"Anyway, let's put the city stuff aside for now."
The Class President patted Phaga on the shoulder and smoothly swiped a slice of pizza, mumbling through a mouthful, "Chew, chew… Looking at how things turned out, it feels like the city's upper echelon had been courting the vampire faction for a long time, then suddenly turned around and stabbed TOPS in the back."
"In my opinion, this might actually be a good thing. Maybe the city leadership seized the moment perfectly. If TOPS takes a heavy hit, prices across the board could drop."
Phaga shrugged and gave a wry smile, saying nothing.
He knew the Class President wasn't wrong. The city's upper echelon weren't exactly good people either, but compared to TOPS, they might as well be saints.
Public opinion was now firmly on the side of the city leadership. It was the perfect time for a reckoning.
Before long—crack down on the tycoons, redistribute the benefits.
TOPS falls, New Eridu eats well.
On the high end, they could legally reclaim TOPS's industries and open up more jobs. On the low end, they could distribute social welfare, use the momentum to renovate infrastructure, and conveniently boost citizen happiness.
Honestly, as long as the city leadership behaves like actual human beings—even with intelligence on the level of a paramecium—New Eridu would reap massive gains. Their prestige would skyrocket, and their political influence would undoubtedly soar.
If… TOPS really did get crushed that easily, stomped into the dirt by the city leadership.
Thinking it through, though, there really didn't seem to be any reason for them to lose.
"Chew, chew… I think what the Class President said makes sense," Ruby chimed in at some point, holding a slice of pizza in both hands and taking small bites. "After all, no matter what, military authority is still in the city leadership's hands!"
"And besides… chew, chew… they've got Void Hunters. Sure, only Miss Ya is still in her prime… chew, chew… but even an elderly Void Hunter is still a Void Hunter. There's no way they can't suppress a mere TOPS."
"What do you take TOPS for…"
Hearing Ruby talk about them like they were stray cats and dogs, Ellen couldn't help muttering under her breath. She quickly snatched the last two slices of pizza before the black-and-white doll could get to them.
One went to Phaga. One stayed with her.
The moment Phaga took his slice, a tragic wail erupted.
Turning his head, he saw the black-and-white doll crying and throwing a tantrum, rolling around in midair.
[Damn it! You insignificant humans! I fought all night yesterday, and the first thing I did this morning was treat your food poisoning! And now, when you're handing out pizza, there's none for me?! You've gone too far!]
As it spoke, the doll continued rolling in the air, crying pitifully.
[I'm so hungry! So hungry! I should've never left the Hollow! Humans outside discriminate against Ethereals!]
Ellen shot it a sideways glance. "Who's discriminating against you… And besides, don't Ethereals not need to eat anyway?"
The doll froze mid-roll, stiff in the air.
A moment later, it started thrashing again.
[I just don't need to eat—it doesn't mean I can't eat!]
[You're all deliberately ignoring me! No allowance, and you don't even share the good food!]
"Alright, alright, Little Black-White," Ruby said, unable to take the crying any longer.
She pulled the doll into her arms and stuffed a half-eaten slice of pizza into its mouth. Then she turned toward the exit of Cheesetopia and waved back. "I'm heading out first… "Oh—right, Class President. Today's a school day, not the weekend. Don't forget to help me file a leave request!"
…
"It's already noon and you're only thinking about that now?"
He followed her out, calling back, "Check your phone—there might be a surprise waiting."
"Let's hope that 'surprise' isn't something that gets me in serious trouble…"
After Ruby and the others left, only Phaga and Ellen remained inside Cheesetopia.
As for Kasa, who had been busy in the back kitchen the whole time without showing her face… there was no need to worry about him.
Ellen sat down beside Phaga in silence. When she noticed he hadn't spoken for a while, she leaned over and bumped his shoulder, muttering with her head lowered, "Hey… they're all gone. So… can we go find somewhere to have fun now?"
Phaga lowered his head and took a bite of pizza, replying flatly, "Fun? We've got plenty of time. Now's not the right moment."
Ellen's breathing hitched.
The next second, she lunged at Phaga, grabbing him and shaking him hard as she shouted, "Who told you I meant that?!"
"Wait—wait!"
Phaga hurriedly called out, and after a moment, Ellen finally calmed down.
Looking down, Phaga immediately caught the blush spreading across her face. The rising heat left her words tangled and rushed.
"I—I meant everyday stuff… normal things… just regular ways couples kill time… what were you thinking?!"
"Uh…" Phaga twitched the corner of his mouth, lifting the pizza in his hand. "The more you explain it, the more inappropriate it sounds. I was talking about this—I'm not even done eating yet…"
"…Huh?"
Ellen froze.
She quietly climbed off Phaga, silently returned to her seat, and took a bite of her own pizza.
But the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Her face burned hotter and hotter.
Ahhh—this is so embarrassing!
Forget it!
With a sharp twist of her waist, Ellen leaned over and took a huge bite out of Phaga's pizza.
Phaga blinked, watching as half the slice vanished from his hand in an instant.
…What just happened?
Turning his head, he saw Ellen tilt her chin up and swallow the pizza in just a few bites.
The next moment, Ellen wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth, planted one foot on the chair, and grabbed Phaga's hand, yanking him up with force.
Ruby's earlier whispered words echoed in her mind.
[Listen up, Ellen. Based on my observations—yes, from me, the future legendary Investigator—male psychology and child psychology share an uncanny similarity. From birth to death, there are two things that never change.]
[First, they want to cuddle a well-behaved little bunny girl.]
[Second, they want to get close to a domineering wolf lady.]
[Judging by how you usually act, you're definitely not the obedient bunny type. But on the wolf side… you might have a shot. Be a bit forceful. Drag Phaga along—maybe you'll have a great time.]
…Can Ruby really be trusted?
Ellen closed her eyes, then opened them again. As she snapped back to the present, determination settled into her gaze.
Still, having a plan was better than having none. She'd trust Ruby this once.
With a swish of her tail, Ellen hooked Phaga around the waist and pulled him to her side, her other arm wrapping around him immediately.
From the outside, it looked like Ellen was the one holding Phaga. Kasa, peeking from the corner, was completely stunned.
Just like she'd imagined.
The weak, helpless Phaga had long since been swallowed whole by the great shark.
"Come on. You're coming with me!"
Ellen pulled the still-dazed Phaga along and strode toward the exit of Cheesetopia.
"Today, you listen to me. Senior's taking you out to have some fun!"