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"You mentioned earlier that almost everyone on Sixth Street knows your identities. Are you all that united, or is it just that no one's brave enough to report you?"
Kenji spoke with a hint of genuine curiosity. He had always assumed Phaethon was an urban legend—a high-security ghost in the machine—but finding out the neighbors were in on the secret made the legendary Proxies feel a lot more like a local mom-and-pop shop.
"Well, everyone around here has their own... side jobs. You'll see for yourself in the future," Wise said somewhat awkwardly.
Kenji understood the subtext immediately: everyone on this street had a skeleton in their closet. In a place where everyone is a little bit "gray," no one is foolish enough to invite the authorities to start digging. Sixth Street was a microcosm of New Eridu: simple folk, brimming with illegal talent, and remarkably harmonious neighbors.
"There's an old saying in my hometown: 'He who touches pitch shall be defiled,'" Kenji sighed. "It's true. I'm trying to stay 'clean' by hanging out with Zhu Yuan, but being around you two is definitely going to stain my record."
"I have another question," Kenji added, looking at the siblings. "In your eyes, am I actually a person of Sixth Street?"
He knew he was an outsider who had manifested out of nowhere, yet no one here had ever questioned his origin.
"Aren't you?" Belle retorted.
"I'm a new resident. I don't know the layout of this street nearly as well as the Public Security Bureau does."
"Oh right... you are technically new," Belle muttered, her eyes widening as she discovered a blind spot in her own perception. "Why does it feel like you've been here for years? I didn't even think to be on my guard when we started talking earlier. It's like you just... fit."
"Don't blame your simple-mindedness on metaphysics," Wise barked at his sister, though he looked pensive. "But she's right. There's something about you, Kenji. You have a kind face. You aren't bound by rigid rules; you just adhere to whatever justice you carry in your heart. That's a Sixth Street trait if I ever saw one."
"I like the sound of that. Keep it coming," Kenji said, leaning back on the sofa with a look of pure enjoyment. He wasn't a saint; he could appreciate a well-delivered compliment, especially from a legendary Proxy.
"Your skin is so thick it could be used as a combat boot sole," Belle muttered under her breath.
"Phaethon," Kenji said, his voice dropping an octave as he fixed her with a meaningful smile. "You wouldn't want the PSB to find out your true identities, would you?"
Belle's scalp tingled. Is this the 'good person' my brother was talking about? She couldn't even remember how to spell the word 'good' anymore.
"This... This handsome and dashing Security Officer, sir!" Belle suddenly beamed with an almost fawning smile. "I've never admired anyone as much as I admire heroes like you! My respect for you is as continuous as the Ether pipelines and as unstoppable as the expansion of a Hollow!"
Kenji chuckled. Her talent for flattery was top-tier. He made a mental note to tell Qingyi about this later—she'd love the "Ether pipelines" metaphor.
"Alright, do whatever you want, just don't hurt anyone. I'm heading out," Kenji said, standing up and draining his tea to the last drop.
"Wait, why did you even come back in the first place?" Belle asked, still reeling from the forced flattery.
"This movie series, Super Great White Shark," Kenji said, holding up the videotapes. "I rented 1 and 3, but realized I was missing 2. I can't watch them out of order. What kind of monster do you take me for?"
"I hate sharks!" Belle snapped, remembering her ride with Ellen Joe wasn't the only shark-related stress in her life. She found him the tape and practically shooed him out of the store like he was a plague god.
Back in his apartment, Kenji began his daily workout. His injuries from the Durahan fight had completely vanished. He suspected that the Rider power wasn't just for combat; it was actively repairing his biology. Fans back on Earth joked that the belts drained the user's life, but perhaps in this world, the belts realized that if Kenji died, they'd lose their only anchor to reality.
He exercised while the Super Great White Shark sequel played in the background. By the time the credits rolled, he concluded that the shark was the only one in the film who knew how to act.
"Substitute Cloth, you did great today," Kenji said to the Bangboo training beside him. The "Mosaic" ability had been a lifesaver. Using Build Genius logic to create a hybrid of electrical and Ether energy had resulted in the ultimate partner.
"Ora!" The Bangboo struck a bodybuilding pose, its metallic muscles gleaming.
"But I can't 'faint' every time," Kenji mused. "Next time, you might have to swap with me mid-mission. Just don't give yourself away. My Captain is sharp; if she notices you don't have feelings for her, she'll know something's wrong."
The Next Morning
Kenji woke up and reached for his daily "Gacha." Usually, a heavy belt would materialize on the nightstand, but today, his hand met something thin and rectangular.
A card deck.
"So, it's you today."
He picked up the black card box, tracing the exquisite dragon pattern sealed upon it. A sharp, knowing smile played across his lips. He walked over to the full-length mirror.
In the reflection, a silver, mechanical belt—the V-Buckle—was already cinched around his waist. He held the card box toward the glass, watching the rhythmic pulse of the mirror world.
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