“—Aaaaah!
Isn’t that Anby!
Awesome!!
I knew you’d be safe and—” Before Billy could finish his sentence, Anby’s tachi was already swinging right in front of his face.
Billy dodged aside, narrowly avoiding the blade.
“Whoa-oh-oh?!
Hey!
Why’d you suddenly swing your sword?!
That almost chopped me just now?!” Anby had a deadly serious expression: “Encountered another sentient entity.
He looks very much like my colleague, Billy Kid.” Billy asked in confusion, “What are you talking about?!
It’s me!
Billy!” Lying on the ground, Jiang Yu tilted his head up as well, curiously observing the newcomer.
It was a flashy-looking cyborg wearing a red jacket, holding two large revolvers in his hands.
He looked back at Anby.
Seeing her deadpan, serious expression, it didn’t look like an act.
He was a bit bewildered.
From their dialogue, the two of them were supposed to work for the same agency.
“An investigator once encountered an Ethereal inside a Hollow that could mimic human speech and behavior.
Right after the investigator rescued the teammate fake from the Hollow, the monster revealed its true form.
The city paid a tremendous price.
In the end, thanks to a brave investigator who sacrificed himself to drive the Ethereal back into the Hollow, the crisis was averted.” Billy was speechlessly exasperated.
“Come on—Ethereals drop dead the instant they leave a Hollow!
You’re talking about a movie, right?!
Oh, it’s that thriller that came out recently, isn’t it?!” Facing Billy’s skepticism, Anby’s expression grew even more solemn, her tone slightly stiff.
“…The victims of that incident made for a very long list.
I read through every single one of them.” “That’s called the end credits!” Billy covered his face, complaining helplessly.
Hearing this, Jiang Yu’s anxious heart finally completely died.
Covering his face, he flopped back down.
Anby seemed to realize the guy in front of her wasn’t an Ethereal in disguise after all, so she said, “Question: who do you most want to have dinner with?” “Huh?
Have dinner with?
That would naturally be…
the tokusatsu superhero, Starlight Knight!” “Wait wait wait!
Put the sword away!
I’ll tell, I’ll tell!” Facing the threat of Anby’s blade, Billy suddenly squirmed bashfully.
“…It’s the lead actress of the midnight drama *Oh~ Sweetheart*, Big Sister Monica~” Hearing the answer, Jiang Yu covered his face with his other hand as well.
What kind of weirdos are these?
Looks like the boss of Cunning Hares must be a remarkably kind and wealthy philanthropist.
“Alert cleared.
The entity suspected to be Billy Kid is indeed the real deal.
Meeting up with Billy Kid raises my survival chance by more than 67.8%.
I’m glad you’re alright, Billy.” *No way, I really can’t stand this!* Jiang Yu sprang off the ground, intending to leave immediately.
Better not hitch a ride on their Carrot.
Besides, neither of these two seemed to have a Carrot anyway, suffering the exact same plight as him.
“Billy, stop him!” Seeing Jiang Yu about to leave, Anby immediately instructed Billy.
Billy reacted swiftly, raising his guns to aim at Jiang Yu upon receiving the order.
“Hey!
Don’t move!” “Anby, is this guy some top-secret official agent?
Or a notorious fugitive with a massive bounty on his head?!” Billy leaned his head close to Anby, asking mysteriously.
Anby shook her head and answered seriously, “Neither.
I sold him a bottle of water and a pack of compressed biscuits for twenty thousand Dennies total, and he hasn’t paid yet.” “Huh?
You charged him twenty thousand Dennies?
Anby, it’s just a bottle of water and biscuits, maybe let it slide?” Anby shook her head again.
“Billy, your ammo expenses alone last month had Nicole nagging us several times.” Billy scratched his metallic head awkwardly.
“Ahem, sorry, man.
Mind paying up before you go?” Jiang Yu was completely shameless, spreading his hands.
“No money.” “If I manage to get out of the Hollow, I’ll pay you then.” Pay back?
Who’s gonna know you once out of the Hollow?
Realizing he was still stuck inside the Hollow with no guarantee of surviving, Billy let out a sigh and lowered his revolvers.
“I wonder if Boss Nicole is outside trying to find help.
But would she really be willing to spend money to hire backup?
That’s Boss Nicole we’re talking about, hahahaha…” “Based on Nicole’s habitual budget-contracting pattern, I believe your suspicion that she might not bring backup is reasonable.” “Damn it…
now that you put it that way, I’m starting to get genuinely worried.
Anyway, let’s not overthink it.
We should cooperate to get through this hurdle.
Standard procedure: front line is yours, fire support is mine.” “I’ll handle flanking,” Jiang Yu chimed in, stepping closer.
Listening to their conversation, Jiang Yu finally realized Cunning Hares had another person outside looking for rescue.
That meant there was still hope of escaping the Hollow.
Moving with them was far better than wandering aimlessly in the Hollow by himself.
Jiang Yu pulled out a short-barreled shotgun from behind his waist to show he wasn’t just a freeloading slacker.
Billy cast an inquiring glance at Anby, and Anby nodded.
“No problem.” “Awesome!
One more person means one more chance of rescue.
By the way, man, I haven’t asked your name yet,” Billy said excitedly.
“I’m Jiang Yu.
I sell and upgrade all kinds of weapons.
Feel free to contact me if you need anything.
The prices are…” Speaking of prices, Jiang Yu glanced at Anby.
“…affordable.” *Dammit!
Cunning Hares, don’t let me catch a chance to rip you off!
Twenty thousand Dennies for a bottle of water and a pack of biscuits?!* Hearing that he could actually modify weapons, Billy’s eyes instantly lit up.
But remembering their tight finances and that Nicole would definitely not allocate funds for weapon upgrades, his head drooped in disappointment again.
“Let me warn you, Billy, Jiang Yu.
Let’s not waste any more time.
If either of you gets corrupted into an Ethereal by Ether erosion, I won’t hesitate to swing my blade.” Anby adjusted her backpack and spoke seriously to the two.
Billy shivered.
“Hey, hey, hey!
Anby, we’re colleagues after all, no need to be so heartless!” …
The three pushed forward inside the Hollow, eventually reaching the vicinity of the station hub.
The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet—not even half an Ethereal could be seen.
“What’s going on here?
We haven’t met a single Ethereal since earlier.” Anby slightly knitted her two pretty willow eyebrows, her large eyes cautiously surveying the area.
“Isn’t no Ethereals a good thing?
We don’t even have to fight!” Billy said happily.
Suddenly noticing something, he pointed at a blurry back profile inside a building: “Wait, someone’s over there?” Anby and Billy ran over first.
Jiang Yu focused his gaze on the tall figure.
That wasn’t a person at all—it had likely been corrupted into an Ethereal long ago.
Seeing Anby and Billy standing at the doorway without moving, Jiang Yu walked over curiously as well.
“Hey, what are you two looking at?” Stepping up behind them, Jiang Yu instantly recognized the weapon in the tall figure’s hands.
A shock ran through his heart as a deep chill rose from the bottom of his spine.
Wasn’t that the tachi he had sold to Whitey Miguel?