Killing the Butcher of Dead End was big news—there was no reason to let such an easy achievement go to waste.
It didn't matter who actually did it. As long as word got out that "The Hare's House took down the Butcher of Dead End," clients would recognize their strength.
And once that happened, the commissions would start pouring in.
With that thought, Nicole cleared her throat.
Like a TV show host spinning a tale, she began fabricating her story:
"At that time, the Dead End Hollow was fraught with danger. Inside lurked the Butcher of Dead End, a menace to society, while outside, the Security Personnel kept strict watch. To help Miss Nekomata recover her lost family heirloom, I gathered my employees and swore to teach the Butcher a lesson..."
Billy covered his face, unable to listen anymore.
Anby remained silent.
Sam Li was speechless.
Nicole carried on. "We ventured deep into the Hollow, searching for the heirloom. We encountered the Butcher of Dead End..."
Well, they'd already been arrested.
Nicole had no qualms about telling the story—she recounted everything, from accepting the commission to entering the Hollow.
Mostly true, with a bit of creative embellishment
Most of it was real; only the part about chasing the Butcher was completely made up.
Billy suddenly interrupted. "Boss Nicole..."
Nicole shoved him aside. "Don't interrupt me!"
Billy tried again. "Boss Nicole, there's a reporter live streaming you right now..."
Nicole's head snapped up. Sure enough, a camera was pointed right at her, broadcasting live on a TV station.
She'd been so caught up in storytelling that she hadn't even noticed when the reporter arrived.
No good!
She had to maintain her image and leave a good impression on the audience.
Nicole quickly straightened her clothes, struck an elegant pose, and spoke in a refined tone.
"It all began a few hours ago. We encountered the Butcher of Dead End. We gave chase, fighting him with all our might! Anby slashed with her knife, Billy fired his gun, I used explosives, and Sam Li... Sam Li, what weapon did you use again?"
She was making it all up anyway. Might as well let Sam Li pick his own weapon.
After a brief pause, Sam Li answered, "A spear."
Nicole nodded. "Right! How could I forget? Sam Li fought with a spear! He kept stabbing at the Butcher's—"
She caught herself.
No, that sounded too absurd.
Instead, she smoothly continued, "And I must take this moment to formally introduce the ace of The Hare's House—Sam Li! Skilled in both strategy and combat, wise and courageous. It was he who delivered the final blow, cutting down the Butcher of Dead End..."
Billy covered his face.
Anby remained silent.
Sam Li was speechless.
What a storyteller!
Seeing how seriously Nicole was weaving her tale, Sam Li couldn't bring himself to call her out on it.
After a while, Qingyi finally couldn't take it anymore. "Miss Nicole, are you sure you're not making this up?"
Nicole didn't even blink. "Of course not! If you don't believe me, ask Anby—wait, no, don't ask Anby. Ask Billy and Sam Li! Didn't we, The Hare's House, take down the Butcher of Dead End?"
As she spoke, she frantically shot Billy and Sam Li meaningful glances.
Billy cleared his throat. "Ahem, yes, Boss Nicole is absolutely right."
Sam Li nodded. "It's true... we took down the Butcher of Dead End."
Qingyi narrowed her eyes at Sam Li. "Really?"
Sam Li nodded again. "Yes. But let me clarify—I never swung a spear at the Butcher's rear."
If Nicole had said it, Qingyi wouldn't have believed it.
But since Sam Li confirmed it, she let it slide.
Just then, a loud voice broke through the crowd.
"Miss Nicole! Miss Nicole! Let me through—I need to interview her first!"
A reporter shoved his way forward—it was the furious journalist.
Last time, during the insurance box heist, this guy had nearly gotten them killed.
Nicole couldn't stand him.
Billy could stand him even less.
The moment they locked eyes, vengeance took priority over everything else.
"That's him! He almost got us killed last time!"
"Billy, get him!"
The two charged in, fists and feet flying. They beat the reporter down until they were finally satisfied.
Once the scuffle ended, Qingyi stepped in, handcuffing both of them. "Assaulting someone in public—you're under arrest."
Nicole fumed. "You—!"
Billy groaned. "I got so caught up in payback that I forgot—Security Personnel are everywhere! Anby, Sam Li, why didn't you stop me?"
Anby stayed silent.
Sam Li was speechless.
These two were unbelievable.
First, they publicly recounted their escapades in the Hollow.
Then, they had the audacity to beat up a reporter on live television.
No wonder The Hare's House had so many bad reviews on New Eridu Forum.
At that moment, another reporter spoke up.
"Um... Miss Nicole, it's been said that The Hare's House saved the people of Canvas Lane. Could you share how it happened?"
Hearing this, Nicole completely ignored the handcuffs on her wrists and began recounting how they arrived in Canvas Lane, how they saved the people, and how they outwitted Vision Corporation...
Of course, she also took the opportunity to embellish The Hare's House's reputation.
"That's right! The employees of The Hare's House risked their lives to defeat the Butcher of Dead End, to take down Vision Corporation, and to rescue hundreds of innocent civilians from Canvas Lane..."
"And yet, despite all we've done, the Security Bureau wants to arrest us. Reporter, tell me—does that sound fair? I demand a pardon! The Hare's House should be forgiven for a few minor mistakes!"
Nicole stood tall in front of the camera, passionately calling for amnesty.
Even the reporter was moved.
"The Hare's House is truly noble! A conscientious agency! In light of their great deeds, any mistakes they made should be overlooked."
Nicole raised her voice. "Exactly! They're nothing worth mentioning!"
Billy joined in. "Nothing worth mentioning!"
...
While Billy and Nicole campaigned for their freedom, at the back of the crowd, a pair of feline ears peeked through the gaps.
Nekomata watched Nicole and Billy gesturing wildly as they spoke, their energy infectious.
Hearing their impassioned speech filled her heart with relief.
They made it.
The Hare's House was safe.
The people of Canvas Lane were safe.
That meant her job was done.
There was no longer a need for a stray cat like her.
Nekomata raised a paw, quietly bidding farewell to Sam Li, Nicole, Anby, and the loudly proclaiming Billy.
This was goodbye.
She had no idea when they would meet again.
"Goodbye, everyone..."
She took one last look at the crowd before silently slipping into the shadows.
No one would notice the departure of an insignificant stray cat.
Or so she thought.
Just as she disappeared into the darkness, she suddenly bumped into someone.
Anby.
Sensing trouble, she turned to flee—only to crash straight into Sam Li.
Two collisions in a row left her head throbbing.
"Meow! Sam Li, Anby, what are you two doing? There are Security Personnel everywhere—don't do anything reckless!"
Sam Li spoke calmly. "Client, it seems you've forgotten something."
Nekomata hesitated. "What? If it's the commission fee, I promise I'll work hard to earn enough Dennies to pay you back."
She thought back—
To commission The Hare's House, she had made promise after promise, painting grandiose pictures of rewards.
All in all, she probably owed them at least 400,000, if not 500,000 Dennies.
But...
She had guessed wrong again.
Sam Li wasn't asking for money.
Instead, he held out his hand, revealing a small medal in his palm.
"Nekomata, you dropped something."
It was her family heirloom—
A small medal engraved with a picture of her and White Boss.
As she took it into her hands, memories of everything that had happened flooded back.
She could no longer hold back.
Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed.
"I'm sorry, Sam Li, Anby! I lied to you—I led you straight to the Butcher on purpose! I thought you were bad people… But you weren't. You weren't bad at all…
To save a child, you willingly stormed into the Butcher of Dead End's territory… When he attacked me, Sam Li risked his life to block the strike for me… And in the carriage, in Canvas Lane, and just now—blocking that bullet… Again and again…
Sam Li, Anby… I'm so sorry! If you want to hit me or scold me, I won't fight back…"
Tears streamed down Nekomata's face as she sobbed, her words broken by hiccups.
Anby and Sam Li exchanged glances in silence.
After everything that had happened… who was really the one who owed an apology?
The night breeze blew gently, carrying away the unspoken emotions.
…