When the group stepped into the Hollow rift, they found themselves in a dim, shadowy space, lit only by a few electric lamps.

Walking along the narrow path inside, they passed scattered remains of dismantled Bangboos.

Bangboos, normally cute and obedient, looked terrifying once reduced to piles of parts.

Tiny severed hands, black cracked display screens, exposed connecting wires, long ears lying broken on the ground…

"Eh-ne! Eh-ne! Mm~"

Nicole's Bangboo, Amillion, was trembling in fear, clinging tightly to her leg, unwilling to look outside.

For a Bangboo whose intelligence rivaled that of a human child, this scene was as horrific as a human stumbling upon a gruesome dismemberment case.

"Damn it! What did you do to the Bangboos you stole?!"

Nicole glared furiously at Bingbong.

She had always treated Amillion like family. Seeing this scene left her with a chill in her heart.

She often let Amillion run errands alone to the 141 Grocery Store—if a group like the Bangboo Boo-Nappers had kidnapped her, she would have gone mad.

"Uh, this, this…" Bingbong stammered, "We just used high-concentration Ether solvent to corrode the Bangboos, then dismantled them for money. They're just machines, no need to be so worked up, right?"

"Just machines? Easy for you to say!" Nicole snapped. "Bangboos are different from any other machine. They have their own feelings, they're already true living beings. Countless people treat them as real companions!"

"Even if they were created to serve humans, their purpose was never to become sacrifices for your profit!"

From the moment of creation, Bangboos had been programmed with a core logic centered on humanity—they were humanity's most loyal partners.

"Uh, uh… I was wrong~" Bingbong looked nervously toward Zhu Yuan and Qingyi. "You said you'd send me to the Public Security, right?"

He was genuinely afraid Nicole might lose her temper and kill him.

"We did promise that. Rest assured, no matter how angry we get, we'll abide by the Public Security's regulations."

Zhu Yuan suppressed her anger and forced herself to speak calmly.

"Bangboo limbs shattered, malice in the heart. Thinking of the regulations… ugh, what bad luck."

Qingyi gripped her Custom Three-Section-Staff, speaking in a listless tone.

"Hurry up and lead the way. The sooner we find the remaining Bangboos, the sooner we send you on your way—spare me the bad luck."

Sol kicked Bingbong.

Though he wasn't deeply attached to Bangboos yet, he had a certain fondness for such cute, reliable little things.

Maybe one day in the future, he'd be willing to kill a gang for a Bangboo—or even a cat.

And besides, this was one of those utterly charm-less villains—impossible not to dislike.

"Ah-ah, send me on my way?"

Bingbong went pale with fear.

"I mean to the Public Security."

Sol replied casually.

"Oh-oh-oh."

Bingbong nodded rapidly and hurried ahead toward the deeper hideout where the Bangboos were kept.

He had figured it out—Sol had the least killing intent, but the highest chance of killing him. The guy had been the one shoving and hitting him all along.

Better to keep his distance as soon as possible.

"Mr. Mercer, abusing prisoners is not a good thing."

Zhu Yuan advised from the side.

"It's not good, but tell me—doesn't it feel satisfying to watch?"

Sol said casually.

"It is satisfying… but better not to do it next time."

Zhu Yuan nodded honestly, her solid professionalism making her finish the second half of the sentence.

There were many Public Security Bangboos—her good colleagues.

And Qingyi, a senior figure, was an even higher-level Intelligent Construct—essentially a superior Bangboo.

Naturally, their treatment of the Bangboo Boo-Nappers infuriated her.

"Relax, there won't be a next time."

Sol glanced at Bingbong and spoke easily.

"…"

Qingyi looked thoughtfully at him.

His words carried an extra meaning, but she didn't plan to stop that possibility.

As a mechanical being, she was even more furious toward criminals who harmed Bangboos.

Before long—

Bingbong led them through a passcode door to the final stronghold.

Over thirty Bangboos lay sprawled unconscious on the ground.

"There really are over thirty Bangboos."

"The platinum-plugged one Commander Bringer wants back is there too."

"Unfortunately, we were still too late—so many Bangboos have already met misfortune."

Thinking of the dismantled Bangboos, Zhu Yuan spoke with a tinge of guilt.

"This isn't the time for mourning—these Bangboos still need rescue."

"They've been corroded by Ether solvent. Until they're rescued, they won't wake up. We'll have to carry them out."

Saying that, Qingyi grabbed a large cloth sack and began placing the Bangboos inside one by one.

"Mhm! As expected from a senior—always calm."

Zhu Yuan quickly followed, searching the hideout for more Bangboos.

"We'll help too! We took their dennies, we can't just sit around!" Nicole rallied Billy and Anby to help.

"This one's completely broken—we can only take it out and see if its records can be recovered."

"This one's still got some consciousness left—repairable."

"This one's just fainted…"

Seeing everyone busy collecting Bangboos, Bingbong felt relieved. "Phew, my job's done—I can go to jail now!"

Jail wasn't exactly free living, but at least it guaranteed survival.

Once at Public Security, he'd be safe from that demon who'd killed seventeen of his brothers.

Kidnapping Bangboos probably wouldn't get him a heavy sentence, and he was only an accomplice.

For a Hollow Raider, prison was practically a badge of honor.

When he got out, he could use his skills and prison credentials to make a comeback.

This time, he would be the boss—the biggest boss.

But just as he was celebrating, a pistol pressed against his head.

He froze, turning his head stiffly—only to meet Sol's smiling face.

"B-big bro, that's not a funny joke. Didn't you say you'd let the Public Security deal with me? You promised! I'll listen to them, I swear!"

"I did say you'd listen to the Public Security. I never said I would." Sol's grin was that of an outlaw.

Gulp~ Bingbong swallowed hard. "Spare me, big bro! I'll turn over a new leaf!"

He looked at Sol, utterly bewildered.

How could this guy look more like a gangster than him? Public Security was right there!

"You don't want to change—you're just afraid to die." Sol shook his head in disdain. "How can people like you change?"

"Only by dying."

Bang!

The gunshot rang out, the bullet piercing straight through Bingbong's skull.

He collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

In his final second, he could only regret in silence—a bullet sending me straight to the Gates of Hell…

The others, still gathering Bangboos, noticed Sol's move.

Billy exclaimed, "Boss Mercer! You took out the criminal!"

Anby added, "Sol… in front of a Public Security officer, you killed an unresisting criminal."

Nicole offered the only solution: "Run! Hurry!"