Let's move forward a little in time.
The Azure Dragon Study Group, Wood, a soldier of the Gonzales Co-Link, and their captive Scout, Kiddo, were on their way to Mining City.
As they headed toward the Warehouse, Wood was also carrying out his mission, killing any rioters they encountered and directing the civilians they found to the Underground Fortress facilities.
That had delayed them somewhat along the way.
Of course, the Azure Dragon Study Group's points were also increasing. Those were money, after all. Dile never tired of it; in fact, he was positively enthusiastic. He even wanted to make a few extra rounds and guide more people to safety so they could earn more money.
But when Wood said,
"Let's head to the Warehouse first. You'll earn more star points helping defend it."
Dile immediately declared that money meant nothing to him. What mattered was that he couldn't stand by and do nothing. After all, everyone in the Azure Dragon Study Group was a hot-blooded young person with a heart full of justice.
And so the group hurried toward the Warehouse.
The closer they came to the Warehouse, the uglier Scout Kiddo's expression became. As a member of the organization, even a new recruit, he knew perfectly well that being captured would be the greatest stain on his record.
The organization might even have him killed.
But there was nothing he could do anymore. He truly had no answer to that sort of "torture."
Kiddo had plenty on his mind, but so did Dile and the others. They had already arrived at a frightening suspicion.
Now they could only hope that it would remain a suspicion and never become reality.
As numerous tall, densely packed buildings appeared before them, Wood said,
"We're here!"
A handful of Gonzales soldiers stood