The worn-down factory welcomes a pair of neatly dressed visitors.
Ignoring the workers and their looks, they walk over to an open space by a machine.
Investigator: Here we are.
Investigator: Please watch your step.
???: A factory filled with a load of run-down machinery. So, what's our mission?
Investigator: To improve the environment here. You need to cleanse this chemical plant with the arcane purification equipment provided.
Investigator: When you're done, you should perform a feasibility test to make sure all the machines are functioning properly.
???: Me? Do the whole thing?
Investigator: We believe you're competent enough to do so.
Investigator: While you prepare, we'll evacuate the workers and put up a Maze Net to ensure no one is injured or disturbs you.
Investigator: We'll make sure you have a safe and undisturbed working environment, as you stipulated.
???: Haha. I'm flattered.
???: By the way, do you smell something funny, like burning fat?
Investigator: No. This place shouldn't have any fat.
Investigator: But when we scouted out the site, we did deploy a number of Stinky Walking Cleaning Balls.
???: Ah, that must be it. Well, now it smells like stinky socks. Yikes.
???: Anyway ... Remind me again what we're doing here?
Investigator: Cleansing this chemical plant and performing a feasibility test.
Investigator: These measures are part of an agreement made between the Foundation and a number of severely polluted chemical plants.
Investigator: More Laplace staff members will come to assist you later.
???: ...
???: Please ask them to hurry.
???: Also, ask them to bring the latest gas masks, will you?
Scout Manual, Safety, Article VI: "Always assess the surroundings before taking action."
With her excellent tracking and concealment skills, Eagle follows the Scout team to the destination of their mission—
A chemical plant in the suburbs.
Amid the employees evacuating the factory, she watches the two members at the back of the Scout team from a distance.
Eagle: They're ... staying behind.
Eagle: I can't hear them from here ... Should I get closer?
She carefully closes the distance, keeping to the shadows to hide herself.
Eagle: Alright, now I can hear them.
Boy Scout I: This place gives me the creeps. Xavier must be really brave to come here!
Boy Scout I: Mike was right. His secret mission must be a tough one!
Boy Scout II: What? You really think he hasn't been home for two days because of some secret mission?
Boy Scout II: Mike isn't a detective, you know. He's just making stuff up!
Eagle: "Secret mission" ...
Boy Scout II: I still think this is—um, what's the word? A "kidnapping."
Boy Scout I: Humph, you're so wrong.
Boy Scout I: Adults always think that if a good boy runs away from home, he must've been kidnapped.
Boy Scout I: But I don't think so! I think Xavier came here for a secret mission!
Boy Scout I: To break up a huuuuge evil plan being hatched in an abandoned factory, like in the comic books, you know?
Boy Scout II: You can't be serious.
Boy Scout II: If anything breaks, it'll be our noses. This place stinks!
Boy Scout II: Achoo!
Eagle: Something's wrong with the environment here.
Boy Scout I: Sure does, but whoever finds Xavier will be promoted to team leader! I'll keep searching, even if my nose falls off!
Eagle: ...!
Boy Scout I: Today's the day I become a team leader! I can feel it!
Boy Scout II: Then why don't you go to the front of the team? That dummy George might find him first if you don't.
Boy Scout II: He did win the same number of badges as you for the charity sale.
Boy Scout I: Hey, I'm staying here to protect you! And just you wait, I'll figure out a way to beat him!
Boy Scout II: Whatever you say ... I think we've circled back on ourselves now.
Boy Scout I: I think you're right. Let's catch up with the others.
The boys walk away, still deep in conversation.
Eagle emerges from her hiding place, holding the pocket watch hung around her neck. The light of her arcane skill extends from the watch.
It points in the opposite direction to the boys'.
Eagle: They've left. I better hurry too.
Eagle stops herself. Don't rush into things—that's what she learned from the manual.
She takes a deep breath, straightens her bow, and starts forming a mission brief, like a real Scout would do.
Eagle: Name: Xavier, Sex: male, Age: between 7 and 18 years. Lives with his parents. Last seen around the chemical plant.
Eagle: May be on a secret mission.
Eagle: Whoever finds the missing person will be promoted to team leader of the Scouts team.
Eagle: ...
Eagle: Whoever finds Xavier will be promoted ... Then if I find him, will I have a chance, too?
Eagle: A chance to join the Scouts?
She grasps the pocket watch tighter, as if to gain courage from it.
The light of her arcane skill shines as firmly as the caster's gaze.
Eagle: I need to find Xavier before they do.
