Meanwhile, on Billy's end.
Just after exiting the C41 Hollows, he glanced at the dashboard and saw that the fuel level was dangerously low.
He quickly accelerated and pulled up next to the SUV.
"Boss Nicole! Should we head to a gas station?" he shouted.
Nicole replied, "First, we shake off the tail. Then we head back to Hare's House. We have to get those supply boxes back."
Even if they got caught, so be it. At worst, they'd spend a few days detained by the Security Bureau. Nicole had been through that before.
With the decision made, Nicole shouted again, "Follow me—find a way to shake them off."
Without hesitation, she had Soldier 11 take a turn into the Federer District, using the layout of the streets to ditch the patrol cars.
By the time the SUV and truck exited the district, the patrol cars were gone.
Nicole didn't have long to celebrate.
Two more patrol cars suddenly pulled out from another street, speeding straight toward them.
Nicole groaned. "Seriously? Where are all these patrol cars coming from? Soldier 11, don't stop. Shake off this batch too."
"Leave it to me," Soldier 11 answered calmly.
Using the same maneuvering tactics, she guided the SUV through district after district, eventually losing the patrol cars entirely.
Finally, Nicole could breathe. "We can finally get back to Hare's House in peace."
Fuel in the truck was nearly gone.
Nicole didn't hesitate—she radioed Billy to return immediately.
Elsewhere in New Eridu.
Zhu Yuan, Seth, and Qingyi were combing the city in their patrol car, tracking the same truck.
Just a short while ago, they had been right behind it. There was no reason they should have lost it.
But the suspects had ditched them by darting into a crowded part of town, using the tangled streets and foot traffic to block their pursuit.
Zhu Yuan frowned. "Seth, any updates from the other teams?"
Seth checked his phone and shook his head. "Nothing…"
Frustrating. They had been so close—only to let the criminals slip away again.
Just then, Seth's phone buzzed. He checked the screen and broke into a grin. "Captain, the branch just sent word. They've locked onto the truck's position!"
"Where?" Zhu Yuan asked immediately.
"Janus District," Seth replied, serious now.
Zhu Yuan smiled. That was one of their regular patrol zones—she knew the area inside and out. This time, she was confident they had them cornered.
She checked the coordinates from the branch and turned the patrol car toward Janus District.
Unbeknownst to her, the truck's direction had changed—and was now heading straight for a place she knew very well: Hare's House.
About ten minutes later.
Nicole's group had finally made it. Soldier 11's SUV and Billy's truck pulled up in front of Hare's House just as the truck ran out of fuel.
As soon as they stopped, Nicole jumped out and shouted, "Billy! Get moving—unload all the supplies and get them inside!"
Billy leapt down. "Arataki, help me out!"
Arataki Itto grinned. "I'm on it, Billy!"
But just as Billy walked to the back of the truck to open the door, Arataki called out, "Billy! They're catching up again. Want me to handle it?"
Billy's eyes darted around in alarm.
One... two... three... four patrol cars came speeding toward them.
He panicked. "How are they this fast? Nicole, we're screwed—"
Nicole turned and looked.
In just moments, all four patrol cars had arrived and parked right in front of them.
While Nicole, Billy, and the others were still in shock, fully armed Public Security personnel stepped out, one after another. Rifles in hand, they took cover behind the patrol cars, aiming directly at them.
"Drop your weapons and surrender!"
Powerful voices rang out from all directions.
Nicole instinctively raised her hands. "..."
Everyone stood frozen.
They'd thought they had lost them—yet here they were, completely surrounded.
With this many heavily armed officers closing in, Nicole had no choice but to surrender.
Soon, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and Seth stepped out of their patrol car.
When they saw Nicole, Sam Li, and the others, they all froze for a second.
"What do you mean? Who else would it be? You've been on our tail nonstop—weren't you trying to arrest us?" Nicole said, exasperated.
Caught by the Security Bureau. So much for holding on to the supply boxes they'd worked so hard to get.
Zhu Yuan walked over quickly.
She checked the SUV, then the truck—confirming that only Hare's House members were inside.
But what about the raiders?
She took another look at the license plate. It matched the one given by the branch chief. No mistake—it was the raiders' truck.
Zhu Yuan faced Nicole. "Miss Nicole, where are the criminals who were driving this truck?"
Nicole shrugged helplessly. "We've been driving it the whole time. Other than entering the Hollows without authorization, we haven't done anything illegal."
Zhu Yuan narrowed her eyes. "If I remember correctly, Hare's House doesn't own a truck ."
Nicole hesitated for a beat but then raised her voice in defiance. "We found it in the Hollows, okay? Picking up an abandoned truck in the Hollows isn't illegal, is it?"
Zhu Yuan frowned. "Found it? This truck belonged to criminals. Miss Nicole, please explain exactly how you 'found' it."
Nicole said nothing at first.
Then, reluctantly, she explained everything—how they had encountered and defeated a Notoriety Ethereal.
"The raiders were killed by a Notoriety Ethereal, so I figured I'd drive the truck back... That's not against the law, right?"
Zhu Yuan wasn't convinced.
In a Hollow that had already been subdued and marked as declining, how could three Notoriety Ethereals show up all at once?
She figured Nicole was making it up.
Then, Qingyi looked to Sam Li. "Is what Nicole said true?"
Sam Li nodded slowly. "Logically speaking, if you don't believe it, you're welcome to enter the Hollow and verify it."
Qingyi smiled faintly. "If Mr. Sam Li says so, then I suppose I have no choice but to believe it."