"Leave it to me!"
"I'll provide fire support!"
From the moment Anby and Billy saw the Dullahan, they were already prepared.
If it had been the time they were blown down by an explosion, they might have had to consider whether they could win.
But right now, there was only one Ethereal, and they were three strong. The advantage was theirs; what was there to fear?
Thus, the three-person squad began to encircle and suppress the Dullahan with perfect tacit understanding.
Naturally, the Dullahan wasn't about to sit still and wait for death; waving its arm-blade, it charged straight at them.
While the Cunning Hares trio was engaged in fierce combat, Eous quietly hid behind a piece of cover.
She wasn't a combatant; ensuring her own safety was the top priority.
[Master, multiple life-form signatures detected in your vicinity. Based on analysis, they appear to be human.]
"Humans? Here? Could they be Hollow Investigators?"
[Negative: No Hollow Association electronic IDs or equipment detected on their persons. Hypothesis: They are Hollow Raiders passing through by chance.]
"Hollow Raiders?! This is bad! Nicole and the others are being treated as prey."
If they really were Hollow Raiders, they were likely eyeing the Cunning Hares who were fighting the Ethereal, planning to rob the robbers—a classic black-on-black hit.
Thinking of this, Belle controlled Eous to rush onto the battlefield with her short little legs, calling out to the group.
"Nicole! Stop for a moment! Someone is setting an ambush!"
"What?!"
Nicole, who was having a blast firing her Ether Cannon, froze for a moment upon hearing Belle's words, then immediately signaled the two who were entangled with the Dullahan at the front.
"Anby! Billy! Pull back first! There are guys here trying to catch rabbits!"
Hearing this, the two shook physically, then covered each other as they retreated from the Dullahan's side, grabbing Nicole and Eous to quickly vacate the clearing.
Having lost its targets, the Dullahan looked at the empty field and flew into a rage out of humiliation, swinging its weapon wildly and destroying the surrounding terrain.
Fam, who gets it? I was just chilling at home when a group of people came up and started wailing on me, then they ran away halfway through the fight. Who am I supposed to complain to?!
Just how aggrieved the Dullahan felt remained unclear, but the guys hiding in the dark waiting for Nicole's group couldn't sit still any longer.
"What's going on? Why did they run?"
"Not sure, but that's not the main point right now. That Dullahan should be Boss White."
"What do we do now? Do we go in?"
These people were all members of the Red Fang Gang—the very ones who had commissioned the Cunning Hares to investigate Boss White's whereabouts.
They had heard rumors that some people in the gang had already started to take notice of Boss White's treasure.
They had to strike first, which was why they had rushed the Cunning Hares and then secretly tracked them.
All to get the firsthand intelligence.
Unexpectedly, these little guys were quite capable and had actually found 'Boss White'.
"Go! Maybe those little rabbits ran because they couldn't beat it. We can't let the Dullahan get away too."
"That's right, Boss White's treasure belongs to us!"
The leader spoke up, and the remaining lackeys didn't hesitate, grabbing their weapons and charging in.
The Dullahan, already annoyed by the Cunning Hares' disturbance, felt anger rise from its heart upon seeing another group of people charging up.
I was staying here perfectly fine, yet there are people with no eyes.
I've been trapped in this Hollow for who knows how many years, and I just got beaten up by a bunch of delinquents.
And now you guys actually dare to come and provoke me? You're truly seeking your own death!!
In an instant, the clearing was filled with the intense scent of gunpowder.
The Red Fang Gang members and the Dullahan soon collided violently.
At the very beginning, the Red Fang Gang could still slightly suppress the Dullahan by relying on a burst of momentum and brute force.
After all, for this mission, they had bled their wallets dry to acquire quite a few pieces of equipment phased out by the Association.
But as the battle dragged on, this makeshift troupe of the Red Fang Gang immediately revealed their true colors.
"Too... too strong! It's unbeatable! We're going to die!"
In the end, they were just hooligans and thugs mixing in the streets. Bullying trash Ethereals like the Tyrfing might be fine, but when they truly encountered a Level 3 Ethereal like a Dullahan, their only option was to flee.
If Nicole and the others hadn't whittled down the Dullahan's stamina earlier, there likely would have been casualties already.
Thus, very quickly, the first deserter appeared.
"I don't want to die here!"
A thug threw down the weapon in his hand, turned around with a terrified face, and fled into the distance.
"Idiot! You're not allowed to run!"
Once the first one appeared, the second and third would soon follow.
Fear was like a bursting dam; once it started, it could no longer be stopped.
Under the Dullahan's fearless assault, the Red Fang Gang members scattered like birds and beasts.
"Hmph~ Run? Where do you think you're running to?"
"Uh, the Cunning Hares?!"
The figures of Nicole and her team suddenly appeared before the eyes of the Red Fang Gang members being chased by the Dullahan.
They saw the trio wearing smiles, yet it made them shudder, instilling a sense of fear.
It turned out that while they were fighting the Dullahan, Nicole and the others had been hiding nearby, watching them.
From their few words and phrases, they had also pieced together the cause and effect of the situation.
As a result, upon looking at it, it really was a classic plotline.
"Hmph. And here I thought you were really heroes who valued righteousness above all. In the end, you're just a pack of wild dogs fighting for food."
These Red Fang Gang members were just eyeing the so-called Boss White's treasure; it had nothing to do with so-called brotherhood or loyalty.
Nicole's gaze was cold; she hated it most when people lied to her.
Although she owed debts, lied, engaged in speculation, and loved to bamboozle people, she was still a good girl. She understood what true evil was.
"We'll settle the score with you later. Anyway, follow us for now, and we'll guarantee your safety."
Nicole wore a smile, an expression that clearly stated she wanted benefits, as she rubbed her fingers together in a very mercenary manner.
"Of course, you know the reward for afterwards."
How could the Red Fang Gang members dare to say no? One more extraneous word, and the Dullahan behind them would catch up.
"Then it's settled! Proxy, you take them away first. Anby! Billy! We're starting round two!"
"No problem, Boss Nicole!"
"Ready at any time!"
The Cunning Hares trio assumed their formation once again. Facing the menacing Dullahan, the three showed no fear.
Afterward, relying on their tacit teamwork, they confined the Dullahan to its spot, while Eous led the Red Fang Gang members to a safe place.
"This is the spot. No Ethereals will come here for the time being."
Running via Eous's body, Belle moved fast, which was tough on the Red Fang Gang members who had their stamina drained by the Dullahan.
"Is... is this place... safe?"
The lead boss panted heavily, looking at Eous with some suspicion. Was this Bangboo that could speak human language really reliable?
"Of course. Do not question my professionalism as a Proxy. That'll be 500,000 Dennies, please."
"How much?! 500,000 Dennies?! Why don't you just go rob someone?"
"Am I not robbing someone right now? Or are you saying you're going to welsh on the debt?"
Eous's gaze became sharp. Being stared at by such cute eyes, the Red Fang Gang members obviously didn't feel she had any deterrence, and one by one, they revealed ferocious expressions.
They couldn't beat an Ethereal, but could they not beat a Bangboo?
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