"It's okay. Even though we lost the Carrot, I know of a safe house that I discovered by chance before. We can head there and wait until tomorrow. When the miners enter the Hollow, we can follow them out."
Lucia comforted Alice. As an important mining site for Luminous Porcelain, the Lemnian Hollow had workers and researchers entering it every day to work. When the time came, they could just leave with the miners.
"I suppose that's our only option. But what about this Hati? Are we going to keep bringing it along?"
Geno didn't have a better idea either, so he could only accept Lucia's proposal for now. However, when it came to dealing with this little Hati, he and Lucia had differing opinions.
"Of course!"
Saying that, Lucia crouched down and hugged Cili's head.
"Look, it's so well-behaved."
Right now, Lucia looked exactly like a little girl who wanted to keep a pet but wasn't allowed by her parents. Those pitiful, wide eyes made it impossible for Geno to voice any refusal.
"Fine. It's just a Hati anyway, but you have to keep a close eye on it."
Watching Cili wag its tail like a real puppy, seemingly understanding what he had said, Geno couldn't shake the feeling that this little guy wasn't as simple as it appeared.
However, under Lucia's strong insistence, Geno had no choice but to accept this little fellow as one of their own. Just as he had said, it was only a Hati, and an especially scrawny one at that. Everyone present possessed the ability to dispatch it on the spot if necessary.
"Um, could I study it? Just for a little bit."
Looking at the well-behaved Cili, Alice's interest was suddenly piqued. Don't misunderstand, it wasn't some overflowing girlish affection, but rather the curiosity of an Ether academic researcher toward a novel subject.
Unfortunately, her request was ultimately rejected by Lucia. Her reasoning was that she believed Cili possessed a relatively high IQ, and as an independent entity, it should decide for itself whether to be studied by others. Clearly, the little guy chose 'no'.
But thanks to this tiny Ethereal, the relationship between the two girls also began to slowly draw closer.
After walking for a while, the three people and one dog finally arrived at the safe house Lucia had mentioned. This was a simple shelter established during the Old Capital era to avoid Hollow disasters. Even now, these safe houses still played a crucial role inside the Hollows.
Geno and the two girls entered the safe house, while Cili remained outside. For safety reasons, it was better to leave it outdoors.
"This place seems quite old. The Ether traces inside are also very scarce. It's likely been a long time since anyone was last here."
Geno made a basic judgment after a brief scan of the room, while Alice, standing beside him, looked as if she wanted to say something but held back.
"Is something wrong, Alice?"
"Actually, I've been meaning to ask since the beginning... Geno, exactly what method did you use to find Lucia? And what did you mean just now about Ether traces...?"
"Ah, that. Actually, my eyes can see things that ordinary people can't."
"Things they can't see...?!!"
Alice seemed to recall something unpleasant. The tail behind her instantly puffed up, and the fur on her ears stood straight on end.
"...It's not what you're thinking. It's just some traces of Ether. Everyone's Ether looks different in my eyes. I was only able to find Lucia by following her Ether trail."
However, despite having such a convenient ability, Geno had a terrible sense of direction. It could be said that when God opened a door for him, He also slammed a window shut.
"So that's how it is."
After hearing Geno's explanation, Alice's eyes instantly lit up again. She could feel her scholarly soul burning brightly. Geno didn't have much of a reaction to this; he was already accustomed to that kind of gaze. It was exactly the same look Twiggy gave him when they first met.
Thinking of this, Geno missed Twiggy a little. It had only been a few days, but he wondered how she was doing right now.
New Eridu. Twiggy's room.
At this moment, Twiggy wasn't bustling about in her lab according to her usual schedule. Instead, she was holding her phone, talking to a mysterious figure.
"Mhm, I understand. Thank you for your hard work."
After listening to the caller on the other end, Twiggy furrowed her brows slightly.
"To think that the siblings, Wise and Belle, actually have such identities... The Helios Institute... Should I have a talk with them?"
Pondering the path ahead, tonight would undoubtedly be a sleepless night for Twiggy as well.
------
Lemnian Hollow. Inside the safe house.
It was already late into the night. Having tossed and turned for half the evening, the two girls, Lucia and Alice, had fallen into a deep slumber. At this moment, they were holding each other tightly for warmth.
Geno, who did not require sleep, didn't pretend to nap to rest his mind as he usually did. Instead, he sat by the doorway, keeping watch for the two of them. At the same time, he took the opportunity to deal with his own problem.
[!@#!@#￥!@%]
Ugh.
[#@%@#…@&!@]
So noisy.
Geno's brows locked tightly together as chaotic, complex voices echoed within his mind. He couldn't make out what the voices were saying, but they were like maggots clinging to his bones, impossible to scrape away no matter how hard he tried.
These voices originated from the Filth that Geno had absorbed. The Filth inherently possessed the power to manipulate memories. Tainted with a touch of corruption, this power interfered with Geno's mind, causing him unbearable agony.
[Mental interference detected in the host. Attempting clearance.]
A familiar voice rang out by Geno's ear. He had heard this voice many times before: in the Dead End Hollow, when he was in danger at the Silver Base, and when he was encased in the cocoon of Filth.
But no matter how he questioned the entity's identity, the response was always silence. The only thing Geno could confirm was that this mysterious voice seemed to reside within his own body and harbored no ill intent toward him.
Just like now. After that voice sounded, Geno's mind gradually cleared, and the effects brought on by the Filth were swiftly and completely purged.
Only then did Geno finally breathe a sigh of relief, though the doubts in his heart regarding this mysterious voice only grew stronger.
What exactly is this guy? Why does it only show up every time I run into trouble?
After pondering for a while without figuring it out, he simply pushed it aside. For now, it posed no threat to him, so he might as well ignore it.
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Excessive mental friction was meaningless; it was better to just let nature take its course.
Having thought it through, Geno opened his eyes and prepared to stretch. He had been sitting here for quite a while, after all.
However, the moment he opened his eyes, he was startled.
____
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