Nicole Demara // Debt

[Intro= The leader of the odd-job agency the Cunning Hares, who accept all kinds of Hollow-related commissions. She's been on the streets for many years, and has a reputation among her peers as being exceedingly cunning. She's been blacklisted by many clients due to her all-or nothing approach. She loves money, but is surprisingly bad at managing it, leaving the Cunning Hares constantly on the edge of bankruptcy and owing many debts].

[Profile= Nicole Demara is the founder and current leader of the Cunning Hares odd-job agency. Despite taking on any and all Hollow-related commissions and typically charging a high commission fee,[1] she struggles with finances, leading the Cunning Hares to frequently be in debt, sometimes bordering on bankruptcy. Due to this and her all-or nothing approach, the Cunning Hares have become somewhat infamous in the space, with many clients blacklisting her completely and reviews received on Inter-Knot painting her in an unflattering light. Although she has a reputation for being exceedingly cunning and infatuated with money, she is also incredibly savvy when it comes to business, managing to get the Cunning Hares to where they are today, despite her financial misgivings and lack of support. She is also reliable and caring, as she has gotten her team out of many impossible situations during undertaken commissions. Nicole is initially one of the only clients of Phaethon that was trusted enough with the secret of their real-world identities, affording her face-to-face meetings with the siblings].

[History= In her youth, Nicole Demara spent most her life at an orphanage with many other children, one being a girl who once got lost in a Hollow and was afflicted with terminal Ether corruption, who was her best friend. Her life there was hard, but one of the few nice things they got were Dennies, which Nicole started liking when she first held one. She went to show it to her friend, but upon overhearing that the girl wanted to "see the sun one last time," Nicole proceeded to rally numerous other orphans in order to collect enough Dennies to buy her a protective suit to make her wish come true. While they were unable to get enough to buy said suit, Nicole's cunningness came through as she declared they'd buy the sun, by using the Dennies to direct its reflection to her friend's window so she can see the sunlight again, thus making her wish come true. This act of kindness was when Nicole began to love Dennies, as they can even let you buy hope. Her friend would later pass away from her terminal illness. Nicole later reached an adoption agreement with a prominent family in New Eridu; however, she would soon be seen on the streets of New Eridu shortly after. She then founded the odd-job agency Gentle House, but due to her cunning reputation, it soon gained the nickname "The Cunning Hares," which Nicole preferred and proceeded to adopt into her company's branding. Whilst running the Cunning Hares, she took in an enigmatic young girl, giving her the name Anby Demara, who would become an employee of her company,[9] alongside Billy Kid, an Intelligent Construct that wound up with them. Nicole would also become a common client of the Legendary Proxy, Phaethon, which led to her gaining the trust of them to the point she knows their real-world identities and hideout. Even though she's known for her business acumen, streetwise, and cunning, Nicole is incredibly bad with finances, constantly landing her company in the red and owing many people money. Such financial woes would lead to her taking on a commission she received from Rain, to acquire a strongbox from the Red Fang Gang. This commission would kick off the events of the main story of Zenless Zone Zero].

Agent Intel Agent Details Database search: Nicole. Returned results: "Boss of the odd-job agency, the Cunning Hares," "Streetwise," "Orphan, parents unknown." Nicole's agency was originally called Gentle House, but due to her reputation of being cunning, it gained the nickname the Cunning Hares. "She's really into money! I don't know what she's doing with it all though, seems like she's doing nothing." — The above is a quote from a popular post on Inter-Knot: "Her odd-job agency is outrageous. I've never encountered a boss who knows how to turn everything into profit!" The individual involved responded, "This, this is a false accusation! I, Nicole, have never been skilled at making money — mainly because I don't have any money to begin with!" According to reliable sources, the Cunning Hares are constantly in debt, and their "careful budgeting" seems to have no effect on the organization.

[Agent Intel 1= Trust Rank Close Trust Rank: Close. During her early years, Nicole spent a good amount of time in an orphanage. There are rumors that Nicole once reached an adoption agreement with a prominent family. Yet, shortly afterward, she reappeared by herself somewhere in New Eridu].