"Why did you suddenly stop?" Koleda looked at Zhong Yan, puzzled by his abrupt halt.
Anton, Grace, and Ben shared her confusion. They had been walking without issue until Zhong Yan suddenly stopped and turned his head in a different direction.
They followed his gaze, but saw nothing—making the whole situation even more bewildering.
Zhong Yan offered no real explanation, only casting a deep glance toward a nondescript corner of the Hollow before speaking calmly: "It's nothing. Probably just my imagination."
Imagination? He could certainly have one—but this time, what he sensed was very real.
Jane—an expert in criminal psychology placed by the Public Safety Bureau to infiltrate criminal organizations. He didn't know why she was here, but from the way she was watching, she had clearly taken an interest in him.
Zhong Yan had previously seen Jane investigating Tobi on the streets, so it made sense that his current form might have drawn her attention and led her to tail them.
The Uchiha persona was far too conspicuous in New Eridu. Everyone and their grandmother could recognize that image by description alone. That's why Zhong Yan had taken on a different appearance—to avoid unnecessary trouble.
But now, it seemed Tobi was equally conspicuous in certain circles.
He could only hope Jane wouldn't blow her cover—otherwise, he'd have to waste more time dealing with her.
...
The group proceeded through the Hollow for about ten more minutes.
Any Ethereal foolish enough to approach was instantly reduced to ashes by Zhong Yan's flames.
His frighteningly efficient clean-up was jaw-dropping no matter how many times it was witnessed. Anton even tried to ask Zhong Yan for tips—only to receive an unteachable answer in return.
Eventually, they reached the signal's location and quickly spotted the grab-arm unit in an open area.
The machine was using its mechanical limbs to carry unknown objects. Sensing the group's arrival, it immediately went on guard and spoke in a defensive tone.
"You... you're here to drag me back, aren't you? Damn it, they had me doing such boring work before. I'm a manly man—there's no way I'm going back to that site to move crates again! Give it up! I'm not going with you!"
In Zhong Yan's memory, this unit was named "Hans" Constantly throwing around phrases like "manly man," Hans had eventually become Anton's "brother" in the original storyline.
In the original version, bringing him back would take some effort. But Zhong Yan wasn't interested in wasting time.
So, when Hans adamantly declared he wasn't returning, Zhong Yan stepped forward. Deep blue energy surged around him as his armored Susanoo form materialized.
"What... what is that?!" Hans's voice trembled in fear as he stared up at the Susanoo, which was larger than him by a head.
To be fair, Grace's engineering was top-notch. This mechanical creation could mimic human expressions and speech almost flawlessly.
But judging by Hans's behavior, his emotional maturity was about ten years old—basically a child.
And children, of course, were afraid of the unknown. Hans was no exception.
"I'm not the type who likes wasting time," Zhong Yan said coldly. "So, I'll give you one chance—either come with us now, or stay here and rot into scrap."
The threat in his voice was obvious, and it made Grace visibly uncomfortable.
To her, Hans was like a child. And a child should be taught gently, not threatened with the equivalent of a rocket punch.
But this wasn't the time to debate parenting styles. They needed to bring Hans back. So, after a moment's hesitation, she didn't intervene.
"I... I..." Hans stammered, more frightened now. But the thought of returning to his old job—endlessly hauling materials—hardened his resolve. "I'm not going back with you!"
The next instant, while the group was caught off guard, Hans bolted—moving with surprising speed to escape Zhong Yan's attack range.
Zhong Yan hadn't expected such defiance. He stopped holding back and summoned a Yasaka Magatama from the Susanoo's arsenal.
The blast wouldn't kill Hans, but it would disable him. However, that would be counterproductive—they needed to retrieve him, not scrap him.
So Zhong Yan adjusted his aim. The projectile hit a building next to Hans instead.
The explosion knocked Hans off his feet and sent him rolling across the ground before coming to a stop.
Grace couldn't take it anymore. She sprinted forward to check on him.
Thankfully, Hans was durable, and Zhong Yan had deliberately missed. The damage was minor—just a few scratches. His operational capabilities remained intact.
But the psychological blow had shattered Hans's dreams of being a "manly man." He broke down crying.
"Boo-hoo... I still can't be a manly man... I still can't shoulder my responsibility..." Hans's wails echoed through the Hollow like a lamenting dirge.
Watching him cry, even Zhong Yan started to wonder if he'd gone too far.
Anton stepped up, gently patting Hans's side. "Don't be so down. You do have a responsibility. Sure, hauling cargo on-site may seem mundane, but you're the only one who can do it."
"Why else would we give that job to you? Because only you can handle it. You might think it's boring—but we don't. You've already taken on an important role, brother!"
If there was anyone in New Eridu who could deliver a passionate speech like that—it was Anton.
With just a few heartfelt lines, Hans's mechanical eyes shimmered with almost human-like emotion.
Anton's words had struck deep. Hans suddenly realized his job wasn't meaningless after all.
Meanwhile, Jane, still hiding in the shadows, stared at the scene—her face full of question marks.
Were these people... playing house with a machine?