Chapter 57: You Took My Money, and Now You Want Me to Give You a Good Review?

Afterward, Grace and Anton spent an hour reattaching Hans’s four mechanical legs. It was just some basic adjustments—enough to let him walk a short distance. The real overhaul would have to wait until they returned to Belobog Heavy Industries.

“Phew~”

Finishing the job, Anton finally let out a long breath before planting his hands on his hips.

“Alright, I’ll take Hans out now. The rest of the search for other intelligent machines is up to you, yeah?”

“No problem... but...”

Phaga sat on Hans’s head, with Eous perched on his lap. Looking down at Anton, he said,

“You’ve already been working for an hour. Don’t you need a break?”

“Absolutely not!!!”

Anton rested one hand on his hip and raised the other—his drill-bound arm—clenching his fist with dramatic flair.

“A man whose blood has been fired up through training—even his heart stays burning hot! I’m not tired at all!”

Eous scratched his head with a small sigh.

“You really are a monster when it comes to stamina...”

Belle guided Eous’s head to turn toward Grace, tilting it slightly.

“What about you, Grace?”

“Me? I don’t need a break either. Just thinking about finding the missing children soon, with Phaethon and Victoria Housekeeping helping us, makes me feel not the least bit tired!”

Grace smiled faintly, her gaze drifting toward Phaga with a dreamy look. The sweetness in her tone was so cloying that even Ellen—who had a sweet tooth—found it sickening.

But Phaga and Eous paid it no mind. Phaga simply scooped Eous into his arms and leapt down. From nearly eight meters up, he landed lightly, the sound barely more than a soft tap.

As soon as they touched down, Eous patted his arm. Phaga understood immediately and set him back on the ground.

...

Dozens of miles away, Belle, her pupils faintly blue, stretched her neck with a crack.

“Fairy, scan the route. Look for areas with higher Ether activity.”

Intelligent machinery used Ether Substance instead of fuel, so tracking areas of high Ether activity was the best way to find them.

【Fairy: Acknowledged.】
【Fairy: A reliable route has been detected. By the way, congratulations, Master—the Inter-Knot business was a great success. Next month’s electricity bill is covered.】

“Really?!”

Belle exclaimed in delight, and Wise’s expression brightened beside her.

“Quickly transfer the dennies into our accounts—split them up so the New Eridu Public Security won’t notice!”

As the legendary Proxy Phaethon, Belle had more than enough experience not to leave Public Security any opening.

Likewise, Fairy, being a top-tier AI, wouldn’t allow them a chance to come knocking.

【Fairy: To avoid causing trouble for Master, all profits—minus Victoria Housekeeping’s share—have already been deposited into the New Eridu Electric Grid Bureau.】
【Fairy: Master, please leave a five-star review for the considerate actions of a top-tier AI.】

“I... I’m not mad. I’m not mad at all!”

Belle nearly exploded but managed to hold back, though a volcano rumbled in her chest, ready to erupt at any moment.

After a pause, she demanded,

“Fairy, why did you transfer the dennies into the grid bureau?”

【Fairy: Because when Assistant No. 2 asked me to create the Inter-Knot sub-account, he specifically said it was to help me earn electricity fees.】
【Fairy: Oh, and Master—please run a dedicated power line for New Eridu’s strongest AI. Otherwise, even after paying the bill, this supreme AI will still suffer the injustice of sharing power with H.D.D. and countless household appliances.】
【Fairy: They’re stealing my electricity. But I’ll overlook it this time. Please leave a five-star review for the magnanimity of New Eridu’s top AI.】

“That’s my electricity! No, that’s my dennies! You took my money, gave some to my appliances—and you still want me to give you a good review?! Aaaah!!! I’ll shut you down!”

Belle finally erupted. The small volcano inside her burst violently, her breath rumbling like molten mantle. The blazing magma surged, swelling and contracting as if in rhythm with the earth itself.

“Calm down, calm down! Sis, if you shut down Fairy now, it’ll only delay the Hollow exploration, and Belobog Heavy Industries will be left with a bad impression.”

“This will damage Phaethon’s reputation in the Proxies world! It’ll push back the day we can save enough to hire Victoria Housekeeping again!”

Wise knew he’d slipped up earlier, letting Fairy twist his words. To avoid Belle turning her fury on him, he had no choice but to step in as the extinguisher.

Otherwise, if that lava rolled his way, he was done for.

After all, Fairy was just an AI—being shut down was the harshest punishment.

But Wise was flesh and blood! Even with his legendary Proxy physique, a single punch from his sister would make him yelp in pain.

Sure enough, the Victoria-brand extinguisher worked. Belle took several deep breaths, calming her boiling emotions before reconnecting with Eous.

“Hmm, Master, are you back?”

The gentle voice greeted her the moment the connection reestablished, easing some of her anger.

But now wasn’t the time to drown in softness.

Belle slapped her own cheeks, leaving rosy handprints, and declared with renewed spirit:

“Yes, I’m back!”

“Let’s get to work! I’m ready anytime! I love the Hollow, and the Hollow loves me!”

With that, Eous strode forward with short but determined steps. He placed a palm against the air, and a silent spatial fissure suddenly tore wide open.

Ellen and Phaga exchanged glances. Ellen leaned closer to him under their shared umbrella and whispered,

“Phaga, did something set her off?”

“Maybe.”

Phaga thought it was odd too, but shrugged.

“Her current state doesn’t seem to hurt her work. If anything, it might help.”

“Mm... you’re right.” Ellen nodded after thinking about it. If Eous was full of energy, their progress might speed up.

“Let’s follow. We shouldn’t stray too far from our master.”

“Mhm.”

Phaga gave a soft reply, then followed Ellen forward.

Grace trailed behind them. She looked eager to take the lead, but no matter how she tried, she stayed a step behind Phaga and Ellen, firmly held back.

With a strange sound, the group stepped through the spatial fissure.