Chapter 46

“I don’t want to dampen your spirits, but now isn’t the time to celebrate, Nico!” Eies suddenly interrupted as Nico reached to pick up the safe on the ground. “Calm down and listen to me first!”

“It’s all that evil hacker’s fault! It deleted the escape data I reserved for leaving the Hollow!”

“You... you mean we can’t get out—!”

Hearing this, Nico instantly panicked, her body going limp and collapsing backward; Ye Qingfeng stepped forward quickly, ready to catch her with his broad chest.

But Anbi got there first, and Nico slumped onto her, face twisted in despair.

Of course... Nico-jie is truly Anbi’s true love...

“I haven’t had lunch with Sister Monica yet—damn it! So frustrating!” Billy sighed over his past life. “But... it was still a decent machine life.”

“Calm down. We can still think of other ways out.”

At this moment, Anbi, still perfectly calm, injected a shot of courage into the group.

“Um... I actually...”

Ye Qingfeng, utterly unfazed, was about to speak when Eies cut him off.

“There’s actually another way! But it requires your consent, Nico.”

“I agree!”

Nico shot to her feet so fast she startled Anbi behind her.

“You agreed too fast...” Ling muttered under her breath, then manipulated Eies’s arm to rest on the safe. “That evil hacker said there’s something here similar to Rosetta. With it, we can enter and exit the Hollow at will.”

Ye Qingfeng heard three words he recognized all too well.

Rosetta data? Wasn’t that the thing he’d drawn earlier?

Back at the video store, time was tight, and Zhe didn’t mention this—he only said a hacker was threatening Nico and the others inside the Hollow, demanding the safe’s password.

“If that evil hacker is telling the truth, we can use whatever’s inside the safe to leave the Hollow—though we still need your consent, Nico.”

“I already said I agree! Besides...” Nico suddenly poked Eies on the forehead. “I may be greedy, but I know you need to be alive to spend your money!”

“What about the client?”

“Hmph! At this point? I don’t care anymore! Just open it!”

Nico snorted. She hadn’t even confronted the middleman yet—if they couldn’t get out, how would she extort Ding Ni from him?

As she spoke, her gaze flickered to Ye Qingfeng, the one she worried about most. Even for a seasoned veteran like her, this news brought despair.

How much worse must it be for Qingfeng, a newcomer?

To her surprise, Ye Qingfeng showed almost no panic. Before she could think further, she saw Eies trotting over on its short legs to the safe.

“You already know the password, right?”

Nico turned her attention back to the safe and Eies, asking uncertainly.

“Correct!”

As Ling finished speaking, the safe emitted a soft *beep*. Eies quickly pulled open the password door, revealing a single chip resting inside.

“But... I don’t know what’s stored inside. If we forcibly read it, the consequences might be severe.”

“Wait a moment—I don’t understand something,” Anbi suddenly interrupted. “Your physical body is outside the Hollow. You could’ve just left. Why risk coming back to help us?”

“What are you after?”

Billy, unusually silent, gripped his pistol tighter.

“Anbi!” Nico whispered, reminding her—they still needed Eies to get out.

Ye Qingfeng, however, stroked his chin curiously, watching Eies, waiting for Ling’s answer.

No matter what happened, he had the Hollow map in his mind—he could guarantee everyone’s escape.

He too was curious how Ling would answer Anbi’s sharp question.

“What a strange question.”

Instantly, the three others—except Ye Qingfeng—locked their gazes onto Ling with sharp suspicion.

“When you explained the situation to Qingfeng, didn’t you say—!” Ling paused, then smiled faintly. “When we encountered the Security Bureau, you didn’t betray me!”

“In return for your trust, I will bring you all out of the Hollow, intact.”

Silence fell over everyone. Ye Qingfeng’s expression cleared—he understood.

Who would’ve thought Ling was this sincere? He’d have to convince Nico-jie to cooperate more with Eies.

Ideally, establish a long-term partnership!

After all, they’d inevitably face more Hollow missions—and having such a reliable ally was crucial!

Ye Qingfeng didn’t want to get stabbed in the back later!

“Oh! I can tell right away—you’re someone who’ll accomplish great things, Boss!”

Billy quietly holstered his pistol, then darted over to Eies, trying to charm it.

Anbi, too, accepted Ling’s words and lowered her guard.

“Any other reasons?”

Nico mentally noted a favor owed to Eies, flicked her hair, and asked casually.

“If I must say...” Eies suddenly raised both hands, blushing and covering its face. “I bought Qingfeng a white suit. I want to see him wear it!”

“Boss! Boss! Is there one for me?” Billy struck a pose. “In a suit, I’ll definitely get Sister Monica to have dinner with me!”

Anbi’s face remained expressionless: “...”

Nico raised an eyebrow, surprised, glancing at Ye Qingfeng. So that’s it! Now it made sense!

When did Qingfeng get close to Eies? No wonder he’s so calm!

He must’ve been sure Eies would get us out!

If so—then why not use Qingfeng to negotiate a discount on the client’s payment? That’s just her style!

“By the way, if I fail, the reserved HDD system command will automatically post a rescue mission on the Rope Net.”

Ling added, “Then... I...”

“Don’t worry! As soon as we’re out, we’ll rush straight to your shop to save you!”

Nico cut her off, silently adding in her mind:

And then we can get an extra discount on top of it!

Thinking of this, she suppressed her grin, replacing it with a sly smile.

Ye Qingfeng didn’t notice Nico’s hidden smile—he suddenly shivered, sensing something bad was coming.

“Hmph~” Ling let out two cute little hums, pouting. “No matter what you say, Nico, I won’t discount the client fee!”

Ling promptly commanded Eies to plug the chip into its own head.