Winding Path to Victory

Is one of Ernesto's.

So that's their game! Looks like the key Ernesto left them works for sheltering in a shop of his.

But is this truly going to work out?

Hold on! Director, switch cameras!

Alright, that's the REAL game! From another angle it all makes sense. This store has a back door.

And we can see, there's a passage from that door through to the main street, and it hasn't been discovered by any other team's interference!

Is this LUNG wRATh's chance, or is it—

Wh—Wh-Wh-What in the world is going on here?

Lady Candela, is that an obstacle you installed as well?

If it was, it wouldn't be as basic as blowing up this one single shop.

This... could it be that another team knew Ernesto had this up his sleeve, and laid a trap?!

If so, then we can say LUNG wRATh has been completely and utterly outdone!

LUNG wRATh, is this what buries you?!

Wow... Miss Ch'en and Miss Lin will be okay, won't they?

Relax, they've both been around the block. A little explosion like that's not gonna get them.

That said... this competition's no stranger to dirty play, but this one's a little too targeted.

Wonder if Ch'en's got beef with someone here.

Grrr... what the hell's with this guy? I can't even hit him.

Uh... I think that's the way Miss Ch'en's bunch went.

Let's go take a look and see.

Hui-chieh, are you dead?

*cough*, *cough*. Like that would kill me.

You're alive. Good. Your bike?

Gone.

Yours?

Perfectly fine.

It seems our opposition didn't want us dead and buried either.

But...

As luck would have it, the exit is blocked.

Well, good for luck.

Your view?

We find a way out. What else?

What I'm asking is who did it.

Looks like our intuition was on the mark.

Right. Ernesto couldn't hold it in, I'm guessing.

But don't you think it's odd? If I were him, this isn't how I'd do it.

Only one at the end of his rope would use such self-destructive means.

Maybe, it wasn't actually him.

Impossible.

Maybe, he wants us to think he's desperate.

......

Right. Have you told Lady Candela about the matter?

Of course.

How did she respond?

You won't do anything... will you?

That's right, my girl. You're a smart one. You should be able to figure it out.

If I sent someone to inspect the bombs now, wouldn't that just be telling the mastermind I've noticed their schemes?

I understand.

No matter, Ch'en. You and Lin have done very well already.

To be frank, at the start I had no expectations you'd find anything at all, hahaha.

And you don't seem to care?

Of course, my girl.

And you needn't worry about this too much.

I've seen you and Lin put on a very good show in the championship. Why not forget all this, and try your very hardest for number one? You'll put a smile on Wei Yenwu's face too, hahaha.

We'll take it into consideration.

You can probably imagine it.

Easily.

Now, how do we get out?

I heard a certain Special Inspection Unit Chief could dice apart a whole building in her rage. Mind showing me first-hand?

Not every building's so sliceable. This one's clearly built from exceptionally sturdy stuff.

Can you use your sand ability to transport things?

I'm not my dad. A blockage of this level, with my ability, would need some time.

Then I'll have a go.

No need. I have another method.

What is it?

Can you guess what this is?

...A bomb?

Do you remember the bomb from the first round?

There was no way Lady Candela could conduct a wide search, but I had a few of the boys here dress up as thieves and enter the neighborhood to steal as many as they could.

Thieves?

Thieves. So long as they gave the guards a bribe, and didn't make too much noise inside, no one would care about them.

........

Lin Yühsia.

What.

You might be unalike, but I have always deeply respected you and Mr. Lin.

The slums couldn't go on without you, I know that much.

And?

Don't let me catch you enjoying yourself.

Hui-chieh... nobody would ever assign themselves blame of their own accord.

Out of the way. I'm going to set the bomb.