Unexpected Captives
Last updated 2025-12-26
Unexpected Captives is the second episode of Cat's Lost & Found (B) in Phaethon's Story.
Stories
- Pick up the Pace
- Specter or Snare
- Follow the Target
- Encounter
- Vision's Conspiracy
Gameplay Notes
- During Follow the Target, a trial
Nicole Demara, 
Billy Kid, and 
Anby Demara is added to the squad
Trial Mode
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| Team Position |
Agent & W-Engine |
Skills & Equipment | Stats |
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1 |
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 HP: 2,526 ATK: 356 +37 DEF: 192 Impact: 88 CRIT Rate: 5% CRIT DMG: 50% Anomaly Mastery: 90 Anomaly Proficiency: 93 PEN Ratio: 0% PEN: 0 Energy Regen: 1.32 Energy Generation Rate: ?% Energy Limit: ? |
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2 |
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HP: 2,141 ATK: 405 +42 DEF: 187 Impact: 91 CRIT Rate: 9.8% CRIT DMG: 50% Anomaly Mastery: 92 Anomaly Proficiency: 91 PEN Ratio: 0% PEN: 0 Energy Regen: 1.2 Energy Generation Rate: ?% Energy Limit: 120 |
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3 |
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HP: 2,326 ATK: 360 DEF: 190 Impact: 124 +7 CRIT Rate: 5% CRIT DMG: 50% Anomaly Mastery: 94 Anomaly Proficiency: 93 PEN Ratio: 0% PEN: 0 Energy Regen: 1.2 Energy Generation Rate: ?% Energy Limit: 120 |
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Dialogue
This article is about current release dialogue. For beta dialogue, see Step by Step/Old.
This article is about current release dialogue. For beta dialogue, see Unexpected Captives/Old.
Pick up the Pace
The following is recorded in the Video Archive
Pick up the PaceVideo Summary: Is it a wise decision to go running around inside the Hollows?
Story Description: When the search turned up nothing, Nekomata complained they were moving too slowly and persuaded the Cunning Hares to start running. Anby was against wasting energy, but fell for Nekomata's provocation.
- Nekomata: Meow! Over there—
- Billy: Where?!
- Nekomata: I don't see her anymore! She disappeared in a flash!
- Billy: Why is it always the cat that sees her?
- Billy: I know cat Thirens have better vision than normal people, but my visual components are pretty good too...
- Nicole: Hey, do you all think there are more and more claw marks around here?
- Nicole: We've been coming across stronger Ethereals too...
- Billy: Now that you mention it...
- Nicole: We can't keep going like this. How can we save anyone when we're in danger ourselves. We need a plan.
- Anby: Nekomata, are you sure you saw her? Why is it every time you see her we find nothing?
- Nekomata: The Hollow changes so quickly, by the time we've gone over, things have already warped. It's not my fault.
- Nekomata: If we want to catch her... You guys just need to keep up!
- Anby: Negative. We don't have the physical advantages when it comes to running like you do.
- Anby: In our current situation, we should reserve our energy to escape if we encounter the Dead End Butcher.
- Nekomata: Ehhhhh?
- Anby: What's that supposed to mean?
- Nekomata: You talk about saving people, but when the time comes you can only think of yourselves.
- Anby: That's not true.
- Nekomata: Really? Then you mean you aren't confident in your abilities?
- Anby: I can't pretend I didn't hear that. If I get serious, even Billy using his fuel reserves can't beat me.
- Billy: I can't pretend I didn't hear that, Anby...
- Nekomata: No problem then! We'll just run after the girl from now on!
- Anby: I'm more than happy to.
- Nicole: W—Wait! Isn't anyone gonna ask my opinion?
Specter or Snare
The following is recorded in the Video Archive
Specter or SnareVideo Summary: What the searchers encountered was a trickier trap than a ghost.
Story Description: Since the residents of the blast zone had already evacuated, Billy questioned why there would be a child wandering about the Hollow. Just then, everyone spotted the little girl, much to Nekomata's surprise.
- In the video, the members of the Cunning Hares stop for a short break after running...
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Follow the Target
The following is recorded in the HDD
Follow the TargetVideo Summary: What the searchers encountered was a trickier trap than a ghost.
- (Enter combat)
- Billy: Hurry, faster. We gotta keep moving! The girl's just up ahead!
- (When Arlaune spawns)
- AI: Dangerous target detected.
- AI: Suggestion: Attack while it is closed.
- AI: When its core lights up, please move away as quickly as possible.
Encounter
The following is recorded in the Video Archive
EncounterVideo Summary: What the searchers encountered was a trickier trap than a ghost.
Story Description: The girl angrily scolded everyone for intruding on the territory of the dangerous "Dead End Butcher." The Dead End Butcher appeared, causing everyone to panic, stumble upon the Hollow exit, and fall out together.
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Vision's Conspiracy
The following is recorded in the Video Archive
Vision's ConspiracyVideo Summary: What the searchers encountered was a trickier trap than a ghost.
Story Description: It appears The Vision Corporation intends to use explosives for profit at the cost of human life. The Cunning Hares decided to carry out a rescue mission and tasked Nekomata with going to Phaethon for help.
- After a short while—
- Nicole: ...How many are there?
- Billy: Over a hundred at least! 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: I thought that Vision said they cleared everyone out days ago?
- Billy: They say they don't know what's going on.
- Billy: They haven't been able to contact anyone on the outside for a week. I'm guessing Vision has set up jamming devices.
- Nekomata: So what is this? When exactly is Vision planning to evacuate everyone?
- Grandma: Children, you must be coming from the city. Are you bringing any news?
- Nicole: Excuse me, who are you...?
- Grandma: Oh, the little girl you just saved from the Hollow is my granddaughter. Thank you for rescuing her!
- Grandma: She's always been naughty! She thinks that she can sneak into the Hollow safely just because she's got Ether aptitude..
- Grandma: Yesterday, because a Public Security officer wouldn't tell her the exact time, she came up with an idea to go to New Eridu and ask around. I took my eyes off of her for one second and she ran into the Hollow.
- Nicole: Um, excuse me. An "officer"? Did you say an officer came by?
- Grandma: That's right. Yesterday my granddaughter and a few neighbors got tired of waiting and headed to ask Vision what was going on, but an officer stopped them before they got there.
- Grandma: They said nobody could get through because explosives were being handled nearby, and once things were ready, a train would be coming for us.
- Grandma: Most of us here are old, sick, and disabled. Other than my granddaughter, none of us have any aptitude for Ether, so we can't go anywhere. We were told to wait, so that's all we can do.
- Nicole: But it doesn't make sense!
- Nicole: How can something as big as a mass evacuation of residents not be scheduled in advance? They just left everyone waiting for notice?
- Nicole: And I haven't heard of Public Security being involved in the project before.
- Grandma: Miss, you mean to say...?
- Nicole: That Public Security officer who stopped the residents is suspicious.
- Nicole: There has to be more to it than this! I remember them saying "Vision Corporation won the bid thanks to a much lower cost."
- Billy: I get it... The metro renovation project is one of the most talked about big projects in New Eridu.
- Billy: It's 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... That'd save costs.
- Grandma: So... what you're saying is...Vision has just abandoned us all here?
- Nicole: Vision always wanted to perform well enough to enter TOPS, but I never thought they'd stoop so low for a seat at the table...
- Nekomata: No! We can't let Vision get away with this!
- Nekomata: Nicole... What do you plan to do now?
- Nicole: Eughh~ I didn't expect this when I took on the commission...
- Nicole: Fine, sure, we came into the Dead End Hollow looking for something. And yeah, saving a kid along the way is a good thing, but a small odd-job agency can't take on a massive corporation...
- Nicole: So, what do you two think?
- Billy: I'll do whatever you say, Boss. But Anby...
- Anby: I didn't expect to agree with Nekomata on this matter.
- Anby: I'm staying. I understand Nicole's thinking, but I can't follow this time.
- Anby: This is my chance. I won't make the same mistake again...
- Nicole: Is that so? Going against a corporation. Anby, you really...
- Nicole: ...Pulled at my heartstrings!
- Nicole: They're the Vision Corporation! They may be big enough to join the TOPS Alliance!
- Nicole: 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 gold nuggets— I mean victims, that the Cunning Hares are willing to represent them 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 know you're our client, but I have something for you to do, too!
- Nekomata: ...Wha? Me?
- Nicole: You want to save everyone, right? 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!
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name |
|---|---|
| English | Unexpected Captives |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 意外的滞留者 Yìwài de Zhìliú-zhě |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 意外的滯留者 Yìwài de Zhìliú-zhě |
| Japanese | 意外な滞在者 Igai na Taizaisha |
| Korean | 뜻밖의 체류자 Tteutbakkui Cheryuja |
| Spanish | Captividad inesperada |
| French | Rescapés inattendus |
| Russian | Неожиданно застрявшие Neozhidanno zastryavshiye |
| Thai | ผู้ถูกกักขังที่คาดไม่ถึง Phu Thuk Kakkhang thi Khat Mai Thueng |
| Vietnamese | Người Mắc Kẹt Bất Ngờ |
| German | Unerwartete Gefangene |
| Indonesian | Tahanan Tak Terduga |
| Portuguese | Prisioneiros Inesperados |
Change History
Released in Version 1.0 - Welcome To New Eridu
Version 1.4 [verification needed]
- The episode "Step by Step" was removed, with "Pick up the Pace" being merged into Unexpected Captives.
- The combat stage "Manhunt Operation II" was removed.
- Unexpected Captives was released.
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