...
Ether is a chaotic convergence of various energies, mysterious and unstable in nature.
That's why weapons like the ones Nicole and Anby use are called Ether weapons. Depending on how the Ether is channeled, the effects vary—like that guy with the fire blade, whose weapon triggered flames, while Anby's manifests electricity.
Though Ether is everywhere—fueling everything from industrial firepower to home electricity—the people of New Eridu still understand only a fraction of it.
Zane was no exception.
But being an Ethereal gave him a natural edge.
A wisp of ice-aligned Ether lingered around his fingertips, a mesmerizing swirl of deep black and blue.
Before long, a thin layer of frost coated his fingers.
Zane waved his hand, dispersing the energy.
"For now, all I can do is strip it away. I can't really use it yet. Maybe once I get the hang of it, it'll be useful in combat."
"But for now, I could use it to chill drinks or turn myself into a walking air conditioner. Pretty handy... too bad I'm stuck in the Hollows, so none of that's happening."
He lowered his arms and looked out from the high ground.
Zane preferred to stay up high inside Hollows—for the wide view and the ease of observing movement.
"By my estimate, my lovely Miss Proxy should be arriving soon... tch."
...
Outside the Cretan Hollow, somewhere on Fourteenth Street...
"Senior, what do you think they sent us out here for? This joint op between the Security Bureau and the military... doesn't really seem like our business, right?"
Zhu Yuan rested one hand on the holster at her waist and used the other to adjust her cuff-shaped hairband, puzzled.
"Eh~ don't say that. Right now, we're just a couple of bricks—they'll move us wherever they need us~"
Qingyi strolled along beside her, calm and easygoing as always.
"But Senior, the Public Security Bureau already sent plenty of people. Doesn't really look like they're missing any bricks."
"When you're a cut above the rest, even a full house feels empty."
"Senior, you..."
"Hmm?"
"Can you speak in a way I'll actually understand?"
Qingyi paused for a beat, then gave a sheepish smile.
"That saying was originally part of a proverb about offering advice, but I just pulled two lines to compliment your skills."
"It's clear the higher-ups are taking this seriously. And you and I—we're top-notch among the constables."
"There's no shortage of regular constables here. With military personnel around, they're practically redundant."
"But skilled ones like you? They're in short supply."
She looked off into the distance for a moment, then turned back to Zhu Yuan with a light shrug.
"See? Another job found its way to you. Honestly, the workload around here is getting ridiculous…"
"It's fine, Senior. It's our duty as constables to protect the people and keep their lives running smoothly."
Zhu Yuan shook her head lightly. She didn't mind—on the contrary, she enjoyed helping others and standing up for justice.
Qingyi knew her well and wasn't surprised by her answer. She silently followed behind.
With the mess they were about to walk into, her help as "senior" was bound to come in handy.
Moments later...
"Senior, here's the situation: a group stole all the EMP devices from a logistics team and fled into the Hollow. We've been tasked with catching them."
Zhu Yuan glanced down at Qingyi—who was notably shorter—and explained what she'd learned.
She'd expected something to do with civilian safety, not a criminal pursuit.
Qingyi hadn't been close during the earlier briefing, so she probably hadn't heard the details.
"...Huh?"
Qingyi tilted her head, brows knitting slightly. Her twin ponytails bounced a little, and paired with her "did I hear that right?" expression, she looked oddly adorable.
"Why would the military be carrying EMPs?"
"How'd EMP devices get stolen in a heavily guarded zone?"
"Why aren't they handling this themselves?"
"Why is this falling on us constables—and just the two of us?!"
"Uh…"
Four soul-piercing questions later, Zhu Yuan gave a strained smile.
Yeah... she wanted to know too!
"Given that we truly need your help, allow me to explain."
A voice called out from nearby.
The officer who'd spoken to Zhu Yuan earlier was walking over—he hadn't left yet and had clearly heard everything.
"First, the EMPs are required for testing in the experimental facility to prevent potential issues. I can't go into details."
"Second, the thieves disguised themselves as civilians and exploited a moment of inattention during the logistics team's meal break."
"Third and fourth—aside from personnel not on the official roster, every soldier is currently assigned elsewhere. Among constables, you two have the most experience with Hollow operations."
"To prevent the EMPs from interfering with the test, we need your full cooperation."
"We'll do our best to complete the mission."
Zhu Yuan was just about to say more when Qingyi tugged her arm. She quickly said a few words to the officer, then led Zhu Yuan away.
Once they were far enough, Zhu Yuan looked at her, puzzled.
"Senior?"
She was only now realizing—Qingyi's earlier tone and all those questions had probably been deliberate.
"I've heard the military's in a bit of chaos lately. I didn't want us getting dragged into some kind of mess, so I used the moment to probe."
Qingyi gave a small smile. Her actions had been intentional. If they hadn't gotten any clear answers, she would've tried to back out of the op.
After all, they weren't under the same command structure—the order was just to cooperate, not follow orders blindly. And it was the military's mess to begin with.
But now, it seemed entering the Hollow was unavoidable.
"Alright, let's get ready. We need to move fast and catch those guys. But with the EMPs in play, it's all on you."
Zhu Yuan nodded, still only half-understanding Qingyi's approach and logic.
Qingyi didn't look at her expression—head lowered, she rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
She still had no idea what the military was really up to, but judging by the scale of this "test," it wasn't small.
Once they were ready, the two entered the Hollow.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side, Hare's House, led by Eous, slipped past the weakened blockade—looser now due to personnel being reassigned—and made their way into the Hollow.
"Nicole Boss, looks like the authorities are making some big moves this time. You think that's gonna mess with what we're here for?"