Endlessness/Old

Billy: I see them! It's that kid!

*ha— ha—*

Billy: Hey!! Wait a sec kid! We're here to save you!

Anby: Feels like an enemy is here...

Nekomata: The walls here have been scratched up like they were cardboard!

—

Nicole: We've been seen! ...Phew, at least it isn't the big guy...

Anby: Must have heard us chasing the kid.

—Aaaah!

Billy: We're blocked in front too?

Billy: That kid is in danger, we have to hurry!

The group followed the child's figure, rushing into an abandoned metro station...

Child: *ha— ha—*

Child: Aaahhh—!

Billy: Keep your eyes closed kid!

Billy: It's OK, everything is fine.

Billy: It must be scary being lost in a Hollow all by yourself right? Don't worry, I'm here now!

Billy: Ugh!

Child: What are you talking about? Huh?

Billy: Eh? Uh... We saved you...

Child: Saved me? I saved you!

Child: I finally got far enough away and then you guys messed it up. It was all for nothing.

Nicole: Huh? What do you mean?

Child: I mean, that thing is coming.

Child: This is you guys fault!

Nekomata: I think I can hear something...?

Nekomata: Mee-yow!

Nicole: W-What? What's going on?

Nekomata: An Ethereal...?

Nicole: That's the infamous Butcher Ethereal? She was running from it the whole time?

Child: Wahhh—

Child: Uwaaa—

Nekomata: Aaaah!

Nekomata: Waahh—

Billy: Ha! A risky but pretty cool landing!

Billy: Hur!

Nicole: Ouch! My waist!

Anby: Ughh!

Nekomata: Oh good, the kid is OK.

Billy: Nicole...

Nicole: Darn it, why do we have trouble with every commission...

Billy: N-Nicole...?

Nicole: Nekomata, considering the circumstances, don't you think we deserve a bonus?

Billy: Nicole...!

Nicole: I hear you! I've hardly sat on you for a moment. Stop complaining!

Billy: No, it's not that... Look in front of you.

Nicole: Huh?

Nicole: Who're these guys...?

Nicole: But... wasn't the construction zone cleared?

Several hours later, in a certain corner of the intended blast area.

Nicole: ...How many are there?

Billy: At least over a hundred! Me and Anby only did a rough count of whoever was willing to come out to speak to us, there could be even more.

Nicole: So many people... When is Vision planning to clear them out?

Anby: They say a Vision Corporation representative keeps telling them to wait for the next train.

Anby: It's already been almost a week.

Do you have a way to contact the outside world?

Anyone with a Bangboo has tried, but they couldn't call anyone. We're not even in a Hollow...

Billy: There's no signal? Ah! I saw a lot of high-powered transmitting gear when I went around asking. Could they be signal jammers?

What do you mean? They're deliberately blocking communication?

Nicole: ...It makes sense to install signal jammers at a confidential construction site, but...

—Caution, caution. Explosives arming is in the final stages. Technicians are in place and ready to seal the site. I repeat...

Seal it? Now?

Nekomata: ...The Vision Corporation... Wait, everyone is still here? How can they seal the place with so many people here? What about the evacuation train?

Nicole: Those bastards, they couldn't intend to...?

Anby: ..."Vision Corporation won the bid with a much lower cost advantage", I remember them saying.

Billy: I get it... One of the big projects to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the city. It'll be technically and financially demanding, and they still have to relocate the residents.

Billy: ...But if Vision just dealt with the residents along with the demolition... It'd save costs.

Nekomata: !

Nekomata: ...Why...

Nekomata: How could they do such a thing...?

Nicole: The Vision Corporation... Is there nothing they won't do to enter the TOPS Enterprises Union? And those Public Security troops are just hired cronies, right?

Nekomata: ...So, what do you guys plan to do now?

Nicole: Eughh~ I didn't expect this when I took on the commission...

Nicole: I just wanted to earn some extra cash while doing our investigation, how did we end up getting involved in a conspiracy? This isn't the kind of opponent an odd-job agency goes against...

Nicole: You two... What do you think?

Billy: I'll do whatever you say Boss, but Anby...

Anby: I'm staying. I understand Nicole's thinking, but I can't follow this time. This is my chance. I won't make the same mistake again...

Nicole: Really... Going against a corporation. Anby, you really are...

Nicole: —a girl after my own heart!

Nicole: They're the Vision Corporation! They almost rival the TOPS Enterprises Union! Just think of the money we could squeeze out of them if we threatened to expose them!

Nicole: Quickly! Billy, Anby, go tell each of these golden eggs— I mean victims, that the Cunning Hares are willing to be their sole representation in their lawsuit for compensation!

Nicole: Don't just stand there! Get everyone to sign the authorization forms! Collect them one by one!

Nicole: And Nekomata— I have something for you to do too!

Nekomata: ...Meow? Me?

Nicole: You want to save everyone trapped here right? My finances, uhh, and the safety of everyone here is relying on you!

Nekomata: Huh? But I'm just a client who hasn't even paid a deposit... Are you sure you can trust me with such an important task?

Nicole: You know the area, and you're the most agile. Here, take my Bangboo.

Nicole: I want you to take it someplace and get help!