Phaga smiled faintly. "Fortunately, no."
"Eh? No?"
Before Eous could even respond, Ellen already looked puzzled. Her face was full of confusion as she asked in surprise, "Aren't we here to clear out the Ethereal?"
Cleaning up Ethereal—how does that have anything to do with finding a friend? Wasn't this just wasting time helping someone else?
However, everyone from Victoria Housekeeping—except for Corin—looked at her strangely. Especially Phaga, whose indulgent gaze carried the warmth of someone humoring a clueless girlfriend. It sent shivers down Ellen's back, and without realizing it, she felt his hand gently squeeze her palm.
"You saw the commission proposal that Mr. Lycaon sent out yesterday with me, didn't you? Don't tell me you forgot everything already?" Phaga asked, tilting his head with a playful smile.
Ellen turned her head away, puffing out her cheeks and muttering deliberately, "It was too long! How could I possibly remember all that?"
In truth, her attention back then had been entirely on Phaga. Just glancing at the proposal's title was already doing Mr. Lycaon a favor.
Lycaon closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze met Rina's. One sighed, the other smiled.
Rina floated silently behind him and said softly, "The kids are getting along better. Isn't that a good thing?"
Lycaon glanced toward Eous, saw that his attention was elsewhere, and replied in a low voice, "But Ellen doesn't even read the plans now!"
"Did she ever?"
Lycaon froze at that, then shook his head with a helpless chuckle. Expecting Ellen to be diligent—what was he even hoping for?
Seeing that, Rina quickly pressed on, "This commission doesn't just need their effort. We need to do our part too. Besides, Phaga's reliable, isn't he?"
"Yes..."
Lycaon exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. It was the look of an old father finally accepting that his long-raised daughter had found her place.
Corin, meanwhile, looked left, then right. She suddenly felt like an outsider, completely lost about everything happening in Victoria Housekeeping.
"Let's talk as we walk."
Phaga gave a faint smile, cast a deep look at Ellen, then turned away. He addressed Eous, who still looked puzzled.
"Tasks have priorities. Clearing out the Ethereal is just a side job for Victoria Housekeeping—something we can complete or not. It's a visible smokescreen, meant to prevent certain people who don't even read the plan from accidentally spilling the real purpose."
Ellen's cheeks flushed bright red at that, and she turned away with a huff.
"As for the real mission behind the plan..." Phaga paused before continuing, "Manager, I believe you've heard the rumors about the Ballet Tower?"
Eous blinked, looking completely lost.
Seeing that, Phaga offered an apologetic smile. "It seems you haven't. Then let me explain briefly."
"Rumor has it that just before the Hollow erupted in the Ballet Tower, a pair of dancer sisters performed here—and met a tragic end."
"Their vengeful spirits never dispersed. Instead, they cursed everyone who entered the tower."
"At first, it was just flickering lights as a warning. But go further in, and... much worse things happen."
"Ahem!"
Seeing Eous already lost in the ghost story, Phaga gave a couple of polite coughs to pull him back to reality. As they reached the stairs, he bent down, scooped Eous up, and quickly carried him upward.
Before long, the group reached the next floor. Phaga groped along the wall and flicked a switch.
With a sharp click, the hallway lit up in a warm yellow glow.
As they walked, Phaga spoke again.
"It might not make any scientific sense, but stories like these spread fast. Tell a joke often enough, and someone's bound to believe it — same kind of people who buy overpriced 'miracle' creams and call it self-care."
He gave a faint, dry smile. "With that much nonsense in their heads, it's no wonder they're scared it might spill out."
Straightening his collar, Phaga continued, his tone turning businesslike.
"Our client's worried these ghost rumors might hurt the Ballet Tower's market value. That's why Victoria Housekeeping got the job — to clear things up before investors start running.
Sitting on Phaga's arm, Eous squirmed slightly and looked up. "Really? But we saw so many ghost-like things as soon as we came in."
"Those were just imitations created by Doppelgänger."
Phaga shook his head. "I caught one right after we entered. When I dismantled it, it turned into a pile of Ether fragments—same as any regular Ethereal."
"Manager, trust in science... hmm?"
Before he could finish, the lights suddenly went out.
But just as quickly, they flickered back on.
"Phaga!!! Is this what you call believing in science?!"
Eous shrieked, clutching his head in terror.
Phaga immediately pulled him close, shielding his head with calm precision. His eyes scanned the surroundings warily. "Don't panic, Manager. It's just an accident."
"Really?"
Eous lifted his head uncertainly—but before he could finish, the lights went out again. A moment later, they flickered back on, flashing erratically.
"Ghosts!"
Eous screamed at the top of his lungs.
"How could this happen?"
Lycaon looked up, narrowing his eyes at the flickering lights, deep in thought. Then, his expression sharpened. "No... it's not that. The circuit's malfunctioning! The power's about to go out!"
"Run! Data shows there's an automatic isolation layer in the central atrium corridor. If the power stays out too long, it'll shut automatically!"
Hearing that, Phaga immediately set Eous down. "Manager, you'll have to lead the way from here."
"Don't worry. Even if Nineveh herself stands in our way, Victoria Housekeeping will protect you to the end."
"Huh?"
Eous glanced back at Phaga, then turned to look at Rina and Lycaon, and even further back at Corin and Ellen.
Some looked determined, some indifferent—but none were afraid.
Seeing this, Eous felt a surge of emotion. Their confidence lit a fire in his chest.
He twisted his body, braced himself, and shouted at the top of his voice, "Charge!"
Whoosh!
Eous bolted forward like lightning!
The members of Victoria Housekeeping followed without hesitation, surrounding him in a protective formation.
[Fairy: Ether corruption levels rising ahead. Suspected Ethereal presence detected.]
As they dashed through the corridor, Phaga surged ahead of Eous, spun around, and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick that smashed into the locked iron door.
The door dented inward, ripped free from its frame, and crashed open with a thunderous clang.
Beyond it lay a grand hall—spacious, ornate, and glittering like a ballroom.
But now, at least a hundred Ethereal crowded the room. Hearing the door crash open, they all twisted their heads toward the intruders.
"Shhh!"
One of the Ethereal let out a guttural roar and shot forward—like a flying sword streaking through the air straight at them!