As they pressed forward, Cid noticed the faint rumble coming from above the ceiling. There were no lights, so they could only rely on the fire magic that is floating above as they walk through the darkness. The heart-wrenching darkness seized his mind from being cautious to his surroundings. His eyes remained unsettled as it glances back and forth hearing faint noises coming from nowhere, or perhaps there is something that they should be afraid of, he did not know.

“You sure this is safe?” Cid asked Alastor. He had to ask. He needs to feel assured that they’re not in a hellhole. The last time he went down, a giant monster came munching after him.

“Don’t worry. This place has remained empty. No monsters can penetrate through that door. Only we have access over this place.” Said Alastor. “Is there something bothering you?”

“No.” There was a pause, “I’m fine.”

Alastor did not fail to notice the profuse sweating of his forehead pouring down as like he was washed in a rain.

“Chill up. Even Liber are ballsier than you.”

Liber smiled. Cid hissed.

At the end of the tunnel, they finally saw a metal door that has buttons and appeared it needs four digits code to open. Alastor began to type the passcode.

“So, you guys had a plan to tell me that this existed before?”

“No.”

“What the hell?”

“Linda might have thought that it is not necessary to tell you. Since you’re on a mission.”

Cid did not ask further and waited behind the Comodo, watching their backs as the door opened.

“C’mon,” Alastor said.

All fears and worries washed away when he saw the familiar hunchbacked of someone. It was Ken who was tending the wounds of Tin. Ken’s face was washed of worries, negative thoughts had seized his mind from realizing that someone is already in here besides them.

Unlike their upper headquarter, this safe room is built with ten layers of aluminum steel. It would take more than five thanks to get through the thick-coated room. The lights were powered by a solar panel that charged the backup generator.

There’s a plateau shape kind of panel. On the other side was a tent for the wounded.

Ken was startled when Liber gently pecked his back.

“What the hell?”

He posed a defense stance.

“Calm down.” Said Alastor. “It’s my… Comodo.”

“Al? Cid? You guys still alive?”

“If we’re dead, why do you think we’re standing and talking right in front of you?”

Ken glances at him, “I’m so sorry man. If I just listen to you…”

“Don’t be…” Al cut him off. “There’s no need to linger on something that s already been done. What matters now is to create a strategic plan on how we should take down Theo.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Linda said as she enters whence Al and Cid came from.

“You got any news for us?” asked Cid.

“The only glimpse of the gist,” she said.

“Please do elaborate.” Alastor pleaded.

“Aside from commanding the shoot-out on the criminals in this city, Theo is mobilizing a unit and has been transporting trucks outside the city, just on the northeast. Whatever his transporting, it must be important.”

“I think I know what they’re transporting.”

“What is it?” asked Ken.

“Weapons.”

“Weapons? What kind of weapons are we talking about here?”

“I don’t know. There’s a lot of it, Don Trifalgo is assisting him in delivering those cargos across the region.” He paused and glanced at Alastor. There’s a dirty pattern he can see by stitching up the actions that Theo and his companions had done so far.

Alastor caught his glance and said, “So, d’ya, believe me, now, aren’t ya?”

Cid nodded.

“Believe about what?” asked Ken.

“When I was sneaking on Don’s hideout,” Cid started, “I heard that they’re transporting the products across the continent and supplied certain terrorists on inciting a civil war.”

“So?”

“That means,” Alastor interjected. “Theo’s plan does not only stop on experimenting subjects. He’s also amassing weapons and exporting them across different countries.”

“Simmer it up. What exactly are you pointing out?” said Linda.

“What I’m trying to say is that he’s inciting a geopolitical economy war.”

“I’m sorry, what?” asked Ken. The two of them were unable to comprehend what Alastor said just now. “That’s insane, it’s like asking to push a button that will start another War of Blight!”

“His idea may be far-flung to the current evidence, but there’s no denying the possibility.” Said Linda.

“Look, Linda.” Said Cid as he steps forward. “You need to contact Rod about this. There’s no way we can take him out without any kind of backup. He’s a threat that needed to be dealt with extreme prejudice.”

“I can see what you’re afraid of, but there’s something happened… we can’t call for backup for now.”

“What the fuck do you mean?”

“All radio towers have been locked and out of service.”

“Like any smartass would do. Cutting off communication gains him the upper hand.” Cid scoffed.

“There are way out on this city, other than striding the across bunch puppeteer cops.” Said Alastor.

“Where?” asked Ken.

“Sewer.”

“Err. I thought it would be something less dirty.”

“Well, you can’t be picky when your life is dangerous.”

“Yeah, you have a point.” Said Ken, “So, what’re we going to do now?”

Linda walks back and forth. Her thought was trapped in a cynical mindful idea.

“We’ll plan an assault against him.” Her eyes left no trace of doubts.

“You sure?” asked Ken. “Is there any other way to avoid having contact with him?”

Linda shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Now, that there is no way to contact The Glade outside the city, we should take care of the problem ourselves. I’m sure that Rod would order the same considering that he’s threatening a large sum of people in this city, which includes us – there’s no way that we should let him live and do what he wants.”

“So, what’re you suggesting?”

“We take him out like the old style.”

“So, we’re not gonna chill our ass-es here?”

“No, as I said, we’ll take it seriously this time and have his head.”

“Okay then, with no further ado, let us decide what steps should be taken.” Said Alastor.

The four of them walk towards the screen and swipe the touchscreen showing the layout of Kelby Hives. Unlike the chemical factory, the Kelby Hives building stands tall at fifty-story heights. The briefing did not come out smoothly, the pathways that led to Kelby Hives were paved with monsters and robots. There is no assurance that they would not pass unscathed of all the enemies. It would take a lot of manpower to deal with those enemies and it will deal a heavy toll for a fruitful success. If they should take the stinky route, it would take longer than the underground tunnel, add to it, the number of enemies is uncertain, so, it is not worth it.

“How the hell there’s a hundred monsters crawl out in the city?!” asked Cid.

“We actually don’t know. Probably because of the current mess.”

“It doesn’t matter if they’re in the way. What we should think for now is how to gain access to the site.” Said Linda.

“Right.” Said Cid. “We should look for weak points.”

“There are no weak points.” Alastor started, “All entrances are blocked by the robots and god knows what they’re capable of.”

“We have no choice. We have to force our way in.,” said Linda.

“You actually consider that?” asked Ken.

“What choice do we have?”

“We can’t do that. That would risk not just our identity but our affiliation.”

“Then, what do you suggest?”

Alastor snapped his finger, “Linda’s right. Tanking them is the only way.”

“Dude, we’ll sustain damage before we can even put a fight against Theo.”

“Who said we’re the only ones who are going to raid Kelby Hives?” said Alastor.

Perplexed, Cid probed to ask, “What do you mean by that remark?”

A thin smile stretches on Alastor's face.