Nicole: "Don't block the way!!"
As he spoke, Nicole lifted his briefcase and sent an Ethereal that had closed in flying. Behind him, Billy and Anby were also fighting the Ethereals with all their strength.
Billy: "Aha? Enemies behind us, too!"
Anby: "On the flank."
Anby cut down another Ethereal. They hadn't stopped for a moment. But the farther they followed Eous, the more Ethereals appeared, prompting a puzzled Nicole to question Eous-or "Phaethon," who had long since been forcibly logged out:
"Hey! Proxy, are you sure this is the right way?"
Eous: "..."
Only silence answered him...
"What's going on with the store manager? Just walking along in silence, without even trying to avoid a fight."
As Billy spoke, he used his twin pistols to drive back an Ethereal charging at them.
Nicole: "Hey-Proxy?"
Anby: "Angry? Because Nicole haggled over the deposit?"
Possible, but not very likely. Billy, however, was eighty percent convinced within a second.
Billy: "Ah! So that's it?"
Nicole, meanwhile, declared in a panic:
"That's not it!"
By now, all the Ethereals around Nicole and the others had been cleared out. But faced with all of Eous's strange behavior, Nicole finally used his head and realized that something definitely had gone wrong with "Phaethon."
Nicole: "This is strange. Ever since we entered the Hollow, he hasn't acted like he's guiding us at all. Could he have run into trouble outside?"
Muttering to himself, Nicole strode forward, blocked Eous as he continued walking in silence, and asked:
"Hey, did you run into some-"
But Eous still gave no response. He looked up at Nicole, then immediately picked up speed and darted past him. Caught off guard, Nicole failed to stop him.
Nicole: "Don't go over there!"
Just as he was about to grab Eous, two more Ethereals sprang out from the side and blocked Nicole. With no other choice, Nicole could only deal with the ones right in his face first.
But several more Ethereals sprang out up ahead. Eous resumed his original confident stride and walked toward them, while the Ethereals went around him and attacked Nicole's group of three.
Nicole gritted his teeth and ordered Billy and Anby, "Damn it! Take them out! Get the Proxy back!"
The two sides clashed and began fighting. Afraid of accidentally hitting Eous, Nicole's group found themselves repeatedly restricted, not even daring to use their most effective Ether aggregation grenades. Nicole also kept calling out to the Proxy.
Nicole: "Proxy! Proxy! Damn it... what on earth happened to him?
Seriously, why have there been so many unexpected problems these past two days?!"
...(Made in Heaven)...
"Roar-!"
Several Hati roared in anger. Unable to find their prey, they could only lead a dozen or so lesser Ethereals around the area. Nicole's group, meanwhile, hid behind a train car not far away and caught their breath.
Anby: "Those Ethereals are still there."
Anby sneaked a glance outside to check the situation.
Billy complained, "Phew... they're giving our rent-chasing landlord a run for his money.
...The timer's up again. We've already stayed through four rounds of the 'recommended safe activity time inside a Hollow.'"
(-ι_- )
By now, Nicole and the others had caught Eous and escaped combat. Nicole was sitting nearby, resting, while still examining (playing with) Eous... or verbally threatening him.
Nicole threatened fiercely, "If you don't return to normal, you can forget about ever getting the money we owe you!"
Billy crouched nearby, watching speechlessly. Meanwhile, Anby, who was keeping watch, spotted something...
Anby: "Hide!"
Hearing that, Billy drew his sister pistols, pressed himself against the train car, and asked nervously, "Wh-what? Are those monsters back?"
Anby: "Not Ethereals. A Hollow investigation team, up ahead."
A group of Public Security officers in blue uniforms surrounded an investigator, protecting them in their midst. They had come to the Hollow on an investigation mission.
Billy: "Oh, it's just an investigator. Wait, an investigator?"
The gears in Billy's mechanical brain turned, and he excitedly told Nicole:
"We're saved, Boss Nicole! They're from the Hollow Investigators Association. They have a 'Carrot'!
We can ask them for help and follow them out of the Hollow!"
Nicole: "Don't be stupid. Didn't you see those Public Security escorts?
We're 'Hollow Raiders.' Even if we got out with them, they'd just arrest us and lock us up."
After hearing that, Billy's computer started running. It took him 2.5 seconds to light up a bulb over his head.
Billy: "Maybe if it were just us. But if we add him (Eous) to the mix...
Remember? Public Security's policy says reporting a Proxy lets you atone for your crimes with meritorious service..."
Anby continued, "Given the current situation, Billy's proposal is quite feasible.
Trade the Proxy's identity for our safety, or keep wandering around here and wait for the Bangboo to return to normal."
"Hmm, then which do you two want to choose?" Nicole asked indifferently.
Billy: "Huh? Boss Nicole, you're asking us two..."
Anby: "I'll follow Nicole's lead."
Nicole: "All right. Then, Billy, what about you?"
Billy: "Then I'll follow Boss Nicole's lead, too!"
"Good. Then let's go." As he spoke, Nicole set Eous down, stood up, and patted his trousers.
Billy: "Okay, Boss Nicole! I'll go call those Public Securi-ow!"
Before Billy could finish, Nicole snatched up his weapon case and smacked Billy over the head, cutting him off.
Clutching his completely unscathed head, Billy asked Nicole in bewilderment, "Boss Nicole, why'd you suddenly hit me?"
"Billy, just what kind of person do you take me for? Huh?! So you didn't understand what I meant at all..." As Nicole spoke, he covered his face and shook his head, pretending to be annoyed.
Billy: "...Huh? Weren't you planning to sell out the Proxy, Boss Nicole?"
Nicole: "Hey, hey, hey, don't slander me, Billy. When did I ever say I was going to sell out the Proxy? Anby, did you hear me say that?"
Anby instantly stood at attention and answered seriously, "No. Nicole never said that."
"Ah, ahaha~ So that wasn't what you meant, Boss Nicole..." Billy awkwardly rubbed the back of his head and looked away as he spoke.
Nicole: "All right, all right. Don't worry about getting out of the Hollow. You don't seriously think I have no other way besides selling out a partner, do you?"
Billy leaned closer and asked curiously, "Oh~ Then, Boss Nicole, what's this other way?"
Folding his arms, Nicole said confidently, "Heh-heh~... That's a secret!"
Billy: "Ah..."
Nicole: "Ahem. Once we're out, I'll use the Proxy's failure this time to bargain his price way down! As for the money we save, I was thinking of handing out some consolation bonuses to the employees..."
"Boss Nicole, just say the word! Wherever we're going next!!" Billy instantly straightened his back.
"Mm~ That's more like it, Billy. Enough talk. Our first objective next is naturally my pre..."
At that moment, Anby, who had remained quiet, suddenly interrupted, "I'm sorry, Nicole. There may be something I need to report to you."
Nicole didn't mind and asked, "Oh, what is it, Anby?"
Anby: "Nicole, Eous is gone."
"Ah~ Eous is gone... What?! Eous is gone?! Oh no, I forgot about him while I wasn't paying attention! Get moving! We need to find him!"
Only just realizing what had happened, Nicole immediately panicked and hurried off with Billy and Anby to search for Eous, who had just swaggered away.