Zenless Zone Zero: I'am a Dullahan!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Someone knocked on the door. Inside Hare's House, Billy was still lost in a dream filled with Starlight Knights and limited-edition gun oil. Anby stepped out of her room, having just woken up.

"Coming…"

She sleepily shuffled over, rubbing her eyes as she asked,

"Who is it?"

Nicole had warned her not to open the door casually—if it was a creditor, they'd be in trouble.

"Anby, it's me!"

Nicole's voice came from outside. Anby perked up a little, furrowed her brows, and said,

"I don't believe you. State Hare's House's mission."

Outside, Nicole paused, then glanced awkwardly at Zane.

"Wait, let me open the door first."

"To make Hare's House famous in New Eridu and become number one on the agency wealth ranking!"

Anby nodded behind the door but still didn't open it. Instead, she asked,

"Nicole, tell me Billy's goal."

"Huh?"

Nicole froze. Billy's goal?

Seeing her confusion, Zane suggested cautiously,

"Maybe it's related to the Starlight Knight?"

Nicole's eyes lit up.

"To let the Starlight shine again!"

"Correct."

"So can I come in now?"

"No."

Nicole's face darkened. She was the leader of Hare's House, yet she was locked out of her own place. Ridiculous!

"Anby! Open the door!"

Inside, Anby hesitated for a moment, then firmly decided against it.

No way. Debt collectors are too crafty. Last time she opened the door without thinking, she got scolded hard. She wasn't making that mistake again.

Besides, there was something even more important...

"Nicole, I remember you took your key when you left. If you're not using it now..."

Anby didn't finish, but her point was clear.

If Nicole wasn't using the key, something fishy was going on. The door stays closed!

"Anby…"

Nicole clenched her fists. Her key had been lost during the skirmish with the rebels—how could she possibly still have it?

"Uh…"

Next to her, Zane watched the whole "battle of wits" unfold. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly in disbelief.

Seeing Nicole still struggling to explain, he waved his hand.

"Nicole, step aside."

"I'll cover the door fee."

"What? Cover what?"

Nicole raised an eyebrow in confusion. Just as she was about to ask, she saw him raise his leg—and realized what he meant.

"Wait, don't! I can—"

Bang!

The door of Hare's House flew open with a boom. The shockwave rippled through the wall, knocking down the half-hanging sign with a loud clatter.

"Ugh… what's with all the noise, first thing in the morning? Anby, what's goin—"

Billy walked out groggily, eyes barely open, when a looming shadow swallowed him.

With a loud thud, he was flung back into the room along with the door and knocked out cold on the floor, back to "sleep."

Nicole covered her face with both hands.

Great.

Hare's House's reputation just got wrecked.

Literally.

Anby stared in a daze at the door that had just flown past her, then looked at Billy on the floor, her eyes wide and clear.

Huh? That violent?

Wait… since they kicked the door in, she had the right to defend herself according to public safety regulations!

She reached back and pulled a knife from under her backpack on the shelf, ready to see how many enemies there were—then froze.

Oh. It's just Zane.

Forget it. No way she could beat him.

She quietly put the knife back.

"Anby, what the hell? You really didn't open the door for me?"

Nicole immediately spotted Anby in her hooded onesie and stormed over, visibly ticked off.

But Anby ignored her and turned to Zane instead. Since he broke in, he definitely wasn't here for anything good.

"Zane, whatever debt Nicole owes, it has nothing to do with Hare's House—or with me and Billy."

"If you're in a rush, you can make Nicole pay it back herself. Or you could temporarily take her as collateral under Hare's House's name. We really don't have a single Denny left…"

"Not one!"

Nicole's face darkened. Selling out your boss in a crisis? What kind of plan was that?!

"Anby…"

Something clicked in Nicole's mind. Her expression turned dangerous as she stepped closer to Anby.

"I don't know how you figured out the debt thing, but your idea isn't half bad…"

She casually pulled out a few coils of rope from her briefcase and smiled sweetly.

"Nicole, what are you doing?"

Anby instinctively stepped back.

"Oh, nothing. I just think your method of repaying debt is excellent—just needs a change in target."

"A cute little Anby should be worth even more, right?"

Seeing the grin on Nicole's face, Anby sensed danger. She tried to grab her backpack, but Nicole had already taken it.

Nicole slowly advanced.

"Don't resist… it'll hurt."

...

"Mmmph…!"

"Zane, be honest—how much do you think Anby's worth?"

Nicole sat cross-legged beside Anby, tapping away at a calculator, deep in thought.

Anby was curled up on the couch, legs tucked in, hands tied behind her back, and her mouth sealed with Hare's House's signature gray tape.

"Alright, that's enough. Didn't you say you had something for me?"

Zane spread his hands, exasperated.

"What do you mean, 'playing'? I'm dead serious!"

Nicole and Anby locked eyes. Nicole saw the clarity in Anby's gaze and said sincerely,

"I might be the boss of Hare's House, but there's no denying—Anby's the most capable one here."

"Other than eating a bit too much and being a little… slow, she's top-tier."

Nicole started counting on her fingers.

"Look, you're a Fire Picker. You can't do everything yourself. I'll sell Anby to you—she'll work for you. It's perfect!"

"No extra costs, just feed her. Based on our usual commission rates, her daily wage is 500,000 Dennies."

"Five hundred thousand per day. Hare's House owes you a billion. If she works every day with no breaks, it'll take five and a half years."

Nicole looked up and smiled.

"So how about it? I sell you Anby to work for five and a half years, and we're even. Deal?"

No matter how you slice it, it's a bargain.