Zenless Zone Zero: Morax in a New World!

Qingyi might not have trusted Nicole, but she definitely trusted Sam Li.

Still, hadn't the C41 Hollows just been pacified a few days ago?

How could Notoriety Ethereals possibly appear there?

...

At that moment, Zhu Yuan walked up to Qingyi and said seriously, "Senior, we should finish things up here quickly and then go into the Hollows to verify everything."

Primarily, they needed to confirm whether the raiders were truly dead. Second, they hoped to find clues on the bodies—something that might lead them to the rest of the gang.

Qingyi nodded slowly. "Alright, let's wrap this up quickly."

Zhu Yuan added, "I'll have Seth drive the truck back to the Bureau. Then the two of us will return to the Hollows."

But Seth hesitated. "Captain, let someone else handle the truck—I want to go into the Hollows with you."

He was concerned that what Nicole said might be true. If another high-ranking Ethereal appeared, it could be dangerous. He wanted to be there to help.

...

Off to the side, Nicole listened to their conversation in numb silence.

She was furious.

After everything—managing to drive the truck out of the Hollows and haul back all those resource crates—now the Security Bureau was going to just take it all?

It was so unfair.

She glanced at Zhu Yuan, Seth, and Qingyi. They'd even saved their lives once on the outer ring road.

This was how they repaid Hare's House?

...

Just then, Qingyi stepped over and patted Nicole on the shoulder.

"Don't just stand there."

Nicole blinked. "Huh? Officer Qingyi, what do you mean?"

Qingyi gave a small smile. "The truck is criminal evidence, so we have to take it. But those crates in the back—Miss Nicole, they were found by Hare's House, weren't they?"

Nicole quickly nodded. "Of course—"

Though truthfully, most of those crates had come with the truck.

Still, it didn't matter. She was resigned to losing everything anyway.

But then Qingyi smiled and said, "Then why are you still standing there? Get your crates off the truck. Don't delay us from taking it."

Nicole froze for a second... then it clicked. "Oh! Right, right—the truck's evidence, but the crates are innocent! Billy, Nekomata, Anby! Move it! Get those crates off the truck before we hold up the Bureau!"

The moment she understood what Qingyi meant, Nicole lit up.

She was thrilled.

She didn't care about that beat-up old truck—they couldn't even use it at Hare's House. Keeping it around would only cause trouble.

Who knew if the raiders had any more allies? If the Bureau tracked the truck back to them, they'd be in real danger. Better to let the Bureau take it.

But the supply crates? Those were worth a million or two Dennies. That's what really mattered.

Nicole hadn't expected Qingyi to be so generous—willing to leave behind such valuable goods.

...

Soon enough, under Nicole's direction, Anby, Billy, and Arataki Itto got to work, unloading all the crates.

Qingyi ordered the officers to take the truck back to the Bureau.

Then she, Zhu Yuan, and Seth headed back into the Hollows to confirm the raiders' deaths.

Before leaving, Qingyi turned to Sam Li.

"Mr. Sam Li, the raiders you encountered might still have accomplices. If any of them come looking for you, please contact me immediately. I'll handle it."

Sam Li nodded. "Understood."

Qingyi smiled faintly. "Thank you. Once this case is closed, I'll treat you to tea."

Sam Li replied, "I'll hold you to it."

Still, hearing a Bureau officer say they'd "treat you to tea" somehow sounded... ominous.

...

After Qingyi, Zhu Yuan, Seth, and the others left, Nicole watched their patrol vehicles drive off.

Once they were out of sight, she grinned. "Officer Qingyi's not bad. Guess saving them last time wasn't a waste after all."

Billy said confidently, "I knew she'd help us out."

Anby stayed silent.

Arataki Itto laughed boisterously. "That's our Billy! You and I are thinking the same way! This isn't my first time in Liyue, you know—even the Kequing of the Liyue Qixing is a friend of mine. No way a few Millelith soldiers would dare lay a hand on me..."

Still, something puzzled Itto.

The Millelith here was completely different from the one back in Liyue Harbor.

In fact, everything was different—their uniforms, their weapons, even their vehicles...

Itto found it all fascinating.

If he could take one of those cars back to Inazuma, he'd definitely give Kuki Shinobu and Kujou Sara a huge shock.

Just imagining himself cruising around Inazuma in a car like that—he'd never have to worry about being hauled off by the Shogunate again.

Those short-legged Bakufu soldiers wouldn't stand a chance trying to chase down a car.

...

Nearby, Nicole kept her eyes on the Bureau's retreating vehicles.

Only when the last one disappeared from view did she smile and say, "Billy, keep watch on those crates. I'm heading to Sixth Street to borrow a truck. We'll haul the crates to the black market."

Billy nodded quickly. "Got it, Boss Nicole! Me and Itto will guard them—no one's getting their hands on these crates."

...

After Nicole left, Sam Li, Anby, Nekomata, and Soldier 11 opened the doors of Hare's House and went inside to rest.

Billy and Arataki Itto stayed behind to guard the crates.

With nothing else to do...

Itto suddenly got an idea. He reached into his jacket. "Billy! Let's have a beetle battle!"

Billy looked confused. "Kabuto Battle?"

What was that?

Before he could ask, Itto pulled out his hand and opened his palm.

Two small, purple beetles wriggled on it.

Billy froze the moment he saw them.

He could tell right away—these weren't normal beetles. They radiated some kind of Hollow-infused energy. Definitely mutated.

"Impressive, Brother Itto. You really found some wild ones."

"Ahaha, of course! I've only got two for now. But one day, when you come to Inazuma, I'll give you a few more—then we can have a 300-round showdown!"

Grinning, Itto handed Billy one of the Onikabuto and took control of the other.

He drew a small circle on the ground as their arena.

The battle began.

"Go, Kojiro! Show 'em what you've got!"

"Uh... What's my beetle's name?"

"That one's brand new—I didn't get a chance to name it yet. But now it's yours. You name it."

"Alright... let me think... Got it! I'll call him Starlight Knight."