The door closed behind Caenor with a muffled click.

It was late at night, but that didn't stop Caenor from worrying. Nor, it seemed, did it stop Cantabile from waiting outside Seki's room, twiddling her fingers antsily as she leaned against the wall.

"How is she?" Cantabile asked as Caenor walked up to them.

"She's… fine." Caenor coughed, as though clearing the words that were trapped behind his tongue. "She says her arms still hurt, but she'll be up and running with some rest."

Pain in the virtual world was a curious thing. The sensory stimulators that mimicked the feeling of pain in a given area of the body only activated if that area were subject to any damage – once the damage was healed and the player's health was restored, the pain would ostensibly go away. Yet in the same way that a severed hand might still cause a phantom ache, a soreness that stemmed from the mind could not be so easily ameliorated. The NerveGear could claim one's five senses for its own, but its influence did not reach any deeper than that. This ensured that players largely had cognitive autonomy, but it also meant that the players had to watch their own sanities lest they dig themselves into a hole from which there was no physical or mental escape.

"You were right," Caenor added.

Cantabile frowned. "Right about what?"

"About Seki." Caenor lowered his voice. "She's not ready. We need to find more recruits from elsewhere."

"But you said it yourself. There are no recruits from elsewhere. The raid schedule is heating up – the vice-commanders won't release anyone from the front lines, and no one would volunteer to leave anyway. Plus, I think she did a pretty okay job holding the golems off in that Labyrinth, even if we had to abandon the whole experiment after that. At the very least, I know she can fight when it really matters."

"The fact that we had to stop going any further and bring Seki home is exactly the proof that she won't be able to cut it the way she is now." Caenor narrowed his eyes. "And, you know… when she was fighting those golems, she wasn't herself at all. It was like there was something possessing her. She said her memories of that time are a complete blur. One moment she was about to die, then next thing she knew, all the golems had been defeated."

"That may be a product of the trauma she experienced," suggested Cantabile. "Though I don't know how exactly that would work. I've had my fair share of horrible experiences, but something like that has never happened to me. Speaking of which…"

"What?"

"I don't really know how to say this, but… you seem almost totally unaffected by what happened to your friends. One's dead and one's a totally nervous wreck, yet you act like everything is pretty much as it should be. I've seen many people break over far less serious things. You're either extremely resilient to trauma, or you're hiding something from us – or from yourself."

"I…" Caenor blinked hard as he processed Cantabile's observations. "I don't really know why that is. I feel a little numbness here and there, but even that's mostly gone away. It's not like I've suppressed my fears or anything like that. I think it would be obvious if I did."

"Trauma isn't always accompanied by fear. It's closer in nature to an unwanted obsession – something unpleasant that you just can't stop thinking about. Does that sound like something you're experiencing?"

A sudden frostiness took hold of Caenor's heart, and he instinctively rubbed his chest as if to warm it up. "Definitely," he replied. "But it's not really the worst thing in the world, to have a constant reminder of what I'm fighting for. Maybe that's just how I am – I'd hate to lay around in bed, feeling useless and sorry for myself, if I could be out there dealing with my troubles in a more productive way."

Just then, the door beside them creaked open, and a frustrated-looking face popped out from within.

"I can hear everything you guys are saying," Seki said crossly. "I'm trying to sleep, you know."

"Sorry." Caenor smiled. "We should probably talk somewhere else."

Seki rolled her eyes. "No point, I'm wide awake now. Also…" Her features fell.

"What is it?"

"I… know you think I'm not ready. If I lose my head again, I'll just be a liability. I know that. But I…" Her mouth, which glistened in the dim torchlight, quivered. "You say you'd hate to be lying around doing nothing if you could be out there fixing things for yourself. If that's true, then you know exactly how I feel right now. If I have to spend another day staring at the engravings in the ceiling, tucked into my bed, I'm probably going to lose it anyway. I might as well go crazy out there than in here."

Cantabile laughed. "She has a point."

"No, she doesn't." Caenor shook his head. "Listen, Seki. What happened to you in the Labyrinth… there's no guarantee that it'll have the same effect that it had on you the next time it pops up. If you freeze up instead, or you get a mental breakdown, then that really will be the end. Also, you couldn't remember anything about it, which means that it's not something you have any control over. If it happens again, I can't let you come with us. That's as much for your own good as it is for ours."

Seki looked crestfallen, but she nodded. "I understand."

"Great. Just don't worry too much about it." Caenor patted her shoulder. "Go get some rest." He watched as Seki slunk back into her room and closed the door behind her, then turned to Cantabile.

"You know, I'm actually not that sleepy yet," he said. "I'll probably pop by the office, sort out a few things before I sleep."

"I'll come with you," Cantabile offered. "I'm not that sleepy either."

Back at the office, Caenor rummaged through the ever-growing pile of paper, finally pulling out a small parchment. It was the all-important coordinate list of Laughing Coffin hideouts, but in contrast to the standard issue copies that had been handed to each of Caenor's teammates, this one had dates and other extra notes scrawled on it. In other words, it was the master copy. Caenor needed little reminder of the time someone had broken into the office and stolen a copy of this document from his desk, but as the office was now locked every time he left, he felt safe enough leaving such items of vital significance here.

"I've drafted a provisional schedule of our raids on the hideouts. Have a look."

Cantabile peered at the paper. "The raid on the 55th floor hideout is the day after tomorrow?"

"That one's just a taster. It's close by, so we shouldn't have any problems calling for backup if shit hits the fan. Remember when I told you that someone nicked a copy of this list?"

"Only too well," Cantabile muttered.

"If they were a green-marker member of Laughing Coffin, then it's highly likely Laughing Coffin are already aware that we're after them. Some of the hideouts on that list might already be abandoned – or worse, they might set up an ambush. We have to make our move as soon as possible, and as quickly as possible."

"You want us to raid multiple hideouts per day," Cantabile noted with more than a hint of incredulity as she continued to scan the list. "That's fucking crazy."

"They're fucking crazy as well," Caenor replied. "We have to be as crazy as they are. They already have a week's head start; we can't afford to give them any more time."

"Is Seki coming with us?"

"If she can make it, she'll have to come with us. Until we find more people, anyway."

Cantabile bit her lower lip. "Only if we actually can find more people."

A creak from outside made them freeze. Looking up in unison, they waited with bated breath for further noise, but none was forthcoming.

"Probably just the wind," Caenor whispered.

"Then why are you whispering?" Cantabile tiptoed over to the door and leaned her head towards it, holding up a finger as Caenor made to join her. "I hear something."

"Is it a person?" Caenor asked. "No one should be around here this time of night. Maybe we should go and see what it is."

"Shut the fuck up," Cantabile hissed. "I'm trying to listen."

Caenor put his hands up in resignation.

Cantabile's hand creeped towards the doorknob, her fingers slinking around the cold brass. Then, with a grunt, she wrenched it open and leapt out into the corridor.

"Who's there?!"

Sat on the rough stone floor, rubbing her head as she winced from the impact of the door slamming into her, was a girl who looked only a hair taller than Seki. She had a pale face, jade eyes that glowed azure in the torchlight…

…and a head of long, dark-gray hair, tied in a ponytail. Which curled around the collar of her set of brown armor.

"I recognize you." Cantabile glared at the girl. "You're in Team C."

"Uzala's team?" Caenor scratched his head. "Why would someone from Team C be here?"

"You and I both know why." Cantabile hauled the girl to her feet, grabbing her arm roughly as she tried to prise herself free. "She's a green member of Laughing Coffin. I'm sure of it."

The girl's eyes widened. "No, I…"

"Save your breath. Caenor, get Uzala here ASAP. He needs to know what his team members have been up to behind his back."

"You're… you're wrong," the girl spluttered. "I'm… I'm not a spy. I… I just…"

"Oh really?" Cantabile thrust her hand into the girl's armor pouch, withdrawing a familiar document. "Then what the hell is this?"

Caenor gasped. It was creased and crumpled, but the collection of coordinates marked on the paper were unmistakable. Now that he had a good look at the girl, everything seemed to fall into place. The ponytail. The brown armor. The copy of the list. All the pieces of the puzzle were there.

There could be no doubt.

"You're the intruder," he breathed, allowing himself a moment to digest his surprise. Then, he gathered himself and gestured to his office. "Hold her there, Cantabile. I'll fetch Uzala."

He ran off down the corridor as fast as he could without making too much of a din. He did not want to attract any undue attention for now – only those who needed to know ought to know. If it was true that Laughing Coffin had infiltrated the guild, all the more reason to keep his circle of confidentiality as small as practicable.

Before long, he had reached the western annex, where, at the end of the hallway, Uzala's quarters were located. He rapped on the door hurriedly.

"Vice-commander Uzala," he called. "There's an urgent issue I need to speak with you about."

A weary, pajama-clad man appeared as the door was pulled open. "What is it?" asked the vice-commander, whose untidy navy-blue hair covered his tired eyes. Evidently he had been sound asleep just before his rude awakening.

"I need you to come with me – I suspect one of your subordinates is a spy for Laughing Coffin. We currently have her detained at our office."

Uzala's brow furrowed as he cleared the strands blocking his vision. "That's a very severe allegation to make. Do you have any substantial proof?"

"We found her with a copy of the Laughing Coffin safehouse coordinates that we stored in our office. She also matches the description of someone who broke into the office several nights ago."

"I see." Uzala nodded. "Take me to her. If what you say is true, then we will have much to discuss."

Uzala folded his arms as he stared down at the girl, who was currently sat in the guest chair in Caenor's office, hands tucked under her thighs, eyes downcast. Cantabile stood guard behind her, breathing down her neck as Uzala began to speak.

"If Vice-commander Caenor's accusations are to be believed, then you cannot be allowed to remain here. You will be exiled from Granzam, and all members of the guild will be ordered to cease dealings with you. Do you have any answer to these claims, Wing?"

"I… I'm not a spy," Wing replied hastily. "I just wanted… to help."

"Help Laughing Coffin, you mean," Cantabile spat. "Tell the truth, or we'll hand you over to the Aincrad Liberation Force. They'll be happy to deal with you themselves."

"It's… the truth. I swear it…" Wing covered her face with her hands. "I just… wanted to assist your team."

"If that's true, then why steal the hideout list?" Caenor asked disbelievingly. "Why sneak into our office? Why not just come to us directly?"

"Because… back then, I was…"

"Was what?"

"I was… a spy. I was one. But I don't want to be one… anymore."

"What does that mean?"

Wing took a deep breath, composing herself. "They have… my brother hostage," she said.

"Who do?"

"Laughing Coffin. They… keep him imprisoned in one of their largest hideouts, one of their headquarters. They told me that as long as I helped them to spy on the Knights of the Blood, they would keep him alive. I… had no choice but to sneak into your office… and find documents that might be useful to bring back to them. They ordered me to. I gave them the blueprints, but… I didn't give them the hideout list. I tried to return it the night after I stole it, but your office was locked, so I kept it in my personal armor pouch. They… don't know that you know where they are."

Caenor frowned. "But how did they know that our team existed in the first place?"

"The reach of Laughing Coffin is far larger… far deeper… than you think." Wing looked up and stared back at Caenor, willing him to believe her. "They have other spies here, in the guild. I don't know… how many. But they know almost everything."

Uzala, deep in thought, stroked his chin slowly. "This is a deeply serious matter. We may have to convene a meeting with Heathcliff and the other vice-commanders. You will have to give them your testimony directly."

Wing shook her head. "I… cannot do that."

"Why's that?"

"Because…" Wing gulped. "One of the vice-commanders… is also working for them."

"Surely not," Caenor muttered. "And what evidence do you have of that?"

"I… overheard one of Laughing Coffin's officers talking about it. He said… one of their spies is a team leader. They have Heathcliff's ear."

Cantabile snorted. "Now I'm pretty sure she's lying."

"I don't know if she is, but we need proof either way." Caenor took a step closer to Wing, bending down so he was face-to-face with her. "Wing, if you want to show us that you're serious about helping us, you'll need to give us a bit more than that. Maybe a name of one of the spies, or some other useful information."

Wing clasped her hands together, clearly considering what to say next. Then, finally, she said, "Are you… aware of the hideout on the outskirts of Granzam? On this floor?"

"Yes, we are," Caenor replied.

"That safehouse… is a front. The list that you have, that I took from you… has many false hideouts. The list is circulated amongst Laughing Coffin's members. They… use the fake locations to find out if the list has been compromised. If one of the fake locations has been broken in… they will know."

"So what you're saying is, if we raid a fake hideout and they find out about it, then it's game over," Caenor said. "They'll move to different places, and we'll never find them again."

Wing nodded vigorously. "Yeah… yeah. That's it."

"That doesn't help us very much, though," Cantabile interjected. "We don't know which ones are fake, other than the 55th floor one."

"I know… which ones are definitely fake," Wing said quickly. "But the other ones… may either be false or true. I don't know."

Caenor pulled out a pen from his inventory, handing it to Wing along with his copy of the hideout coordinates. "Here. Cross out all the coordinates that you know are dead ends."

"Please tell me you don't actually believe her," Cantabile murmured.

"We won't know what's real and what isn't until we find out for ourselves." Caenor nodded at Wing. "Go on."

Wing immediately began crossing out rows of numbers, moving rapidly down the list. The more options she ruled out, the greater the look of distrust on Cantabile's face grew. Caenor remained emotionless, staring intently at the paper in Wing's hands.

Finally, Wing reached the end of the page and handed it back to Caenor, who scrutinized what remained.

"Five in the left column, three in the right. Eight out of twenty-two hideouts that may or may not be fake." He sighed. "This would certainly cut our work down by a lot, if only we could trust you. We'll discuss this with our other team members in the morning – I think we should leave it at this for today. Uzala, she's your subordinate, so I leave her fate to you."

"I don't really have a choice, but…" Uzala puffed out his cheeks. "Wing, I'm hereby dismissing you from Team C. You will no longer participate in our activities or our raids, and you will have to find another team to join."

Wing nodded, though she was patently upset. "It's… the least I deserve."

"Thankfully, we have another team leader right here, and a team that happens to need new members." Uzala clapped Caenor's shoulder as he turned to leave. "She's all yours."

"She's… what?" Caenor stuttered.

"I'm going back to sleep. Do what you want with her," Uzala called cheerily as he left the room, snapping the door shut behind him.

"What an absolute…" Caenor rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Well, we can't exactly have you running around – I don't want to wake up to find that you've absconded. So, I'm going to take you to one of the cells in the basement. You'll spend the night there, then I'll let you out tomorrow morning. Fair enough?"

Wing nodded again, this time a lot more eagerly.

"How on earth do you have access to the cells?" Cantabile had to ask.

Caenor materialized a pair of bronze keys in his hand, dangling them up for Cantabile to see. "Vice-commander's privileges. Let's go, Wing."

He ushered the other two out of the office, then exited the room himself, making doubly sure that the lock was working before leading Wing down the corridors and towards the guild headquarters' private dungeon. There was much to think about, but if what Wing had told them was true, then they did not need to rush things quite so much. Let Laughing Coffin believe they were safe in their caves for now. Retribution would come, and that right soon.

One problem at a time, Caenor silently told himself. One problem at a time.