Eous stood still on the rooftop, waving Hugo on with disinterest.

No one rivaled him in power but his Void Hunter counterpart, so he wouldn't even entertain a fight if Hugo couldn't prove himself to be anywhere near as formidable.

Hugo laughed and disappeared from sight in a flush of icy mist.

Wise looked around for him, wondering what angle he'd attack from, but the concern was unnecessary.

Eous didn't even bat an eye as his tail whipped around and blocked a slash at his flank. A gale of ice began to coil around him, cuts and slices being tried at his every blind spot.

He didn't need to use his four eyes to spot the man, when his every movement was felt and heard before it was seen.

Eous grabbed Hugo's scythe with a sigh. "Surely there's more than this."

With a violent throw downward, he pulled Hugo towards him and cocked back his fist. With an uppercut directly to his gut, he could feel the fluid of his stomach wretch from his fist.

Hugo nearly threw up on the spot before Eous' tail slammed into his side, sending him barreling into the rooftop entrance.

The door caved in under his weight and sent cracks crawling along the wall. Hugo dropped to his chin and looked up in shock seeing Eous foot heading for his jaw.

His head recoiled back up and slammed into the wall again, before Eous punched his falling body back up into it again.

"You still having fun? Where's the gem?"

Eous began lazily pelting him with punches and lashes from his tails, sending further cracks into the walls. Eous watched his consciousness waver with every strike and glared harder at the lack of resistance.

Eous suddenly slammed Hugo's throat into the wall and scoffed.

"You're not even worth the trouble. Next time I see you, have the gem." Eous walked over to the edge of the roof, dragging him along with disinterest.

"W-Wait, Master Proxy!" Lycaon's word fell on deaf ears.

Eous tossed him off and looked away. It didn't take a genius for them to know Hugo would make his escape.

"Eous, we needed answers..." Wise said with a leer.

Eous leered back in defiance. "Yeah, and we'll get far better ones the more this unfolds. Besides, if he really still had the core, it should've been on his person. I couldn't feel it anymore..."

Lycaon didn't want to agree, but he was right. Letting him off with that kind of beating was far more appropriate than apprehending him.

"Let's get outta here." Eous tore open a fissure and walked through.

~•~

"Not long ago, I received a letter declaring criminal intent." The mayor announced.

Eous, Wise, Belle, and Lycaon were in the back room, allowing Eliza to take the first shift of the day.

"Lycaon, I know you don't want to place them in danger— and I'd normally feel the same way. But these are dire circumstances. That letter threatens to use a Sacrifice to take vengeance against the entire city of New Eridu."

"The gem can do that...?" Wise mumbled in shock.

"The person or organization who sent the letter must be planning to use the Sacrifice core to mount a large-scale attack against the city. Everything we've uncovered so far seems to support this hypothesis.

As you know, the Sacrifice's true power is a mystery and cannot be controlled. If anyone attempts to use it as a weapon... I take it this stays confidential?"

"Of course, but we'd like to do our part too." Belle assured.

"It's far too dangerous for... most of you. You're still citizens of New Eridu, and as mayor, it's my duty to protect you." The mayor reasoned.

"With all due respect, I've been through far too much for your jurisdiction to protect me." Eous exclaimed.

"I wish I could assure you otherwise, but I've seen what you can do. Regardless, I'm not at liberty to discuss this matter any further. I ask that you rest assured that we will handle things properly as the administrative authority of New Eridu."

"That's right, please, trust us." Lycaon bowed to them all, but it was clear he was worried about Hugo's plans.

"That'll be all for today. Goodbye for now." The mayor parted before hanging up.

Lycaon left shortly after, leaving the siblings to sit in a brief silence to think about what had transpired. They wouldn't stop their investigation here just because the mayor advised them too.

"The Exaltists. The commissioner hasty closure of Bringer's case was fishy. There has to be more to it." Belle mumbled.

Wise agreed. "Zhu Yuan could have answers. I could go see what's up."

"I'll check Inter-Knot, see what other people are speculating." Belle added.

"I'll check Section Six. Heard they've been given most of Bringer's recovered belongings. Hit me up when you've got anything." Eous exclaimed.

With that, the three parted.

•

"I regret to inform I'm here on business. Bringer case." Eous announced as he walked into Section Six's office.

It would seem that Yanagi and Miyabi were already aware thanks to Zhu Yuan's forewarning, asking him to look for a notebook Bringer used to never part with.

"We're aware. As much as someone is disappointed of that fact..." Yanagi glanced at Miyabi, who expectantly stared at Eous.

His serious scowl broke with a sigh. "You're really destroying my tough guy persona..."

He opened his arms with a small sigh, preparing for a hug as the two continued their diligent training: bonding.

Miyabi wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes as she felt his heartbeat. She quietly hummed, something Eous almost mistook for a purr.

He pat her back a few times before realizing it'd be awhile before she let go.

Eous gave Yanagi a tired glance. "Did you find this alleged diary?"

"I don't recall seeing one, but there are a few tape recordings. Our colleagues have already listened to these tapes. They're just routine meeting, minutes, and similar recordings."

Yanagi gestured to her desk, where a box of belongings sat in a metal case.

Eous looked down at Miyabi, wondering how he'd make it over there if she wasn't going to let go.

He sighed, crouching down a bit before picking her up under her legs. Yanagi was shocked, and impressed, that Miyabi would allow someone to handle her that way.

Eous shuffled over to the desk with Yanagi behind him before bringing out his tails to inspect the items. He rummaged through them all, quickly analyzing each item until he got to the tape recordings.

They were labeled pretty normally, but when picking up the last, it was significantly heavier.

"Do you need to play the tapes again?" Yanagi wondered.

"I'm told they're all standard. However..." He felt the mechanism inside hiding the message within. With small EMPs of his corrosive electricity, he destroyed the encryption. "Found it."

"Impressive as always." Yanagi praised, giving a small wave to Soukaku and Harumasa as they arrived.

"What am I looking at..." Harumasa commented on the full-limb hug on Eous' body.

"Should be more content on the tape now. Any way to listen to it here?" Eous asked with smile.

"Woah, I didn't even know you could hide data on a recording like this..." Harumasa awed as Yanagi pulled out the same cassette player used to listen to them before.

"Oh, is there a secret? I want to know!" Soukaku tugged on Eous sleeve eagerly.

"Yeah, one sec. Come on, Miyabi..." Eous set her down and she reluctantly released her hold on him.

"That was a sufficient boost to my mood and energy. Thank you." Miyabi nodded to him, making sure to keep as close as possible.

"Alright—"

"Wait." Zhu Yuan arrived walking over with a stern glare. "I want to hear this too. I want answers."

"Glad you could make it. I'm playing it now." Eous set the tape in and pressed play.

"I'm probably not getting out of this Hollow, but at least this tape recorder still works. Let's say these are my last words." Bringer began. "I gave away my anti-corruption equipment to save those civilians, so I'm not in good shape.

Unfortunately, we came up against a horde of Ethereals right after that. I rushed over to fight them off and tried to save the civilians, but in the thick of all the fighting, I turned back and realized I was somehow alone— nobody was behind me.

Luckily, I managed to defeat the Ethereals. But the wounds and corruption I sustained in doing so should be fatal. I don't mean to cast the blame at all here, and if any of my colleagues ever pick up this cassette, I hope that nobody is ever held accountable...

It's just human nature. It's normal... I just... I just have a few regrets. W-Wait, what's that over there?"

A long, raspy, eerie creek could be heard.

"I... I've seen a miracle. Yes, that thing is right. So long as humanity is in constant conflict against the Hollows, we'll never be able to grasp true power. Only by embracing everything... it's the only way. Only by embracing this power can everyone survive!

O Creator, please grant me this...!"

Everyone stood still in the silence. Eous glanced over and saw Zhu Yuan filled with regret. "You alright?"

"I'm okay. It's just... even though we had our suspicions, now that everything is out in the open, I can't help but feel..." She wagged her head. "Well, at least now I know the reason why he changed."

"What did Bringer see during the recording? Whatever it was, he called it a 'miracle." Miyabi wondered.

"I saw the mission report from that incident. Bringer emerged from the Hollow unscathed, completely free from injury or corruption. Plus, I remember him rescuing a few civilians and walking out with them." Zhu Yuan informed.

Yanagi grunted in disdain. "If that's the case, then it's at odds with the audio that we heard. Which one is the true version of events?"

"It's possible both are true." Harumasa reasoned. "Bringer could've met a real god that completely healed his body, and helped him save the others."

"And that's why his mood changed so much— why he started believing the Exaltists. Because he witnessed a miracle..." Zhu Yuan realized.

"Reasonable speculation at this point." Miyabi agreed.

"Stop fighting the Hollows, huh..." Eous muttered. "Sounds familiar."

They all noticed him look down at his tail. It was an easy observation to see that Eous was the very goal Bringer tried to reach, embracing the Hollow and its Corruption to reach true power.

Why was he different?

"In any case, this is a clue that ultimately points to the Exaltists. I'll keep pulling this thread and see where it leads." Zhu Yuan declared.

•

Eous yawned as he made it back home from a long ride along the power lines. He really wished the HSO building wasn't on the other side of town, as deteriorating his form into electricity was super straining.

He opened the door to Random Play and was immediately met with an umbrella in his face.

He staggered back into the door, watching Vivian turn around and cover her mouth with a small gasp.

"I miss calculated. I assumed you'd come from the back door." She whispered. "Nevertheless, we meet again, Master Proxy."

"Uh... yeah, we do. Can I help you?"

"I imagine you've already managed to gain some info from the conspirators. About some people who wish to use Sacrifice to launch an attack on New Eridu."

Eous gave a skeptical leer, wondering how she'd have that information when he had only heard that this morning, directly from the mayor.

"It's because I've been watching you this entire time. I know many things. But unlike those hypocrites you've come to know, I'm willing to share info with you to show my sincere hopes of... working together." She stepped a bit closer than he was comfortable with. "I need to find Bringer's belongings."

"Since you've been watching me, clearly it isn't the tapes?" Eous questioned.

"Correct. I have confidence in my intelligence network. All the more reason for you to work with me. You've probably already guessed, but what Bringer left behind will be crucial for cracking the alleged Sacrifice attack. Find it, and we'll finally know what they are after."

"The Exaltists?"

"Of course. They're always lurking whenever something related to Sacrifice comes up." Vivian assured. "Actually, the Exaltists and I... we have a bit of a shared history—"

Eous' skepticism jolted into frustration, evident by the sharp glare it produced. "Talk."

"Ah, ah. No more of that until you officially agree to work with me." Vivian smiled at his eagerness to learn.

"I'm in." Eous declared.

"Excellent. While your scuffle at the auction was disadvantageous, I assume you're rather profound in Hollow-combat, yes?"

"Do you know who you're talking to?" Eous asked in disbelief. "Maybe your intelligence isn't as great as I thought."

"You dare? What are you insinuating, Proxy? You can't possibly attempt to claim you're on the same level as Lord Nova?" Vivian glared back at him.

"What? Lord Nova? Is that what they're calling me now...?" Eous looked away in disgust.

"You'd truly try and claim—" Her frustration was completely loss when Eous Ionized in front of her with his arms crossed.

Her jaw dropped, as did her umbrella as she stared at his four eyes in complete disbelief. She began stammering on her words until Eous rose a brow.

"This proof enough?"

"Can I touch you?"

"HUH?!"