"Hard to say. I think... he might actually do it."
"Wouldn't Institute One come after us with everything they've got? She was only loaned to us in the first place, and now she's been taken hostage by this guy. If we can't get her back..."
"What are you going to do, then? He was right about one thing: with our medical technology, a few severed fingers can indeed be reattached... I think once the time comes, he definitely won't hesitate."
"Puppet Master is that big shot's daughter. If anything happens to her, we'll all get chewed out! Damn it, whose stupid idea was it to have me borrow someone in the first place?" the voice known as the team leader roared.
"Team Leader, it was your decision to have Puppet Master intercept the target..." another voice said weakly. "The cleanup team is asking for instructions. Should we let him go?"
"Let him go! Fucking let him go!" the team leader snapped. "Do as he says. Don't send anyone to follow him, and don't deploy drones either! Until Puppet Master is returned completely unharmed, don't alert him... If this guy has any brains, he should make sure Puppet Master stays safe too."
"But, Team Leader, what if he refuses to release her? If he drags this out for seven days, the first stage of the trial will be over."
"Two people, seven days. He still has to eat, drink, piss, and shit, doesn't he? His account has already been frozen, and he isn't carrying any money. Robbing civilians violates the trial rules. Once he's starving and thirsty, that'll be our chance... At worst, negotiating under those circumstances will be easier than it is now."
"Then... what if he breaks into houses to steal? Or worse, what if he goes dumpster-diving? Team