Chapter 18

“Anbi! I’m so glad to meet you!” Ye Qingfeng rushed up to Anbi, face alight with excitement. “You wouldn’t believe—two relicts chased me for ages...”

“By the way, how did you end up here? Where are Billy and Nico?”

Anbi, her expression unchanged despite Ye Qingfeng’s sudden appearance, slowly drew the blade from behind her back and slashed it toward him.

“Whoa!”

Ye Qingfeng had no time to react—he merely closed his eyes and leaned back instinctively.

Huh? It doesn’t hurt?!

He slowly opened his eyes and saw a slash across his collar, and a strand of his hair drifting in the air...

“An... Anbi, if you have a problem with me, just say it outright...”

But her face gave away nothing, leaving him utterly baffled. For safety’s sake, he took one cautious step back after another.

“—Aaaah! It’s Qingfeng...”

“—Aaaah!!”

Ye Qingfeng had retreated five or six steps when his back suddenly slammed into something. At first he thought it was a wall—but then he remembered this area was an open space!

He swallowed hard, still not turning around, when a scream erupted behind him. Startled, he scrambled forward in a panic.

“Phew... It’s Billy...”

Only when he turned did he see a robot in a red jacket. He exhaled sharply and grumbled, “Seriously—don’t just scream out of nowhere!”

“Sorry sorry! I just got too excited seeing you and Anbi!” Billy walked over, slinging an arm around Ye Qingfeng’s shoulders. “By the way, how’d you end up in the Hollow too?”

“That’s not the point right now—Anbi just tried to cut me down! Though she missed...”

Ye Qingfeng didn’t answer Billy’s question. He kept glancing between the two, then decided the robot beside him felt safer—he darted behind Billy and stared warily at Anbi across the way.

“That’s impossible! Why would Anbi suddenly attack you?!”

Billy walked toward Anbi, unwilling to believe it, while Ye Qingfeng stayed alert, hiding behind him.

“Right, Anbi?”

“Detected two rational individuals who resemble my colleagues: Ye Qingfeng and Billy.”

Anbi spoke without waiting for a response.

“What are you talking about? It’s me! Billy!”

Ye Qingfeng glanced at Anbi’s blank face, then at Billy.

Why does Anbi seem more like a robot than Billy does?

But since Anbi made no further move, Ye Qingfeng stepped out from behind Billy.

“Former investigators have encountered relicts in the Hollow capable of mimicking human speech and behavior,” Anbi continued solemnly. “One investigator rescued a relict posing as his teammate—only for the monster to reveal its true form.”

“The city suffered heavy losses. In the end, thanks to a brave investigator who sacrificed himself, the relict was pushed back into the Hollow, and the crisis ended.”

“Come on! A relict dies the instant it leaves the Hollow!”

Billy crossed one arm over his waist and retorted helplessly.

Huh? So relicts can’t leave the Hollow?!

Nico never told me that. Ye Qingfeng mentally noted it—but Anbi’s story felt strangely familiar...

Isn’t this the plot of that movie I watched with Anbi last time?!?!

“You just described a movie, right?! Oh, that horror flick that just came out?!”

Billy finally realized Anbi was quoting a film.

“...The victims of that incident formed a long list. I read every single name.”

Anbi, caught out, quickly added in a tone begging for praise.

Billy covered his face in exasperation. “That’s called the credits!”

What even is this? Ye Qingfeng felt speechless. Isn’t the Hollow supposed to be deadly? Why are they joking around?

Shouldn’t we be figuring out how to escape?

“Um... I think we should probably discuss...”

Anbi abruptly interrupted Ye Qingfeng’s tentative remark. “Question: Who does Billy most want to have dinner with?”

“Uh... Obviously... the superhero from the tokusatsu show, Star Knight!”

Without hesitation, Anbi reached for her blade.

“Wait—wait! Put the knife down! I’ll tell you! It’s... the lead actress from Midnight Drama ‘Oh~ Sweetheart,’ Sister Monica...”

Can robots blush?

Ye Qingfeng glanced at Billy’s flustered expression and silently snorted.

“Question: How many Ding Ni did Nico give us last time as a bonus?”

Anbi, satisfied Billy had passed, turned her gaze to Ye Qingfeng.

“Uh... Anbi got ten thousand Ding Ni, and I... also ten thousand?”

“Threat neutralized. Suspected individuals Billy and Ye Qingfeng confirmed as originals.” Anbi continued solemnly. “Reuniting with Billy and Ye Qingfeng increases my survival probability by 67.9%.”

“I am glad you and Billy are safe.”

“Wait! What’s this about bonus money, Anbi?!”

Billy racked his brain—he couldn’t recall Nico ever giving out bonuses... Wait, when did he ever think she would?

Do I get nothing?!?!

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on this—only by escaping safely could he demand his bonus back from Nico!

“We’ve been down here a while. Nico must be outside trying to figure something out,” Billy added uncertainly. “But will she spend money to hire rescuers? That’s Nico, hahaha...”

“Based on Nico’s habitual fiscal austerity, your skepticism regarding her hiring help is logically sound.”

Anbi fully agreed. Only Ye Qingfeng stood by, hesitating, unable to interject a word...

What? Why do Anbi and Billy think so poorly of Nico? Sure, she’s a bit greedy—but she wouldn’t be this heartless!

Wait... she might actually be hoarding the reward for herself...

No! That’s not the point right now!

“Wait—hold on! Qingfeng, why are you even in the Hollow?!” Billy suddenly noticed something off as he glanced at Ye Qingfeng. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching the car outside?! And your aether adaptability—what is it?!”

Finally remember we’re in the Hollow... I’m so moved...

“My aether adaptability’s over 60%...”

Why not tell the truth? Come on!

If 80% aether adaptability has never been recorded, I’d be the only one in New Aelid.

They’d definitely dissect me... Should I just bet the higher-ups aren’t corrupt?!