Caesar hesitated to answer him, so Wise chose not to press the matter. The two of them carried on as if nothing had happened.
Even so, Caesar felt a faint sense of unease, but she wasn't disappointed. If anything, her determination to become a true Overlord only grew stronger.
When the time came, she had already made up her mind. She would marry Wise and bring him back to the Outer Ring in grand fashion.
The thought eased her heart, though a soft blush still lingered on her cheeks.
"Even if I'm not the smartest, once I set my sights on something, I charge forward like a wild boar. I won't back down," Caesar said firmly. "I'll work hard to catch up with them. Besides, I'm not alone. I have people supporting me. For now, I'll focus on the Tour de Inferno."
She clenched her fists slightly, her eyes filled with resolve.
"Uncle Pompey is a worthy opponent. This time, I'm going to face him head-on in the Tour de Inferno!"
Her confidence was clear, and for Wise, that was enough. In his view, being a leader didn't require overwhelming strength or brilliance.
What mattered more was the ability to win people's hearts, and that was something Caesar possessed naturally. In fact, it was where she truly shone.
As evening drew near, their conversation came to an end. Without wasting time, the two mounted Caesar's motorcycle and headed back to Blazewood.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Old Oil Field...
Lucius was reporting the distribution of cargo routes to Pompey. On the surface, it was an ordinary exchange within the camp.
What stood out, however, was a camera that had silently appeared in a dark corner.
Why was that unusual?
Because in the Outer Ring, there was no place capable of producing such an advanced device.
There was no need to question its origin—it was Fairy.
Wise hadn't been completely at ease about the Vanquishers. Even though Pompey, as an Overlord, seemed honorable, Wise still took precautions.
Fairy had clearly been sent to keep watch, just in case their opponents were planning something behind the scenes.
As mentioned before, the Outer Ring lacked advanced network infrastructure. Otherwise, she wouldn't have needed to observe them in person.
Once the conversation in the camp ended, Fairy didn't linger. She moved quietly toward an isolated spot, then transformed into a small aircraft and swiftly flew back to Blazewood through the night sky.
It was obvious that she had discovered something.
Lucius had secretly slipped a substance infused with Ether into Pompey's glass of water.
After returning, Fairy immediately reported everything to Wise, leaving him genuinely surprised.
"I didn't see that coming. That Lucius guy looks decent on the surface, but he's actually a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"|Agreed. According to internet slang, someone like him would be called... a scumbag!|"
Fairy agreed with Wise's words, but he nearly choked when he heard her.
"Cough... Fairy, listen. Try not to pick up that kind of slang next time."
"|Understood, Master. Since you've said so, that word has been added to the 'Words That Must Not Be Used' list.|"
Wise didn't dwell on her playful reply. His AI companion had always been like this. Recently, though, she had become not just playful, but a bit mischievous as well.
Still, sending Fairy had only been a precaution. He hadn't expected to uncover something this serious.
So what should he do next?
From the information Fairy gathered, it wasn't difficult to guess that Lucius was working with a corporate force from the city, though the exact organization remained unclear.
Their target could only be Cinder Lake. Whether it was for Caesar or for the ordinary people of the Old Oil Field, Wise knew he had to act.
But how should he go about it?
Should he head straight to the Vanquishers' camp, find Pompey, and present the information along with the evidence?
No. Pompey trusted his subordinates deeply.
There was a high chance that he wouldn't believe a one-sided claim from an outsider like Wise. Worse, Lucius might twist the situation and turn it against him.
As for using force to subdue them all... that was even less realistic. Acting recklessly like that would only make things spiral out of control.
After carefully weighing his options, Wise made a decision. He had Fairy send an anonymous message directly to Pompey's personal communicator, ensuring it wouldn't be overlooked.
As for whether Pompey would believe it... that would have to wait.
Either way, once the Tour de Inferno began, he would enter the Hollow as well. If Lucius tried anything, he would have to deal with him first.
Just then, Lucy walked up to him.
"Wise, you really did a great job! Ever since Caesar got back from the city, she's been in a much better mood. She even seems more lively than before!"
"That's thanks to you, Lucy. If you hadn't persuaded her, things wouldn't have gone this smoothly," Wise replied with a faint smile.
He chose not to mention what he had learned. Telling Lucy now would only make her anxious.
"Hmph, you're pretty smooth with your words. Is that how you managed to cheer Caesar up too?"
Lucy had unknowingly hit the truth, making Wise feel slightly uneasy. Still, the notification showing her favorability rising to 70 felt completely at odds with her tone.
On the massive screen, an Outer Ring female host named Jonny delivered an energetic commentary, pushing the excitement of the race to its peak.
At the starting line, Caesar, Lucy, and Lighter sat astride their motorcycles, poised to move at any moment. Wise had already used his abilities to take partial control of Eous and was now seated in front of Caesar.
Opposite them stood Pompey, Lucius, and Mors, equally prepared.
One side were challengers. The other, the reigning force defending the title of Overlord.
"Uncle Pompey! The finals are finally here! This time, I'm going all out. Let's have a real showdown!" Caesar called out, her voice brimming with excitement.
Her grip tightened around the handlebars without her noticing.
Pompey crossed his arms, a confident smirk on his face.
"Heh, you've got quite the spirit, kid. Fine then, show me what you've got. Just don't bore me."
With the exchange of words over, the host immediately announced the start of the race. Neither side hesitated.
The moment the signal was given, they twisted their throttles, engines roaring as they surged forward.
Meanwhile, in the audience, Belle watched the delayed broadcast on the massive screen inside the Hollow, unable to hide her concern.
She knew that her brother had already entered the Hollow. This time, he wasn't just controlling Eous—he had gone in with his real body as well, accompanied by Fairy.
Elsewhere, within the Hollow itself, Wise and Fairy moved swiftly, weaving past the real-time broadcast drones as they headed toward a critical point along the route that Caesar and the others would soon pass.
He already knew that explosives had been planted along the cliff ahead. His plan was to dismantle them before anyone arrived.
But things didn't go as planned.
+- - -+
-[ AD ]-
+- - -+
+- - -+
Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
+- - -+
✨ 40+ Advance Chapters • Early Access ✨
📚 Read Ahead Here:
[- p - a - t - r - e - o - n . com / DysFiction -]
💖 Enjoying the Story? Support My Work:
[ ko - fi . com / dysfiction ]
+- - -+
📖 Available Novels
🔹 Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
↳ (Translation)
🔹 Azur Lane: Don't Fight! You're All My Wives!
↳ (Translation)
🔹 Zenless Zone Zero: Death in White
↳ (Original Story — Exclusive Until Chapter 30)
+- - -+