As Cid caught his first glimpse of certain trucks avoiding the main road in the metropolitan, he already knew who they are. He kicks the ground, sprints, and enters the tight alleyway. He jumps, shinnying from wall to wall until his hands pulled him up to the rooftop. He glanced down and followed the trucks without faltering his speed, but was careful not to ring any attention.

Cid used the ladder to get down and take the road. He crouched and hide in a dumpster waiting for the enemies to open the main gate. One of the goons squatting behind the truck comes down and caught a glimpse of the craters inside the thick black mantle.

The goon pulled out a keycard and slide it into a keyhole. The metallic frame was raised with a loud groan. The trucks entered one by one. Cid seized the opportunity and sprinted, hiding on the side of the final truck.

As soon as he entered, he straightly went to hide in tall unused craters. His breath remains at a minimum as his watchful eyes scan the area. The trucks were oddly parked row by row. The goon that opened the main gate stood in front of the wall. He slides down the key card and the platform began to moan and with a heartful creak, it began to descend.

Cid ran and hides beneath the truck, lying flat on the ground. He holds his breath as he saw the huge light and the feet of the goon coming over on his position. He finally calms down when the enemy turns around and climbs up the truck.

As soon as the platform landed, he could hear the engines of the vehicles roaring. It was too late to find something to hold onto as the driver pumps the gas and drove fast.

He rose from lying flat on the ground and began to scan the area. It appears to be he’s in an old underground pathway. The only thing that lights the poor construction is coming from the barely lit lights aligned row-to-row, it doesn’t work properly as one of the bulbs finally shattered.

Cid raises his palm and chanted magic. “Agni.”

A small ball of fire forms in his hand and he softly let it go and followed him as he ventures the way as if it has a life of its own. Cid quickly drew back and hide in the wall as he saw flashlights aiming in his way. He slowly stole a peek as he notices the lights faded in his direction.

He moves out the moment he confirmed the guard finally left. If should ever the enemy comes back again, he can just hide between the small space and have his magic cut off to avoid an attraction. Cid slowly walks as he approaches the oblivious enemy.

When he’s sure enough, Cid quickly jabs the enemy’s neck – in which the weapon the guard held fell to the ground. He presses on and inserts his right hand to the armpit, tightly locking it – along his left arm barring the enemy’s neck. With great effort, Cid forcefully lifts the enemy – and has the enemy feel the pressure on his neck before slamming him to the ground.

Cid seated the handgun on his back and stole ammo, hiding it in his jacket. He drags the body to the small space between the walls, leaving the enemy in an awkward position and he proceeded forward. He crouched and stole a peek before pressing on.

Entering the dark corridor, Cid heard a faint rumble coming from seeing a silhouette of what is seemingly pulling cart past the northern path. It was the enemy who was entering a dungeon. Cid followed him with the utmost caution. His fire guided him to the dungeon. There he saw hundreds of craters towering and covering the entire place.

He undid his magic and followed the goon. Knocking the enemy out cold, Cid took his clothes and dragged the cart. Cid pulls down the cap to not make him look suspicious.

He followed where the enemy came from and saw two guards at the end of the road. Cid with an unease pace brought suspicion to the guard. The guard blocks his way.

“Where’s your ID?” he asked.

Cid rattled and began to search on his clothes. His hands caught a solid plastic card and when he pulled it out, the guard let him pass.

“Wear them always. I nearly shoot you because of that.”

Cid nodded and entered the huge metal door. On his side there was a sliding road for the vehicles to park, his eyes caught the trucks parking ahead of the room. Down were people that seems to be working on packaging parts of machines inside the crater, passing from row to row with their tools to seal it off.

He made it to the room where the inside can be seen through the transparent glass. Cid pulled the wheeler to the back and unload the crate. He goes out and followed the tunnel where it leads to a certain room.

He didn’t need to press on his ears to the door as he could hear the loud noises coming from behind.

“Tell them, if they’re not gonna give what I want, there will be more delays to come. You might want to rethink your statement, boy! Should Theo know about this, he will have our deal cut-off and you will receive no supplies from us! Do you hear me?!”

Wind pushes the door and slightly opens, and from that, Cid caught a glimpse of Don Trifalgo's stout figure.

“The audacity of those bastards!” Don Trifalgo shouted. “If it weren’t for us, they wouldn’t successfully gain an upper hand on their, p-p-puny civil war and now they demand a share of us ‘cuz they helped us assisting exporting the products? unacceptable!”

Out of the shadow, a person steps out under the impression of a daunting one, wearing a coat with the hood covering the head. The light flickered and blindingly came back to life. Don Trifalgo sat on a wooden chair with his hand gently holding the handle of a cup of coffee.

If anything, Cid learned about women, is that they possessed the same traits. They have the same smooth skin as he caught a glimpse of the person’s hands.

“Looks like someone is not in a good mood.”

“I am not in the best mood, bitch.”

Cid doesn’t if it is just him or did he hear a small noise of his coming from the person.

“Should we dispose of them?” the person asked.

“No.” Don Trifalgo replied, “We don’t want to instigate any unnecessary conflict. Theo specifically said that we shouldn’t do anything to harm them. And who do you think you are?! You’re just another client begging for another beating.”

“You could say, Theo and I have a special bond. You see, I can do a lot of things besides just being a petty beggar.” Her hands landed on Don Trifalgo’s shoulders. Her hands' massage Don Trifalgo. “One of them is in excruciating torture.”

She quickly presses the tip of her blade on his neck. Press it until it bleeds.

“You made your point! Ow! Stop it!” He shouted.

“The next time you talk to me like that again, I’ll have your tongue out of your wobbly mouth.” She spoke coldly and finally let go of him.

Don Trifalgo quickly grabs and covers the small wound.

“It’s just a minor wound, no need to be pussy about it.” She said and walk towards the craters. “I’ll be taking these now. I'm pretty sure Theo wouldn’t mind if I get this in advance.”

“You bitch! How dare you?!” He shouted. Don Trifalgo was about to grab a gun at his desk and confront her but before he could reach his gun, it moved on its own away from him.

“Relax, Theo requested me to deliver these weapons for him.”

“He ordered you?”

“Request.” She corrected. “Your boss is planning to make a move, ain’t he?”

“I don’t know. He won’t trust me with his plans, except for this shitty transporting. Even so, I’m gaining a fair share of the number of his operations, can’t say offensive to him. I don’t want to piss him off either.”

“Well, it’s not like it’s my business. I only came here to get what our organization needs.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“No one.”

“What about us?”

“Us?” she dismisses him. “We only work together to gain benefits. There is no alliance, do not misinterpret our deeds.”

“I thought so. You guys only want to do more harm on that kingdom than good.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She scoffs and walks towards the craters. “Our goals are beyond your understanding.”

As she raises her hands, the crater on top began to float.

“Do you know the reason why King Ignis failed to protect his kingdom?”

“He’s weak and presumptuous and lack of discernment.”

“That is truly what would a barbaric man as you would say. King Ignis did not lose because he’s a weak old man. He loses because he didn’t have a decisive choice to seize win; an important factor that a leader must have. And that lack of discernment leads to his death.”

“And you’re saying this, why?”

“I want you to consider this as advice.”

“Why would the fuck I want advice from a woman like you?”

“Let me ask you this question.” She said and turns around. “Have you ever seen him done anything to make those pests go to ashes? Did you see him subjugate that man, Hoarder to lessen the competitors?”

Her words make him think and doubt for a moment.

“I’m saying this because I want you to think about what’s best for yourself. You know it, you can feel it. Theo’s fort will not last for long. So, I suggest get the bugger off and walk away while there’s still time.”

Don Trifalgo’s face went blank and stares back at her.

“I don’t believe you.” He said with no doubts.

“Suit yourself.”

The lady along with the floating crate walks toward the door.

“Are you gonna go back to the Vesoga Plain?” he asked.

“No. I’m going back to my comrades.”

“One last thing. You might want to get rid of the rat skulking around the corner.”

Don Trifalgo’s eyes squinted for a moment before coming to the realization as the lady finally went out. His right quickly grabbed the gun and shoot at the door. He heard someone hisses as he stands up and reaches out his radio without altering his eyes to the door.