"Hmm, let's not delay." Xuan Yi nodded and headed to the backyard with Hoshimi Miyabi.

At this moment in the backyard, Billy said to Nicole, "Boss Nicole, I'm so hungry."

"I told you to get up early, but you insisted on sleeping in, so now you've missed breakfast," Nicole said, hands on her hips, to the hungry Billy.

"Yes," Anby said, nodding while taking a bite of the burger in her hand.

"Anby! Where did you get that burger?" Billy looked at the burger in Anby's hand in disbelief.

"Oh, you mean this? I went to buy it this morning, back when you were still asleep."

"Did you bring me a serving of delicious motor oil?" Billy looked at Anby with expectant eyes.

Anby shook her head, finished the last bite of her burger, and then slowly said, "No. I heard from the shop owner that all the motor oil over there was bought out early this morning by a petite girl from Outer Ring who was driving a truck."

Hearing Anby's words, Billy walked to the side, dejected.

"Alright, Billy. I have some motor oil stored in the shop, do you want it?" Wise handed the motor oil he had bought for his own car to Billy.

"Wuu, wuu, wuu, thank you, Store Manager! You're so kind," Billy said, touched.

"Alright, drink up quickly. Once you're done and Store Manager Xuan and the others arrive, we'll set off," Nicole urged.

"Good morning, Wise. And everyone from the Cunning Hares."

"Good morning, Store Manager Xuan," Billy said with his mouth full. He was savoring the breakfast he had just received.

"Since everyone is here, let's discuss the specific plan for later," Wise said, seeing Hoshimi Miyabi and Xuan Yi had arrived.

Xuan Yi nodded. "It's like this: our goal is only to confirm that the Argus Hollow has become active and is expanding little by little. It is not to search for The Exaltation Society. So, after we go in, if the spatial layout changes, could you please help guide us, Phaethon? We only need to take a few photos and videos before we can exit. So, the risk is low."

"Hmm, the Cunning Hares agree with your plan," Nicole said on behalf of the Cunning Hares.

"I have no objections either," Wise agreed from the side.

"In that case, let's set off. Let's go early and return early. By the way, divide these vials among yourselves." Xuan Yi took out three of the anti-Ethereal erosion agents he had exchanged for last night and handed them to Nicole, then handed the other two to Hoshimi Miyabi.

"This is an anti-Ethereal erosion agent; it lasts for 48 hours. The effect of this agent is quite good; after using it, it feels about the same inside the Hollow as it does outside," Xuan Yi explained the efficacy of the agent.

"Why give me two?" Hoshimi Miyabi looked at Xuan Yi, puzzled.

"Use one later, and keep the other one for now; you might need it later."

"Hmm." Hoshimi Miyabi nodded without saying much more.

After distributing the agents, Xuan Yi, Hoshimi Miyabi, the three members of the Cunning Hares, and Eous set off. Not long after, the group arrived in front of the Argus Hollow.

"Stop! Who goes there? The Hollow ahead is very dangerous; please do not proceed any further." Three members of the Defense Force stopped them.

Hoshimi Miyabi took out her credentials. "HAND Officer, Hoshimi Miyabi. I received intelligence that there is an anomaly in the Argus Hollow, and I need to go in to investigate."

The person who seemed to be the captain among the three took Hoshimi Miyabi's credentials, checked them carefully, and after finding no issues, let the group pass.

"This is my first time entering an officially regulated Hollow in such a straightforward manner," Nicole said with a smile after they had walked a distance.

"Me too, even though I'm inside Eous right now," Belle said, having already connected to Eous.

"We are about to enter the Argus Hollow; everyone, stay alert," Xuan Yi reminded them.

The group entered the Hollow together. As soon as they entered, they felt something strange; the Ethereals that should have been visible everywhere were nowhere to be seen in the Argus Hollow.

"Strange? Where are the Ethereals? Isn't it a bit too quiet?" Belle said.

"There were very few Ethereals when we came in last time, but we could still see some," Anby said at this moment.

"I thought I just had good luck last time; it seems there's something fishy going on here," Nicole also said.

"Something's wrong, get back!" Hoshimi Miyabi suddenly pulled Xuan Yi back a step and called out to Nicole and the others.

The members of the Cunning Hares were veterans after all; the moment Hoshimi Miyabi warned them, they also took a step back.

But the distance they retreated was not short. A spatial rift formed in front of them, and with another wave of spatial fluctuations, it swept Nicole and the others away. "Belle, take Nicole and the others out first!" Xuan Yi shouted before they were teleported away.

"It seems that Argos has become too active," Xuan Yi said, gripping Hoshimi Miyabi's hand tightly to prevent another sudden spatial rift from separating them.

"What do we do now?" Hoshimi Miyabi asked.

"We'll just have to try our luck and find a way out. I hope Nicole and the others are safe," Xuan Yi shrugged helplessly. Although his combat power was high, he was clueless when it came to navigating in a Hollow.

"Let's explore a bit more. The Argus Hollow doesn't pose much danger to the two of us," Xuan Yi said, taking out the Bangboo he had prepared before entering. Although he knew that for an active Argos, this Bangboo wouldn't be of much use, it should still be able to show a rough route.

"Hmm." Hoshimi Miyabi wasn't worried either; having Xuan Yi there made her feel very at ease.

"The exit is at this location, and we are here. This exit is very far away," Xuan Yi said, looking at the location guide provided by the Bangboo.

"Let's just walk there slowly. For some reason, there are no Ethereals in Argos now, so the physical exertion for traveling won't be high," Hoshimi Miyabi said.

"Hmm, let's go." Xuan Yi and Hoshimi Miyabi headed toward the exit location on the Bangboo.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

"Anby, Billy, Nicole! Are you all okay?" Belle shook the unconscious group; only she was awake because she was connected to Eous.

"Where is this?" Nicole said weakly, holding her head.

"I just checked; we are in the core area of Argos, but there is a spatial rift nearby that can teleport us to the exit," Belle told Nicole the information she had just calculated.

"Oh! Boss Nicole, I feel so terrible," Billy also woke up.

"It must be from passing through the unstable spatial rift just now," Anby also woke up.

"Thankfully, everyone is fine," Belle breathed a sigh of relief.

"Everyone, take a rest. We'll try to find Store Manager Xuan and Sister Miyabi later. If we can't find them, we'll listen to Store Manager Xuan and exit the Hollow first," Belle said.

"Hmm, we have no problem with that. If we can't find Store Manager Xuan and the others, will they be unable to get out?" Nicole was a bit worried.

"It'll be fine. Store Manager Xuan's strength is not to be underestimated. They will definitely be fine," Belle comforted.

"Look, what is that over there?" Anby exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention.

"Is that? A Corrupted Core? How can there be so many? Are these still Ethereals? Could this be the Lerna that was mentioned before?" Nicole looked at the many Corrupted Cores floating in the distance, feeling it was unbelievable.