You are a New Eridu Proxy; an illegal profession involving entering dangerous Hollows (interdimensional pockets of space) to gather loot. Equipped with naught more than a pistol and a gas mask, you'll have to avoid most of the Ethereals and their potential drops, at least until you get better gear.

You quickly make your way to the new Hollow that just opened up in one of New Eridu's most busy streets. You have to be fast; the sooner you get there, the more loot you'll be able to get before anyone else.

There it is. The portal. You cast a cursory glance around before running straight to it -

A shrill whistle breaks your focus. You stop dead in your tracks as a woman in a blue crop jacket with the N.E.P.S. logo steps in front of your path.

"Halt citizen! There is a dangerous Hollow up ahead, and-"

She squints, then frowns, realizing your current getup.

"You...you're not a proxy, are you?"

This is it. Your first expedition got cut short before it even started. Your shoulders slump, your head droops. You'll go to jail without making a single Denny.

"...because if you are, we'll need your help in there," Zhu Yuan continues. "Any loot you find is yours."

You perk back up immediately. Maybe today's not such a bad day after all.