A few minutes later…
Yanagi finished questioning Lycaon and returned to Miyabi's side thoughtfully. "Chief, nothing suspicious. They said they were working under a commission from a certain influential figure."
"If that's the case, let them go."
Miyabi nodded calmly, unsurprised.
Then she turned to Sol, apologetic. "We still need to continue investigating X-83 Hollow, so we'll take our leave."
"No offense taken. I've got to discuss payment with my employers anyway." Sol smiled lightly, bidding her farewell. "See you around. Call me if you need me."
"Mm."
Miyabi nodded faintly, watching Sol and the maids of Victoria Housekeeping depart.
At that moment, Yanagi began her formal report. "Chief, it was Victoria Housekeeping who orchestrated this mission. Who their client is, we can't be sure."
Their name was well known among New Eridu's upper circles. Yanagi had heard it before.
That they had backing was never in doubt—what surprised her was that their patron was interested in a Hollow.
"The mission itself was unusual," Miyabi mused after a pause. "Assigned suddenly, rushed mid-way. Seems their influence reached us as well."
"Then what were we here for?" Harumasa frowned in thought.
They had contributed little beyond being background props.
If not for their prior acquaintance with Sol, they wouldn't have even gleaned scraps of intel.
And with someone capable of destroying half a Hollow in one punch, the less they meddled, the better.
"Insurance. Or a fire brigade," Yanagi suggested, uncertain. "Maybe it was a test for Victoria Housekeeping, and we were here to cover them?"
That massive 30-meter Ethereal would indeed have been overwhelming for Victoria Housekeeping.
But something didn't add up.
Even before Sol revealed his cataclysmic punch, he had the capabilities of a Void Hunter. With him involved, a giant Ethereal was hardly considered to be a 'test.'
"Yanagi, you're right—we might just be looking in the wrong direction."
Miyabi's crimson eyes grew sharp with weight.
"…What do you mean?"
Yanagi frowned.
"The one we were meant to cover… wasn't the Ethereals. It was Sol."
"Sol!?" Harumasa exclaimed, connecting the dots.
It made sense.
Whoever could sway Section Six's orders wouldn't bother about a giant Ethereal. Nor would Victoria Housekeeping be put through an impossible trial.
But Sol Mercer—with mysterious origins and comparable to a Void Hunter—was worth probing.
Not only his strength—as strength could be measured without dragging Section Six into it.
More importantly, it was about establishing where his allegiance lay. If Sol proved dangerous, Section Six would have been the net cast to contain him.
The thought made Harumasa's scalp prickle.
They were supposed to defend against Sol?
That was like asking an amateur league player to defend against an all-star striker.
Could they defend?
Absolutely not.
They wouldn't even touch him.
If Sol decided to throw a punch, Harumasa himself would be reduced to atoms.
He gazed at the distant sky, imagining his inevitable fate.
As my atoms scatter, my spirit for slacking shall endure forever…
"Well, if nothing else, the probe was successful," Yanagi said with a small smile. "Like insects before a human—whether he's good or evil, the gap is simply too vast. It's a crude analogy, but it fits."
Insects before a human…
Miyabi exhaled hot breath, crimson eyes shining with renewed resolve. Her seeker's heart burned fiercer than ever.
She had once aimed to surpass her clan's third head. Now, she had another target.
And Sol was not just a rival—he was a friend. She could learn much from him: willpower, swordsmanship.
With that strength, capturing the criminals of the Old Capital seemed far more attainable.
Steadying her emotions, she issued orders. "Spread out. Collect intel. That Ethereal—fused from dozens of heavy mechs—is not to be taken lightly."
Most Ethereals were singular entities. Multiple constructs fusing together was something unheard of.
Even the Symbiotic Ethereal Swarm - Code Name: Nineveh of Hollow Zero lacked such capability.
"Yes, Chief."
"Soukaku—deploying!"
Together they fanned out, instruments in hand, scouring the battlefield.
Sol's punch had leveled thousands of meters. Picking out scraps of the mechs was no small task.
After some time, they uncovered fragments radiating abnormally high ether readings.
Ordinarily, ether within an Ethereal collapsed rapidly once removed from the Hollow.
Even if some residue remained, most of it dispersed.
That was why people had rebuilt near Hollow Zero, treating it as a resource site.
But these fragments—these remained eerily stable, even outside the Hollow. Their ether readings were off the charts.
Miyabi's face grew grim.
So today wasn't just about witnessing Sol's power. There was another matter of grave importance.
If these remains could persist outside a Hollow… could the Ethereal itself have left X-83 Hollow alive?
And if it could—why hadn't it?
"…Today's report is going to be a nightmare to write," Yanagi muttered, sighing heavily.
…
Meanwhile, Sol sat once more in Victoria Housekeeping's luxurious car, headed for their celebratory banquet.
It was a private dining club, entry by referral only.
Here, nearly every delicacy New Eridu could offer was available, wrapped in absolute discretion.
It was the choice venue for the powerful—for deals, farewells, transactions unfit in the open…
Even the highest of the Public Security Bureau wouldn't dare interfere. In truth, many of them were regulars.
"Honestly, a simple meal would do. No need to be so extravagant."
Sol lounged casually in his chair, eyeing the surroundings.
The room was elegant yet restrained, warmly lit.
The chairs were of fine rosewood—antiques fit for display in Lumina Square's collectible shops.
A faint smell of sandalwood incense calmed the air.
Despite Victoria Housekeeping's medieval European aesthetic, they had brought him to a refined asian private kitchen.
"Mr. Mercer is our honored guest. We dare not be negligent." Lycaon stood tall and dignified at his side. "But of course, if this style displeases you, we can change the venue."
Behind him, Rina, Ellen, and Corin stood poised, a picture-perfect maid team.
"No need. I like this style."
Sol narrowed his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips.
Looking at the three maids, so professional in posture and poise, he suddenly felt like an emperor.