01x02 - Episode 2

[bunniefuu]

Boss.

So this earthquake washing machine

is what you were talking about?

That's right.

Move it.

How does the Sea of Bitterness

manage to salvage

every piece of junk memory?

Nope.

I need a break.

Thanks, Boss.

Get on.

Yes, Boss!

How come Bu Fu's always the one speaking?

Boss, why don't you go?

Too much trouble.

Boss, your tea!

Besides, Bu Fu's better suited for it.

She's the better choice.

There's an opening!

Come on, Boss.

Cut me some slack.

I've worked here for ages.

Even if I got it back,
I wouldn't run away.

I told you already.

If you want your container back,

beat me first.

Don't forget

to pick up my sunglasses later.

Sunglasses?

This sun,

this light—

they're all fake.

There's not a trace of warmth in them.

What's the point of sunglasses?

Boss,

have you almost forgotten

what reality is like?

Bai Zhong,

this is our reality.

Didn't you say this job was boring?

Things are about to get exciting.

Our enemies—

BUG Beings—

are born from the
memories of a BUG Source.

BUG Beings cause chaos to varying degrees.

For example, they can replace memories

people don't want to face.

Or, amplify obsessive emotions

buried in memories.

Or even—

make it impossible to tell
reality from illusion.

That's enough to break a person

and send their life

down an unpredictable path.

In more extreme cases,

if they aren't collceted in time,

powerful enough BUG Beings

can even invade reality.

And if that happens,

we'll have real trouble.

That's why

we need to collect BUG Beings early.

While they're still in the memory layer,

we go bam, bam, bam—

and beat them into the ground.

Then,

flip the switch on the lower-right
corner of the container,

and put them inside.

That's all there is to it.

Hey.

I'm only saying this once.

Are you even listening?

Uh?

Mh.

Your name was...

Bai...

Bai... Bai Zhong? - You
didn't hear a word I said.

[Sigh]

When the elevator opens,

use the halo over your head

to deal with the BUG Being.

Huh?

Me?

Good.

Now you're starting

to look like a temporary collector.

This lint roller

actually works pretty well.

My head feels kinda dizzy.

I remember I was waiting for Yi...

Right.

Convenience store...

Burning Stone...

I need to get back fast!

One more time—

use your halo

to knock down the BUG Being.

Once you're done,

then you can go home.

My halo...

It looks like glass.

What if it breaks?

If it breaks,

you'll probably die.

Huh?

Why do you always say things like that?!

I really need to go back!

Where's your boss?

Don't "your boss" me!

Think about your situation.

What situation?!

Just let me go!

This is life or death!

Don't drag me into it!
- It is life or death.

If you still can't get
it through your head,

we—

and everyone you know—

are all done for.

You only have two choices.

Either—

go fight the BUG Being now,

or—

the second of the real world

will pass soon.

After that,

you'll be stuck in memory forever.

Hey, the BUG Being is...

[Sigh]

Anyway, it's not my time wasted.

There you are!

Before the exam,

don't read stuff like this anymore.

But I've been pretty lucky lately.

After your exam,

let's go travel!

Wanna go to Egypt?

The Time g*n is gone too.

Hey!

Anyone there?

No residents.

No stairwell.

What kind of place is this?

Ah!

So close!

Huh?

You're back.

What is going on here?

Why does the hallway outside

feel endless?

Now it looks like an arcade.

No idea.

Huh?

This is completely BUG Being territory.

What it looks like

doesn't matter to us collectors.

Just adapt.

So—

how do we get out?

I told you—

You can't get out of this memory layer

unless you take down the BUG Being...

Hey!

[Sigh] Idiot.

This must be a dream.

This can't be real.

BUG Being...

BUG Source...

Memory layer...

Guan Chao...

Wake up!

How could something like this exist?

Damn it.

Where's the exit?

Exit... exit...

So you're saying

each memory layer has

a corresponding BUG Being handler?

And to get out,

you have to defeat that BUG Being,

right?

Exactly.

More precisely—

defeat the BUG Being,

and seal it into this container.

When the container is full,

the mission is complete.

Sounds like a video game.

Doesn't sound reliable at all.

And I don't even know how to fight.

I'm still here.

We're already here.

Give it a try.

Could be fun.

Oh!

"Give it a try"?

How exactly?

No clues at all.

Most BUG Beings

treat collectors as enemies.

If you don't find it,

it'll come find you.

Hm?

What's this?

A key?

Doesn't seem right.

Hm?

Hm?

Weird.

It won't...

come out?

Wow!

Here it comes!

Jackpot!

Ah?

Wait—

what's going on?

What the hell is that?

Ouch...

What's going on?

My wound is healing...

Guan Chao!

What are you spacing out for?

We need a way

to limit that BUG Being.

BUG Being?

So... this is a BUG Being?

Don't come near me! Don't come closer!

What are you doing?!

Fight back!

Keep attacking!

Slow it down!

Attack...

Where's your halo?!

Use your halo!

I don't know how!

How do I use it?!

Dodge!

Knocked it over!

Did it work?

Run!

How are we supposed to fight this?!

We need to slow it down.

Hold it down.

Or stop it from moving.

Or—

[Sigh]

Just use your halo to push it up!

I really don't know how!

Wait—

Hold it down...

Stop it from moving...

The arcade...

Bai Zhong!

Cover me!

I've got an idea!

Hey!

This model...

If I remember correctly...

Good.

Guan Chao!

It's heading your way!

Final step—

go!

It worked!

The back panel is...

And this too...

Crap...

Guan Chao!

The container!

Ah!

Wait—

how do I even use this thing?

Do I just throw it?

Is "collecting" a BUG Being

that kind of thing?

"I'm still here.

We're already here.

Give it a try!

Could be fun!"

Take this, BUG Being!

Huh?

That's not how it works?

Are you kidding me?!

What the hell are you doing?!

Bai Zhong...

You tricked me!

Why would I?!

Are you an idiot?!

How am I supposed to know how to use this?

Why dont't you ask?!

Do you even use your brain?!

This is how you use the container.

Learn it well.

Huh?

Your dad said he'd take you to Egypt?

No way.

He was just saying that.

Raging Top,

a game console,

a bicycle,

and a trip to Egypt...

Like it's real or something.

All lies.

Just empty promises.

Then forget Egypt.

Let's go to Li's tomorrow

and play arcade games.

Sounds good.

Summer break is still long anyway.

With a halo like that,

I thought you actually had some skills.

Looks like...

Still have to follow the procedure.

Next time, don't run onto
the power station roof.

If it gets broken, it'll be hard to fix.

And don't jump into the sea either.

It'd be a pain to salvage it.

Always just a little off.

I've already made

the interior of the Cat Cage unstable.

But the impact from
lightning still isn't enough.

That electricity is for

supplying the Bureau's energy.

Not for you to use as a can opener.

You failed again this time.

After all this time,

you still haven't found

a way to open the Cat Cage,

right?

If the impact were stronger,

it might be possible to open it.

I'm asking you—

how long are you going to keep this up?

Qian Jun.

It's raining.

Fall back.

You're just like Fang Tang.

Her too—

She could've stayed here

and studied memory objects properly,

but she went to the Depot

to pick up junk no one wants.

Hm?

What is it?

Let me see.

This is...

[sigh]

Speak of the devil.

Qian Jun,

do me a favor.

What is all this?

Another "parallel universe" thing?

This is so cheesy!

Can modern comics

have a bit more creativity?

Where did you get to?

The part where Wan Xiang and someone

fight all the way into space.

Yeah, that's basically the end.

After this, Psycho Buster
really goes downhill.

And usually, when a comic goes into space,

it means the author has run out of ideas.

I really don't get it.

At this stage of the story,

they suddenly introduce someone

who's the protagonist's childhood friend.

And the paneling just keeps getting worse.

I can't take it anymore.

Excuse me...

can you take a pulse?

Oh?

Kid,

you're awake.

I quit!

Hey!

Cherish the comic books.

Old Man,

you're okay with this
comic looking like this?!

If it was good earlier on,

it's still a good comic
even if it falls off later.

Why are you still sitting there?

Get up if you're awake.

This is...

my halo?

So this thing

can actually be taken off?

Old Man,

is he really okay?

I feel like

he's even dumber than before.

Hmph.

Even with all your bones shattered,

could you still be this energetic?

No idea where it came from,

but this is definitely Ran Deng's halo.

Wow, what are these?

Just like you guessed.

The real deal.

What are you talking about?

"Ran Deng"?

We're saying you've got a tough life.

More than tough.

That thing above your head

might be the toughest thing in the Bureau.

At least when it's above Ran Deng's head.

Kid,

I'm the blacksmith of this forge—

Crux Star.

Every collector's halo

passes through my hands.

You clearly don't understand

how this halo is used.

Good luck.

In that case,

before you set out,

I'll teach you

how to use this.

So you don't keep causing me trouble

and wasting my comic time.

Listen carefully.

The halo is your weapon,

and it is your life!

You use it,

you embody it,

until you become it!

Get iron,

become iron!

Get a sight,

pull the trigger!

Interesting, right?

He repeats those lines

to every collector.

I've already done what you said—

I collected the BUG Being.

So I can go back now, right?

Make the BUG Beings fill this container.

Collection is not
complete until it's full.

Until then, you can't go back.

I already told you.

But...

we only get this little

for collecting one BUG Being?

How long is this going to take?

And speaking of which,

you're that skilled.

Why don't you do it yourself?

Why bring...

someone like me along as dead weight?

That won't do.

Since you're here,

it means you have a reason to be here.

But in reality,

I still have something
more important to do.

Hmph.

Now,

this is your reality.

Guan Chao.

Guan Chao?

That's right.

Take this to him.

Where am I supposed to find him?

He's with Fang Tang's,

a new temporary collector.