(Suggested skip)
Billy: "Huh!? Why are we still here?"
After escaping from Dullahan, Billy and Anby had once again found themselves lost in the Hollow and pursued by Ethereals because they had no Carrot for this Hollow. Their current situation wasn't looking too good, either.
By now, they had circled the same spot who knew how many times yet again, and the Ethereals behind them had caught up yet again.
Billy: "Damn it, another fight! I'm almost over my ammo budget. At this rate, my bonus..."
"Roar-!"
The Ethereals couldn't care less about any of that. With a roar, they charged at Anby and Billy.
Anby: "Here they come. Prepare to engage."
Just then, several little balls rolled over from behind them. They exploded between them and the Ethereals, instantly releasing thick clouds of smoke. Puzzled by this, Anby turned to Billy, who immediately denied it:
Billy: "Wait, I didn't throw those!"
"Hey, you two, over here! Quick!"
A voice came from behind them. Billy and Anby looked back and saw a little Bangboo wearing a scarf hiding behind a train car, peeking out and waving at him. The meaning was obvious.
The two ran over and followed him behind a train car. A closer look revealed that it was Eous. Judging by his movements and expression, he seemed to be in a pretty good mood. He was also speaking human language.
Wise: "Thanks for your hard work, you two."
Anby: "A Bangboo wearing a scarf and speaking human language..."
Billy recognized the Bangboo and his operator, too, and said excitedly:
Billy: "Ohhh! Could you be-
-'Phaethon'-!"
Wise: "Keep your voice down, Billy. It isn't safe here. Follow me first."
Billy: "Uh, hehe... Sure, sure. Let's go, Manager."
With that, Billy and Anby followed Eous as he ran on his short little legs. With a Proxy guiding them this time, Anby and Billy no longer had to worry about getting lost.
After winding their way around, Eous (Wise) brought everyone to a relatively safe place, finally giving Anby and Billy some room to rest.
Billy: "Th-thank goodness. I feel like the hydraulic pistons in my legs are about to snap from all that running! Whew..."
Anby: "I suggest we take a short rest now. Would that be all right, Proxy?"
Anby and Billy had spent most of the day running every which way. Without a break, even beasts of burden wouldn't have been able to take it.
Wise: "Eous needs some adjustments, too, so I'll lie down first."
Anby: "All right. Proxy, you and Billy rest first. I'll keep watch."
Billy: "Man, that was a close one. I never thought that guy from the Red Fang Gang would get corrupted into such a powerful monster.
Good thing you came to the rescue in time and got us out of there, Manager. That's Phaethon for you! As reliable as ever!"
Wise: "A few more compliments, and I might give you a discount on the commission fee."
Anby: "Really?"
That woke Anby right up. If they really got a discount on the commission fee, Nicole would definitely be delighted.
Billy: "Anby, I think the manager's just being polite."
Anby: "Speaking of the commission fee, I thought Phaethon's rates were so expensive that Nicole would leave us to fend for ourselves to save money. I didn't expect him to actually hire you.
If you hadn't come, Proxy, we might not have escaped that Ethereal's territory. Thank you for the rescue."
Billy: "Speaking of that, I've wanted to ask ever since we first worked together, Manager. That equipment in your store doesn't just synchronize your senses with a Bangboo's-it even lets you communicate with people inside a Hollow in real time!
Even Public Security and the Hollow Investigative Association can't pull off technology that amazing! With an ace like that, why not join the Investigative Association and live the good life?
Working with Hollow Raiders like us has to be more risk than reward, no matter how you look at it, right?"
But before Wise could answer, an Ethereal's roar came from nearby.
"Roar..."
Anby: "An Ethereal."
Billy: "That fast? I was just about to lie down!"
Anby: "We need to evacuate. Or you can lie here forever if you want, Billy. Next year, I'll leave the belt from the new Starlight Knight installment at your grave."
Billy: "Don't say stuff like that with a poker face! I can't tell if you're serious or joking!"
Billy approved of Anby's choice of offering, but he hoped to receive it while he was still alive. Wise didn't want to stay here any longer, either.
Wise: "Get ready to move. Stay close."
Anby: "Leave fighting the Ethereals to us."
Billy: "Just focus on guiding us, Manager! Of course, a helping hand when the fighting gets tough would be even better."
Belle: "Brother, I've found the shortest route. Get moving. I just contacted Nicole."
Wise: "All right, let's start evacuating."
After that, the three barely stopped at all, constantly taking out Ethereals blocking their way. They might still have made some noise, as pursuers appeared behind them again.
Along the way, a not particularly sturdy gate blocked their path. Without waiting for Belle to crack it, an anxious Billy slammed his gun stock into its lock.
In the end, they opened the gate at the cost of damage to Billy's hand exoskeleton, leaving Nicole's wallet in absolute agony.
But their pursuers still wouldn't let up. By the end, they couldn't afford to slow down at all. Spotting a three-way intersection in the distance ahead, Billy anxiously asked Wise:
"Manager! Which way do we run next?"
Wise: "Straight ahead at full speed."
Billy: "Straight ahead at full speed! Got it! Wait... Straight ahead? But there's a wall! Do we smash through it? Is that what you mean? I'm a little short on firepower right now..."
Belle: "Don't worry. Just do as my brother says."
Billy: "That voice... Ohhh, it's the other member of Phaethon!"
Wise: "Belle, you're finally online."
Belle: "Sorry, sorry. I was just checking the stability of the Hollow exit.
Billy, Anby, can you hear me? Anyway, the route my brother just gave you is correct.
As you know, space inside a Hollow is chaotic and disordered. That means-"
Anby: "-a way out can look like a dead end, and a dead end might lead straight to certain doom."
Hearing that, Billy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Torn between the two, he said:
Billy: "Anby, thank you for that valuable piece of common knowledge..."
Belle wasn't going to waste any more words, either, and said directly:
"Anyway, we've arranged your escape route after you get out, too. Trust us."
A certain BT: Trust me. (Thumbs up)
Belle went offline and prepared to disconnect her brother from Eous, too.
Belle: "Brother, I'm cutting off the sensory synchronization."
Wise: "We're hanging up now. Talk later~"
Meanwhile, seeing that Eous had gone still, Anby, who was carrying him, held him upside down by his little feet and shook him a few times. The only response she got was...
"En-na! En-na! En-na... Ooh..."
After shaking Eous dizzy, she said to Billy:
Anby: "No more voice. It's turned into an ordinary Bangboo."
Eous: Motherfucker!
Billy: "Why would they end the 'possession' at a crucial moment like this!"
They had no other choice now but to do as Wise and Belle had said.
Anby: "Straight ahead. Brace for impact."
Billy: "We're gonna crash, we're gonna crash, we're gonna crash!!"
Accompanied by a strange sense of release, Anby, Billy, and the Bangboo passed straight through the wall.
After emerging from Kreit Hollow, the two skidded to a halt, nearly running onto the main road.
Anby: "The oppressive feeling of Ether is gone."
Billy: "We're out... We're finally out! Aha!"
Before Billy could finish celebrating, a car horn sounded beside them. They turned to look and saw Nicole sitting in the driver's seat, looking at them.
"The time and place really are exactly what that Phaethon guy said..." Nicole muttered, then said to Anby and Billy:
"Hey, you two, get in! We've still got a lot to do!"
Billy: "Boss Nicole!"
Anby: "Nicole."
"All right~ Whatever you've got to say, say it in the car. Hurry up and get in."
Finally, with Billy yapping nonstop, Nicole and the other two drove off toward the video store on Sixth Street.