The next day.
"Sol, take me out for a ride."
Belle clung to Sol's arm, acting spoiled.
"No problem."
Sol agreed readily, immediately taking out his motorcycle and departing with Belle.
On the bike, Belle kept squirming, her little hands far from well-behaved.
But whenever Sol was about to stop the bike and teach her a lesson, she'd get scared and stop again.
The day after that—
"Sol, let's go on a picnic together!"
Belle clasped her hands, making a very cute request.
"Alright."
Sol made an OK gesture, and they set off once more.
This time, Belle started her little rubbing games again.
Just as Sol's temper was rising, she ran off like the wind.
On the third day, afternoon.
"Sol, let's watch the evening glow together!"
Belle pointed at the clouds in the distance, excited.
"..."
Sol rolled his eyes but agreed anyway.
At dusk, under the glowing sky, the two sat side by side on the sand.
Belle's small hands reached around Sol's waist and hugged him.
"Don't touch me."
Sol slapped away that tender hand, annoyed. This girl would tease but never follow through, always running halfway.
Repeatedly pushing the limits of his patience—this had to be revenge.
"Sol, why!"
Belle forced a laugh, asking pitifully.
"You touch me every day, then run away when it matters. What are you trying to do?"
Sol pinched Belle's cheeks, annoyed. "Did I offend you somehow? Is this revenge?"
"No, no, I'm grateful to you—I'd never want to get revenge…"
Belle avoided his gaze as she spoke.
"Then tell me—what are you and Nicole plotting?"
Sol squeezed her pretty cheeks, pretending to be fierce. "She keeps pushing me toward you. That's nothing like how jealous she got before when we so much as rode a bike together."
He found it strange—he couldn't figure out what the two women were up to.
Before, even a meal with Belle made Nicole furious with jealousy. Now she was sending Belle straight at him. Definitely suspicious.
No matter what he tried, Nicole kept her lips sealed—her mouth could be both soft and hard. He was stumped!
Are they just stringing me along on purpose, punishing me for being a scumbag?
Either way, he was boiling—this punishment was working.
"I can't say yet. I'll tell you tomorrow."
Belle looked at Sol earnestly, holding up one finger as she pleaded. "Sol… trust me one more time, okay?"
She felt helpless too. She tried doing desensitization training, but each time she couldn't take it and ran away.
But she'd made progress. With enough fuel-drink tomorrow, she'd definitely make it!
Seeing those bright, sincere eyes, Sol let go, sighing. "Fine. I'll trust you again."
Then he looked at Belle and warned, "Also—stop teasing me. If you keep it up, I won't be able to hold back. Don't cry when that happens."
If not for respecting Belle's choices, he would've already eaten up this mischievous little fox who flirted with him every day.
But one more time, and he definitely wouldn't let it slide.
"Mhm~"
Belle settled into Sol's arms, hugging his waist with both hands, her eyes narrowing happily.
How wonderful… he respected her so much.
"So, you really think I don't dare touch you?"
Sol lowered his head, speaking helplessly to Belle.
Belle rubbed her head against his chest like a playful kitten, smiling slyly. "Hehe, don't touch when you shouldn't touch, and don't not touch when it's your turn to touch."
"Don't do it again."
Sol ruffled Belle's hair and sighed.
Next time, he really would act.
"Hehe, don't do it again."
Belle didn't mind her messy hair at all. She looked up at Sol with meaning in her eyes.
Suddenly, she felt a certain flag rising beneath her legs.
Belle's face flushed bright red, yet she didn't jump away.
Tomorrow night—she'd deal with this little troublemaker.
...
Early the next morning.
Everyone woke up unusually early. After breakfast, they left Blazewood immediately.
Seven days had passed since Sol and the group arrived in the Outer Ring, and the day of the Tour de Inferno had finally arrived.
At this moment, the starting point was a sea of people—countless motorcycles lining up.
Not only were the Outer Ring factions here to participate in the Tour de Inferno, but many spectators had also gathered.
A host stood on stage with a microphone, passionately introducing the competing factions.
Every time a name was called, the supporters burst into cheers.
And the loudest of them all—
"The current dominators of the Outer Ring, the Vanquishers from Pallet Town!!!"
"Although the Vanquishers faced internal turmoil recently, Boss Pompey acted decisively and corrected everything. He's rallied his forces and appears very confident in Tour de Inferno!"
With the host's shout, a mass of underlings erupted.
"Vanquishers will win!"
"Boss Pompey will win!"
The cheers rose wave after wave, extremely fervent.
Not just the Vanquishers' underlings—many other Outer Ring residents joined in.
Even after the Lucius incident, Pompey's personal charisma earned him plenty of Outer Ring support. In fact, his fanbase had grown even larger.
"Looks like the Vanquishers are very popular!" the host shouted, expertly hyping up the crowd. "But they're not the only favorites. Their opponents—the Sons of Calydon from Blazewood!!!"
"Rumor has it the two factions already had bad blood. It was the Sons of Calydon who marched into the Vanquishers' territory and pulled them off their pedestal, exposing No. 2 Lucius's dark schemes!"
"So, between these nemeses, who will seize final victory and become the new rulers of the Outer Ring!?"
His voice was full of provocation, igniting the audience's excitement.
Correspondingly—
The factions of the Sons of Calydon and the Vanquishers tensed up, sparks practically crackling in the air.