They wrapped up their investigation at the café, armed with a new set of clues and a slight craving for dessert. Their next stop was to check on the last successful delivery of the Bangboo.
Upon arriving, the place seems safe it was just around the corner before their station; a co working space; they approached the customer, which is one of the staff, eager for any juicy tidbits.
"Did you notice anything odd about the Bangboo? Malfunctioning? Did it make any weird noises, like, I don't know, an opera singer stuck in a blender?" Zhu Yuan asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
The customer shook his head, bewildered. "Nope, it was perfectly normal. Just delivered a fresh pancake and left." He shrugged, as if they were asking him about alien sightings.
With a sigh, Zhu Yuan turned to her team. "So, no bangboo kidnappers here. On to the scene of the failed delivery along the street of our precinct."
As they walked, Zhu Yuan felt a twinge of unease. Maybe it was because she was a victim of the lost dessert, and it felt oddly personal. "This whole thing is getting too close to home," she muttered. "I just want to know who took the bangboo, that's all."
Once they reached the location of the failed delivery, they gathered around their tablet, running a simulation based on the technician's data. "Alright, let's see if we can crack this case," Seth said, tapping the screen enthusiastically.
Qingyi peered over his shoulder, sipping her hot water. "I hope this simulation doesn't malfunction. I don't want to end up chasing a rogue Bangboo into the depths of New Eridu."
Zhu Yuan chuckled, shaking her head. "If that happens, I'm definitely bringing snacks. Can't chase a Bangboo on an empty stomach."
The simulation led them to a restricted area—a hidden passageway that seemed to have slipped right under the nose of PUBSEC patrol. It was a secret entrance to the "Hollow." Someone had taken the Bangboo through here!
Zhu Yuan hesitated, glancing at Qingyi and Seth. "This isn't just a stroll in the park. It's dangerous, and we might end up as lost as a sock in a dryer," she said, biting her lip.
"Captain, if we're going in, I'm bringing snacks," Seth declared with a half-serious grin. "We might be in there for a while!"
"Let's not make it a picnic just yet," Zhu Yuan replied, shaking her head. "I'm calling in a special response unit to barricade this passage. We can't have civilians wandering in and out like it's a day at the amusement park."
This wasn't the first time they had to enter the Hollow for a case, but today, a knot of unease twisted in her stomach. After all, she was a victim of this dessert heist.
"What if I find my secret admirer in there?" she muttered, glancing sideways at her teammates. "Or worse—what if he's a Lawless Thug or a Hollow Raider? That would be so embarrassing!"
Qingyi smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, Captain, at least it'd make for a great story. 'Zhu Yuan: The Girl Who Fell for a Dessert-Thieving Outlaw.'"
Zhu Yuan rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face. "If that happens, I'm going to need a new identity—and a lot of desserts."
After some preparation, they crawled through a broken barrier and into the hollow sphere. As usual, the gloomy atmosphere of the dying old city of Eridu loomed over them, a haunting echo of its once vibrant life now twisted into an unsettling distortion. It felt surreal, like stepping onto the set of a post-apocalyptic sitcom.
"Be careful not to stray away," Zhu Yuan warned, her voice low and serious, as they readied themselves for any ambushes that could lurk in the shadows.
They wandered deeper into the abandoned city, their senses heightened in the eerie silence. Just as they began to feel the weight of isolation settle in, a small rustle broke through the ambient quiet, jolting their attention.
"What was that?" Seth whispered, his ears twitching as he scanned their surroundings. He was half-human, half-cat, and the feline instincts were kicking in pointed at the direction.
Zhu Yuan led the charge toward the noise, adrenaline spiking at the prospect of danger. They sifted through the rubble, searching for the source of the sound when Zhu Yuan's gaze landed on something odd. Beneath a dusty old tarp was a metal chest. Curiosity got the better of her, and with a quick tug, she ripped off the cover—only to jump back with a startled yelp.
"There are cat and kittens in here!" she squeaked, her voice hitting a note she didn't know it could. She wasn't scared, exactly, but... kittens? In the middle of a Hollow? Really?
Seth, usually the calmer one, looked like he was trying not to panic. He knew Zhu Yuan wasn't a fan of fur—cats, in particular, set off her allergies, and the last thing anyone needed was her sneezing her way into a Hollow-induced disaster.
"I'll handle it. Let me rescue these little guys back to the city," Seth said, already hunting for something to put the kittens in. His face softened as he carefully picked up each kitten like he was cradling delicate treasure. "I promise, no cat fur on Captain Zhu."
"Please, don't fur up my uniform!" Zhu Yuan said, waving her hands like she could ward off the cat fur from a distance. "I'm not signing up to be 'New Eridu's Cat Lady.' I have enough titles, thank you."
Seth chuckled; kittens safely nestled in a box. Qingyi, of course, couldn't resist chiming in. "You know, Captain, you could start a whole side gig— 'Zhu Yuan, Professional Cat Rescuer.' Might even go viral."
Zhu Yuan rolled her eyes, but a grin snuck onto her face. "Right, because that's what every elite officer wants to be known for: saving kittens in the middle of a Hollow. Just perfect."
As Seth headed back toward the entrance, Qingyi set up her device and began scanning the area for the Bangboo device signature that the technician had provided. She fiddled with the settings, her focus intense.
"Come on, little device," she murmured tapping the device, her brow furrowed in then, the device beeped, indicating a nearby signal. Excitement surged through her as she raised the device, carefully tracing the signal while Zhu Yuan followed closely behind, her hand hovering near her holster, scanning their surroundings like a wary hawk.
"Could it be?" Zhu Yuan wondered aloud. Her heart raced as she spotted something familiar lying in the corner: a ribbon from the dessert box!
"Great, Bangboo was really kidnapped and took my delivery that day..." she whispered incredulously. "Qingyi, I found evidence—I'm right behind you!"
Qingyi turned her head, giving a quick nod of acknowledgment before her attention snapped back to the screen.
Just behind a big, rusty container van, Qingyi noticed a makeshift camp draped with an old tarp. Scattered around were bits of rubbish forming a sleeping bag, the kind of cozy that only the most desperate scavengers could appreciate. And lying there, face down on the ground, was the Bangboo, its batteries removed.
"Looks like we found our missing delivery buddy," Qingyi said, stepping in closer, her excitement barely contained.
But just as she reached out, a sudden beep broke the silence, causing both women to freeze. With reflexes honed by countless drills, Qingyi jumped back just as an improvised proximity mine exploded, sending a shockwave through the air. Zhu Yuan was propelled backward hitting the pavement by the force, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The explosion reverberated throughout the Hollow, a sound that traveled far beyond their makeshift hideaway.
Meanwhile, Seth, still cradling the rescued kittens, heard the blast echo inside. Panic bubbled up in his chest. "What was that?" he exclaimed, his heart racing as he dropped the kittens into a box. "We need to check it out!"
He and a few special responders rushed into the Hollow, worry etched on their faces.
Zhu Yuan lay dazed on the floor, her ears ringing. For a moment, she forgot she was inside the Hollow. "What was that? A surprise party for my headache?" She rubbed her temples, clutching the familiar ribbon—her makeshift evidence.
"Captain? Are you hurt?" Qingyi's voice was laced with genuine concern, her eyes wide. Looking back at her partner, Zhu Yuan managed a weak smile. "No, Qingyi, I should be asking you that. You're the one who almost became a human pinball." She reached for Qingyi's hand and stood up, surveying the chaotic scene left by the explosion. "
Great, just what I needed—another round of paperwork. I didn't know our dessert case would explode like this. Was that Bangboo rigged?"
"Seems like it..." Qingyi replied, glancing at the debris with a mix of confusion and sound of hurried footsteps approached, and Seth burst onto the scene, flanked by an additional responder.
"Captain! What happened?" he panted, looking from the rubble to Zhu Yuan, his expression a mixture of worry and bewilderment.
"We saw the missing Bangboo, but it was rigged with bomb," she said, brushing dust off her uniform.
"Rigged? But why?" Seth's brow furrowed in confusion. "Did someone want to blow up their dessert delivery or were they just having a bad day?"
Zhu Yuan sighed, her mind racing. "Or maybe this was someone's idea of a twisted game. Either way, we need to figure out who thought a Bangboo was a good substitute for a bomb." She turned to Qingyi, who was still scanning the area. "Can you pick up any signatures from this mess?"
Qingyi nodded, her fingers dancing over her device. "Let's hope it's not another cat situation. I can only handle so much chaos in one day."