The night was long. Despite the lights to the entertainment room being off as well as the large projector no longer showing off a Broadcast, neither Itzel nor Janus were able to sleep, mostly due to the fact that two armed BRUTE robots remained watching over them. The night dragged on for hours while the pair sat in silence, waiting for any arrival of news. Time marched on and Janus could feel his eyes get heavier. His breathing slowed. Next to him he could hear Itzel's snoring. The drowsiness soon became too much to bear and he found himself hunched forward, eyes shut tight and fast asleep.

The rest was short. As if it were timed the moment he went into deep sleep, a hand grabbed onto his shoulder, making him sit up and jerk the seat forward as he tugged on his restraints.

"Huh?" Janus said as he took in a rapid series of deep breaths. His eyes looked from one side to the other until he saw Mag standing beside him with one hand holding onto his chest. He wore the same outfit from the night before except without the jacket. He looked down at Janus, holding a plate of food in his hand.

"Eve made breakfast for you." Mag lowered the food onto Janus' lap. The scent of eggs and buttered toast made his stomach grumble. "Today's the big day, and even guests such as yourselves need to be fully nourished. From what I've heard, the Hunting Broadcast can be exhausting to watch even for those that aren't participating.

"H-hunting Broadcast?" Itzel stammered, drowsiness present in her voice. A BRUTE stood in front of her, and instead of wielding a weapon, it held an identical meal in its hands and scooped up a spoonful of eggs.

"That's right. That's what the Eco-Dome is for. Hosting all manner of wildlife is just the secondary purpose."

"You spent all of that money to make a maintain such a beautiful structure only to have it be home to some... sick hobby of yours?" Itzel shot back; her weariness having been overcome by anger.

"Sick hobby? Is that what you think of me?" Mag replied, placing his hand over his chest and looking at Itzel with fabricated shock. "Why in the world would you say such a thing?"

"I've heard rumors of illicit, Dark Network Broadcasts like yours," Itzel replied, her eyes maintaining a scornful glare. "I just assumed they were only that. Rumors."

"I wouldn't consider them to be illicit," Mag said as he walked into view of both captives. "How is what I do any different from how you two and Gurk make a living, huh? You three hunt and kill Essencima. My friends and I? We do the same, only to... more advanced prey."

"Gurk isn't prey!" Itzel shouted. "And I'm sure whatever you and your deranged band of lunatics that you call friends hunt isn’t prey either."

"It's a matter of perspective, Itzel. What makes killing Essencima for a living different? Or hunting deer? Fishing? You do realize that even when you wash your hands you're killing something, correct?"

Itzel turned her head. "I'm not even going to entertain that bit of nonsense with a response. I’m done playing with you and your games."

After shrugging his shoulders, Mag walked in front of Janus. "You're a man of science, aren't ya? I've asked this question to plenty of people and none of them can provide me with a good answer. How is hunting something like a Neo-Sapia any different from what I just mentioned, huh?"

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Janus kept his head down, making the room silent as Mag stared at him in anticipation of an answer. "If we put the possibility of them being captives at your mercy to the side, then I suppose the first thing most people would say would be level of consciousness," Janus replied quietly. Mag looked up towards the ceiling, slowly nodding his head as if he were contemplating the response.

"Level of consciousness, eh? I've heard that answer more than my fair share of times. But no one can ever back it up. Maybe you can convince me, Janus. I just don't think that's a strong answer."

"Why not?" Janus looked back up at the man. His arms were in front of his body and his head angled to the side as he looked at Janus with a gaze that bordered on condescending. "I ask because I have a feeling that no matter what answer I come up with, you'll dismiss it regardless."

"I'm not like that, Janus. You don't get to be in my position by being irrational and not open to the ideas of others. Go on. Tell me your opinion. And I'll let you know what I think in return. That's how debate works, right?"

"You can have a conversation with Gurk," Janus replied, his voice raising as he spoke clearly despite the faint tremble in his tone. "He's a person. Surely you know there's a difference between someone with feelings. Sympathy. Empathy. As opposed to the mindless Essencima that only exist to cause chaos and strife!"

"A conversation? With Gurk?" Mag chuckled. "The croc can only speak two words at a time! You can train wild animals to be just as obedient as him. Even Essencima can be tamed under the right circumstances." The man's grin became wider. Both Janus and Itzel's face turned to shock.

"That was you?" Itzel shouted. "The attack on the Transporter was your doing?"

Mag raised one hand. "Hold it, now. Watch what you say. Such drastic conclusions could ruin a man's reputation, especially if they're founded to be untrue. All I'm saying is that it's not unheard of. If someone knows the right people and has enough access to the proper resources, it's definitely possible."

"Your daughter was on there! And plenty of other innocent people!"

"No one got hurt. Too bad. What? You feel bad for the trillionaire company that owns the Transporter? They've got insurance. I'm sure they'll be fine."

"But—" Janus began.

"The incident with the Transporter isn't the topic at hand. The point I want to make is that what I'm doing isn't wrong. What I'm doing is no different than what you see transpire in nature every day. The powerful make use of those weaker than them. Cats eat mice. Business owners use hungry people for their labor. And I use those less savvy than I... as entertainment. At the end of the day, it's just the order of the world." Mag's eyes turned towards Janus. "Am I wrong? That's how Tersaia always has been. That's how it'll always be."

The man retained his confident smile as he shifted his attention between the two captives. "Come on, now. You two should be used to this! You're from Labrisson after all. You never would have gotten that special invite and be headed towards that Rumble Circuit exhibition if it weren't for your capabilities in the arena."

"I hope Gurk kills you," Itzel said with a reddened face and watery eyes. "If you think he's just going to let you blast him to smithereens... you've got another thing coming. And you better hope these restraints don't come off or else—"

"Or else what?" Mag snapped. "I think that win on the Broadcast has given you a bit too much confidence. I'm only letting you watch as a formality. I've got dozens of connections that can make you disappear," he snapped his fingers in front of Itzel's sobbing face. "Just. Like. That. But I respect how you two handled yourselves against the Sand Carver, so I'll at least grant you the courtesy of a last meal, courtesy of my wife. I'd suggest you watch your tone unless you’d prefer a swift disappearance. As opposed to a slow and brutal one. Because either can be arranged." Mag angled his wrist close to his face and looked at a traditional wrist. "It's all up to you two. I've got to get going. Big plans for today. But Evelyn will be back soon to keep you company during the Hunt."

Both Janus and Itzel remained silent as Mag walked towards the room's exit, leaving them alone with the BRUTEs. The door shut, followed by the sound of the locks being secured. With Mag gone, the only sound was the faint sobbing of Itzel as she kept her head angled low.