They had been walking for so long, and the promised nine o'clock had already arrived, yet they had found absolutely no sign of the secret organization's base. "Could the base be down one of the side passages?"
Dark and Victor both wore strange expressions as they looked at Robert like this.
The two of them had watched Robert's resolve steadily slide from its initial firmness to what it was now, and they could not help feeling somewhat emotional.
"Alright, Robert," Victor said. "If I'm not mistaken, the road we're taking should be some kind of selection path."
Robert asked in confusion, "A selection path? How does it select? Who is it supposed to eliminate? Wait, I can see it, but you can't. It can't possibly eliminate you two and leave only me. So it must be trying to eliminate me. That's the only possibility. I see, I see!"
He suddenly turned toward Dark, his gaze blazing. "Dark, did you guess it from the very beginning?"
Dark nodded candidly. "I wouldn't say I guessed it. I merely considered the possibility."
Robert's entire body stiffened, and he said dejectedly, "I understand! The clown was me all along. I should take the initiative."
With that, he turned and walked toward the side passage, lifting his foot to step inside.
Dark crossed his arms and remained silent.
Victor looked around, then suddenly grabbed Robert by the arm and yanked him back. "Robert, what the hell are you doing?"
Robert suddenly clutched his head and burst into tears. "What the hell? You think I'm crazy too? That's right, I'm crazy! Completely and utterly crazy!"
"No, Robert!" Victor hurriedly explained. "I wasn't calling you crazy—hey, what's wrong with you?"
As he spoke, he looked toward Dark, his eyes full of a silent plea for help.
Dark