Meeting Lycaon

"Master, am I going into the Hollow too?"

"Of course. You've trained for so long—it'll be good experience."

"Okay, I understand."

After taking a taxi near the Hollow, Fu Hua did not take Cui Ji inside immediately.

"What's wrong, Master? Aren't we going in?"

"Cui Ji, now that you've learned my martial arts, the blade in your hand is no longer suited for combat."

"This is the weapon I prepared for you. It suits who you are now better."

As she spoke, Fu Hua handed over a suitcase.

Cui Ji was stunned for a moment upon hearing that, but quickly came back to her senses.

She hurriedly reached out and took the case.

When she opened it, a pair of blue-black gauntlets lay inside.

A glowing blue gemstone was set into the back of each hand.

"This... Thank you, Master."

"No need for formalities. These gauntlets are called Hundred Birds Ask Heaven. I hope you'll use them well."

Putting away her previous weapon, the long blade, Cui Ji put on the gauntlets and tested them out.

"Mm, I will. But Master, what will you use?"

"You needn't worry about that."

As she spoke, Fu Hua clenched her fists.

Black-and-white gauntlets appeared, blue-violet light flickering around her wrists.

They were Eternal Dusk Twin Wolves.

They had once been a five-star weapon in the game that suited White Night Butler rather well.

However, Fu Hua had yet to unlock White Night Butler's form, so she had kept them as a family heirloom.

After adjusting her gauntlets, Fu Hua spoke.

"Let's go in."

"Yes, Master."

After entering the Hollow, the two began searching for their target with the carrot Shepherd had given them.

"The ether concentration has reached level three."

As they hurried onward, Cui Ji looked at the detector in her hand and spoke to Fu Hua.

"Master, it's over there."

"Okay."

After knocking down a Remnant wielding a long blade with two punches, Fu Hua abruptly stopped, decisively turned around, and widened her stance.

She gathered power and threw a punch.

Bang—

A hole was blasted straight through the abandoned cargo truck.

"Let's go."

"Understood."

With the stat boosts from the gauntlets, Cui Ji's rushing punches had become significantly more powerful and faster.

Combined with several months of training under Fu Hua, her strength was now worlds apart from before.

She slid aside to dodge the pounces of two beast-shaped Remnants, then effortlessly sent them flying with two hand strikes.

She then flipped backward several times to evade a large, gorilla-like Remnant.

Then she darted through the opening Fu Hua had just punched out.

After circling around the sealed area, the two headed toward the teleportation array not far ahead.

"Master, be careful~"

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Dressed in a black-and-white formal suit, Lycaon spoke in his steady manner.

Then, with a spinning kick, he took out the Remnant that was about to pounce on a man in an expensive suit.

"Thank you, Lycaon."

"Protecting the client's safety is Victoria Housekeeping's responsibility. There is no need for thanks."

After giving a slight bow, Lycaon continued leading the suited man forward.

Besides Lycaon, there were also quite a few agents hired by the suited man.

"Please remain calm. I have already notified the outside world. Until reinforcements arrive, I will not allow you to suffer even the slightest injury."

Glancing at the time on his pocket watch, Lycaon straightened his tie and spoke calmly.

"Mm. You're an old hand, Lycaon. I trust your abilities."

Just then, a Super Large Remnant wielding a giant hammer roared and charged at them.

Dozens of smaller Remnants followed behind it.

Lycaon furrowed his brow.

The sharp fangs at the corners of his mouth showed.

Damn it. I can't hold back this many Remnants alone. These hired agents aren't strong enough either.

After steadying himself, cold air began to emanate from his mechanical legs.

Still, he charged forward.

After a fierce battle, the hired agents were practically unable to fight anymore. Only Lycaon remained, continuously taking down the Remnants lunging at them.

"Have the reinforcements still not arrived, Lycaon?"

"They will. Please rest assured."

The moment he finished speaking, the hammer-wielding Remnant struck Lycaon from the side.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and raised a leg to block it.

Unfortunately, the giant hammer's force was too great, sending Lycaon flying.

After flipping several times in midair and landing, he saw the suited man's terrified expression.

The giant hammer was about to smash into him.

"Damn it—there's no time."

"Just in time."

As dust scattered everywhere, Lycaon's eyes narrowed.

The sound from before had been too loud, so he had not heard Fu Hua clearly.

When he quickly ran over, the dust dispersed.

A slender figure appeared before him.

The suited man stared blankly at the woman in front of him, who had blocked the giant hammer's heavy blow with a single arm.

Only after seeing that his client was unharmed did Lycaon finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Fu Hua deflected the hammer with one palm, then threw a fierce rushing punch that shattered the hammer Remnant's core.

Meanwhile, Cui Ji had already begun rapidly clearing out the smaller Remnants.

Countless blue afterimages swept past, knocking down one Remnant after another.

With that, the mission target was rescued.

"Thank you for arriving in time, miss. Your strength is truly remarkable."

"Mm. Are you alright?"

Lycaon brushed the dust from his collar and waved a hand.

"I am uninjured."

"Whew, I thought I was almost done for."

The suited man wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face full of relief at having survived.

"My apologies, Master. This was my failure. You may waive this contract's fee."

Lycaon walked up to the suited man and gave him a solemn bow.

The suited man waved his hand.

"No, Lycaon. If not for you, I would have died in that building long ago. Besides, haven't I been rescued now?"

"May I ask who this young lady is...?"

The suited man looked toward Fu Hua and asked.

"I accepted the commission and came to provide rescue. You may call me Chi Yuan."

"Alright, Miss Chi Yuan. Thank you for saving me.

Afterward, I'll pay you an additional five hundred thousand on top of the commission fee."

"Thank you."

With Fu Hua and Cui Ji joining them, Lycaon's pressure was greatly reduced.

The group quickly escorted the suited man out of the Hollow.

When they emerged, they saw Zhu Yuan and Qing Yi conducting inspections and rescue work nearby.

Fu Hua frowned.

She did not have legal identification to enter the Hollow.

It would be bad if she were discovered.

"Well, if it isn't Fu Hua and Cui Ji. What are you doing in the Hollow too?"

Qing Yi's gaze sharpened slightly as she asked.

Noticing Fu Hua's awkward expression, Lycaon smiled and spoke.

"My apologies, Peacekeeper. These two are temporary employees being assessed by Victoria Housekeeping."

"This is our company's business card."

After taking the card, Qing Yi searched the records and confirmed that everything was in order. Then she spoke.

"So that's how it is. I didn't expect you two to have jobs like this."

"It can't be helped. Prices have been too high lately—we have to earn a living."

Fu Hua replied calmly.

"Alright, you may leave."

After nodding, the group went somewhere unoccupied, where Fu Hua looked at Lycaon and thanked him.

"Thank you for helping."

"No, no. Miss Chi Yuan's timely rescue of the client was the true help to me."

"It also protected Victoria Housekeeping's reputation. I am deeply grateful."

"Mm, what does Victoria Housekeeping do?"

Cui Ji asked from the side.

"Victoria Housekeeping is known to its clients for its exceptionally broad range of services and high standards of quality.

For that reason, we have quite a good reputation among the upper class."

Adjusting his tie, Lycaon spoke with professional composure.