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===BREAK===
"Help us, you two!"
"Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, how did you get to the store?"
After regaining her composure, Belle and Wise stepped outside to speak with Zhu Yuan and Qingyi.
"Officer Huang received a message from Daoist Arden, so he sent us over."
Zhu Yuan gave a brief explanation.
Earlier, when Arden Xu received the alert from Yiji, he immediately realized something had gone wrong at the video store.
He couldn't get there in time personally, so he contacted Officer Huang—someone he had a good relationship with, recently promoted from Inspector to Commissioner—and asked him to coordinate, sending Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, who were closest to the store, to help.
…
At the same time, inside the Hollow.
Miyabi and her team realized they had lost contact with Belle. The responsibility of leading the way had been taken over by Yiji, who guided them through the nearest spatial rift to exit the Hollow.
Yes, the very rift Fairy had mentioned forming just before losing connection.
In reality, Yiji also found the sudden appearance of the rift suspicious; it could very well be a trap. But with the nearby Ether bombs threatening to collapse the Hollow, the path through the rift was the only safe option.
"Oh? Let me see… who's coming out of the Hollow?"
A voice called to the group who had just exited.
Miyabi turned toward the voice and saw a burly man. Behind him stood a group of highly alert Public Security officers, all staring with wariness and hostility.
"Bringer? You… what are you doing here?"
Even the usually unflappable Yanagi was shocked, having never expected the would-be Chief Commissioner, busy with the municipal election, to show up here.
But recalling the strange events inside the abandoned factory, she immediately felt a bad premonition.
It was a trap, and they had walked right into it.
"The culprit behind the Vision Corporation scandal, Perlman! Intentionally sabotaging the witness's Hollow escape toward the Outer Ring and fleeing to New Eridu during the sensitive election period, now apprehended on-site by Public Security."
Bringer recited his pre-prepared statement, his smile chilling rather than warm.
"As the future Chief Commissioner, even before the election concludes, I must protect New Eridu."
At this, Bringer bared his fangs and swept his cold gaze over the group, finally resting it on Perlman.
"And then… look at what I discovered!"
"Appearing with the major suspect Perlman, injuring Public Security officers, and assisting his escape from the Hollow are… the HAND officers of Hollow Special Operations Section 6!"
Bringer feigned shock, showing no awareness that he had set the trap to lure Miyabi in.
"You…!!"
Miyabi blocked Soukaku from rushing forward to confront Bringer.
Now, everyone realized who had been baited—the trap had been set specifically for Miyabi.
"In the name of the Janus Quarter Acting Chief Commissioner, you are requested to come with us to the Public Security headquarters for tea."
As he spoke, Bringer pulled out a laptop playing footage of Section 6 taking out the Public Security officers inside the Hollow.
The evidence was undeniable.
"Wait a moment!"
Yanagi interjected. In the short time she had to think, she came up with a non-strategy strategy.
"If I'm not mistaken, the video shows only the Section Chief taking action against the officers. That was Miyabi acting alone, unrelated to the rest of Section 6!"
She reasoned that Bringer only wanted to detain Miyabi and limit her Void Hunter powers.
By removing Section 6 from the situation, it might look like betrayal, but in reality, she simply didn't want everyone falling into the trap together. As long as they could act freely, they could seek help from other forces—like Daoist Arden and Yunkui Summit—to rescue the Section Chief.
"As members of Section 6, we noticed misconduct by our superiors and immediately intervened, which you happened to see. Haha! You're trying to say… this has nothing to do with you?"
Seeing the apparent internal conflict in Section 6, Bringer couldn't help but laugh loudly, whether it was true or not.
"All right, I hope you don't give me a reason to catch you slipping."
Bringer didn't bother arguing with Yanagi; after all, he had no evidence implicating the rest of Section 6. The video only showed Miyabi's swift actions—no one else was captured attacking the officers.
"According to the Public Security Regulations, we must arrest Miyabi and bring her in for trial. Any objections?"
"No, I'll go with you."
Miyabi spoke obediently. Legally and procedurally, Bringer's request made sense.
If it had been Arden or Yiji, they might have dealt with Bringer on the spot—but Miyabi wasn't the type to act so recklessly, unlike Yunkui Summit.
Of course, Miyabi wasn't completely passive.
After saying this, she grabbed Perlman, hiding behind her, and tossed him into the Hollow as if he were trash. Since the false accusation already claimed she colluded with Perlman, adding another charge made no difference.
"Oops, my hand slipped."
"You!!!"
Bringer didn't even have time to react. Seeing what Miyabi had done, his face turned red with anger.
He felt completely disregarded; her blatant defiance seemed to write "contempt" across her expression.
"Yanagi is right. None of this involves them—their actions just now prove it. I act independently!"
Miyabi had stopped even pretending.
"Damn! I hope you're still this smug later… hehehe!"
Bringer's smile turned sinister.
He then had his subordinates put Miyabi in specialized high-strength handcuffs and confiscated the Youkai Blade, Tailless.
Miyabi didn't react—she had already planned to switch weapons, and without fingerprint unlocking, the blade couldn't be drawn anyway.
"!?"
Miyabi, now restrained in the prison vehicle, noticed another person inside.
It was a woman hidden beneath a red cloak, sitting calmly across from her, exuding leisure and confidence.
With Miyabi pressed against the iron bars and without the Youkai Blade, escape seemed impossible.
"Miss Miyabi, you remain so composed, letting us manipulate the situation. Do you enjoy the little show I've prepared for you?"
Sarah's voice carried pride. Every link of the trap targeting Miyabi had been orchestrated by her. As the victor, she couldn't resist flaunting it.
"Villains' plans always try to be novel. I'll stay close to see the purpose clearly. After all… you pose zero threat to me!"
Miyabi displayed a casual demeanor—the confidence of a Void Hunter.
Believing she faced no real threat, she didn't resist being loaded into the prison vehicle. After all, if she wanted, she could leave at any time.
===BREAK===
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