As Hare's House and the Sons of Calydon moved together in the direction Sam Li had pointed, working to encircle the two Bangboo...
At that very mont, on the eastern edge of the C75 Hollows—
A young man dressed like a bard was trudging listlessly through the ruins.
"So thirsty... so hungry... If soone would just buy a drink, I'd play them the most beautiful lody..."
Venti had followed a Victoria Housekeeping Co. vehicle to this hollow.
The mont he stepped inside, he noticed sothing strange about it.
The difference between the inside and outside of the Hollows was stark—bustling urban structures on one side, lifeless ruins on the other.
Inside, the air was filled with an energy he found deeply unpleasant.
It reminded him a bit of the Abyss, but it was still distinct—corrosive and invasive.
This city clearly wasn't as glamorous as it seed. Behind the prosperity lurked unseen dangers and darkness...
Maybe that's why Zhongli had hidden it away.
Venti noticed many people entering the Hollows, and after only a short while wandering, he had already passed over a dozen different teams.
They all seed to be searching for sothing called a Bangboo.
Venti had no idea what a Bangboo was—nor did he care. All he wanted was a good drink and to play a tune of freedom.
Just then...
A car pulled up beside him.
The window rolled down, and a wolf-like Thiren stuck his head out—it was Lycaon from Victoria Housekeeping Co.
"Miss, you're looking for the Golden Bangboo too, right? I'm Lycaon from Victoria Housekeeping Co. Please sell us any information you've got."
Lycaon knew he was late to the scene, so he figured the fastest way to catch up was to buy intel with Dennies.
Lucky for him, he ran into Venti.
Venti looked confused.
"Eh? Were you talking to ?"
Lycaon coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem, my apologies, sir. I'm Lycaon from Victoria Housekeeping Co. If you've got any information, we'd like to buy it."
He had only seen Venti from behind and mistook the twin braids for a girl's hairstyle—hence the mix-up.
Venti gave a slight smile.
"Alright, what do you want to know?"
Lycaon spoke seriously.
"I want to know the approximate location of the Golden Bangboo and the Platinum Bangboo. If you don't—"
Before he could finish, Venti smiled and said,
"Soone said they went that way."
Lycaon blinked.
"Uh..."
That was easier than he expected.
Venti chuckled.
"I only heard it from soone else, so I can't guarantee it's accurate... Anyway, that's all I've got, Mr. Wolf. Now, how about buying a drink?"
Mr. Wolf?
Lycaon didn't mind the nickna.
He reached into his coat and handed Venti a stack of Dennies.
"Sorry, I've got important business and no ti to stop. Keep heading that way—if you're lucky, you might run into a black market rchant in the Hollows..."
Just as he handed over the Dennies, a voice piped up from the back seat.
"Is that him? The one playing in the square earlier?" said Corin.
Ellen peered at Venti.
"It really is him..."
Before they could sort out how that was possible, Lycaon had already hit the gas, speeding off in the direction Venti had indicated.
Inside the car, Corin looked puzzled.
"When we left, he was still sitting by the fountain playing his harp. How did he get ahead of us?"
Keep in mind—Victoria Housekeeping Co.'s car was heavily modified and much faster than normal vehicles. There was no way soone on foot could've outrun it.
And from the way Venti looked, he definitely hadn't arrived by car.
Ellen frowned slightly.
"Such a strange person..."
Hearing this, Lycaon started to sense sothing was off too.
If what Corin and Ellen said was true, then that bard wasn't normal.
Still, tracking down the Golden and Platinum Bangboo was their top priority right now—there was no ti to worry about a mysterious bard.
Lycaon said firmly,
"Corin, Ellen, keep your eyes open."
Corin quickly nodded.
"Yes, Lord Lycaon! I'll do my best to find the Golden Bangboo..."
...
Once the Victoria Housekeeping car drove off, Venti stared at the Dennies in his hand.
They looked nothing like Mora—not even the sa material.
"Weird... even the currency's changed."
Then he smiled to himself.
"Well, at least now I can afford a drink. Ti to find a place that sells wine."
He listened to the wind, then smiled again.
"Judging by that scent... that must be the black market rchant the wolf man ntioned. What a rich aroma..."
The sll wasn't far.
Venti turned a corner and found the so-called black market rchant inside an abandoned movie theater.
As soon as he stepped in—
"Boss, give a jug of your finest wine," he said cheerfully.
The rchant jumped at the sound of his voice.
"Y-y-you... Who are you? How did you find this place?"
The rchant had been hiding out today. With agents from the Public Security Bureau, the Hollow Investigation Association, and the Defense Army all swarming the Hollows, he wasn't planning to open shop.
He never imagined soone would actually stumble on his hideout.
Venti smiled.
"No need to panic. I'm just a bard who enjoys a good drink."
He placed a handful of Dennies on the counter.
The black market rchant eyed him cautiously—too afraid to attack, but also unwilling to offend.
He quickly fetched a fine bottle of New Eridu wine.
Venti took one look at the bottle and grinned.
"Ah, a glass jug—very elegant. Once I finish, I'll return it to you."
The rchant gave a forced laugh.
"That's the bottle—it's included in the price..."
After Venti left, the rchant assud his location was compromised.
He hurriedly packed up and moved to the next safe house.
anwhile, Venti stepped out of the theater, uncorked the bottle, and took in the aroma. A blissful look spread across his face.
"Delicious. Too bad Zhongli isn't here to enjoy it with ."
He had barely taken a sip when—
At the end of the street, two strange little creatures were walking his way—one glowing gold, the other white.
So these were the things everyone was hunting down.
"Hey, you two! Care to share a drink with ?"
"Hmm, hmm da! (Cursed human! Trying to ambush us!)"
"Hmm, hmm, hmm da! (Gold! I was supposed to run first while you covered ! Why'd you ditch , Gold? You're the worst!)"
...
Reviews
All reviews (0)