Mario arrives at the spot marked on his D-pad after a long and stressful foot race with Mari. He is sweating profusely and hasn't seen Mari since he took off. After taking a minute to catch his breath, Mario begins to look around. He sees a compound with several large buildings not too far away. Assuming victory, he starts to approach the compound, but then hears someone call out to him from the top of a tree.
Mari: Yo, O. Took you long enough.
Mario: What did you just call me?
Mari: O.
Mari jumps down from the tree branch and walks up to Mario.
Mari: You know, O. My name is Mari, and you're Mario. Subtract my name from yours, and you get "O." So that's what I'm gonna call you from now on.
Mario: You're the worst at giving nicknames, but I don't care what you call me anyway, so suit yourself. I'm guessing that's the place.
Mario points toward the buildings.
Mari: Not just any place. The HQ! At least for now.
Mario: You know, for an organization that's supposed to be covert, we sure do have a glorious HQ.
Mari: That's DDI. Demon Dogs Institute. An agency that deals in accounting and finance, among many other fields. To the public, we're all workers there. It's part of the disguise.
Mari smirks.
Mari: Are you going to stand here all day, or do you want to meet other hunters like yourself, who probably think it's weird for me to be hanging out with a loser like you?
On hearing this, Mario explodes.
Mario: How dare you call me a loser, you blue-haired, lollipop-licking brat?!
Someone walks past them, then stops and turns upon seeing Mari.
Nick: Mari. Good day to you…
He looks at Mario.
Nick: What are you doing with a loser like this dude, if I may ask?
Mario instantly explodes again.
Mario: How dare you call me a loser, you nitwit?!
Mari: Go on ahead, Nick. I'll be there shortly.
Nick gives Mario a stern look before leaving.
Mari: The only way to get respect around here is to earn it. You have to learn that.
Mario: Says the guy who talks with a lollipop in his mouth.
Mari: Do not bring my lollipops into this.
Mario: Let's just go.
Mario and Mari enter the compound, where they go through a series of tests before finally reaching the event room. To Mario's amazement, the room is packed with people. He leans over and whispers to Mari.
Mario: Do you mean to tell me that everyone here signed up for a death wish?
Mari: Not everyone sees it like that. And this isn't even everyone. Hunters who live far away can't attend, and gathering all the hunters in one place is a major risk. So, they assemble us strategically.
Mario: There are like… hundreds of people here.
Mari: Not hundreds, O. There are thousands in attendance. You're not alone. We all share the same goal.
A man steps up to the podium and addresses the crowd, using the sound system in place for the event.
Malcolm: As chief spokesperson of DDI, it is my honor to welcome you brave hearts to the gathering of the courageous. We have been graced today by the attendance of three captains.
The crowd begins to cheer.
Malcolm: Allow me to welcome them to the podium. In no specific order, please welcome Captain Toro!
The crowd claps as Toro ascends the podium, still weirdly dressed.
Mario: And here I was, thinking this was some serious business. How can they laugh, clap, and smile when deadly creatures are out there eating people alive?
Mario clenches his fist in anger.
Malcolm: Next, let's welcome Captain Omero!
The crowd cheers again as a neatly dressed young man ascends the podium and takes a seat beside Toro. Mari leans over and whispers to Mario.
Mari: That's Captain Omero. He holds the record for the highest number of rarities killed.
Mario: Rarities?
Mari: Oh… That's just how I refer to what y'all call "demons."
Mario: Why would you call them that? You trying to butter up those monsters?
Mari's demeanor shifts. His tone becomes more serious as he looks down.
Mari: We know next to nothing about them. I'm sure there's a reason for all this. I'm sure someday, we'll be able to negotiate.
Mario: You're delusional.
Mari's expression darkens.
Mari: I'm not delusional. I wasn't expecting you to understand anyway.
Malcolm: Lastly, please help me welcome the very gorgeous Captain Nicole!
The crowd cheers as Captain Nicole ascends the podium and takes her seat. Malcolm soon steps aside, making way for Omero to address the crowd.
Omero: Now, it is time to honor our brothers and sisters who though present in spirit, are absent in flesh. The brave ones who have sacrificed themselves for our purpose. Our brothers and sisters who gave their lives. The world will never know their names, and so it is our duty to carry their names with us, to take care of their families, to ensure their deaths are not in vain. I declare a minute of silence for those who sacrificed themselves in the Iceberg Town Massacre!
The entire hall falls silent, leaving Mario deep in thought.
Mario (thinking): So calm. These people were cheering and laughing just a moment ago.
After a minute, Omero breaks the silence.
Omero: To the world, they remain nameless. To those they saved, they remain invisible. But we will carry on their names...
A large screen begins to display the information of the deceased in a slideshow.
Omero: ...We won't let their sacrifice be in vain, for they have given their lives to death and dedicated their all to the ultimate goal. A reassurance to us that...
The crowd echoes:
Crowd: No sacrifice is too great for peace!
Omero: Father sends his regards. This officially ends the meeting, but you are free to make peace with the deceased before you leave.
Omero walks to his seat. The slideshow reaches the profile of a boy named Tom. Mario notices the girl beside him staring in anguish and decides to ease her pain.
Mario: He's in a better place.
Sung: He was always fighting. He died fighting. There's peace in death, isn't there? But I just wished he'd found peace while he was still breathing.
She clenches her fists, her voice trembling.
Sung: His heart was taken as some kind of trophy. His arms were cut off while he was still breathing. He was tortured, and you're trying to tell me that he's at peace? How can you even say that?
At that moment, Mario does something no one could have guessed—he hugs her, squeezing her tightly with one hand.
Mario: It's okay to cry. Let it all out until only the anger and pain are left. Turn it into motivation and use it as your greatest weapon.
Mario lets go of her and begins to walk away, but Toro, watching from the podium, mutters to himself.
Toro: Mario Cadel, huh.
As Mario walks away, Sung calls out.
Sung: I never got your name.
Mario stops but doesn't look back.
Mario: Mario. My name's Mario.
Sung: I'm Sung.
Mario walks away, and Mari soon joins him as they exit. As they head back to their residence, Mari keeps teasing Mario about his embrace with Sung.