After inviting Hoshimi Miyabi and Soukaku into the house and having them sit down, Sol began to busy himself along with Billy and Anby.

It wasn't fancy—this time, the plan was sheer quantity and satisfaction.

Two whole spicy chicken chunks, five pounds of beef and potato stew, three pounds of braised pork, two pounds of shredded potatoes, and four pounds of dry rice cooked into nine pounds of fluffy rice.

With Anby, the household's resident big eater, already here and now another guest who could eat just as much, they had to be well-prepared.

As for Soukaku, Sol's feelings were a bit complicated. Half a month since the game launched, he still only had Rina as an S-rank. This blue-haired little loli, though only a rare rank, had already reached four stars and become his main DPS.

Seeing her here now in person, so tiny and familiar, actually made him feel a bit nostalgic. He didn't have much else to give—so he'd treat her to a hearty meal.

While they waited, Sol thoughtfully brought out some snacks for the two.

They were some little treats he'd picked up during his last grocery run.

One plate of fruit-flavored hard candy, and another with cookies and mini cakes.

"Section Chief, Sol is such a great guy!"

Soukaku praised him from the heart.

As she sniffed the delicious aroma in the air, she tore open a pack of cookies.

Though they'd only just met less than an hour ago, Soukaku had already labeled Sol a good person in her mind.

He was willing to feed her, and even gave her snacks—truly one of the world's best people.

"Soukaku, trusting people too easily isn't always a good thing."

Hoshimi Miyabi said seriously while sucking on a honeydew-flavored candy.

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!"

Soukaku nodded earnestly, stuffing cookies into her mouth.

She wasn't that easy to trust either—but this was so much meat!

One hour later.

The food was ready. In front of Billy was a plate of neatly arranged hydro batteries and a cup of smooth motor oil. Six people gathered around the table to eat.

Anby wore a solemn expression, like a general heading into battle.

Her opponent? The blue-haired little loli, Soukaku.

Though she looked petite, Soukaku ate like a whirlwind.

"Ah-wu, ah-wu, nomph!"

Soukaku shoveled meat into her mouth piece by piece, wearing a blissful expression.

Her tiny stomach seemed like a black hole, devouring food endlessly.

In just a short while, a whole Phaethon and two bowls of rice had disappeared into her belly.

"So, this is the elite of Section 6 of the Hollow Special Operations Unit? Truly formidable."

Anby said seriously, staring at Soukaku.

That eating prowess had already far surpassed hers.

Billy sipped his hydro battery and muttered helplessly, "I don't think this is what makes them so impressive…"

"Damn, she can eat that much? That's a whole week's worth of my rations!" Nicole watched, heartbroken. "I have to get a photo. This absolutely can't go undocumented!"

At the table, Hoshimi Miyabi sat beside Sol, separated by about half a meter.

It wasn't that Sol had deliberately sat close—it was just that the others were too afraid to sit next to a Void Hunter, so he ended up next to Miyabi.

Hoshimi Miyabi ate very little, maintaining a graceful posture. She wasn't very hungry to begin with, so she naturally didn't eat much.

Seeing she'd nearly finished, Sol asked his question: "Miss Miyabi, I want to understand how someone can become a Void Hunter."

"Possessing great strength and making significant contributions to New Eridu will earn you the honorary title of Void Hunter."

Hoshimi Miyabi set down her chopsticks and gracefully wiped her mouth clean.

"Uh, so if I cleared out the Cretan Companion Hollow on Fourteenth Street, would that qualify me to be a Void Hunter?" Sol continued.

"No, that's still far from enough." Miyabi shook her head and replied seriously. "New Eridu already has the capacity to handle most Companion Hollows. The reason they aren't cleared is simply that the cost outweighs the benefit."

"If clearing Companion Hollows were enough to earn Void Hunter status, then several Defense Force commanders would already have qualified—they've eliminated quite a few."

"If you clear a Hollow alone, it proves you possess strength on par with a Void Hunter—but it doesn't earn you the honor itself."

In reality, if a Companion Hollow appeared in a particularly sensitive area, it would be eliminated immediately.

For example, the city center of New Eridu—there had been two Hollow disasters there before.

But both times, the Hollows were taken out by the authorities before they had even fully formed.

The cleanup was so fast, not even a person with only 30-points Ether Aptitude—i.e., technically non-compatible—was corrupted into an Ethereal.

That's why real estate in the city center sold for over 100 million Denny per square meter—sometimes even more—and still had no shortage of buyers.

It was practically a guaranteed safe zone. All the wealthy, high-ranking officials, and gang leaders scrambled to live there.

Even if the world were to end, that would be the last place to fall.

"So that's how it is. I knew becoming a Void Hunter wouldn't be that easy."

Sol wasn't surprised at all.

When he cleared the Cretan Companion Hollow, he already had a feeling.

Sure, he could kill fast on his own—but three hundred Defense Force members working together could do it even faster.

Clearing one Companion Hollow might qualify someone as an ace investigator in the Hollow Investigative Association—but not a Void Hunter of New Eridu.

"If you want to become a Void Hunter by clearing Hollows, it is possible—but you'd have to take down an Original Hollow." Miyabi added, "But Original Hollows…"

"I'm not planning on tackling an Original Hollow just yet—let's talk about something else."

Sol didn't make any bold declarations about immediately clearing an Original Hollow to become a Void Hunter.

An Original Hollow was equivalent to dozens of Companion Hollows—and contained level-7 or higher ultra-dangerous Ethereal threats.

To clear one, given his current strength, would mean becoming a slave for a whole year. That wasn't worth it.

Still, after a year, he'd get to pick three gold cards. By then he could just turn into Madara and make all the Ethereal dance.

"As for other ways—you could work with official organizations like the Public Security Bureau, Hollow Special Ops, or the Defense Forces and complete certain high-priority commissions." Hoshimi Miyabi said seriously. "These special commissions often involve threats to all of New Eridu. The rewards are generous and come with lots of merit."

She looked at Sol with a hint of anticipation.

After all, her reason for being here was to assess Sol's danger level—and see if he could be recruited.

So far, he didn't seem like a dangerous person. And if he could be recruited, even better.

"In that case, once I finish dealing with this Hollow, I'll consider those official commissions."

Sol said thoughtfully.

He was open to accepting official commissions—after all, it was paid work, and whether he took it or not would still be up to him.

Second, he was currently in league with the Cunning Hares and Phaethon, and there was hope for further collaboration.

Knowing how miHoYo tends to operate, New Eridu's crisis would definitely be tied to those two forces—knives big and small were bound to show up.

So yeah—some things, he couldn't and wouldn't avoid.

Damn it, I've already pulled the gacha—no way I'm letting you backstab me now!