anwhile, on Sixth Street.
Zhu Yuan was calling Seth, but midway through the ringing, the phone suddenly showed that the other party had turned off their device.
Beside her, Qingyi asked slowly, "What's wrong? Still can't get through?"
Zhu Yuan frowned slightly.
"It clearly rang, but then suddenly turned off. Strange..."
They had worked together for so long. She had never encountered anything like this before.
Could it really be such a coincidence that Seth's phone happened to run out of battery the mont it rang?
Zhu Yuan sensed sothing was off and imdiately contacted a colleague she knew at the Public Security Bureau to inquire about Seth's whereabouts. She was inford that Seth was currently escorting Perlman on a mission.
Hearing this, Zhu Yuan froze.
"Escorting Perlman?"
Oh no—her instincts scread that sothing had gone terribly wrong.
She imdiately demanded the escort route from the contact, only to be told she lacked the necessary clearance.
After hanging up, Zhu Yuan felt unsettled, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Beside her, Qingyi spoke softly,
"If you want to do it, just go. I support you."
Zhu Yuan's gaze instantly hardened with resolve.
"Yes. Thank you, Senior. We're heading back to New Eridu Public Security now to request the escort route from the Superior Officer..."
With that, she imdiately started the patrol car and sped toward the Janus District Branch.
...
Upon returning to the Janus District Branch, Zhu Yuan went straight to the Superior Officer's office, reported her suspicions, and requested the escort route for Perlman.
Seeing the Superior Officer's silence, Zhu Yuan said earnestly, "Superior Officer, sothing must have gone wrong with Seth. Please give the escort route imdiately, or send reinforcents directly..."
The Superior Officer took a deep breath and said, "Hold on..."
Soon, the Superior Officer found the escort route on the computer and sent it to Zhu Yuan's phone.
After receiving the route map, Zhu Yuan had no ti for further discussion and imdiately prepared to drive out to find Seth.
However, just as she reached the door, she encountered Chief Bringer returning from outside.
Chief Bringer imdiately called out, "You two look flustered. Where are you rushing off to?"
Zhu Yuan promptly inford Chief Bringer that she couldn't reach Seth.
Upon hearing this, Chief Bringer feigned ignorance and instead began reassuring Zhu Yuan.
"Don't worry. That kid Seth can handle himself now. He won't be in danger..."
No sooner had the words left his mouth, Chief Bringer, pretending to know nothing, slowly pulled his phone from his pocket. Instantly, he feigned a change in expression.
Zhu Yuan urgently asked, "Chief Bringer, what's happening?"
Chief Bringer's face darkened.
"Security personnel near the developnt zone reported that Seth killed the other officers during transport and escaped with Perlman..."
As he spoke, Bringer feigned shock, acting as if he knew nothing.
Beside him, Zhu Yuan could scarcely believe the news. Qingyi, however, wore a pensive expression, studying Chief Bringer with solemn attention. Sothing seed off.
The next mont, before Zhu Yuan could react, Chief Bringer issued his order.
"Issue a citywide manhunt for Seth and Perlman. Dispatch personnel into the developnt zone Hollow to apprehend them—"
Hearing this, Zhu Yuan hurriedly protested, "Chief Bringer, there must be so mistake! Seth couldn't possibly have betrayed us..."
Chief Bringer seed genuinely regretful as he sighed deeply.
"Officer Zhu Yuan, I used to admire that kid Seth too. But this ti, the evidence is irrefutable. security personnel witnessed the entire incident and provided video footage as proof..."
As he spoke, Chief Bringer handed his phone to Zhu Yuan.
Zhu Yuan took the phone and saw Seth indeed raising his shield, escorting Perlman toward the Hollow.
Although the footage lasted only a second, in that instant, Zhu Yuan could tell the video was genuine.
Chief Bringer adopted a concerned tone.
"Constables Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, given your relationship with Constable Seth, you should refrain from participating in this apprehension..."
Taking the phone back from Zhu Yuan, he walked toward the Bureau to mobilize security personnel for the arrest of Seth and Perlman.
After Chief Bringer departed, Zhu Yuan stood frozen in place, still unable to believe Seth would betray New Eridu Public Security.
At that mont, Qingyi spoke slowly, "If you want to do it, just do it. I support you."
Zhu Yuan snapped back to her senses. She still believed that a single second of edited footage was utterly insufficient to prove Seth's betrayal.
She reentered the Bureau and explained her reasoning to the Superior Officer. However, Chief Bringer rejected her proposal. She insisted again on joining the apprehension operation... only to be turned down once more.
Soon after, Chief Bringer assembled a team, collaborating with the Hollow Investigation Association, and formally set out for the Developnt Zone Hollow to apprehend Perlman and Seth.
Worried about Seth's safety, Zhu Yuan drove a patrol car alongside Qingyi toward the Developnt Zone Hollow.
But without the Superior Officer's authorization, she couldn't access the Hollow information provided by the Hollow Investigation Association.
So, Zhu Yuan turned her patrol car onto Sixth Street and commissioned the Proxy.
...
En route to the Developnt Zone Hollow, Hoshimi Miyabi suddenly called. Upon learning of the "Seth Betrayal Incident," she decided to assist as well.
Zhu Yuan hurriedly expressed her gratitude.
"There's no ti! The Developnt Zone Hollow is just ahead. Senior Qingyi, Miss Proxy, and I will enter the Hollow first..."
Before Hoshimi Miyabi could respond, Zhu Yuan slamd the accelerator and charged into the Developnt Zone Hollow.
This was an active Grade A Hollow. The mont they entered, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi felt the surrounding Ether corruption and pressure intensify sharply, causing intense discomfort.
Zhu Yuan said earnestly, "Without protection, even Seth couldn't withstand this level of corruption for long. We must find Seth and Perlman imdiately..."
Qingyi turned to the side.
"Proxy, it's up to you."
Belle replied earnestly,
"Don't worry. Seth will definitely be fine."
...
As Zhu Yuan and Qingyi led Proxy into the Developnt Zone Hollow to search for Seth and Perlman...
At that mont, within the "Hollow Zero" Operations Departnt.
Hoshimi Miyabi had just finished her call with Zhu Yuan and slowly lowered her phone.
Beside her, Tsukishiro Yanagi asked in confusion,"Section Chief, what's happening with Zhu Yuan?"
Hoshimi Miyabi didn't know the specifics either.
"Seems Seth's been put on a wanted list. Zhu Yuan insists he's been frad. She's already entered the Developnt Zone Hollow to search for Seth and Perlman..."
Hearing this, Tsukishiro Yanagi said earnestly,
"Do you need help?"
Hoshimi Miyabi nodded.
"Yes. The Developnt Zone Hollow is dangerous. I plan to go assist right now..."
Nearby, Nicole overheard this and imdiately grew anxious.
"Zhu Yuan actually asked the Proxy for help instead of us at Hare's House? No way! A big job like this can't happen without us!"
Billy chid in.
"Exactly! Oh, and you few Adepti—you should co along too. Let's team up and seal that Hollow while we're at it."
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