"Billy, what's going on?!"
Belle quickly answered the call. If Billy was contacting her now, then it could only mean one thing.
They must have taken Rain hostage for the airship!
Though she had already suspected as much, the confirmation still weighed heavily on her.
On the other end, Billy steadied his voice before explaining.
"Here's the situation. About ten minutes ago, Perlman said he wanted to check the suit inside the crate, and the guard agreed."
"But the moment the crate was opened, smoke burst out! Everyone on the airship, including the pilot, collapsed. I only avoided it because of an intake malfunction..."
After hearing Billy's account, Belle frowned in thought. But then she suddenly realized something and blurted out:
"Wait! You said the pilot passed out too?"
"Then who's flying the airship right now?!"
"Don't worry, Manager. The airship is currently in autopilot mode, so it's fine for now... But I just found out something—the preset flight path has been altered!"
"The airship is heading straight toward the Hollow where Ballet Tower is located!"
"At this rate, we'll be plunging right into the Hollow!"
"Manager, what should I do?!"
Just as Belle let out a breath of relief, Billy's question made her tense again. She immediately reconnected with Eous.
...
Inside Ballet Tower, Ellen was staring curiously at the motionless Eous, waiting for Belle's return.
"Looks like there must be news from the other side..."
"Yeah. An entire airship crew turning into sleepy sharks... Twin Towers getting hit by a stray flying object—that's one hell of a joke..."
Zane shrugged and muttered softly.
"Huh? Sleepy sharks? A hellish joke? What are you even talking about?"
Ellen blinked at him in confusion, frowning slightly.
"Nothing."
Zane shook his head. By then, Eous had already returned to normal, and Belle was explaining Billy's situation to Lycaon and the others.
"So the airship's course has already been altered, and yet such big news hasn't reached the outside world..."
"It's definitely Rain's doing."
Belle finished the thought Lycaon hadn't voiced, her tone firm.
"Hijacking an airship and masking it with a fake navigation signal—Rain is capable of that."
"Wait, Manager, are you saying this has something to do with Rain?"
The call was still connected, so Billy heard their discussion and quickly jumped in.
After Belle merged the channels, Lycaon and the others could hear him as well.
"Mr. Billy, to make a long story short..."
Lycaon explained the situation. While the atmosphere grew heavy and Corin fidgeted nervously, Zane and Ellen remained calm.
One detached, the other indifferent.
One just needed to watch, the other just needed to act.
"Zane, you..."
Ellen, remembering the earlier incident in the Dead End Hollow, was about to ask him something when she suddenly sensed danger. Her expression hardened, and her grip tightened around the Shark Scissors as she prepared to fight.
"Relax, relax..."
Just as Ellen was ready to strike, Zane patted her shoulder, signaling there was no need.
In the shadows, Gray Veil Marionette's figure slowly emerged before landing gracefully on the ground—her movements unhurried yet elegant.
Ellen frowned, keeping her gaze locked on Gray Veil Marionette, but lowered her weapon in reluctant trust of Zane's words.
"What's going on? She just fought us earlier, and now you're saying..."
Her eyes stayed fixed on Gray Veil Marionette, but her words were directed at Zane.
"I don't know either. She might attack at any second—who knows?"
Zane's eyes searched Gray Veil Marionette, puzzled. Why show up now?
"Wait... how come Lycaon and the others haven't noticed anything? What did you do?"
Still cautious, Ellen glanced at the nearby group deep in discussion before turning back to Zane, certain of her question.
"I sealed off half this space. Simply put, I put up an invisible wall between the two sides..."
Zane explained briefly, then smirked.
"So whatever happens here, chances are they won't notice..."
"Ellen, when it comes down to it, she and I are both Ethereals. You're the odd one out. So tell me... should I do something about that? Heh heh heh..."
He performed his little act, but Ellen only gave him a look that clearly said, "I'll just sit back and watch you fool around."
His expression stiffened. With a sigh and a shake of his head, he returned to normal.
As always, experience proved one thing: Belle was much more fun to tease.
She was easier to tease—and far more gullible.
Gray Veil Marionette merely cast them a few glances before fading back into the darkness, knowing now wasn't the right time to approach Zane.
"Everyone, let's move!"
Lycaon's voice rang out. The group had finished their discussion. At that, Zane restored the space to normal and followed with Ellen.
...
After a round of skirmishes, the group took an elevator upward. Before long, Fairy pinpointed Rain's exact location.
"Approach the target cautiously."
Lycaon gave the order and led the way. Ellen followed close behind, with Rina and Corin guarding Eous at the rear.
Victoria Housekeeping fought clean and efficiently, quickly cutting down the rebels in their path.
"The enemy seems to have already evacuated the rooftop."
"For them, Miss Rain's value has already been fulfilled. We need to be on guard in case they decide to harm her."
Eous nodded in agreement, while Ellen pushed the pace, and the team advanced rapidly.
After clearing two more groups of rebels, they reached a collapsed lobby where Rain and her captors finally came into view.
A heavily armed rebel commander was holding Rain by her feet, dangling her in midair, about to hurl her into the rubble below.
"Wait, Captain! Didn't the employer say we needed to find out how much she leaked? We're supposed to bring her back..."
An armed man beside him quickly spoke up, and the others glanced over as well. Clearly, opinions were divided on whether to dispose of Rain.