Night. A barren moonlight washed over the Outer Ring's open wilderness—over endless sands, collapsed ruins, even the monotonous tumbleweeds—coating everything in a thin, silvery sheen that somehow made it all feel oddly precious.
The people who liked tricking city folk into coming out here always spoke in exaggerated tones. The Outer Ring, they'd say, was a treasure land. The locals were simple and honest. The air was nothing like "New Eridu's stale, rotten atmosphere"—out here the wind was "fresh, lively, and free!"
And so the idiots who swallowed it would actually leave the city proper—thin shirts, sunglasses, collars popped on purpose—climb onto a rattling bus, and drift through a dull, drowsy journey.
Then, after a shrieking brake, they'd step off, fling their arms wide, and just as they were about to shout, "We've arrived at the Outer Ring! It's gorgeous, family!" a faceful of yellow sand would slam into their mouths and choke them into coughing fits.
Meanwhile, the people born and raised here would laugh at the city folk's clumsy misery—while carefully hiding the envy in their eyes. In the gaps between their grand speeches, they'd steal glances at pale skin and expensive clothes, their hearts thrumming with an envy they couldn't quite suppress.
Why wouldn't they envy it?
To the people here, the Outer Ring was a maze. City folk wanted to come in and explore. The ones who lived inside the maze wanted out.
Some city folk claimed the Outer Ring wasn't a city, wasn't a maze—just a chaotic, filthy settlement.
Yes… and no.
Compared to the Inner Ring, the Outer Ring lagged far behind—technology, living standards, everything. But inside the "backwardness" the city despised, the Outer Ring had grown its own traditions and culture.
Like singing and dancing around bonfires.
Or—when a "partner" could no longer serve—filling it with fuel and setting it alight, sending it off on one final, blazing run: a "Hellfire Ride."
Or, for example—
"Burnice! Two fuel drinks, filled to the brim! One for me, one for Lucy!"
Wildfire Town. Burnice's bar.
Caesar had just finished yet another round of who-knew-how-many scuffles with Lucy—and, as always, she was declaring it a victory for herself. She was in a great mood.
So she planned to treat Miss Lucy to a fuel drink—after all, Lucy had exhausted three little boars into collapse and still hadn't managed to break Caesar's shield defense. Naturally, to celebrate her latest win, Caesar would have a fuel drink too!!!
Except tonight, Burnice wasn't behind the counter.
Normally, she'd be either wiggling her hips while obsessing over new drink mixes, or propping up her cheek, drooling, mumbling nonsense in her sleep.
But the counter was empty.
Caesar scratched her head and looked to Lucy, puzzled. "Weird… why'd Burnice disappear? She didn't say she was going anywhere during the day. Just—like that? No explanation?"
"That's not how you use that phrase! It's 'left without a word'!"
"Oh! Right right right—left without a word! Wait, there's a note on the bar."
Caesar leaned in and spotted a slip of paper pinned under a mixing cup. Just as she reached for it, Lucy shoved her aside.
"Lucy, what are you doing?!"
"You're all thumbs, Caesar. What if you tear it? And besides—can you even read Burnice's handwriting? Let a refined lady like me—"
Lucy didn't finish the sentence.
Her canary-bright smile stayed perfectly in place, unchanged. But Caesar's instincts started screaming.
It felt like standing beside a volcano about to erupt—like squatting next to a bomb with a burning fuse. Every hair on her body stood on end, warning her that the silent companion beside her had turned, in this moment, into a terrifying beast.
Big Dad always said a hero can't run from the battlefield—but right now I'm a coward, so this is exactly that thing… yeah! The "charge bravely forward" moment!
"Uh, Lucy, I just remembered—I've got something to do, I'm gonna go—"
"Go where? If Burnice isn't here, then we continue! This young lady still hasn't conceded!"
"Huh?! Didn't you just say you conceded?!"
"Who told you I conceded?! A-Cao, A-Mu, A-Zhuan—get her!"
"Snort…"
Shoved forward by three exhausted little boars with tears in their eyes, Caesar glanced back.
Lucy was gritting her teeth, visibly forcing herself not to shred the note on the spot. She sighed, took off her helmet, and tucked the note inside it.
Then, sensing Caesar's gaze, Lucy turned and glared at her viciously.
Caesar immediately snapped her eyes away, suddenly terrified for no logical reason.
But along with that fear came a fierce curiosity. She muttered to herself:
"What… in the world… did that note say?"
———
Deep night. Moonlight like water, glazing the steel forest.
Elsewhere in New Eridu, the gaudy violet-red lights meant a sleepless night—carnival, noise, and aimless indulgence mashed into the same prison.
People poured into KTVs, bars, and shadowy alleys plastered with posters of seductive women. In the shoulder-to-shoulder crush, they vented their excess energy, turning exhaustion into raving howls, messy footsteps, and cup after cup of shimmering poison.
But on Sixth Street, there were no chaotic neon bruises on the dark.
The lights here were soft. Clean. Warm—like a low hearth that soothed every midnight soul.
New Eridu. Sixth Street. Near the Heal drugstore.
"Xu Ge Ya, are you tired?" Chiya asked.
"Mm-neh mm-neh. (I'm fine, Chiya. But you—are you really okay? That Public Security puppet and that big-butt woman… they didn't do anything to you, did they?)"
"I told you—Senior Qingyi and I go way back. Don't call her a 'puppet,' it sounds so distant, Xu Ge Ya."
Chiya sighed, lifted Xu Ge Ya up, and set the Bangboo on top of his head. As he walked lazily, he patted its head.
"And as for Zhu Yuan—if she heard you calling her that behind her back, she probably wouldn't even serve me pork trotter rice anymore."
"Mm-neh mm-neh! Mm-neh-neh! (Master! That big-hips woman kept staring at you with a weird look—she's definitely up to no good!) Mm-neh! (Master! You actually bonked me because of her?!)"
"That's because you keep assuming the worst about people," Chiya said, helpless. "Zhu Yuan was probably just confused about why I showed up there, and worried something happened to me. This time was resolved nicely, but when you think about it… it really was dangerous."
Xu Ge Ya fell silent, sprawled atop Chiya's head, staring up in wordless frustration.
That busty woman had met Chiya only twice—once before, and then again during the brief statement-taking with Qingyi—but she'd already changed how Chiya addressed her. From the polite, guarded "Officer Zhu Yuan" to the noticeably more familiar "Zhu Yuan."
She'd even gotten Chiya to bonk Xu Ge Ya for her.
How could a woman like that be as innocent as Master thinks?
And besides…
Before the Master disappeared, he'd told Xu Ge Ya long ago about Chiya's condition. Even if that woman didn't have those thoughts right now… all it would take was a single moment, and she would—
Wait.
Why is it so quiet?
That nasty cat—someone else's pet, yet always barging in to steal attention—didn't come rushing over. No meowing. Nothing.
That's not normal!
But maybe it was because it had been so long since Xu Ge Ya got to ride on Chiya's head—so comfortable, so addicting—that Xu Ge Ya didn't pop up right away.
And because of that, it missed the last chance.
Chiya pulled out his key and opened the door—
A tall woman stepped out of the shadows. Twin ponytails. Sunglasses. A crop top.
In one swift motion she clamped a hand over Chiya's mouth—then yanked Xu Ge Ya off Chiya's head and tossed the Bangboo outside.
She dragged Chiya into the room, pulled the key out of the lock, slammed the door shut, and turned the bolt—all in one smooth, practiced sequence.
By the time Xu Ge Ya struggled up from a trash can lid, all it faced was a tightly locked door.
Inside, a woman's voice purred:
"Chiya~ you lied again."
"Mmgh?! (Burnice?!)"
"Yes," she said lightly. "It's me."
From here, the story depicts a coercive sexual advance. The scene fades out.
———
"Boss Jane! You've got to be careful! Those Public Security guys have been itching to catch our Mountain Lion Gang every single day!"
"Relax. Yuanjing Industries' scandal has everyone's attention right now—Public Security won't have the bandwidth to watch us that closely," Jane replied. "And I need to go gather intel. Otherwise, if you idiots get yourselves arrested… we're finished."
"Waaah! Boss Jane!"
Sixth Street. Jane, out in civilian clothes, stared at the place as if in a trance.
"Been a long time… It's late. I wonder if he's asleep. I'll send a message."
She took out her phone and opened Knock-Knock.
[Hunter]: [Hunter] knocked [Prey] on the head and got elbowed into orbit by Xu Ge Ya.
[Hunter]: Asleep?
Jane waited ten seconds. No reply.
She slid the phone back onto her belt. "Looks like he's asleep. Then… just like last time—let's give him a little surprise."
Smiling, she walked lightly toward the Heal drugstore.
And then she saw it—
A familiar Bangboo lay limp in front of the door, powerless. It looked like a loyal knight watching the princess he'd sworn to protect being violated right in front of him—while he himself was chained down, unable to do a thing.
What happened?
With questions—and a hot, inexplicable irritability—Jane moved closer to the door…
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 20
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 20
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