Phelan and Marco continued to head over towards Dante and Collin, trying to weave their way through the masses of the people in Bloodwall.

Phelan saw Espio, Kingston, and Lucifer all nearby the two on the podium, just observing Collin grant Dante yet another medal.

"So, Dante, my man, how's it feel to win yet again?" Collin began to ask him. "How does it feel to have victory in your grasp once more? How does it feel knowing your quarters have gotten a little brighter yet again with another one of these medals?"

"I don't know," Dante said, honestly with a quick shrug. "I've won these competitions so much that I guess I just... Don't really care anymore." He stopped to look Collin directly in the eyes. "What's one more medal in the grand scheme of things anyway? What's one medal when Arcon's being drugged through the abyss and down into hell? What's one more medal when we know our work is far from done? When we know there are still people in Arcon who need saving? Who need a savior?"

Some of the people in the crown let out cheers at Dante's mini speech.

"Pathetic," Marco muttered to where Phelan could hear it. "He's going with the hero complex once again. Any moment now, he'll be playing the 'martyr card' and claim he'll 'die to save us and all of Arcon'. It's big talk for him and he knows deep down, if it really comes down to it, he won't stick to that plan at all—--he'll just toss one of us to the fire and call our victory one of his own creation. And, boom; a few hundred years down the line, they'll still be talking about his 'victory' in schools... They'll give him a damn holiday for something he didn't actually do and... they'll crown him a saint or some shit. That's exactly how he works."

Dante continued on with his little speech, declaring, "To me, a win means nothing if it's not us winning against Anoketo... Bloodwall was founded for a reason, we chose our specific leader for a reason. While these races and games might be a fun way to unwind and a fruitful team and trust building exercise, let us not lose sight of what's important: Arcon's liberation."

"Leader?" Phelan whispered to Marco as the crowd clapped for Dante. "Like Collin?"

Marco shook his head as he clapped slowly and somewhat sarcastically. "No, not Collin. Collin likes to act like the big dog, sure... But he sure as hell isn't. Blood Anoketo's the leader... It was his idea to put us all together.... Hence the name Bloodwall. ...Without him, we'd be the most disorganized union in history."

Phelan blinked a few times in disbelief at Marco's words. "Anoketo? ...Like as in—--"

Marco jumped in before Phelan could finish articulating the thought. "Yeah.... Like that Anoketo. He's Perry Anoketo's grandson... Kingston's twin brother."

"And he still formed this organization even being the president's own blood?" Phelan queried.

Marco nodded as the crowd was slowly quieting. "Mhm. It doesn't take a lack of connection to realize when someone is corrupt, Phelan. ...Being up close with Anoketo is what helped Blood and his sister realize just how cruel their grandfather could be... That he needed to be taken down one way or another. They finally decided to find a place where they could discuss the matter away from the ears of their older brother, Erik. They even picked up names to go by—--it made things more secure instead of calling one another 'Koharu' and 'Byakuran'."

"Are we just gonna stand around or are there more competitions?" A newer resident in the crowd called out, loudly, gaining the attention of Collin and Dante, as well as causing people to agree with them.

Collin nodded. "Yes, there will be. The next competition will commence shortly." Collin stepped off the podium alongside Dante and merged with the crowd. Collin turned to Dante, saying, "You know, I haven't seen Blood all day..."

Dante nodded. "Neither have I. It's not like him to be this quiet." He looked to Kingston. "Any word from your brother?"

She paused. "Actually, Dante, now that you mention it, no... He hasn't come to see me in a little bit... I'm actually kind of worried about him."

Collin and Dante exchanged a glance.

"I should go check in on him... Make sure everything is alright," Dante said.

Collin nodded at that. "Yeah, you should."

Dante started to head off, but not before grabbing onto Phelan's sleeve and tugging him along. "Come on. Let's check in on Blood."

"Alright," Phelan started to say, a bit confused by Dante's actions. "Lead the way."

Dante led Phelan through a doorway that led to the bar—--they didn't stop, they just continued on through the structure and outside into a back alleyway, coming up to another door. Dante used a key to get in, explaining to Phelan, "This is our Grand Hall. It's sort of like our government building. Most people in Bloodwall have never stepped foot in here... It's typically off limits for the average commoner."

"I assume Collin has one of those keys," Phelan said as they entered, the lights instantly booting on.

Dante nodded. "He does. He gained Blood's trust pretty quickly... Kingston's got one too, being his sister and all." He looked to the ceiling, puzzled.

"And why do you have one then?" Phelan asked Dante.

Dante explained to the other man, still not looking down. "It's because I'm the pathfinder. When Element Dovor was still alive, she had one. We had to do what we could to get her key so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands."

"Anoketo."

Dante nodded. "Precisely." He paused before saying. "This is weird, you know."

"What is?" Phelan asked him.

Dante finally looked back down and to Phelan once more. "These lights are automatic."

"So?"

Dante exhaled, slowly. "Which means they should've still been on if Blood was here. They would've sensed him moving around and remain lit."

Phelan paused, trying to think of an explanation to reassure Dante. "I'm sure he's probably just holed up in his office. He's the leader, right? He's bound to be drafting some sort of plan to take down Anoketo."

Dante shook his head. "No... He usually doesn't do that without his sister present. Something's wrong. Come on." He ran down the hallway, off in the direction of Blood's office.

Phelan took a deep breath before running off in the same direction, meeting Dante at the office door.

Dante knocked a few times on the door, calling, "Blood? Blood?" When Dante didn't get a response, he told Phelan, "Alright. He typically doesn't want people interrupting him and barging in while he's in his office, but I have no choice." Dante tried the handle. Nothing. "Dammit. It's stuck."

Phelan paused, about to say something—--but he never got the words out.

Dante rammed the door with his shoulder a few times—--each time, harder and harder. When the door finally swung open, Dante rubbed his arm and winced, clearly hurt.

"Why'd you do that?" Phelan began to somewhat scold him. "I could've found something to lockpick it..."

Dante huffed, stepping inside with Phelan following. "It seemed like the better solution."

Phelan rolled his amber eyes, snorting. "Oh yes, because it's clearly the best idea to injure yourself, risking a dislocated shoulder."

Dante's eyes scanned over the clutter on the floor before turning to the woman who passed by the office. "Hey. Have you seen Blood today?"

The woman shook her head. "No, I haven't. No one here has."

Dante looked back at the clutter and huffed, "Dammit."

"What?" Phelan then asked him, taking another step closer. "What're you thinking?"

Dante sighed, looking at Phelan with a grim expression. "Blood has been kidnapped."