Early the next morning,
Keqing, Hu Tao, the Traveler, and Xiao didn't join the rest of the group at Hare's House. Instead, they said their goodbyes to Nicole and the others and set off for another investigation in the Hollows.
But this time,
they were far better prepared than before.
When Billy heard they were heading into the Hollows again,
he introduced them to the Proxies siblings who ran the video store on Sixth Street.
Paimon was baffled. "They're leading the way? But they just look like ordinary people!"
Aside from being kinda handsome...
and a little cute...
they didn't seem all that special.
Wise was speechless—but he didn't mind being called handsome.
Belle, meanwhile, was curiously examining Keqing and the others. When she learned they were from Sam Li's hometown—just like Furina—she grew even more intrigued.
Just then,
Billy said confidently, "Flying Paimon, don't underestimate the two store owners. Even we at Hare's House need their help to get through the Hollows. They carry carrots. Without them, even the strongest fighters would get lost down there."
Upon hearing that,
Keqing immediately understood.
These two, while seemingly ordinary and powerless, were actually guides.
And the "carrots" they mentioned—were Hollow maps.
Last time, they got completely lost in the Hollows. If they hadn't run into the Special Operations Unit 6, they might still be wandering around down there.
Thinking back,
Keqing made a quick decision and turned to Belle and Wise.
"Please take care of us."
Belle smiled. "Leave it to us."
Wise added with a grin, "When are you planning to go? And which Hollow?"
Keqing answered firmly, "We're leaving now. Our destination is Hollow A37."
At that, both Belle and Wise froze.
"Hollow A37? That one's extremely dangerous. It's crawling with Notoriety-class Ethereals. Are you sure you want to go there?"
Keqing nodded. "Yes. Please lead the way."
Belle hesitated, then nodded back. "Alright..."
How odd.
Most people entering the Hollows chose the safer ones, but Keqing and the Traveler seemed to be deliberately choosing the most dangerous zones.
Could it be...
they were specifically targeting high-level Ethereals?
Belle couldn't figure it out, but quickly linked up with Eous and joined the team.
Paimon blinked. "Wait, aren't we heading out? Where's that Proxy from earlier?"
Belle, now controlling Eous, said, "Aren't I right in front of you?"
Paimon was stunned. "Huh?! Y-You're Belle? How did you turn into that?"
Belle smiled. "It's a secret technique my brother and I never share with outsiders. Anyway, we're heading to Hollow A37, right? Let's move."
Soon,
under Belle's guidance, the group headed toward Hollow A37.
It wouldn't be long now...
The very same Hollow that had once given the Special Operations Department endless headaches—was about to be wiped clean by Keqing, Xiao, and the others.
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere in New Eridu, back at Hare's House—
Nicole seemed to have something urgent on her mind. She was just about to leave when Sam Li called out to her.
"What's going on?" Sam Li asked calmly.
Nicole looked down, her expression heavy. "It's... nothing."
Billy walked over too. "If Nicole says it's nothing, then it's nothing. Come on, Sam Li, let's go watch TV."
Sam Li: "..."
Anby: "..."
It was obvious to everyone—Nicole hadn't been herself since yesterday.
After she left,
Billy tiptoed to the door. Once he was sure Nicole had gone far enough, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
Nekomata looked puzzled. "Billy, you saw she wasn't okay too, right? Then why stop us from asking?"
Billy sighed. "You know what Nicole's like. Even if we keep pressing her, she won't say a word."
There was a brief silence.
Then Billy added, "But we can't just sit around and do nothing either."
Nekomata raised a brow. "So what now?"
Billy braced himself. "I say we follow her. Let's find out where she keeps disappearing to. Maybe we'll figure out what's bothering her."
As he spoke, he glanced nervously at Sam Li, Anby, and Nekomata.
Without their support, there was no way he'd dare tail Nicole alone.
If she caught them, she'd tear him apart.
Sam Li thought for a moment, then nodded. "That's not a bad idea."
Anby agreed. "I'm in."
Nekomata had clearly been waiting for this moment. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go before we lose her!"
Without wasting another second,
they quickly shut the door of Hare's House and ran off in the direction Nicole had gone.
To avoid being spotted,
they called a taxi.
"Driver, follow that SUV up ahead. Yeah, the black one—that really cool-looking one..."
Billy sat in the front passenger seat, pointing ahead and urging the driver to speed up.
Nekomata leaned in. "Billy, careful! Don't stick your head out. If Nicole spots you, you're toast."
Billy ducked immediately. "Driver, keep it steady. Whatever you do, don't let Nicole know we're tailing her."
They followed her through block after block,
winding through half of New Eridu before the SUV finally slowed down and turned onto another street.
"Follow it!" Billy ordered.
A few minutes later,
they saw Nicole park outside a secluded and rundown welfare home.
Hiding inside the cab,
Billy, Sam Li, Anby, and Nekomata watched as Nicole stepped out and walked straight into the building.
Billy muttered, "What's she doing at a welfare home?"
Nekomata couldn't wait. "Let's go check it out!"
Billy quickly stopped him. "No way—if she catches us, we're dead meat…"
But before he could finish,
Sam Li had already opened the door and gotten out.
Anby and Nekomata followed right after.
Billy groaned. With no other choice, he gritted his teeth and followed too.
"Hey!" the taxi driver shouted. "You haven't paid yet!"
Billy turned back and fumbled for cash. "..."
...
They soon arrived at the front gate of the welfare home.
It looked remote and dilapidated. After a moment of hesitation, they pushed the gate open.
There was no guard.
They slipped in without trouble.