Chapter 317 - 317: There Is Good News, but There Is Also Bad News

"Oh, long story short... later, I tried modifying that engine myself, but I ran out of money, and it barely made any difference," Piper said, leaning against Wise with tears in her eyes.

Burnice, who had been listening nearby, was deeply moved.

"What a touching story! It's just like a husband refusing to give up on his terminally ill wife!"

"Don't say my wife... no, don't say my car has a terminal illness!" Piper shot back stubbornly.

Even so, she couldn't hide the sadness on her face.

"I never thought of it that way. Still, if you're willing to ask me properly, I can try to solve the problem," Wise offered.

"Eh? You're going to lend me money?"

"Hmm, if you need it, it's not out of the question. After all, I've lent friends money for investments plenty of times."

Who Wise was referring to hardly needed to be said. Considering a certain someone had repaid him countless times yet never managed to finish paying off the debt, there was clearly a reason for it.

"Wise... you're so kind, but let's not. The problem with Steeltusk isn't something money alone can solve..."

Piper dejectedly declined Wise's kindness, though she had clearly misunderstood what he meant.

"I wasn't talking about lending you money. I was talking about modifying it myself, if you'll let me."

"What? I didn't expect you to know about this kind of thing, too! That's great! Then I'll leave it to you!"

Piper naturally trusted Wise. However, the moment she imagined him taking Steeltusk apart and seeing every inch of its internal structure, her mood inexplicably became a little complicated.

"Thank you for trusting me, Piper. However, if I'm going to work on it, I'll probably need a helper. Can you drive Steeltusk back into the city first?"

During their conversation, Wise had already contacted Fairy. After all, as an artificial intelligence, she was undoubtedly far more proficient when it came to vehicle modification.

"In that case, before we head back, why don't we take on a commission? It'll be good exercise, and it'll help cheer us up!"

Burnice's suggestion certainly made sense. That said, there was actually a much more convenient way to exercise that would accomplish both goals at once. Even so, the three of them eventually entered the Hollow together.

But was it really just a coincidence?

Once again, an old man was trapped in the middle of a horde of Ethereals.

The three of them rescued him, and...

"Wait... am I the only one getting this feeling? I have a strange hunch this old man is about to pull out another lottery ticket to thank us..." No sooner had Piper finished speaking than the old man's eyes widened in shock.

"...Y-You... how did you know?! I haven't even taken out the lucky lottery ticket I carry as my good luck charm yet!"

"It actually happened?!"

Piper's eyes widened in disbelief, while the old man immediately began overthinking the situation, even suspecting that the New Eridu government was secretly monitoring everyone.

"Wow! Fate really is amazing! Please don't panic. I, Burnice, can guarantee that I'm definitely not a government agent! Though I can't say the same for these two beside me!"

She said it with a playful wink.

"Hey, Burnice! We've known each other for a long time, haven't we...? You should vouch for us too!"

Piper looked at Burnice speechlessly, while Wise, seeing where the conversation was headed, stepped forward to explain things to the old man, who quickly realized it had all been a misunderstanding.

"Okay, you don't look like bad people, so I trust you. Here, young man, take this lottery ticket. It's a good luck charm!"

"Thank you! Is this the miracle lottery ticket that wins three million Dennies?" Burnice took the lottery ticket and examined it closely.

The old man smiled after hearing her question.

"A miracle is worth far more than just three million! Ever since I started carrying this lottery ticket with me, I've never run into anything unlucky. This overflowing lucky energy is probably worth more than thirty million!"

"Awesome! Is thirty million Dennies enough to turn a volcano into a Nitro-Fuel fountain?"

"...thirty million! Forget that—even if we each got ten million, Steeltusk's problems would be solved in no time..."

Hearing that, Piper immediately began imagining all the upgrades she could buy for her beloved truck.

"Hey, hey, Burnice is one thing, but Piper, why are you getting carried away too?"

Wise looked at the two excited girls beside him. Just moments ago, Piper had been the one trying to calm Burnice down.

"Oh, Wise, don't overthink it! Thirty million Dennies would surely heal all the pains of an exhausted adult's life... Now's the time to celebrate! If I were in a car right now, I'd be honking the horn like crazy!"

Piper threw both hands into the air excitedly, all her previous fatigue and sadness completely gone.

If pupils changed shape with a person's mood, Piper's eyes would probably have turned into Dennies symbols by now.

"Piper, wake up. There's no thirty million here."

Wise calmly reminded them before following the two unusually excited girls as they escorted the old man to the nearest Hollow exit.

"Hehe... I want to be the Lady of the Lake in a volcanic lake filled with Nitro-Fuel... 'Did you drop this bottle of classic vintage, or that glass of duelist's special blend?'"

Burnice was so excited that she'd already started quoting lines from who knew where.

"Steeltusk... wait for me. I won't give up on you. I'll definitely make you the greatest truck in the history of the Outer Ring..."

Even Piper was acting far more excited than her usual calm and tired self.

Meanwhile, Wise watched their eager expressions. It was obvious that both of them had been completely swept away by the prospect of winning thirty million Dennies, and there was no talking them out of it now.

As soon as they left the Hollow, the two girls immediately rushed off to find the newspaper listing the winning numbers for that lottery draw.

In the end, Wise was the one tasked with checking the numbers. Throughout the wait, both girls were practically bursting with excitement, and Piper couldn't even stop herself from shouting.

Not long ago, she had looked like a dependable, mature adult. Now, she was acting no differently from an excited child.

Without much expectation, Wise compared the numbers.

However, every single number matched perfectly.

This lottery ticket had actually won the thirty million Dennies grand prize!

"This has to be a joke... How is this even possible?"

Although Wise found it difficult to believe, sometimes lightning really did strike the same place twice.

"How is it, Wise?! Do you have any good news for us?"

As soon as Wise returned after checking the numbers, Burnice eagerly rushed over to him.

"There's good news... but there's also bad news. Personally, I'd recommend hearing the bad news first..."

"No, I want to hear the good news... I think something good should finally happen in my life..." Piper said, looking at him with an expectant gaze.

"I want the good news too! I always like hearing the good news first!" Burnice declared with her usual boundless enthusiasm.

Seeing they were both determined, Wise stopped trying to persuade them and answered directly.

"The good news is... this lottery ticket really did win the thirty million Dennies grand prize..."

"I knew it!!" x2

Piper let out a relieved cheer, while Burnice became even more excited.

However, Wise hadn't finished speaking yet.

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