"Meow! You really are smart. To actually use this kind of method to escape, that's truly amazing!"
Carried on Geno's back, Nekomata, having exhausted a massive amount of stamina, excitedly pawed at Geno's head.
Back when they were being chased by the Dead End Butcher, Geno had already been thinking about how to escape.
After all, they really couldn't win in a fight. Against a dangerous Ethereal that even the Defense Force would need a full professional squad to handle, the two of them going up against it was purely throwing their lives away.
However, this heavy rain reminded Geno of the time he was searching for Twiggy and the others.
If the Dead End Butcher, like him, relied on Ether trails to track them, then as long as they escaped the Butcher's line of sight, they could easily shake it off.
The previous stance that looked like a fight to the death was actually just Geno wanting to confirm this piece of intelligence.
And just as expected, after Nekomata sliced its heel, it proved that once vision was removed, the only method the opponent had left to search for them was Ether.
In that case, this heavy rain would become the most important umbrella on their escape route!
What needed to be done next was simply to use the teleportation skill to pull a 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell' maneuver within the Dead End Butcher's blind spot.
"By the way, Geno, just how many things can you do?! Back when Nicole and I were discovered by those bad guys from Vision Corporation, you used a move like this to help us withstand the attack, right?"
Nekomata recalled their previous experiences. Combining that with the method Geno used to whisk her away from right under the Dead End Butcher's nose, she became increasingly interested in this mysterious guy, Geno.
"What? Weren't you saying you wanted to kill me before? How come you're cozying up to me now?"
Listening to Geno's teasing, Nekomata's small face flushed red. But realizing she was on Geno's back and he couldn't see her, she continued to feign composure and talk tough.
"Che, you and I are only in a temporary cooperation. I'm still going to take you out later."
It sounded like bluffing immediately. Geno didn't expose her; he had already witnessed many times with Twiggy just how awkward girls of this age could be.
However, he could roughly understand why Nekomata was like this.
A young girl wandering the streets since childhood—how could such a child easily give her true heart to others? It was all just camouflage used to protect herself.
Speaking of which, why did Nekomata want to avenge Old Man White again?
"Nekomata, what is the relationship between you and Old Man White, that is, Miguel? Are you a member of the Red Fang Gang?"
Geno's question hit the nail on the head. He clearly felt the body pressed tightly against his back stiffen noticeably.
Seeing this, Geno knew he had touched upon a sore spot, so he thought about changing the subject.
"Actually..."
"Actually, Miguel is my foster father. I was once a member of the Red Fang Gang too."
Next, Nekomata recounted how she was adopted by Miguel when she was very young a few years ago, and how she slowly joined the Red Fang Gang. She didn't hide anything, including the changes in the Red Fang Gang and her withdrawal from it.
Hearing this, Geno fell silent as well. If it was truly as Nekomata said, that she was Miguel's adopted daughter, then it wasn't strange that she wanted to kill him.
However, Geno still felt he was extremely wronged.
He hadn't killed Miguel at all!
"Actually, Miguel is still alive."
"Huh?!"
"No, saying he's alive isn't quite right either. Basically, when I found him, he had already turned into an Ethereal. Now he's just being raised by us?"
Using terms that even he couldn't describe clearly, Geno explained bit by bit the matter of the Dullahan formed from the mutation of himself and Miguel.
"Is that so... that makes sense. That guy had absolutely no Ether Aptitude. Turning into an Ethereal was also within expectations."
As an adopted daughter, she naturally knew that Miguel's constitution wasn't sufficient to support his activities in the Hollow.
But when she heard Geno say that Miguel wasn't dead yet, a trace of impossible hope truly ignited in the bottom of her heart.
Now that the truth was out, Nekomata naturally no longer had a reason to kill Geno.
"Sorry."
A mumbling sound as small as a mosquito's buzz came from beside his ear. If not for his superior hearing, he might have thought it was a hallucination.
"It's okay."
This simple dialogue drew the distance between the two closer.
Perhaps Nekomata felt that her actions were excessive, but for Geno, this was nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum.
Making it sound as if Nekomata could actually beat him.
"By the way, what's with this appearance of yours? Don't tell me it's some exclusive technology again."
Geno's current appearance was that of an Ethereal. However, Geno used Ether crystals to cover the core on his face, making Nekomata think it was the same excuse Geno had used before—some strange technology Twiggy came up with.
"Um... yes, that's right, it's exclusive technology."
Geno's expression was a bit subtle. He had originally transformed with the resolve that his identity would be exposed. Since it hadn't been exposed yet, he might as well go along with Nekomata's words.
The two continued to run in the heavy rain. Before this rain stopped, they didn't have to worry about the Dead End Butcher finding them.
*
Meanwhile, in another Hollow far away from the Dead End Hollow.
A woman with a bewitching face curled the corners of her mouth into a smile. Looking at the abandoned military base not far away, the desire in her eyes was undisguised.
"My Lady, the congregation has finished assembling."
"Very good. Then, prepare to set out. May the Primal Lord mold you."
"May the Primal Lord mold us!"
"May the Primal Lord mold us!"
"May the Primal Lord mold us!"
The fanatical cultists launched a charge toward the base not far away in a frenzy.
Although they were unarmed, they showed no fear of the pitch-black gun muzzles on the city walls. Reflected in their eyes was only a fanaticism for their faith.
"Where did these people pop out from?"
"I don't know, but they come with ill intent."
Number 5 and Number 6 watched through the cameras as the attackers, who looked like zombies popping out of nowhere, approached. Their expressions became grave.
What was bound to come had finally come, but fortunately, they had made preparations in advance.
Number 5 pressed a button on the console. Immediately after, the guns and cannons on the city walls began to automatically aim at the targets, coldly executing the code's commands.
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da!
The pitch-black muzzles spewed tongues of sinful fire, harvesting the lives below like the Grim Reaper.
The congregation members were knocked to the ground by bullets without any resistance, kicking up splashes of water and dyeing the open ground at the entrance red.
"My Lady, this..."
The cultist following beside Sarah looked at the congregation members who were constantly dying. A chill of empathy for his dying kind surged from the bottom of his heart at this moment.
When these people were all dead, would it be his turn next?
However, Sarah's expression didn't change in the slightest. Instead, the amusement in her eyes grew a bit richer.
"Don't rush. The good show is just about to start."
————————————
Suddenly realized I made a lot of typos. Luckily I have you guys. Love you, mwah (づ￣3￣）づ╭❤～
____
👻🔥The Director is back! But with a brand new look, heheh...🔥👻
New Story: Classroom of the Elite: Black Sphere Academia
✅ Read 40 chapters ahead of everyone else.
✅ Get cool exclusive stuff and updates!
Let's hit these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = 1 extra chapter for the public!
🚀140 MEMBERS = 5 extra chapters on all stories for supporters!
👻 P - Walnut-chan