...
Meanwhile, inside the Hollow — the Mountain Lion Gang's lair.
"Jane, you betrayed me!"
The true leader of the [Mountain Lion Gang], Razor, stood before her — a man built entirely of muscle, his body wrapped in metal restraints and devices. His left arm bore a massive iron gauntlet, sparking with arcs of electricity.
But now, there was no trace of leadership in him, only a storm of rage. He roared,
"I trusted you! You ambushed me today to take my head and trade it for a bounty at the Public Security Bureau, didn't you?"
Across from him, Jane clutched her bleeding side. Blood dripped steadily between her fingers, and through the crimson, she caught a faint glint of metal — a bullet.
She didn't answer Razor. Not a word. Not even a glance his way. Her eyes were fixed instead on the woman standing behind him.
That woman — the elegant secretary the [Mountain Lion Gang] had once risked everything to rescue from prison. And yet, when Jane was just about to complete her mission, that same woman had struck first.
"Hah. You thought she was just a disloyal subordinate?" Jane sneered. "The Public Security Bureau found your hideout and wiped out all your men with perfect accuracy — you really think that was luck? In this endless Hollow, do you believe they just stumbled on the right path?"
The secretary stood, walking toward them with slow, deliberate steps. Her beautiful face was calm, but her eyes glimmered with open contempt when they met Razor's.
Even as partners in crime, she couldn't hide her disgust for the greedy, small-minded brute beside her. She had warned him long ago that Thiren was suspicious, but Razor's pride wouldn't let him listen. He claimed his "charisma" was enough to keep his men loyal.
Yeah, right.
The secretary exhaled, pressing her fingers to the spot between her brows.
Breathe... Don't lose your temper...
Suppressing her anger, she finally spoke coldly,
"Finish her off. Don't worry — we'll fund a new [Mountain Lion] crew. You'll still be the boss."
She had no other choice. Alone, she couldn't defeat Jane. Even wounded, Jane was far stronger than she was. The only way to win was to let Razor take the brunt of the fight — while she waited for her chance to shoot from behind.
"Fine! Then I'll clean house myself!"
Razor slammed his helmet shut, fury twisting his face. The lightning arcs on his left arm flared brighter. Though over ten paces away, he leapt with explosive force, closing the gap in a single bound.
Jane's eyes narrowed, and she darted backward.
The next instant, Razor's iron fist slammed into the floor where she had just stood. The blue electricity exploded outward, shattering the ground into rubble.
Razor drew back his fist — a crater nearly a foot deep smoked beneath it, sparks crackling within.
Jane glanced at it once, then looked away.
Brute force means nothing if you can't hit me.
As Razor straightened, a sharp gust sliced through the air — a blade flashed toward him!
It was Jane's leg — the tip of her boot gleaming with a hidden bayonet.
Clang!
Sparks flew as it scraped across Razor's helmet.
"Jane, you—!"
Razor's eyes widened, but before he could finish cursing her treachery, an even deadlier move followed.
Using her momentum, Jane sprang upward, her right leg tightening as she aimed a vicious kick at Razor's groin — another bayonet glinting from her boot tip.
Even before impact, Razor felt a freezing chill crawl up his spine. For a moment, he could almost feel his ancestors watching behind him — ready to stab him through the back if he failed.
Under their ancestral gaze, there was no way Razor would let himself become a eunuch!
So, in an instant, he found his perfect counter.
Thud!
He dropped to his knees.
Both Jane and the secretary froze in disbelief.
But Jane didn't stop.
Swish!
Her boot blade sliced across his abdomen, leaving a deep, bloody gash.
The secretary slapped her forehead and closed her eyes in silence, afraid that if she spoke, she might start laughing uncontrollably.
Jane wasn't so restrained. She covered her mouth, trying — and failing — to stifle her laughter. Finally, she teased,
"I may be leaving, but you're still my old boss. No need to bow so low."
"But since you've already knelt, why not go all the way and give me a proper kowtow?"
"Jane, you… you!"
Razor's face turned crimson beneath his helmet, his voice shaking with rage.
That was exactly the moment Jane was waiting for.
She lunged forward, swift as a gust of wind.
A sharp whistle cut through the air — Razor barely saw her eyes, predatory and cold, before her twin eagle claws lunged for his throat like twin fangs.
This strike aimed straight for the kill.
Panic surged through Razor. He tried to move, but his heavy body couldn't react fast enough.
A pure strength fighter couldn't possibly outpace an assassin like Jane.
But what he lacked, his gun could make up for.
Bang!
A shot rang out.
Jane instinctively crossed her claws to deflect it — the bullet ricocheted off, but the impact forced her back several steps.
Damn it!
Her eyes widened as she looked up.
Sure enough, Razor leapt high into the air, his left fist descending like a sledgehammer.
In that instant, time seemed to slow. Jane caught sight of the secretary behind him, silently retracting the pistol she'd just fired. Her face was expressionless, as if nothing mattered — though that single shot had completely turned the tide.
Boom!
Razor's punch struck like thunder.
Jane was blasted off her feet, crashing through three walls before coming to a halt.
She gasped for breath, eyes locked on Razor as he advanced step by step. She tried to stand, but blood filled her mouth and spilled out before she fell heavily again.
Several times she tried to rise — and each time, failed.
She could endure a sneak shot once, but not the raw force of Razor's punch.
Finally, she gave up, glaring at him with stubborn defiance as he loomed over her.
Razor crouched down, sneering.
"Hmph. Flashy tricks and fancy moves — what good are they now? You still fell under my fist."
"Is that so?"
Jane forced her head up, sweat dripping from her brow. "Boss, that iron fist of yours couldn't save a single one of your men. And now, you're about to kill the last one."
"Zero wins against the Public Security Bureau, but you're ruthless enough against your own people."
"Shut up!"
Razor roared, standing tall. "It's all your fault! Every failure I've suffered traces back to your betrayal! Today, I'll avenge my fallen brothers!"
"They weren't exactly innocent victims," Jane replied weakly. "And I wasn't even with the Mountain Lions for long."
"Lies! If not for your betrayal—die!"
His fist came down. Even before it connected, the blast of wind struck Jane's face, electric arcs burning against her skin.
So... unfair.
Jane shut her eyes tight, repeating the thought in her mind.
To die like this, at the hands of a mindless brute — how unfair!
Boom!
The thunderous impact rippled outward — but Jane's eyes snapped open, stunned.
Before her eyes shimmered a faint glow.
An Ether crystal?
"Hehe, I knew it! Just trust your instincts and you'll always find the way! I really am the best investigator!"
A cheerful voice rang out. Razor and Jane turned sharply.
At the end of the ruined street stood a girl with a confident smile, hands on her hips — and beside her, two figures in familiar uniforms.
The maid's skirt swayed slightly as she stepped forward, calm but sharp-eyed. The butler next to her straightened his posture, pulling his blade from the ground with practiced grace.
"Nice work. Sooner or later, I'll have you enlisted in the army."