Levi hadn’t expected to be able to train indefinitely, but even he was surprised by how quickly the group of kidnappers mobilized to reclaim their dungeon.

Apparently two attacks on two of their facilities in the span of less than two days was enough to get their attention.

"Someone's coming," one of the scouts reported, out of breath from rushing through the first floor of the dungeon to catch up to their training group. "Stronger than anyone here, closing in fast."

“Retreat,” Levi called out, jumping in to help finish the current fight safely. The last thing they needed was to be caught between monsters and attackers from outside.

As soon as they were outside the dungeon, Levi set off another ping to scan the area. Sure enough, he detected a single high-level entity moving closer at a steady rate.

It couldn't be a monster. It had to be one of the Awakened.

But the person's approach was strange. Levi frowned. Only one? No backup, and moving steadily and directly. Not rushing, not hiding.

He didn't trust it. It felt like a trap.

Levi did not like traps. He didn’t like dungeons that were traps, and he definitely didn't like unknown entities confident to walk toward enemy territory without any support.

Still, that slow approach gave them time to prepare.

He arranged their formation in preparation of meeting the newcomer, himself, Irene, and Gordon front and center, what minions they’d managed to revive so far surrounding them. Mark, Peter, Riana, and three higher-level fighters stood in loose groups to either side, with Mark’s small kalvex pack spread out ahead of them.

All in all, an intimidating welcoming committee.

The lone figure came to a stop in front of them.

Levi recognized the man as the archer who’d been such a problem when they tried to rescue Cassandra.

"You."

Terry raised his hands in a gesture of concession. "I'm here to trade."

Levi was taken aback by the man’s audacity and directness. He crossed his arms. "What do you want?"

"You're holding some of our employees. I want them to be returned to their families.”

That led to a long pause, Levi weighing the danger of releasing two higher-level Awakened who'd proven themselves vulnerable to manipulation to the extent that they'd be willing to turn on their fellow humans.

From an information-control perspective, it would also be a bad idea to let someone go who knew Levi’s team’s capabilities. That would negate a lot of their advantage of surprise. But it could gain them time, prevent excessive retribution.

“What do you have to offer?”

“I can help your information spread more freely.” Terry pulled out a crumpled copy of Cassandra’s pamphlet and waved it in the air by way of demonstration. “This is a lot more than most people know. If what you believe about the future is correct, then you may be right that sharing this data publicly is the best way to ensure it’s used properly.”

Another pause.

"I've come personally and alone in good faith," Terry continued when no one answered. "This is a limited time offer. Once the backers get involved, there'll be nothing I can do."

Irene shook her head. “Not good enough. We both know this is something you should be doing anyway.”

“You don’t understand how dangerous it would be for me to oppose the rest of this organization. If you believe I can offer this lightly–”

Levi cut him off. “Help us get our minions back.”

“You– what?”

“Your ‘organization’ captured several of our minions. We want them back. You want to trade, that seems fair. You return our people, we return yours.”

Terry appeared completely baffled by the request. “They’re just monsters. You can get new ones anywhere.”

Skarm stepped forward, claws clenched into tiny fists, snarling with all his teeth bared.

Terry backed up involuntarily, his hand going to the manabow sheathed across his back, but he visibly restrained himself and didn’t attack.

Good move on his part, since Levi wasn’t feeling very forgiving either at the moment. “If you want your people back, you’ll help us retrieve ours and do what you can to help the spread of information. Take it or leave it.”

Terry shook his head. “There’s only so much I can do, and a very limited window in which I can do it. I’ve tried to approach the subject with some of the other commanders, but they're not willing to listen." He grimaced. "A day ago, I wouldn't have listened either."

Cassandra scowled at him, her manabow still leveled at the intruder. "So why the change of heart?"

"Everything lines up too well. You can write any of it off as coincidence. I very nearly did. But the combination of information no one else has and the absolute sincerity of everyone in your group... it all points to something outside our understanding. If you were crazy, your intel wouldn't be so flawless."

Irene’s voice didn’t carry any hint of forgiveness. "All this is telling me is that you know what you should do and are refusing to do it unless we give you what you want."

Terry ran a hand through his hair, eyes distant as he calculated the options. "I was going to use the recovery of our men as a distraction to cover for a temporary system failure that could allow your information to slip through our online detection webs. If you'd rather I use that to get you access to the research facility so you can try to retrieve your monsters, fine. I'll do what I can. But there won't be another opportunity like this, and you can't stay here."

"Right, your 'backers.' Who are they, anyway? Government? Military?"

Terry shook his head. "I couldn't tell you if I wanted to. We're told what we need to know, and that information is definitely not on the list. You don't have much longer before we’ll be returning in force."

“We, still?”

Terry’s lips tightened in a flat scowl. “Whatever my personal opinions on the matter, I’m in too deep to walk away, however convinced I may be of your sincerity. I’ll be risking more than my career just to do this much. I’m not looking to become a martyr for your cause.”

"Then what use are you? If you're only willing to do things that pose no risk, you may as well go back to your organization and be their little hunting dog."

Terry stiffened, eyes going cold. "I'm offering help and you're going to turn it down? Fine." He shifted his eyes from Cassandra to Levi. "But if you're hoping to be any use in your goals, you need to get out and do it fast. You may have a massive army of monsters, but that's only going to hold us off for so long."

His eyes drifted past the welcoming committee and lingered on the crushed and mangled outpost behind them. Even tidied up as it was, the buildings around the dungeon bore clear evidence of Levi's dramatic exit. Then he turned to leave.

"Coward.”

Terry stopped dead still. He didn't turn back, didn't flinch, didn't move except for a deep breath before speaking, still facing away. "You heard my warning and you have my offer. Release your prisoners and I'll do what I can, if you do it soon enough that there's anything worth doing."

He resumed walking, and this time they let him go without comment.

“Well.” Irene turned to Levi once Terry was out of sight. “Sounds like we need to have an emergency meeting.”

“Yeah,” Levi agreed. “Looks like our plans need to change.”