Nero expected little when he got out of the hollow. He expected to be greeted with a vast apocalyptic desert, mostly due to how the Sons of Calydon wears. With their leathers and spikes and all that.

Instead he was greeted with a back alleyway with garbage littered around and graffiti.

"Okay... I half expected the world is in an apocalypse... Not some smelly alley." He humored himself, but was heard by everyone.

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Lucy squawked indignantly, feeling a little offended by Nero's comment.

Nero merely shrugged and pointed at the three of them.

"Leather, skulls, and spike. Really paints a scenic picture." Nero replied, making Lucy sigh in irritation and stomped towards the road.

Caesar, seeing all this. Approached Nero with a chuckled and apologized.

"Sorry about Lucy, she's a bit of a hothead." Caesar explained, but Nero shrugged as if used to it already.

"Trust me. She is tame compared to Patty when she's mad." Nero chuckled at the memory of Dante getting chewed out by Patty, for ditching her birthday party. If Kyrie wasn't there. Patty would've actually chewed on Dante.

The others just watched as Dante got an earful from Patty.

Caesar, now feeling a bit awkward. Backed off and motioned Nero to follow them.

"A-Ah, I see. Well, since we're out of the Hollow. Meet the rest of the Sons of Calydon." Caesar said, and immediately the exit of the alleyway was blocked by a truck, and from the driver's seat. Out came a small girl with blonde hair and a tired look on her face.

"Hey Girls, Proxy... How was the trip?" She asked, her voice deep from a nap she took earlier.

"Piper! Nice timing. Is Lighter with yo?" Caesar replied, feeling much better and thankful for Piper's impeccable timing.

"Lighter? Yeah, he's in the back taking a nap." Piper replied, but immediately. The side of the cargo opened up to reveal a mobile bar, with a tall man wearing aviator glasses and a gauntleted arm was standing and mixing a drink for himself.

"Hey." He simply said, making Nero immediately know what kind of character he is.

Nero chuckled at Lighter's greeting. While he gave Piper a two finger salute.

"Great! Proxy, get in. Oh and this is Nero by the way. A..." Caesar paused as she didn't exactly know what to call Nero. Not just from his earlier display, but his attire and occupation.

"Just a bystander that got caught in the Hollow." Nero added in helpfully.

And while they didn't believe what he said, they weren't privy to business that isn't there unless it is dire.

"O-kay then, mind explaining why the portal still isn't closing? And where's Burnice?" Piper asked, except more alert now.

Caesar and Wise blinked, with Wise being held by Caesar like a plushy after picking him up in Eous' body.

"Burnice? She was the last to leave..." Caesar paused mid sentence as the portal suddenly grew larger.

A clawed paw then emerged and pulled out a wide body with three canine heads... With Burnice riding on top of Cerberus.

Piper and Lighter immediately got into a defensive stance, before Burnice called out to them.

"Hi guys! Meet Cerbie!" Nero raised a brow at the nickname and all three of Cerberus' head sighed.

"She... Wanted to... Give us a... Nickname" All three heads replied one after the other.

Nero laughed before walking to Cerberus' side and reached out towards Burnice. Who happily took the offered hand and slid off of the demonic mutt's back and on the ground.

Immediately, once Cerberus' passenger was off. His body immediately glowed and shrunk into the size of a pitbull... If the pitbull was built like a steroid junkie with three heads.

Everyone looked at the hound with varying degrees of surprise. Burnice being the one most excited, while Lucy looks like she's about to pass out from the sheer impossibility of the scene before her. While both Wise and Caesar looked at Nero for an explanation.

"Beats me." Nero shrugged as he replied.

The group then climbed aboard the truck, the cabin space a bit cramped for everyone, so Lighter, Burnice, and Cerberus chose to ride in the trailer. Except for Eous who was personally returned to his parents by Lucy, who was relieved to be away from the group for her sanity's sake.

"So, where are we heading?" Nero asked, curious as to why they were leaving the city.

"To the HIA, you are going there to be registered as an Investigator, right? A person carrying that weapon around, surely wants to work as one." Piper piped in, her tired voice making Nero wonder if she actually got enough sleep.

"Sure, beats doing nothing anyway... And definitely could use the extra cash." Nero replied without hesitation. His mind drifting to the silver coins he found within the hollow.

"I see, then I suppose this makes things easier. We actually have a package to deliver to the HIA headquarters." Caesar added.

Nero chuckled.

"Two birds with one stone huh. Alright, fine by me." He answered, leaning back on the soft paddings of the cabin.

"Anyways, out of curiosity. Who made you your weapon?" Piper suddenly asked, while keeping her attention on the road.

"Well, not to brag or anything. But I built her myself." Nero replied, smiling as fond memories of his past adventures with modifying the standard model to his current one.

"Really? Impressive." Caesar complimented, eyeing the weapon on Nero's lap.

"You wondering what else I could do with this baby and my arms?" Nero questioned, and Caesar had the decency to blush before realizing what he just said.

"Arms?" Nero chuckled before detaching the current arm he's using and reached for under his jacket.

All in order to hide the unique spacial storage space he finally learned from Dante and his Dad. Though he still prefers Red Queen on his back and Blue Rose holstered on his side.

Out came Overture, replacing Punch Line. And with a twist and click. Nero attached the arm on and flexed.

"Pretty cool huh?" Nero smirked, holding out punchline for a fist bump with Caesar, who giddily returned the gesture with her own mechanical arm.

"There's a few more, though you'll have to stay and watch if the uh... HIA allows it." Nero added, inviting the group to stay and watch his performance if the HIA allows it.

"They can stream it live to the waiting room if you want. We can watch there." Caesar replied, exited. Though she quickly composed herself.

"Great, we could use some R&R after the hollow raid." Piper replied before speeding up the truck.

Soon enough, they reached the HIA building and met up with Lucy, alongside Wise and Belle who were eager to meet Nero.

"Hey, nice to finally meet you in person. Nero." Wise greeted, which Nero took a moment to realize who he was talking to.

"Ohh, you're the guy controlling that rabbit thing." Nero said and Wise motioned for him to keep it down.

"Nero, no one knows I can do that. Please don't blurt it out loudly! And they're called Bangboos." Wise chastised Nero who raised both his arms up in surrender.

"Ah, special powers. Got it. Sorry." Nero apologized.

"At least you understand. Anyway, nice to meet you properly again this time. And this is my sister, Belle. She got curious on who got stuck inside the Hollow and here she is." Wise introduced his sister, who immediately ran up to Nero and shook his hand.

"Hi! Names Belle, though my big brother already told you that. Anyway, how did you survive in that Hollow alone? I see that sword you're carrying, but the screen showed you were surrounded by multiple monsters!" Belle asked in rapid succession, though Nero could only wince at her boisterous attitude.

"You might as well get used to it. You are going to register as an investigator... Caesar told me." Wise said, and shrugged at Nero's struggle.

Nero looked at Caesar who scooted away.

"We'll tell you later. I feel like we could trust you with this one." Wise added, promising to explain some things later.

"Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen." Nero chuckled as Wise shrugged halfheartedly.

"Well, since we're here. I'm getting myself a job." Nero added, cleaning up his jacket and walked confidently towards the entrance of the building.

"Oh and uh, fair warning. Don't annoy Cerberus." Nero warned, giving the three headed demon dog a look before entering the building.

"Well... It's showtime."

A/N: And here we are... The next chapter.