Zane blinked. Before he could even turn toward the voice, a black-and-white figure barreled straight into him. Qingyi, standing beside him, didn't move to stop it—she only watched with a gentle smile.
As a familiar presence, Zane didn't even need to look to know who it was.
"You really didn't have to rush me like that."
"Tsk, you feel heavier than before. You almost knocked me over..."
Catching Panta with one arm, Zane used his free hand to pinch the little Bangboo's cheek. As his very first "companion" after arriving in this world, Panta naturally held a special place in his heart.
"I haven't seen the Boss in so long..."
"Sister Nekomata said you were busy with something important, Boss, and told me not to bother you. I couldn't help with much anyway, so I just helped her take care of all the cats at home..."
Panta wasn't weak—under certain circumstances, it could even act as a capable substitute agent. But inside Hollow Zero, that strength wasn't nearly enough. And besides, Zane didn't want this little guy getting involved.
Happy, carefree, and safe—that was just how he liked it.
"Oh, right, Boss! How does my voice sound now? Hehe! It's all thanks to that weird big sister with wheels on her legs. I was kinda scared of her at first, but she and Sister Nekomata said you sent her, so it's fine!"
Clearly, Panta had a lot to say and chattered away nonstop. Zane listened patiently, though hearing Panta speak fluent human language still felt a little strange.
Not long ago, Titan Tech had upgraded its language module using technology from the Marcel Group, giving Panta both Bangboo and human linguistic systems.
Other Bangboo could understand human speech, but when they communicated with one another, their own language always felt more natural. Considering that, Zane had asked Titan Tech to keep that function intact.
As for how Titan Tech got their hands on the Marcel Group's original Bangboo data and technology...
Well, the power of money spoke for itself.
Plus a little "pressure" from the military.
Besides, the Marcel Group was no longer the pioneering powerhouse it had once been under Sunbringer's leadership. No one knew how many parasites were eating away at it now...
"Boss! There's something else I need to tell you!"
Mid-sentence, Panta's tone suddenly grew serious. It glanced around carefully before leaning closer and whispering,
"Boss, Sister Nekomata's been badmouthing you every day at home. She keeps muttering to herself, pausing to stare off into space, and sometimes she even gets so mad while talking that she ends up arguing with herself..."
"I'm telling you, Boss, she's said a lot! Just yesterday, I heard her say you—AAAHHH!"
Before Panta could finish, a hand appeared out of nowhere, grabbing it firmly by the scruff of its neck.
The little Bangboo's short limbs flailed helplessly as it shouted in mock outrage,
"Unforgivable! Who dares ambush me like this?!"
He, Panta, was once the mighty Panta the King—one who had roamed the Hollows side by side with his Boss! How dare anyone sneak up on him!
"What did you just say?"
"When did I ever badmouth Zane?"
A familiar voice rang out beside him. Panta froze. When he turned and saw who it was, his face instantly twisted into a fawning grin.
"N-no, you've got it wrong! I was just telling the Boss how hard Sister Nekomata's been working lately, every day she's—mmph!"
"You think I didn't hear that?!"
"Meow~"
A cat's cry sounded beside Zane, clearly expressing its displeasure at being ignored.
Watching Panta being squished and stretched into various shapes in Nekomata's grasp, Zane reached out and rubbed the head of the fluffy, dark-furred cat beside him.
"You came too, huh?"
Glancing behind Nekomata, Zane noticed the dozen or so cats trailing after her and couldn't help but smile. Looked like she'd practically brought half of the Tanuki House with her.
As a Thiren-Cat, Nekomata could move without making a sound, which was why Panta hadn't noticed her approach. Zane and Qingyi, on the other hand, had seen her coming from the start—and Nekomata hadn't been trying to hide herself anyway.
"What? Am I not allowed to come?"
Nekomata set Panta down, her cheeks puffing slightly as she crossed her arms, voice full of irritation.
She lived at the Tanuki House too, but when Zane finally showed up, he'd only told Panta—and from Qingyi's expression, it was obvious she'd already been with him for a while.
If she hadn't seen Panta heading out with Nocturne, who then gathered a bunch of cats and left together—something she guessed had to do with Zane—she wouldn't have followed and would've known nothing at all.
She'd been worrying about him the whole time...
Nekomata understood that Zane's situation was sensitive and that he had his reasons for keeping things quiet. Still, she couldn't help feeling a little left out.
Pouting, she tried to pull herself together—but when she caught the teasing look on Zane's face, she gave a sharp little huff.
"What's with that look, huh..."