Just as everyone was hesitating, Hu Tao proactively stepped forward and said, "I will take Perlman to negotiate with Long View and find a way to resolve the issue."
"Don't worry, my disguise is excellent. They won't recognize me, and the bargaining chips for the negotiation will be more balanced."
"Furthermore, even if they catch me and expose my disguise, the identity of 'Conrad's subordinate' will provide me with a degree of protection."
At this moment, Mao You also stepped forward and said, "Hu Tao, I'll go with you. I came from the Red Fang Gang, which can add some weight to the negotiation."
"Moreover, two people can coordinate with each other, so even if the negotiation fails, we won't be easily captured."
Nicole nodded and said, "Alright, then Amber, Billy, and I will be responsible for luring the Dead End Butcher to the Abandoned Station."
"Ropemaker will stay here, load all the nearby explosives onto the vehicle, and then drive over to blow up the Dead End Butcher."
After encouraging each other, Hu Tao and Mao You, with the tightly bound Perlman between them, stepped out of the carriage one after the other.
The people outside the carriage saw the two women bringing Perlman out and immediately raised their guns at them: "Don't move!"
Mao You, walking behind Perlman, pressed the knife in her right hand closer to him: "Tell your men to put down their guns! Otherwise..."
Perlman, utterly terrified, began wailing the moment the cold blade touched his neck: "Put down the guns! Put them down! If you don't, I'm going to die!"
The armed personnel hesitated for a moment, then all lowered their weapons.
Hu Tao, whose mask was securely fastened, lowered her voice and stepped forward, saying, "Listen up. Now, I will be taking your boss on foot through the Hollow to reach New Eridu's Blasting Command Post for negotiations."
"At the same time, all armed personnel here must immediately lift the blockade on the residents and leave with me."
Next, she released a ball of ordinary flame from her left hand, held it close to Perlman, and said threateningly, "Look closely, your boss is in my hands right now!"
"If you don't want anything to happen to him, you'd better find him some Anti-Corrosion Gear and choose the shortest route through the Hollow!"
At this moment, Hu Tao was secretly pleased: after a period of practice, she could skillfully switch between ordinary flames and aether Purple Flame.
Perlman was even more terrified when he saw that this person in black could conjure flames out of thin air: "Listen to this... this brave person! If anything happens to me, the company's executives will not let you off!"
The armed personnel had no choice but to comply obediently, walking stiffly toward the command post, surrounding Hu Tao, Mao You, and Perlman... Once the armed personnel outside the vehicle had completely left, Billy was the first to poke his head out from inside the car: "Boss Nicole, there's no one outside!"
Ling asked Fairy, "Fairy, how much longer until they reach the Hollow exit?"
Fairy: "Based on the path they chose, it is estimated they will reach the Hollow exit in thirty minutes."
Nicole immediately said, "Then let's hurry up and move out! We can't let their efforts go to waste!"
Thus, Nicole, Amber, and Billy immediately rushed toward the Abandoned Station with a portion of the bombs.
When they arrived there, they immediately began throwing bombs everywhere, creating a huge commotion.
Before long, a thunderous roar approached from afar, mixed with indescribable shrieks, startling the trio: It's here!
Although the three of them immediately assumed a fighting stance and were mentally prepared, the moment the Dead End Butcher truly appeared before them, all three couldn't help but tremble:
This terrifying Remnant possessed a frighteningly massive physique, towering like a small mountain. Its primary body color was black and white, flashing with eerie green light.
It had robust muscles, thick and powerful limbs, and its arms were covered in a layer of hard carapace, like armor. Its hands bore sharp claws that looked incredibly keen, capable of easily tearing apart any obstacle.
At this moment, the trio's firm conviction had overcome their fear. They faced the Dead End Butcher, ready for battle.
After a brief standoff, Nicole fired first. The cannonball shot toward the Dead End Butcher like a meteor, exploding in a flash of fire on its body. However, the terrifying Remnant merely shook slightly before roaring and charging toward them again.
Billy held his guns with both hands, firing a rain of bullets at it, but they only sparked against its hard carapace.
Amber rushed forward with her sword, attempting to slash at its leg, but the creature swung its claw fiercely, and the immense force knocked Amber flying.
Just then, Billy noticed that the Dead End Butcher's Aether Eyes seemed to be its weakness, and he quickly yelled, "Aim for its eyes!"
Nicole adjusted her cannon and fired again. An Aether Cannonball shot accurately toward the Dead End Butcher's eyes. This strike seemed effective; the Dead End Butcher roared in pain, and its body shook more violently.
Amber seized the opportunity to rush forward again, slashing her sword at its knee joint, sending crystals flying.
The Dead End Butcher was utterly enraged, wildly flailing its limbs, shaking the surrounding ground. At this moment, the aether core on its chest was exposed.
Seeing this, Billy immediately raised his twin guns and unleashed a torrent of fire onto the aether core, and the Dead End Butcher subsequently crashed heavily to the ground.
The three looked at each other in disbelief: Is that... the end?
However, when Nicole excitedly reported back to Ling, Ling urgently shouted, "Finish it off quickly! The Dead End Butcher has more than one aether core!"
But it was too late. The Dead End Butcher's back suddenly tore open, and highly concentrated aether violently crystallized there, sprouting a set of terrifying White Giant Arms.
Just like that, the trio was plunged back into a desperate fight. The White Giant Arms swung, kicking up gusts of wind, and wherever they struck, large craters were smashed into the ground.
The three dodged and weaved, sustaining several injuries. Nicole's cannon barrel was hot from continuous firing, Billy was running low on bullets, and Amber's sword had developed cracks.
Just as they were feeling despair, a whistling sound came from the distance. Ling's voice also came through their earpieces: "Evacuate to a safe location immediately! The train is arriving at the station!"
So, the three used the same trick again, concentrating their firepower on the Dead End Butcher's legs, and used the moment it fell and started to get back up to hide in a safe spot.
At this moment, "IES" was standing on the train loaded with Aether Explosives, rushing straight down the tracks above and to the side of the Dead End Butcher.
In an instant, the Dead End Butcher was temporarily buried by the carriage.
While it was lifting the carriage, "IES" quickly ran to Nicole and the others' hiding spot, then pressed the remote detonator.
Amidst the rumbling explosion, this Remnant, which had long occupied the "Dead End" Hollow, was finally killed completely.
At the same time, a rumbling sound came from the shell of the Hollow. Fairy reminded them, "Master, your plan has succeeded. The 'Dead End' Hollow has shrunk, and the passage between Canvas Alley and New Eridu is now connected."
Hearing this, the four couldn't help but cheer. A moment later, they rushed non-stop toward Canvas Alley, hoping that Hu Tao and Mao You would succeed in stalling the Long View personnel and delaying the explosion time.