A New Variable

A New Variable

 Talk to (‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍)

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A rare day off with no work to handle... Let's see what (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) is watching.

Video Store

(Talk to (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle))

(‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍) is slumped on the couch, mindlessly clicking the remote. Colors shift and swirl across the TV screen in weird patterns while fragmented voices cut in and out.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Ugh, I'm so bored...Ugh, I'm so bored...Text for Wise / I feel so empty...I feel so empty...Text for Belle‍) Can't believe Gilded Carrot Day (‍holidayholidayText for Wise‍) is already over...

(‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍) looks totally out of it...

You got holiday withdrawal syndrome too?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Uwaah... *sigh* It's all because Gilded Carrot Day was so amazing! The fact that I gotta wait a whole year for another experience like that is just... totally unacceptable!Uwaah... *sigh* It's all because Gilded Carrot Day was so amazing! The fact that I gotta wait a whole year for another experience like that is just... totally unacceptable!Text for Wise / Sigh... Such a wonderful Gilded Carrot Day, and now we have to wait a whole year for it to come back. I can't help but feel down from that...Sigh... Such a wonderful Gilded Carrot Day, and now we have to wait a whole year for it to come back. I can't help but feel down from that...Text for Belle‍)

Hmm... Maybe we should give ourselves a target to work on?

Are there any new commissions?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Youkai hasn't been seen since that last incident, and the little angels are prepping for a new show, saying they want to give their Delulus a big surprise and that they can't even tell us about it...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): The commissions on Inter-Knot aren't anything special either, just some pretty easy missions...

No wonder you're here watching TV...

Anything interesting on the news?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Well... (‍Ah, right!Ah, right!Text for Wise / Ah, I just remembered...Ah, I just remembered...Text for Belle‍) There's a (‍realrealText for Wise‍) popular competition recently! There'll probably be news on it or some ad for it on TV...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Hey Wise, if you've got time, come watch some TV with me!Hey Wise, if you've got time, come watch some TV with me!Text for Wise / If you're free, Belle, how about watching some TV with me?If you're free, Belle, how about watching some TV with me?Text for Belle‍)

Sure!

I'll come back soon~

(Talking to (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle) again repeats dialogue)

(After choosing to watch TV)

You sit down on the couch and watch some TV with (‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍)...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise, check it out! They're showing that super popular... Oh wait, your phone's ringing.Wise, check it out! They're showing that super popular... Oh wait, your phone's ringing.Text for Wise / Have you heard? There's this really popular thing happening... Wait, Belle, your phone's ringing.Have you heard? There's this really popular thing happening... Wait, Belle, your phone's ringing.Text for Belle‍)

You check the screen. Nicole's avatar is flashing on the Knock Knock interface, turning your attention away from the TV for the moment...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Man, andMan, andText for Wise / AndAndText for Belle‍) here I was thinking we could watch a movie after the news... (‍Who's disturbing our rare sibling bonding time, Wise?Who's disturbing our rare sibling bonding time, Wise?Text for Wise / Who's interrupting our sibling movie time?Who's interrupting our sibling movie time?Text for Belle‍)

I think it's Nicole...

Lemme see what's going on.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Nicole's looking for us...?Nicole's looking for us...?Text for Wise / Nicole needs something from us?Nicole needs something from us?Text for Belle‍) Okay, go ahead then.

(Receive a DM from Nicole)

Proxy!!! No one's reserved you yet right!

Perfect! Spread the word to all your clients: Phaethon's already taken for the Hollow Champion competition by the Cunning Hares!

REPLY

Huh? What are you talking about, Nicole?

?? What's going on?

Hollow Champion, you don't know?

Opportunity of a lifetime! Come make a killing with us!

Alright, no time to explain, this competition's blowing up, I heard registration's closing early today

Let's head to the Starloop first and lock down our spot! Don't forget to sign up today!!!

(After closing the DM)

Competition Invitation

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Competition Invitation

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Video Summary: Movies these days seem to love kicking things off with the protagonist in a tight spot.

Story Description: Nicole sends you a DM, inviting you to take part in a competition called Hollow Champion. While you two are discussing things, both worried about the condition of your eyes, a visitor arrives at your door...

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(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise, did Nicole contact us earlier?Wise, did Nicole contact us earlier?Text for Wise / Belle, what did Nicole say in her DM just now?Belle, what did Nicole say in her DM just now?Text for Belle‍)

She brought up some competition and wants us to join.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): She was going on about some competition she was eager for us to join. I think it was called "Hollow Champion"?

Have you heard of "Hollow Champion"?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Have you heard of "Hollow Champion"? Nicole is planning to sign up, and she wants to rope us in too.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Isn't that the new Hollow competition? I just saw their ad on TV.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Apparently, it's been around since the Old Capital days. The prize money's huge, and the rules are basically anything goes. It brings in a lot of people who love a fight, including its fair share of reckless criminals.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Eventually, they secured approval from the city administration and rebranded as the very official-sounding "Hollow Athletics League," and the competition gradually became more regulated.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍This year, with TOPS backing it as a sponsorThis year, with TOPS backing it as a sponsor Tooltip for This year, with TOPS backing it as a sponsorⓘText for Wise / With TOPS backing it as a sponsor this yearWith TOPS backing it as a sponsor this yearText for Belle‍), the event's blown up on a completely different level.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): For once, Nicole's idea doesn't sound (‍totallytotallyText for Wise / completelycompletelyText for Belle‍) crazy... but are we actually going to say yes? Come to think of it, the HDD had that redundant data glitch earlier. It should be resolved now, right?

Fairy: Notice: The current dataset is insufficient to support a stable conclusion. Requesting a connection to test it with you, Master.

Then let's run a test. Go for it, Fairy.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Let's run a test then. Go for it, Fairy.Let's run a test then. Go for it, Fairy.Text for Wise / Then let's run a test. Go for it, Fairy!Then let's run a test. Go for it, Fairy!Text for Belle‍)

"Connection successful. Screening for redundant data... complete."
"Notice: Redundant data detected. Initiating cleanup..."

Suddenly, you're hit with intense dizziness, pain shoot [sic] from your eyes to deep in your skull...
After who knows how long...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍...Wise! Wise!...Wise! Wise!Text for Wise / ...Belle! Belle!...Belle! Belle!Text for Belle‍) Are you okay? You (‍seriouslyseriouslyText for Wise / reallyreallyText for Belle‍) scared me just now!

I'm fine, but my eyes felt pretty weird just now.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): I'm fine, (‍it's justit's justText for Wise / butbutText for Belle‍) my eyes felt (‍reallyreallyText for Wise / prettyprettyText for Belle‍) weird for a second.

Fairy: My apologies, Master. I failed to recognize the hazards of the cleanup procedure until it was too late.

Fairy: Risk assessment result: Processing the redundant data caused abnormal strain on Master's implant. Recommendation: Abandon cleanup and switch to data isolation instead.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Something's not right, (‍Wise!Wise!Text for Wise / Belle.Belle.Text for Belle‍) We (‍were surewere sureText for Wise / thoughtthoughtText for Belle‍) the redundant data was caused by a Hollow anomaly, but now it (‍definitelydefinitelyText for Belle‍) seems like there's something wrong with your smart lenses!

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Fairy, if all we do is isolate and leave unidentified data, (‍what would that mean for Wise?what would that mean for Wise?Text for Wise / how will that affect Belle?how will that affect Belle?Text for Belle‍)

Fairy: Risk assessment in progress... Conclusion: In the short term, the HDD system may suffer reduced output, and Master may experience fatigue or dizziness during use. Long-term effects: cannot be determined at this time.

So there's a chance it could gradually improve?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): So there's a chance it could gradually improve?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍I'd hope so, but what if things get worse? *sigh* I've had this nagging feeling something might've happened to your eyes ever since that fight...I'd hope so, but what if things get worse? *sigh* I've had this nagging feeling something might've happened to your eyes ever since that fight...Text for Wise / I really hope this sorts itself out with time, but what if it gets worse? *sigh* I thought something might've gone wrong with your eyes after that fight...I really hope this sorts itself out with time, but what if it gets worse? *sigh* I thought something might've gone wrong with your eyes after that fight...Text for Belle‍)^{[Note 1]}

That doesn't sound too good, huh?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): That doesn't sound too good, huh?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Doesn't sound good? It's (‍waywayText for Wise / muchmuchText for Belle‍) worse than that. (‍This is a total disaster!This is a total disaster!Text for Wise‍) (‍...I've...I'veText for Wise / I'veI'veText for Belle‍) had this (‍uneasyuneasyText for Wise / naggingnaggingText for Belle‍) feeling ever since that fight that something might've (‍gone wrong with your eyes, but I kept telling myself it was probably nothing.gone wrong with your eyes, but I kept telling myself it was probably nothing.Text for Wise / been wrong with your eyes, but I kept hoping it was nothing.been wrong with your eyes, but I kept hoping it was nothing.Text for Belle‍)^{[Note 1]}

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Either way, we should keep HDD use to a minimum until this is sorted out. Looks like we'll have to refuse Nicole's offer as well.^{[Note 2]}

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): What's going on outside the store? Sounds like a customer's arguing with 18? C'mon (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍), we should go take a look!

 Check out what's causing the commotion at the video store

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Sounds like someone's arguing in the video store. Better go check it out.

Video Store

(Idle)

???: Ugh, there's no way to explain this to a Bangboo!

???: If only Velina were here...

(Talk to ???)

Tiny Tech Whiz

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Tiny Tech Whiz

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Video Summary: A friend from afar... uh, wait—isn't that a bit TOO far?

Story Description: A small girl who calls herself the "Chief Technical Specialist of Marcel Group," Norma, shows up at the video store. Claiming she has the mayor's backing, she brings with her a strange little Bangboo charm.

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???: Ah, finally! You must be the owners of this place. Good thing you're around, otherwise the energy cost of this operation would've spiraled.

???: I have something very important to discuss with you, and I can't have anyone else interfering. Mmm... How about this, from this moment on, I'm booking out the entire video store!

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Before you reserve the whole store, let's start with a membership registration. We can't accept such a request without confirming your identity.

Norma: My name's Norma. I'm the Chief Technician of the— Ahem, uhm, uh... Marcel Group's Special Affairs Department.

A company responsible for manufacturing Bangboo?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Marcel Group... The specialized tech company manufacturing Bangboo?

Chief Technician?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Chief Technician? So you're a (‍researcher?researcher?Text for Wise / researcher, right?researcher, right?Text for Belle‍)

Norma: Exactly! I'm not suspicious! I've got an official letter from Mayor Mayflower's office to prove it. See?

She hands over a certification letter, and sure enough, it bears the official seal of the Mayor's Office. It states that two trusted personnel will visit and request your cooperation.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Okay... You said you had something very important to discuss. (‍What did you want to ask, exactly?What did you want to ask, exactly?Text for Wise / What exactly did you want to talk about?What exactly did you want to talk about?Text for Belle‍)

Norma: Explaining would take way too long. I'll just show you the real thing instead — here it is.

(Unique Bangboo Ornament added to the Workbench)

Unique Bangboo Ornament

File:Intelligence Unique Bangboo Ornament.png

A little Bangboo charm made from a special material. It seems to be a rare product you can't find anywhere on the market in New Eridu. For some reason, just holding it in your hand gives you an incredible sense of lightness and relief.

(Strange, the moment I touched the pendant...)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (Strange... the moment I touched that pendant, the discomfort in my eyes seemed to let up for a second. Am I imagining things?)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Miss Norma, (‍what exactlywhat exactlyText for Wise / just whatjust whatText for Belle‍) is this pendant—

Norma: Hey, no jumping ahead~ We'll get to that later. Right now, it's my turn to ask.

Norma: Think carefully. Anywhere in all of New Eridu, have you ever seen anything made of a similar material? It's so distinctive that if you've seen it before, there's no way you'd forget it.

Norma: Or... How about another hint? Think about that... vessel of the Creator you fought inside Lemnian Hollow!

(—!!)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (——!!! The Creator vessel... Why would a Marcel Group researcher know such highly classified information?)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (Wait... the mayor's letter said "two visitors." So is the letter genuine, but she's an impostor?)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Sorry, but we still have some doubts about your identity, so we can't answer your question just yet. Could you explain where the "other representative" mentioned in the letter is?

Norma: Huh?! Seriously, I thought we could finally get to the main issue. Why are we back to square one again?

Norma: Velina was supposed to come with me! But she got called into a last-minute meeting, then got stuck in traffic, and someone even scraped her car so it had to be sent in for repairs... I couldn't wait any longer, so I came in to find you on my own.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Hmm...Hmm...Text for Wise / Huh...Huh...Text for Belle‍) I see...

Norma: What is it now?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍It's nothing, and sorry about that. Seems we were being overly cautious.It's nothing, and sorry about that. Seems we were being overly cautious.Text for Wise / Sorry about that. It's nothing. Looks like we were overthinking it.Sorry about that. It's nothing. Looks like we were overthinking it.Text for Belle‍) We'll fully cooperate from here on out. But could you elaborate on this material? That way we can (‍be sure tobe sure toText for Wise‍) give a proper answer.

Norma: Alright, that's easy enough! Listen closely, the name of the material is—

Norma is about to say the name of the material... when suddenly, the door of the video store is pushed open, interrupting her!
An elegant lady slowly walks in...

(The video store's doors open, and Velina walks inside)

Velina: My apologies for the wait.

Norma: Velina!

Flint Porcelloy

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Flint Porcelloy

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Video Summary: A friend from afar... uh, wait—isn't that a bit TOO far?

Story Description: Norma's companion, Velina, soon arrives and exchanges some information with you about the material, Flint Porcelloy, used in the Bangboo charm. After the two of them leave, you decide to sign up for the Hollow Champion competition.

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Norma: Ah, Velina, you finally made it!

Norma: There, she's the other specialist you asked about, Velina. She works in the same department as me. I handle the research, and she handles the meetings, approvals, and dealing with troublesome higher-ups!

So, you're Norma's superior?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Uh... So, you're Norma's superior? No, it feels more like you're her guardian...

Velina: Ah, I'm flattered. Norma is our ace. I'm just here to make sure she doesn't get caught up in any risky schemes you two Managers are running.

Norma: Huh?! Wait, Velina, you mean they were trying to bait me into talking just now?! Hey, seriously? That's way out of line!

Velina: Oh? You caught on fast. Looks like you've really improved your people skills lately. It's just... *sigh* it would've been even better if you'd remembered the letter actually includes a verification code that pulls up our ID photos.

Not long after...

Velina: Now that you no longer doubt our identities, we can finally speak openly.

Velina: Norma and I took the liberty of coming here today not to pry into your secrets or Miss Ye Shunguang's affairs, but solely because of that special material you just saw — Flint Porcelloy.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Flint Porcelloy?

Velina: That's right. Flint Porcelloy is a composite formed from Porcelume and certain metals. It has an unusually strong stabilizing effect on Ether, which makes it immensely valuable. That's why it's been kept under strict regulatory control.

Velina: A while back, a batch of registered Porcelloy went missing, and we have been tracking its whereabouts ever since.

Velina: That's why we hope to use eyewitness accounts to confirm whether the Porcelloy on the Creator's vessel is actually our target.

(If that's all I'm answering...)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (If that's all I'm answering, it doesn't seem like it would involve any sensitive information... and at the time, I did actually see a substance similar to Porcelloy on the enemy.)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (But what really concerns me is that brief moment of relief just now... was it really the Porcelloy? I have to be sure before I give them anything.)

Norma: Look, Velina! That expression the manager's making right now... That's the classic "I know everything, but I'm not saying a thing" face!

Velina: Hehe, easy there, Norma. The managers probably just want to borrow your little Bangboo to sort through their memories a bit. They'll answer our questions after that. Isn't that right, Managers?

(They saw right through my intentions? If that's the case...)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (Did she figure out what I was planning...? I guess I'll go ahead and accept their offer then.)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍YeahYeahText for Wise / YepYepText for Belle‍), that's right.

Norma: Then you should've just said so! Here, take it. Look all you want!

It really wasn't your imagination. The moment you take the pendant, your body suddenly feels much lighter, and only then do you realize how worn out you've been.

Then, as agreed, you describe the distribution and properties of the Porcelloy on the Creator's vessel, and they raise no further questions...

Velina: Thank you both, Managers, for sharing this intel. It's been extremely helpful. We'll be heading out now.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Hey, Wise, give back the Porcelloy pendant!Hey, Wise, give back the Porcelloy pendant!Text for Wise / Belle? Give back the Porcelloy pendant.Belle? Give back the Porcelloy pendant.Text for Belle‍) What's going on? Why are you so fixated on it?

Velina: Hmm... perhaps the Manager thinks there's something we overlooked? That's okay. We can leave the pendant here for the time being and pick it up later.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Huh? Are you sure? Didn't you just say... Porcelloy is a strictly regulated material?

Velina: That's right, the pendant's registered under our department. But I trust someone the new Void Hunter vouches for wouldn't put us in a compromising position.

You don't have to worry.

We'll keep it safe.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Don't worry, we'll keep it safe.

Velina and Norma leave...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise, what was that about just now? You suddenly agreed to tell Velina about seeing the Porcelloy, and you wouldn't let go of their pendant!Wise, what was that about just now? You suddenly agreed to tell Velina about seeing the Porcelloy, and you wouldn't let go of their pendant!Text for Wise / What's going on, Belle? You suddenly agreed to tell Velina about seeing the Porcelloy, and even kept their pendant?What's going on, Belle? You suddenly agreed to tell Velina about seeing the Porcelloy, and even kept their pendant?Text for Belle‍)

You briefly tell (‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍) how the Porcelloy affected you...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): So Porcelloy can ease your symptoms! If we can figure out how it actually works... it might solve our problem once and for all!

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): It's a shame we're just borrowing it, so we can't take it apart for an in-depth analysis. If only we had access to more Porcelloy...

Fairy: Notice: Key information has been located. Hollow Champion prize display: No. 001, a Flint Porcelloy W-Engine.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Hollow Champion?!

Meanwhile, near Sixth Street—

Norma: Seriously, Velina, you were just telling me not to tell those two anything, and now you're leaving my little Porcelloy Bangboo with them!

Velina: Speaking of which, when the Manager touched the Porcelloy just now, did you notice anything?

Norma: Hey! Stop dodging my question! They just have an Ether-sensitive constitution. It's rare, sure, but...

Norma: Huh... Wait, that's not right. We're in New Eridu right now! Ohhh, I get it! Well done, Velina! So then that (‍guyguyText for Wise / girlgirlText for Belle‍)...

Norma: So, what's next? What're you planning to do?

Velina: For now... nothing. Let's just wait and see how things play out. At least... until we get to the bottom of things...

 Talk to (‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍)

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Looks like the Hollow Champion competition has some Porcelloy-related prizes! Head over to the Starloop sign-ups area with (‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍) and check it out.

Video Store

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): The Hollow Champion competition... that's the one Nicole invited us to, right? Never thought they'd have what we're looking for there...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise, I already hit up Nicole and told her we're in for the competition.Wise, I already hit up Nicole and told her we're in for the competition.Text for Wise / Belle, I've already contacted Nicole and agreed to enter the competition with her.Belle, I've already contacted Nicole and agreed to enter the competition with her.Text for Belle‍) She wants us to meet her at the sign-ups... Should we head out now?

Where's the sign-ups?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): At Starloop Tower, apparently... They seriously rented out all of Starloop as the competition venue? TOPS is going all out this time! We (‍gotta lock in forgotta lock in forText for Wise / need to bring our A-game toneed to bring our A-game toText for Belle‍) this competition (‍if we wantif we wantText for Wise / forforText for Belle‍) that Porcelloy W-Engine!

Let's head out now.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍AlrightAlrightText for Wise / Got itGot itText for Belle‍), I'll get the car started!

I need some time to prepare.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Alright, I'll wait (‍here for you then!here for you then!Text for Wise / for you here then.for you here then.Text for Belle‍)

(Talk to (SiblingSiblingWise / Belle) again, if exited)

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise, you wannaWise, you wannaText for Wise / Belle, should weBelle, should weText for Belle‍) head out to Starloop Tower now?

Let's head out now.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍AlrightAlrightText for Wise / Got itGot itText for Belle‍), I'll get the car started!

I need some time to prepare.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Alright, I'll wait (‍here for you then!here for you then!Text for Wise / for you here then.for you here then.Text for Belle‍)