"What's this…"
Before the person could finish, Billy cut in, "This is a reward from the Hollows Special Operations Department for Sam Li. It's got 500,000 Dennies, a commendation certificate, and some kind of honorary warrior—or something like that, right?"
"Wait, how did you know? Don't tell me…"
"Relax, I'll hand everything over to Sam Li. Alright, alright, you can go now…"
"…"
"That's the fourth commendation already. What on earth did Sam Li do to catch the attention of so many government departments?"
Carrying the package, Billy returned to Hare's House, too lazy to even check what was inside. He just tossed it on the table and went back to watching the news report about the Federer District on TV. The host went on and on, praising the golden statue as if it were some all-powerful deity—even Billy started getting curious.
But just then, he heard another car pull up outside. Billy figured it had to be another government department dropping off more awards for Sam Li.
He sighed and got up.
As soon as he reached the door, Billy froze. It was Nicole's car.
He rushed out, "Nicole, you're finally back! Where did you guys go this morning?"
He called out a few times, but Nicole didn't respond.
Moments later, she stepped out of the car looking dejected, followed by Anby and Nekomata.
Billy looked confused. "Boss Nicole, where'd you all go? To the Starlight Knights joint restaurant? Or the new place that just opened?"
Nicole shot him a glare. "All you ever think about is food…"
Billy blinked. "…"
He had no idea why she was upset.
Off to the side, Nekomata whispered, "Nicole's in a really bad mood. You'd better not bother her."
Billy frowned. "What happened?"
Anby explained, "Nicole saw on the forum that if you pray in front of the golden statue in the Federer District, money will start rolling in. She believed it and dragged us there first thing in the morning. After praying, she even bought lottery tickets."
Billy immediately asked, "Did you win?"
Anby shook her head. "Of course not. So Nicole's in a foul mood—wasted the trip and lost a thousand Dennies."
Billy was speechless. "…"
Yeah… that did sound like something Nicole would do.
Just then, Nicole's voice echoed angrily from inside Hare's House. "Billy! Did you buy gun oil online again? I told you the store has discounts!"
Billy rushed over to check.
Turns out Nicole was talking about the packages that had just arrived.
Excited, Billy said, "Nicole, don't be mad…"
Nicole glared at him, then groaned. "Why do other people win the lottery after praying, but not me? I'm so mad…"
Everyone else prays and wins—she didn't even win a single Dennie. So much for luck rolling in.
Total scam. She wasn't falling for any of that divine nonsense again.
Billy nudged her, "Nicole, take a look at these packages—they're all from official departments. Public Security Bureau, Defense Army, Hollows Investigation Association—they're all awards!"
That finally got her attention.
She eyed the packages suspiciously. On closer look, they all did have official department logos. Billy wasn't lying.
Nicole picked one up. Her eyes widened as she saw the amount inside.
She quickly began counting—100,000… 200,000… 300,000… 500,000… Just from the Public Security Bureau alone, there was a 500,000 Dennie reward.
Then she tore open the rest—Public Security Bureau, Defense Army, Hollows Investigation Association, and the Hollows Special Operations Department. Altogether, they'd sent over two million Dennies in rewards.
Nicole clutched the money, grinning from ear to ear.
"Two million! Two million! So this is what it means when fortune rolls in!"
Her disappointment vanished in an instant, replaced with excitement and joy.
Two million Dennies in one go.
Something like this was unimaginable in the old Hare's House days. But now, it was real.
Beaming, Nicole declared, "Told you the statue works!"
Billy facepalmed. "Nicole, you just said the statue was a scam…"
Nicole snapped back, "Nonsense! You must've heard wrong. I'm the most devoted follower of the golden statue. Of course he'd bless me with wealth."
Billy: "…"
Off to the side, Nekomata flipped through the documents on the table and suddenly panicked. "Honorary Sheriff, Honorary Captain, Honorary Investigator… Nicole, this is serious. They're trying to poach Sam Li!"
Nicole snatched a document and frowned as she read it.
Anby said calmly, "They're just honorary titles. They don't mean much. Sam Li won't care about that stuff."
Billy, however, looked worried. "But those departments have deep pockets. What if they offer him a better deal…"
Hearing that, Nekomata's eyes lit up. "So, to keep Sam Li from leaving, we've gotta treat him well. Take him out for big meals! Nicole, let's have Wagyu beef for dinner tonight!"
Nicole narrowed her eyes at him.
Of course she saw through that little scheme.
But still… Nekomata had a point.
Hare's House couldn't lose Sam Li. Losing him would be like New Eridu losing its ether supply—everything would collapse.
To keep Sam Li around, they needed to offer him better treatment.
Nicole cleared her throat and said seriously, "Alright, decision made. Since Hare's House is doing well financially, we're going out for hot pot at lunch."
Nekomata jumped up. "Yes! I want mackerel hot pot!"
Billy sighed. "If only we could go to the Starlight Knights joint restaurant…"
Nekomata added excitedly, "I'm texting Sam Li right now to tell him to come back!"
Nicole quickly waved her off. "Don't tell him—I want it to be a surprise!"
Anby took a deep breath and smiled faintly. "Under Nicole and Sam Li's leadership, Hare's House is finally back on track—no more financial troubles."
...
While Nicole, Anby, and Nekomata were busy planning a feast for Sam Li that evening...
At that moment, over on Sixth Street, in front of Master Tingman's coffee shop.
Sam Li, like always, had strolled around Sixth Street before settling down at the café's entrance, waiting for clients.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen—it was a message from Ellen on Knock Knock Chat.