Chapter 16: Commission in Progress

(After the first plot point, things won't simply follow the script anymore.)

Inside an unremarkable video store on Sixth Street, a television was reporting on a sudden incident.

"A sudden Hollow disaster has erupted on Fourteenth Street, breaching Level Three containment; the Hollow Investigation Association has dispatched a response team to the site, and evacuation of residents in nearby blocks is underway simultaneously."

(Is there anyone at the start of Author 1003 higher than me? Hands on hips, head tilted up, proud face.)

"Citizens are urged not to approach Fourteenth Street; residents of adjacent blocks please evacuate in an orderly manner according to disaster avoidance guidelines."

A Bangboo hopped onto the sofa, staring fixedly at the TV screen, while beside it, a girl with short dark-blue hair lay half-reclined on the couch; she removed her earphones, slowly sat up, clearly very interested in the news being broadcast.

Her overall style was sporty-casual: a hooded vest over a high-collared long-sleeve shirt, a gray miniskirt, and sneakers; her hair ends were layered, with bangs crossing inward.

A hair accessory on her left side bore English words; she had a standard melon-seed face with a hint of softness, bright eyes, and no trace of makeup, appearing pure and cute yet radiating the vitality of a youthful girl.

"Brother, come look at this news."

She propped her elbow on the sofa, resting her head in her hand, her lazy demeanor unmistakable, and called out without turning around.

"What is it?"

A gray-haired boy carrying a stack of books approached from behind the sofa, instantly captivated by the news on the screen; the information triggered a memory, though he couldn't quite place it immediately. "Fourteenth Street... I recall that area seems to be..."

"Wait a moment."

Clutching the books in his arms, he hurried toward the computer.

"Yeah, it's in the Janus Quarter," the girl on the sofa reminded him. "They said it's already breached Level Three containment."

The gray-haired boy set the books aside and quickly searched on the computer, soon finding the information he needed. "Just as I thought; the Public Security Bureau happens to be conducting a raid in that block today."

"The evacuation effort may not proceed smoothly."

The blue-haired girl hugged the Bangboo beside her, eyebrows raising slightly as her eyes lit up. "In other words..."

Work is coming our way!

"Let's make preparations in advance," the gray-haired boy stood up and continued her thought. "Business might come knocking very soon."

"Alright~ Now we just wait."

The blue-haired girl murmured to herself, her tone carrying a slight hint of playfulness.

Unlike the calm inside the video store, within a high-rise building in Fourteenth Street of the Janus Quarter at this very moment, three figures were sprinting at full speed.

"Go left!"

Nico, running at the rear, shouted to the two ahead of her.

The three ran down the corridor to a stairwell, turned without looking back, and charged inside as if a man-eating monster were hot on their heels, relentlessly pursuing them.

Bursting out of the safety exit into a straight hallway, Billy, with his mechanical legs, led the way at the front; Anbi ran in the middle, her expression tense; and Nico brought up the rear, clutching a safe in her arms.

"Hmm?"

Passing a pile of miscellaneous items, Nico suddenly stopped, tilting her head to look curiously at a dark-blue Bangboo statue nestled within.

It faced away from Nico, revealing a deep cleft, while its front hands held up its pants, unclear whether it was in the process of putting them on or had just taken them off...

She hastily called out to the two idiots sprinting ahead, pulling both of them to hide behind the blue Bangboo statue.

"After them!"

In no time at all, a large group of pursuers caught up; a series of crisp footsteps echoed continuously through the silent corridor, making the three hiding figures break out in a cold sweat.

Fortunately, no one noticed this Bangboo statue capable of hiding people; the three sequentially poked their heads out from behind it and, without hesitation, ran in the opposite direction.

"Don't run!"

The pursuers who had overshot weren't fools; they quickly realized something was amiss and, as one, turned to chase after the three.

Seeing they had been discovered, the trio quickened their pace, darting chaotically through the building until they turned into a corridor filled with televisions, where one screen was broadcasting live news related to the current situation.

"Ahem, um... citizens, I am the Janus Quarter Public Security Chief overseeing the pursuit operation on Fourteenth Street."

A middle-aged man with slicked-back blond hair spoke slowly into the camera.

"I... I deeply apologize; due to the sudden Hollow disaster here, the pursuit operation has been affected."

"I... wish to remind all citizens that we are currently pursuing the masterminds behind the recent terrorist attack on the research institute: the gang known as the Crimson Fang."

"They are all extremely dangerous tough guys—er, I mean criminals—especially their leader, Bai Lao Miguel."

"Everyone must exercise extreme caution!"

At this point, a reporter beside him suddenly snatched the microphone, shouting furiously at the camera, "I'm a f***ing reporter from this station, and I can't stand this anymore! This bunch of sinful b****** must be f***ing killed!"

"As soon as their whereabouts are discovered, just..."

Listening to the reporter's furious ranting, the three members of Cunning Hares arrived before an iron door; Billy suddenly lifted his leg and delivered a stylish knight's flying kick, sending the door flying.

"It's a window! Boss Nico, we can escape through here!"

Inside the empty room, three floor-to-ceiling windows replaced the walls, giving Billy a glimpse of hope for escape; he shouted excitedly to Nico behind him.

"But down there is a Hollow... Never mind..." Nico remained relatively calm. "If we can get out, there will be a way... Can you break the glass, Billy?"

"Simple! Leave it to me!"

Billy struck a very flamboyant pose while simultaneously pulling the trigger of his revolver.

Accompanied by a sharp report, a bullet whistled out of the barrel, speeding forward at tremendous velocity.

The instant the bullet struck the glass, it ricocheted off with a loud "Bang!"

"Ah..."

The bullet, rebounding off the glass, hit a thin wire suspended in the air; a television secured by that wire plummeted downward and, with extremely bad luck, crashed right onto Billy's head; after letting out a final mournful cry, he lay motionless on the floor.

"It ricocheted; the window seems very sturdy."

Anbi pursed her lips slightly, shifting her gaze away from Billy to explain to Nico.

"Damn it, I knew it wouldn't be that simple; this floor-to-ceiling window is..."

Nico lightly brushed her hand against the glass, but her muttering was suddenly interrupted by a voice.

"Reinforced bulletproof glass; you cannot break it to escape with your firepower!"

Sobs continued to rise from within the words...