Hearing the voice from in front of the car, Lycaon quickly stepped out.
Under the nearby streetlight, he saw a young man in green lying on the ground, wincing in pain. He must have been injured in the collision.
The figure looked familiar.
Lycaon squinted—wasn't this the bard they'd seen in the Hollow earlier?
"Sir, are you alright?"
Rather than helping Venti up immediately, Lycaon knelt beside him to check for injuries.
But after a full inspection, he couldn't find anything wrong.
"Sir, do you feel any discomfort?"
Venti grimaced. "My stomach..."
Just then, Rina, Ellen, and Corin also got out of the car.
Lycaon looked at Venti, then turned to Corin seriously.
"Corin, check his condition."
"I'm on it!" Corin said, rushing over. "Sir, please don't move. I've studied medical treatment..."
Cradling her chainsaw, she jogged over to Venti.
Venti eyed the chainsaw nervously.
"Uh... maybe put that thing down first?"
"Okay..." Corin nodded.
A moment later, she looked puzzled.
"Are you really hurt?"
Venti nodded solemnly.
"My stomach's growling..."
"Lord Lycaon, I can't find any injuries. Maybe we should take him to the hospital."
Lycaon frowned. He glanced at Corin, then at Venti.
After a pause, he said, "No need for a hospital. I think we should operate here. Corin, hand me your chainsaw—let's open up his stomach."
Corin hesitated, then held out the chainsaw.
"Lord Lycaon... are you sure this is the best approach?"
Lycaon gave a calm smile.
But before they could proceed,
Venti abruptly stood up.
"Hold on! That thing's way too dangerous—put it down, please."
"You're... already recovered?"
Venti clutched his stomach dramatically.
"A little better. But it still really hurts. It keeps howling..."
Rina stifled a laugh.
Lycaon was speechless.
He'd suspected something was off from the start, and the moment he found no injuries, it became obvious.
This wasn't an accident—it was an act.
"See? My poor stomach took a hit and now it's screaming in pain."
"That's just hunger," Ellen muttered.
Corin turned back to Lycaon.
Even she now realized the "injury" was fake.
Clearly, this was a staged accident—Venti had probably thrown himself at the car.
Lycaon thought for a moment.
"Sir, I apologize for the collision. We're with Victoria Housekeeping. Would you do us the honor of coming back with us? We'll treat you properly."
"Of course," Lycaon replied.
Lycaon gestured courteously.
Seeing Lycaon being so respectful, Ellen frowned.
"Boss, he's clearly faking. Why bring him to the company?"
Lycaon answered seriously.
"We hit him. This is how we show our apology."
Of course, that wasn't the real reason.
He'd already sensed something different about Venti.
That morning, they'd been ahead of him on the way to the C75 Hollow—but somehow, Venti had arrived there first.
And now, after being flung over ten meters by a moving car, he didn't have a single scratch.
Lycaon suspected that Venti wasn't just some vagabond bard—he had power.
And judging by his youthful appearance, he likely had exceptional talent.
With the situation in New Eridu changing rapidly,
Lycaon was short on strong allies. Venti walking into his path felt like an opportunity—and he wasn't about to let it go.
Soon after, Venti was squeezed into the back seat between Ellen and Corin.
As Lycaon started the car, he asked casually,
"Sir, what should we call you?"
"Venti is fine," he replied with a smile.
"And what's your line of work?"
Venti gave a wistful look.
"Work... that's all in the past. I'm a bard now. Want to hear a song of freedom?"
Before anyone could answer,
he pulled out a harp and started strumming a light melody, singing cheerfully.
Ellen leaned on her elbow, annoyed.
"Lycaon, since when do you keep a harp in the car?"
Lycaon shook his head.
It must have been Venti's.
But none of them had seen him carrying it when he got in...
Did he hide it on himself?
Corin, however, was mesmerized by the song.
She hugged her chainsaw and listened intently.
"He's pretty good. Is he one of those rookie idol trainees?"
Lycaon fell into thought.
Judging from Venti's earlier comments, he clearly had no current job—he wouldn't be starving otherwise.
And that song just now...
This was likely an idol trainee who'd been eliminated and, heartbroken, had chosen to wander the streets.
But that didn't matter.
What Lycaon really cared about was the power Venti possessed.
Soon, they arrived at Victoria Housekeeping.
Looking at the tall, luxurious, old Victorian-style villa, Venti wasn't surprised.
If anything, it reminded him of Mondstadt.
"Thank you. This way, please."
Lycaon remembered Venti's fondness for alcohol and brought out a fine bottle of New Eridu red wine.
He poured a glass and offered it.
Venti took a small sip.
"Smooth, fragrant... not bad at all. Comparable to the fruit wines of Dawn Winery in Mondstadt."