Qingyi recalled what had happened back in the Cretan Hollow and grew concerned something unexpected might have occurred, so she decided to come assist. Zhu Yuan came along as well.
After all, if it was something Zane couldn't resolve with strength alone, the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team could still be of help.
But once they reached the edge of the Dead End Hollow... Qingyi suddenly felt a faint stirring.
Something was calling to her.
By all logic, an Advanced Automaton shouldn't experience such a sensation—but she did.
Borrowing an identity from Hare's House, she and Zhu Yuan followed the pull deep into the Hollow and ended up here.
She looked up at the Ether crystal behind Shin.
The call was coming from that area.
"Hello."
Shin spoke first, offering a brief introduction to both Qingyi and Zhu Yuan.
Zhu Yuan responded in kind, briefly introducing herself and Qingyi.
Shin already knew who they were, but she still listened attentively during the introductions, just in case she missed anything, then nodded.
Just as Qingyi thought Shin would ask about their purpose and was preparing an explanation, Shin instead turned to the nearby officer and Yeyan.
"You two step away for now. Take everyone here and wait at a distance."
"Yeyan, that includes you."
Though confused, the officer followed the order without question. Yeyan, meanwhile, looked reluctant to leave.
But seeing Shin's calm expression, she sighed inwardly.
Fine. Looks like this is serious.
Before she left, Yeyan cast a suspicious glance at Zhu Yuan and Qingyi.
Did these two have some kind of secret deal with Shin?
Even she wasn't allowed to be present...
Grumbling in her mind, she followed the defense squad as they departed.
Once everyone had cleared out, Shin finally turned to the two women, smiled faintly, and asked,
"You're here... because of Zane, aren't you?"
"Don't worry, I'm not your enemy."
Zhu Yuan's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected to hear Zane's name from this woman.
Wasn't Shin the top-ranking officer here? Wasn't she with the defense force?
What the...?
Though her thoughts were racing, Zhu Yuan kept her face neutral and looked toward Qingyi.
When it came to Zane, her senior was the one to speak.
"Yeah."
Qingyi answered without hesitation, nodding. She could tell Shin wasn't hostile.
If she were, she wouldn't have gone to all this trouble. With so many forces around—armored units and heavy assault helicopters—it would've been easier just to capture them outright.
"Then you're...?"
Shin hesitated, wanting to know their goal. But Qingyi simply shook her head and asked,
"Can I go over there?"
She pointed toward the Ether crystal. Shin saw and nodded. There was no reason to refuse.
"You can, but..."
As Qingyi approached the cordon, Shin quickly called out,
"Wait! It's dangerous in there!"
Judging from their attitude, Qingyi and Zhu Yuan had a close connection with Zane—Shin couldn't just let something happen to her.
Even if Qingyi's physical body wasn't human, she was still important.
If anything happened to her, Zane would definitely come after Shin. Their unresolved issues already included things like that surveillance incident...
"You can't get close to the Ether crystal. Even if you're an Advanced Automaton, you still—"
Before she could finish, Qingyi stepped past the cordon effortlessly and walked straight toward the Ether crystal without any resistance.
Shin was stunned, mid-sentence, and raised her brow.
Was their earlier investigation wrong?
She decided to test it herself. Walking up to the barrier, she reached a hand across.
Nothing happened?
She blinked, then stepped forward.
A second later, a small black sphere appeared out of thin air. A wave of tearing force slammed into her, and she quickly pulled back.
Even with her speed, a piece of her clothing and a few white feathers were torn off and absorbed by the sphere—gone in an instant.
Touching her sore wing, Shin's face darkened.
She gritted her teeth, glanced at Qingyi—who was now almost at the crystal—and then looked at the black sphere just a few meters away.
"Hey, she's right over there. Almost touching it. Aren't you going to stop her?"
When the sphere gave no response, Shin couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
How stupid was she, expecting this thing to understand human language?
It was just—
Suddenly, the black sphere moved.
Under Shin's gaze, it flew toward Qingyi.
Her pupils shrank.
She had been joking!
If something actually happened, she'd be in serious trouble!
But just as panic rose in her chest, she saw the black sphere reach Qingyi—and then… nothing happened.
In fact, it started circling her excitedly.
Shin gave up on understanding.
Watching the little sphere "cheerfully" spinning around Qingyi, her mouth twitched.
Seriously? This?
So we're just getting special treatment now?
...
By the Ether crystal, Qingyi studied the little black sphere in silence.
The call—she now realized—was coming from this tiny thing. She could clearly sense the distinct electromagnetic pulses it emitted.
But… how could something like this be so intelligent?
She got the sense it was being controlled—or maybe Zane was behind it.
But it didn't quite feel like him either.
"You called me here... why?"
She asked softly.
As if in response, two more black spheres emerged from space and hovered in front of her.
Her brow furrowed.
There's a third?
Then it hit her—the third one must be from the vanished Dead End Hollow.
Looking at all three spheres, she paused, then suddenly understood.
Wait... all three are here, so that means Zane—
She looked up at the Ether crystal. More precisely, into it.
Zane was inside?
The thought hit her hard—and with each passing moment, her certainty grew.
"Hah..."
For some reason, her heart felt heavier.
She turned to Shin and said seriously,
"Major Shin, may I stay here?"
Shin was visibly surprised but nodded.
"Do as you wish."
Qingyi nodded back, then asked Zhu Yuan to leave and take care of their original duties.
...
Snow continued to fall slowly from the sky.
A fine layer settled on Qingyi's shoulders.
She stared at the Ether crystal, eyes flickering slightly. Then, she reached out and gently pressed her hand against it.
"This snow came out of nowhere. A little cold, sure—but nothing an Advanced Automaton can't handle. Still... I don't know what's going on with you. It's hard not to worry."
She smiled faintly, pressed her lips together, and continued softly,
"I don't know what needs to be done, what I should do, or what I even can do—but since it called to me, I'll stay."
"After all, I came to bring you back."
"As your master... it's only right that I be the one to take you home."
Her words drifted softly—like the falling snow all around her.