At Billy's shout, everyone turned their heads and looked in the direction he was pointing.
Sure enough, they saw a cluster of ancient-style buildings—more accurately, replicas constructed by modern filmmakers for movie sets.
Nicole glanced at the map the director had given her and smiled. "Yep, this is the place. Sam Li, Anby, Billy, Nekomata, let's go treasure hunting."
Billy lit up with excitement. "Yes, Nicole Boss!"
Sam Li eyed the building ahead and said calmly, "There's more than one warehouse. Let's split up."
Nicole nodded. "Good idea. Billy, you go with the director. Anby, you're with me. Nekomata, team up with Sam Li. We'll search different warehouses—bring back everything valuable."
The director immediately protested. "Hey, hey, hey, I don't want to be teamed up with that robot!"
Billy bristled. "Like I want to team up with you! Anby, switch with me?"
Anby shook her head. "Nope."
Billy sighed. "Why is it always me? Must be fate, jealous of my good looks."
The director glared at him. "..."
As everyone started moving out, the director called out, "Don't forget my commission! Finding filming props is still the top priority."
Nicole waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, we'll get it done. Don't worry."
...
Once the teams split, Nekomata and Sam Li headed for the northern warehouse.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at a massive warehouse door.
Sam Li stepped forward to unlock it with Geo, but Nekomata dashed ahead and deftly popped the rusty mechanical lock with a flick of her blade. "It's open, meow! Let's check it out!"
Without waiting, she hopped inside.
Inside, stacks of boxes filled the space—extras' costumes, assorted props, weapons, even rubber dummies.
These must have been what the director was after.
However, most of the items had decayed over the years in the Hollows, with only a few still intact.
Nekomata hopped around like a curious cat, peeking into crates and scanning for anything shiny.
Sam Li remarked, "Treasure is usually kept in the most secure place."
And what's the most secure place?
A safe, of course.
Together, they moved to the back of the warehouse and, just as Sam Li expected, discovered a massive safe in a back room.
Nekomata's eyes lit up. "How'd you know there was a safe?"
"I saw it," Sam Li said.
He wasn't lying—just that it wasn't with his eyes. He'd used Geo to scan the earth and map out the entire building the moment he entered.
Nekomata tried to lift the safe but couldn't budge it. "It's too heavy, and the lock's mechanical—old tech. Can you open it?"
"Leave it to me," Sam Li said.
He placed a hand on the safe, channeling Geo to crack the lock. Inside was a smaller safe.
He opened that one too, the same way.
Golden light spilled out.
Nekomata jumped in excitement. "It's gold, Sam Li! We're rich! Huh? Wait… why is it shaped like a toilet? A Bangboo? A Bangboo on a toilet?"
Sam Li was just as speechless at the bizarre sight.
...
While Sam Li and Nekomata were scoring treasure...
On the other side...
Billy and the director had arrived at a different warehouse. The door was sealed shut, but Billy shot off a round and blasted the rusted lock open.
"Treasure, here I come!"
"Don't forget the props—we still haven't finished the commission," the director reminded him.
"Relax, this is an easy job. A little delay won't hurt. Hey, why aren't you coming in?"
"I hired you to do the work. I'll wait here. You've got thirty minutes—bring back props and treasure."
With that, the director plopped down on the ground and started massaging his legs and toes.
Billy shrugged and entered the warehouse alone. Inside were towering piles of filming props.
He dove in.
He didn't find treasure—just got dirty.
"Sigh… if only I'd been teamed up with Anby."
Eventually, he climbed out of the prop mountain and spotted another room.
"Could it be in here?"
Billy leapt to the door and pushed it open. He glanced around...
And froze when he saw an Ethereal claw.
"Whoa! Why's there an Ethereal here? That scared me!"
Billy instantly drew his pistol and unloaded a burst. The Ethereal was shredded before it could react.
He stepped inside and was immediately drawn to a cabinet along the wall. "Old-world guns! And so many bullets—they might still work. Jackpot."
Back in the day, Billy would've scoffed at this junk.
But ever since he joined Hare's House, ammo had been scarce. He'd become the scavenger type.
He grabbed a bag and started loading up the loot...
When a desperate scream rang out from outside.
"Help—somebody help—!"
Billy dropped everything and bolted outside.
...
Outside the warehouse.
The director was using a plank as a makeshift shield. An Ethereal swiped at him, splintering the plank and launching him several meters through the air.
Wincing from the pain, he looked up in despair.
Just like ten years ago.
Cornered, back to a wall, Ethereals closing in.
He watched as several of them raised their claws at once.
This time, he thought, he was truly finished.
It mirrored the moment from a decade ago—except back then, the Star Emblem Knight had saved him.
This time, those Hare's House people didn't care if he lived or died.
It wasn't fair.
He hadn't even finished filming the true Star Emblem Knight. He hadn't even found him yet.
Clutching the camera gear in his arms, he prepared to die with it.
...
But at the last possible moment—
A red figure blurred past.
Gunfire rang out.
In the blink of an eye, the Ethereals all fell.
The director looked up.
Bathed in blinding sunlight, a red figure stood tall, extending a hand toward him.
"Yo. You okay?"
...