take it as a compliment. In any case, relying solely on brute force and passion won't achieve great things. I believe that you, Phaethon, who excels in calculations, understand that well."
As she spoke, a faint blush appeared on Lucy's face, though it quickly shifted into fervent determination.
"Just watch. It won't be long before I defeat Caesar and take the Sons of Calydon from her hands. Ha~ ha~ ha~."
Her confident declaration, paired with that laughter, made it seem as though she had already glimpsed her future as an Overlord.
Wise found himself almost convinced. Of course, if no one had interrupted, he might have believed her even more.
"Lucy, you wouldn't admit it earlier, but it turns out you still lost last night."
"No, it's not losing! How can that be called losing? It was just a temporary ceasefire! A-Anyway, preparing for the Tour de Inferno is the most important thing right now. Becoming the leader can wait for a bit."
Faced with Burnice's interruption, Lucy hurriedly defended herself, a hint of embarrassment slipping through. Then, somewhat stiffly, she changed the subject.
"Wise, let's talk about something serious. This morning, you mentioned that the current Hollow data in the Outer Ring is insufficient, which could affect your performance inside the Hollow. So, we'll accompany you to gather data."
As Lucy finished speaking, Burnice suddenly remembered something.
"Oh! Right, I actually need your help with something too. The vehicles for the Tour de Inferno need some modifications, and we still have to get the necessary parts."
Just then, Belle, who had finished setting up the HDD for Fairy, walked over and informed them that everything was running normally.
Fairy and Eous were both excited to be in the Outer Ring, though each had their own reasons.
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