Seeing Billy still striking classic Star Knight poses, a reporter couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Sam Li, are you a fan of Star Knight?"
At that, Billy twisted into another dramatic victory pose.
"Sorry, the name's Billy."
The reporter blinked. "Aren't you the one who saved that little girl—Mr. Sam Li?"
Billy chuckled. "Haha, no, I'm Billy, Sam Li's colleague. If I'd been there, I would've saved her too. So feel free to interview me instead."
"???"
After all this time… they'd been interviewing the wrong person?
The reporter quickly asked, "Then where is Mr. Sam Li?"
Billy turned to look behind him but couldn't find him.
"Just go ahead with me. Sam told me everything that happened that day."
He launched into an animated retelling, arms flailing for emphasis.
"So, that day, Sam had just finished breakfast in Lumina Square. He turned a corner and spotted this gang of thugs. Without a word, he leapt into the air and delivered a Star Knight flying kick—sent one of them flying meters away! Then, boom! A Star Emblem Flash entrance—he blinked right up to them and snatched the dagger clean from their hands…"
Billy spared no praise, layering in metaphors and dramatic exaggerations, making Sam out to be a gallant, cinematic knight.
It sounded great.
But far from believable.
This didn't sound like Sam at all—it sounded like something straight out of a Star Knight movie.
The reporter raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Billy, are you sure that's what actually happened?"
Billy answered seriously, "I'm just repeating what I heard. There might be a few small differences, but that's pretty much it…"
Just as Billy finished, Nicole shoved him aside.
"You done? My turn." She smiled at the reporter. "Hi, I'm Nicole, owner of Hare's House. If you have any questions, ask me directly."
The reporter paused, then found a new angle. "So, how does Mr. Sam Li usually perform on the job?"
Nicole beamed. "He's our ace. Of course he's the best! I wasn't gonna bring up Hare's House, but since you mentioned it, I'll say a bit more—if you're looking for a professional agent, pick Hare's House. And if you pick Hare's House, go with Sam Li! He's certified and awarded by the Public Security Bureau, reliable and safe. Our address is…"
Snatching the mic from the reporter, Nicole went full ad mode.
She had just said she wasn't going to plug Hare's House—and then proceeded to plug it non-stop.
Right in the middle of the Public Security Bureau's press conference, too.
That took guts.
Seeing her get more and more out of hand, the reporter panicked.
"Cut—cut the feed! Get the camera off her!"
Nicole pouted. "Hey, I wasn't finished!"
The reporter shot her a death glare. "This is a live press conference for the Public Security Bureau. You're advertising an agency. Do you have a death wish?!"
Off to the side, Billy was already on high alert, eyeing the crowd.
He leaned in and whispered, "Boss, this isn't looking good."
Nicole glanced around and noticed everyone staring at her.
"Crap. I said too much. Billy, go tell Anby, Nekomata, and Sam—we need to bounce."
If they stuck around too long and the Bureau seized their reward...
That would be a real loss.
She shoved the mic back into the reporter's hands and pushed through the crowd with Billy, dragging Anby and Nekomata along as they quietly slipped out of the venue.
...
Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the Public Security Bureau...
Sam Li, Zhu Yuan, and Qingyi were having a quiet conversation about recent events.
Zhu Yuan spoke seriously. "Remember what I said about the Imperial City Hollow? Turns out I was right—the 'decline' was only on the surface. There wasn't a real collapse. After the cycle of decline, recovery, and then another decline, we just got word from the observation station—it's active again. Half of the tomb raiders who went in a few days ago didn't make it out. Lucky I warned you in advance—Hare's House dodged a bullet."
Sam paused, then nodded. "Thank you for the warning, Miss Zhu Yuan."
As an agent of Hare's House, and with Zhu Yuan being a Public Security officer, their roles naturally clashed.
That's why Sam had hidden the fact that he'd entered the Hollow—he hadn't told her the full story.
Zhu Yuan sighed at his nonchalant attitude. "The Hollows are too dangerous. Being an agent is gambling your life for Dennies. If you ever feel like quitting Hare's House, the Bureau would welcome you anytime…"
Sam smiled politely. "Sorry. I've no intention of breaking my contract with Hare's House."
He'd already turned down invitations from Soldier 11 of the Defense Army—twice.
Then there was Lycaon from Victoria Housekeeping in the Imperial City Hollow.
Now here he was at the Public Security Bureau, getting scouted again.
If only he could split himself in two, he might have joined them all—just to try out every job.
Hearing his reply, Qingyi sighed. "Ah, you're sticking to your contract. We won't force you. But if that cheapskate ever fires you, the Bureau will always have a spot for you."
Sam nodded. "Thank you."
Though truthfully, that wasn't going to happen.
Nicole had already seen what he was capable of. There was no way she'd let him go.
Not even Victoria Housekeeping, with their mountains of Dennies, had been able to tempt her.
Seeing that Sam had acknowledged it, Qingyi smiled and continued.
"As the saying goes, if you help someone, see it through to the end. Last time, we saved Hare's House at the Imperial City Hollow. Let me return the favor again. Have you heard of the Old Capital Metro Hollow to the north of New Eridu?"
Sam nodded. "I've heard a bit."
He'd come across a brief entry on it while flipping through local history.
It had once been a major railway hub. But when a Hollow disaster hit, the trains passing through had no protection—instantly corroded by Ether. Everyone on board died.
That incident was the reason all trains now had protective coatings to delay Ether erosion.
Sam said slowly, "From what I've seen on the forums, the Old Capital Metro Hollow has been in decline for over half a year—tomb raiders have scoured it again and again."
Qingyi nodded. "You're right. But recently, it's stirred again. Ether levels have been spiking. As of today, it's been upgraded to a B-level disaster. Back then, it declined after the mysterious disappearance of a Notoriety Ethereal—Locomotive. Now that it's active again, I suspect that Ethereal has returned."
Sam's eyes lit up. A new Notoriety Ethereal?
Qingyi warned him, "Whatever you do, stay away from that Old Capital Metro Hollow for now."
Sam immediately nodded. "Thanks for the heads-up, Miss Qingyi."