Ignis had been searching for information about the Mountain Lion Gang for a long time, but there had been no confirmed traces of them. Now, finally, it was certain—they were hiding inside Hollow Zero.
To have set up a base in this forsaken place—no wonder no one had any clue where their den was.
"Proxy, we've got company. The Mountain Lion Gang," Ignis said, lowering his voice. "And they're right near the rift we're heading to."
"What great news," Belle muttered. She could sense the giant's excitement.
"I've heard from other sources before—the Mountain Lion Gang move through the Hollows like ghosts. It's very possible they've found unrecorded rifts and use them for fast transfers. Now, I think we've found one of their relay points."
"Hm?" The Proxy immediately understood. "You're saying this mall is one of the many nodes the Mountain Lion Gang uses? I'll record this location right away."
"You wait here. I'll go greet them. See if I can catch one alive for questioning."
Ignis spoke as he hefted his heavy machine cannon and began to move.
He could hear two sides still arguing—on one side, Razor's personal guards, who relied entirely on outer networks for supplies; on the other, Jane Doe, who's responsible for fencing and procuring goods. Now they were bickering because the supplies didn't add up. The guards were giving Jane and her female relatives a very passionate greeting, expressing a rather intimate desire for "deeper conversation."
Jane's attitude was unbelievably polite—completely different from the sharp, defiant woman Ignis had seen in the black market. Though she tried to argue back, most of her words were soft, explaining their current predicament.
"I don't care. The boss sent me for the supplies. The numbers don't match—we can't return empty-handed," said one of the guards. "I don't want to make the boss angry."
"If that's the case, let me into the Lion's Den myself. I'll explain to Razor directly," Jane said helplessly, almost in despair.
"If you're short on supplies and can't report back, then so be it."
Ignis's voice boomed from the sound array, echoing across the empty hall.
"Who's there?" The guards immediately drew their blades and went on alert.
"Me? I've got an old debt to settle with your boss," Ignis stepped out from the corner, his machine cannon already aimed. "But to show me the way, I only need one of you."
"What the hell are you talking about—"
Before the insult finished, gunfire erupted.
"Let's see who's lucky enough to stay alive… to be my guide."
The autocannon roared. 40mm rounds exploded among the crowd. A thick mist of blood burst out. Several didn't even have time to react before they were reduced to pulp. Those who hid farther away fared no better—the pre-fragmentation shells shredded skulls and limbs alike. The ones who died instantly were the fortunate ones; those blown apart screamed in agony until they bled out.
A few managed to hide behind the load-bearing pillars, surviving the first volley. But the sight of blood and death didn't frighten them—it excited them.
Ignis emptied the last shells from the drum and decided not to waste any more ammunition. Slinging the cannon to his side, he prepared to finish things up close. After all, he still needed one alive to talk.
When the barrage stopped, the Mountain Lion Gang guards sprang out. Their leader was a massive Bull Thiren. On his spiked pauldrons hung two helmets with Defense Force heads still inside.
Well, that accounted for the missing Defense Force patrol members.
"Who are you?" the Minotaur growled, raising a cleaver as tall as himself and pointing it at Ignis.
"Me? I'm afraid you're not qualified to know my name." Sparks flickered around Ignis's fists. The Minotaur's skin turned crimson, his height nearly matching Ignis's—clearly blessed by the Blood God.
Ignis had heard of the infamous Khorne Minotaurs. Though this one was merely a Thiren, mutation wasn't out of the question.
He plucked two frag grenades from his chest plate and hurled them.
The explosions were staggered—one after another. When the waves of shrapnel and shock tore through the room, only the Minotaur remained standing.
"You cowardly scum! So many underhanded tricks!" the creature bellowed, charging straight at Ignis. His horns gleamed like metal, blessed and hardened by Khorne's favor.
But such a simple charge meant nothing before a Space Marine. Ignis reached out and seized both horns, shutting down his Power Field to avoid killing his only lead.
The charge stopped dead. The Minotaur tried to swing his cleaver, but his neck nearly snapped from the immense force.
Ignis sensed his intention, exerted power through both arms, and smashed the creature's head into the ground. If not for Khorne's blessing, his skull would have been torn clean off.
Dazed and struggling to rise, the Minotaur barely lifted his head before Ignis grabbed both his arms—and crushed the bones with a sharp crack.
"Don't need hands to guide me," he said evenly. "Your legs will do."
The Minotaur screamed in pain, the bone shards tearing through skin.
But even so, he refused to talk. "You'll never know where the Lion's Den is—I'll never tell you!"
"Ha. I hope you stay that stubborn." Ignis kicked him down, blood splattering from his mouth.
He lit his flamethrower and adjusted the fire lower. "My patience is limited. Luckily, I'm a good cook. I know exactly how to use fire to make the perfect steak. You'd better be smart enough not to suffer for nothing."
The flames licked across the Minotaur's twisted arms. Burnt flesh and shattered bone combined into agony so sharp it almost made him faint.
"I… I don't know!" he howled, on the verge of losing consciousness.
"That answer doesn't please me. Maybe we should roast another spot—how about your chest? Nice and tender there." Ignis tore open the Minotaur's shirt, revealing thick, corded muscle.
"Shame. Not much fat. Probably not very tasty."
The smell of seared flesh filled the air. The Minotaur's screams echoed once more. Ignis was precise—he brought the creature to the edge of death, but never over it.
"Stop! Please stop! I don't know!" the creature begged, sobbing—but still not the answer Ignis wanted.
"Wrong answer. I want to hear where the Lion's Den is, and how to get there." Ignis kicked him over. "This time, let's try the tenderloin."
The fire gnawed along the Minotaur's spine. Flesh sizzled, the Blood God's blessing keeping him alive—just long enough to scream.
"Kill me! Kill me!" he roared, breaking down. "I really don't know! The path to the Lion Den's handled by a guide—he's already dead! You blew him up!"
Well… that was awkward. Guess the high-value target got vaporized in the barrage.
The Minotaur's continued wailing grated on Ignis's nerves. With no further use, he crushed the creature's skull underfoot.
Looking at the carnage around him, Ignis frowned. This wasn't something the Proxy should see—she was still a girl, after all. And with all the supply crates lying around, it wouldn't do to let the Mountain Lion Gang reclaim them. The simplest solution? Fire.
He turned up the flamethrower, bathing everything in ether fire. The fuel Markus provided burned clean—fast, hot, leaving nothing but ash.
As Ignis burned the corpses, one of the piles suddenly twitched.
Jane Doe sprang up—she'd been playing dead. Ignis instantly swung the flamethrower toward her.
"Wait! I have something to say!" she shouted, backing away. "I can help you find Razor!"
At that, Ignis halted and turned the nozzle toward the unburned supplies.
"Speak," he said, firelight glinting off his visor. "You'd better make it good. Don't forget—we already have history from the black market."
"I'm about to join Razor's personal guard. I just need a bit more time, and I'll be inside." Jane watched him warily; the helmet hid any sign of his face.
"Once I'm in, I'll find out where his den is and contact you immediately. What do you say?"
"Not much." Ignis eyed the Thiren woman coldly. "How do I know this isn't a lie to save your hide?"
"Razor killed many of my friends." Jane's expression hardened—gone was her act. "I want revenge."
"Razor isn't human anymore. He's been completely corrupted by the Hollow." She gritted her teeth. "Those who angered him or his guards were beheaded. I want vengeance for them."
A true avenger's gaze is hard to fake. Ignis could feel the fire of vengeance burning in her eyes.
"Good reason," Ignis said. "But how do I know you're not planning to use Razor to get me killed?"
"Razor's beyond human. I've read about you—I think only you can stop him." The heat from the burning supplies made her pale.
"Why not go to Public Security? They're after Razor too—they might even pay you for it."
"Public Security and the Defense Force can't. Too much noise—they'll scare Razor off. Only you can move fast enough."
Ignis stared into her eyes. The fury there wasn't fake. "I don't like Lysander's gamble tactics," he said evenly. "But they work. Fine. I'll trust you this once."
"I'll contact you when I get the chance."
With that, Jane leapt backward into a rift and vanished.
Once the flames had consumed everything, Ignis called for the Proxy.
He cleaned up the scene a bit—no need for her to see too much gore.
"Thanks for being considerate," Belle said through Eous's vision, seeing only ashes. "But this is still terrifying. My imagination's filling in the rest."
The blast marks and shrapnel patterns told a grim story. Anyone hit by that firepower—being torn apart would be considered merciful.
Suppressing her unease, the Proxy guided Ignis through the rift.
Everything matched the calculations. Just ahead was a Defense Force supply outpost.
After verifying Ignis's identity as part of an independent investigation team—not a Hollow Raider or bandit—the Defense Force provided him with an anti-corrosion dose.
As he rested and recovered, Ignis saw a familiar face.
A girl in black-and-green combat gear stood nearby, holding a chainsword forged by Ignis himself.
"Anby? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same, Ignis."
The two freelancers stared—awkward reunion.
"Phaethon's commission. You?"
"Client I know. Nicole said funds are tight, so I'm taking side jobs to help." The girl calmly finished her ration bar.
"Why are the Cunning Hares so dedicated? You all hear the agency's broke and immediately pick up extra work." Belle chimed in. "Nekomata's first, now you too, Anby. Come work at my video shop sometime, help our finances a bit."
"I'll rent more tapes in a few days. There's a movie I want to see." Anby swallowed the last bite. "I should head out. See you outside the Hollow."
"Stay alert. Nineveh's been active nearby," Ignis warned.
The white-haired girl nodded and left with a Bangboo trailing behind her.