Without a word, the young man who introduced himself as Fox turns around and disappears into the darkness of the alleys.
"Disgusting Gauntlets," he mutters to himself, "So these clowns are in charge here? If Master Wolf would properly clean up here, we wouldn't have any more problems with these idiots."
Fox pauses briefly. It can't be that easy, that's the whole point. He continues to move over the roofs of the factory town. A few of the railways make their rounds. Deserted at this time of day. It's also two or three in the morning.

Fox tries to suppress his yawn, but he's tired too. Nobody is really fit at this time. Fox takes off his scarf and cleverly knots it into a rectangular package, a pillow. Now all that's missing is a place where he would be undisturbed for a few hours. He discovers a building that stands in an alley near the outskirts of town.
"Perfect," he whispers, addicted to the idea of being able to go to sleep for a moment.
Someone had obviously already taken care of the disturbance he actually wanted to cause, so he might as well sleep until sunrise. He jumps over the roofs until he finally arrives on the building in question. He quickly throws the pillow from his scarf to the floor, only to lie on it himself moments later. He looks sleepily at the sky.
"Tomorrow - tomorrow I'll take down the Gauntlets," he tells himself before closing his eyes.

The sun is rising slowly over the horizon, but everyone in Skid's garage is already wide awake. Skid checks the latest settings on his machine. Mike and Merlany prepare for the day. Today everything has to run quickly - and perfectly. If the Gauntlets have enough time to recover from the tower attack and the PALADINS are running again, the three can forget their coup attempt. All of Skid's preparation would be useless. Aside from what would happen to the three of them now that Black knows about Skid. It has to work.
"So, friends, the plan is simple," Skid begins to explain, "I'm storming Bradford's headquarters with the Lance Driver. I'm going to reduce everything there to rubble. Bradford will immediately call the entire Exo-Force, so I need your back up. Also, his last commander, Graham the Ironclad, surprisingly a close friend of Rogers, will arrive at some point. You'll have to keep him away from the Lance Driver."
They both nod in agreement.
"We strike in the evening, at 6 p.m., for the changing of the guard."

Mike sits down on his makeshift bed.
"And what do we do now. We could go out for something to eat, I'm still starving here," he suggests with his stomach growling.
Merlany is silent.
"I know a place that has pretty good food not far from here. They know me there, so we shouldn't get in trouble."
Mike puts on a satisfied grin.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Skid takes off his overalls, underneath which he wears a dark green sweater and beige chinos.
“Let’s go!” cheers Skid.
Merlany slaps her hand on her forehead.
"Man, how can you be so happy about food. You guys are really hungry-"
Suddenly Merlany is interrupted by her own stomach growling. Mike and Skid give her a perplexed look. Merlany's face turns red from embarrassment. Her voice becomes very silent.
"Okay, let's go. I didn't say anything."
Mike just opens his mouth, but isn't even able to speak a word before beimg interrupted.
"I said we were going," Merlany hisses .
Mike clears his throat.
"So, Skid, how much money do you have with you?"
Skid looks at Mike in surprise.
"More than enough. Why do you ask?" Mike holds his hand to the back of his head.
"Because I'm really hungry."
Skid just looks at him in disbelief. Merlany goes to Skid and whispers something in his ear.
Skid does not want to believe, the things he is being told.
"Really? For God's sake, this guy isn't normal. How can this guy fit all that stuff like that? Does he have three stomaches?", he exclaims shocked.
Merlany shrugs her shoulders. Mike just laughs.

They leave the garage and were about to talk about something, but they hear a loud, deep hum coming from the roof, stealing their attention. Merlany floats up to check what that could be. A blonde guy sleeps on the roof and snores. There is a sword next to him.
“What kind of person are you and why are you sleeping on the roof?” she asks in a hissing tone.
The guy opens his eyes in shock, jumps to his feet and grabs his sword. He still seems a bit confused.
"What are you doing on the roof here and why are you waking me up? Wait, what time is it?"
Merlany gives him a reproachful look.
“Is everyone in this town crazy?”
The guy rubs his eyes.
"I have something to do here, we've never seen each other."
Merlany just shakes her head.
"Could it be that you've fallen on your head? Pull yourself together and give me a decent answer. After all, you're the one sleeping on our roof."
The guy flinches.
"Okay, it doesn't seem like you're from the Gauntlets. I'm from the White Fang, and I'm here on a mission. Don't interfere."
Merlany seems to be somewhat amused by this.
"Oh, I thought you were a homeless person or a pervert."
She looks at him a little more seriously again.
The guy narrows his eyes.
"Wait. You were with the Black Bolts. You are that witch! So it was you who blew up the tower!"
Merlany nods in the affirmative. Fox jumps from the roof, down to the alley. Merlany follows him floating.
"So you're the weirdos who startes the riots here," the swordsman growls.
Mike immediately pulls his staff out of his jacket.
"What the hell - not another swordsman!", he speaks tensely.
The stranger just looks at him with a grin.
"Relax! I'm not after you. I'm after Bradford. Just like the Bolts, he also attacked us two days ago. And now the time has come for revenge. Don't get in my way and nothing will happen to you."
He looks mockingly at Mike.
"I've already seen one of you swordsmen. Completely insane, mentally sick! What was his name, Wolf"
The guy narrows his eyes.
"So you're the guy Master Wolf was talking about. The leather jacket guy who kicked Polar. The White Fang have another score to settle with you. But that can wait."
Merlany gives the stranger a questioning look.
"Master Wolf?"
The guy puts on a superior grin.
"I'm his best and only student, Fox. And I'm leaving now. We'll definitely run into each other again. Just don't get in my way!"
Mike, Merlany and Skid can only watch in complete confusion as Fox simply turns around and leaves.
"Who was that?" asks Skid, who doesn't even have a clue what this guy has to do with Mike and Merlany.
"He's one of the weirdos who attacked me for no good reason. I don't know anything else," explains Mike.
Merlany adds: “Nobody really understands these White Fang.”
Skid just nods.
The three then continue on their way to the restaurant Skid was talking about. Finally it's time to eat!