Arresting Perlman, Two Million on the Move

After Piper and Lucy left, the group continued rescuing injured Bangboos in the town. Those that could be repaired were fixed right away; those that couldn't were gathered together, waiting for Piper and Lucy to return with extra Bangboo parts.

Soon, they had rescued dozens of severely damaged Bangboos.

And while helping them, they also gathered information about Perlman's whereabouts.

"Mmm, mmm, mmm (We saw a bad guy hiding in that building over there)…"

"Mmm, da (That bad guy is with the Lion's Tooth Gang)…"

"Mmm, mmm, mmm, da, mmm, da (Some Bangboos tried to catch him, but he kept hiding. We couldn't find him)…"

"Mmm, mmm (He must still be in town)…"

...

According to the Bangboos, they too were trying to catch Perlman.

But he was just too good at hiding. Even though they were sure he was holed up in an abandoned building somewhere in town, no one had been able to track him down.

Nekomata sighed. "That guy's really a master of hiding."

Billy grinned confidently. "We're just looking for one guy. Don't forget, this is what we at Hare's House do best! Nicole, Anby, Nekomata, Sam Li, Soldier 11—let's move!"

Billy didn't even need to remind them.

Everyone at Hare's House knew perfectly well: they weren't just chasing a person—they were chasing two million Dennies.

At that thought, Nicole, Billy, and Nekomata's eyes lit up with determination.

Nicole smiled. "Let's go."

Nekomata added with confidence, "This kind of cat-and-mouse game? Cats are the best at it. I'll have him sniffed out in no time."

Meanwhile—

Seth, Zhu Yuan, and Qingyi weren't about to be left behind.

Tracking down someone in hiding was exactly what law enforcement officers like them were good at.

Only Jane showed no interest.

Seth glanced at her in confusion. "Aren't you coming to help us find Perlman?"

Jane smiled. "I'm not into this cat-and-mouse stuff. I'd rather go help a few more injured Bangboos—they're so cute. As for Perlman, I'll leave him to you all."

With that, Jane headed off alone down the street.

At the same time, under Nicole's lead, the Hare's House crew and Caesar moved off in the opposite direction.

Before they left—

Nicole couldn't resist glancing at the Public Security Bureau team and reminded her companions, "We have to find Perlman before they do. If they get to him first, that two million is as good as gone."

After all the work they'd done to get here, they weren't about to let the payday slip through their fingers.

Billy nodded. "Don't worry, Nicole. We've got the numbers. No matter how good those officers are, they can't move faster than us."

Caesar chimed in confidently. "Relax. Victory will be ours."

Nekomata sniffed the air. "I think I smell Perlman nearby. Follow me."

Soldier 11 frowned. "Are you a cat or a dog? How is your nose that sharp?"

Nekomata huffed. "Cats have great noses too, you know!"

Led by Nekomata—

The Hare's House team and Caesar followed her into an abandoned building.

But after searching it top to bottom—

There wasn't a trace of Perlman.

Billy frowned. "Nekomata, are you sure this is the right place?"

Nekomata thought for a moment. "Perlman was definitely here, but he's moved. Come on—this way…"

With that—

Nekomata darted out of the building.

Nicole, Anby, Billy, Soldier 11, and Caesar exchanged glances, then hurried after her.

But—

For the next ten minutes, they searched through a pile of ruins, then an abandoned shopping mall, then another street… still nothing.

Walking down the crumbling street, the group was getting frustrated.

Perlman was proving slippery.

Could he have already slipped away from town in all the chaos?

Billy frowned in thought. "I wonder if the Public Security Bureau's team has found him yet. If they do first, that bounty's gone. Two million Dennies…"

At the mention of two million—

Nicole's energy surged back.

This wasn't over yet. No way she was going to let them lose the prize now.

"Nekomata—any luck? Can you still smell him?"

"I can. His scent's close by... but we've already searched this entire street. He's nowhere in sight…"

Even Nekomata was stumped.

She started to doubt whether her nose was playing tricks on her—was it really Perlman's scent she'd caught?

Soldier 11 suggested, "Rather than wasting time here, maybe we should try somewhere else."

Nicole nodded. "Looks like that's our best option..."

Just as they were about to move on—

Suddenly—

Sam Li came to a stop.

Soldier 11 asked curiously, "What's wrong, Fifty-Meter Geo Lance Knight? Did you find something?"

Billy groaned. "Fifty meters again…"

Sam Li said calmly, "No need to search elsewhere. I already know where Perlman is hiding."

At his words—

Nicole's eyes lit up. She quickly jogged over to him.

"Quick, tell us—where is he?"

"Right below us."

Sam Li glanced at the ground beneath their feet.

He had just finished his battle with Azhdaha and his mental and elemental energy was nearly spent—so he hadn't used his Geo power to search earlier.

But now that he had arrived on this street, he sensed Perlman hiding underground.

Seeing Sam Li's gaze—

Nicole caught on immediately. "Billy, Anby, Nekomata, Soldier 11, Caesar—get those manhole covers open! Perlman's in the sewer!"

Everyone trusted Sam Li's judgment.

So when Nicole spoke, they sprang into action, prying open both manhole covers nearby.

Inside—

The sewer was pitch black.

It really was an excellent hiding spot.

If not for Sam Li's sharp senses, they would've completely missed it.

Nicole called into the darkness. "Perlman! We've found you—get out here!"

Her voice echoed through the sewer.

But there was no sign of Perlman.

"What a sly guy. Even now, he's still hoping to slip away. Billy—get down there and drag him out."

"Uh… you want me to go down?"

"No need. He'll come up on his own."

Sam Li glanced into the dark sewer, gently lifted his foot, and then brought it down onto the ground.

In an instant—

The ground shook violently.

From inside the sewer came Perlman's panicked voice. "Stop shaking! It's going to collapse—I'll come out! Just stop shaking!"

Moments later—

A small, filthy figure climbed out of the sewer.

It was Perlman—the man they'd been hunting.

...