MLTO C4, P2

This is the second Part of "MLIV:TO" 's fourth Chapter.
It was released on 03.02.2023.
== Plot ==
On their way to the dreaded Blackflame Mountains, Geralt's group encounters Dante Gonoru- son of the King and Queen of Goznor and a sworn defender of the Known Lands. He has been looking for a way to redeem himself to everyone else and sees this adventure as a perfect opportunity to do this and help a person in need, at the same time.
Even so, the team does not seem to fully trust him. He is a slightly rebellious individual, wild and unpredictable. So, Dante decides to prove himself to the the people that he wants to help by performing an important mission on his on while they watch him from afar.
Apparently, a stray group of bandits has been harassing the region of Canonia and waylaying dozens of innocent caravans. While this might seem like something completely normal, Dante is not fooled. He knows that the bandits are a menace to society and that they must be stopped as soon as possible, if Canonia is to heal from the damage that Redmark's people did to it.
Will the young Gonoru make it out alive and redeemed?
== Story ==
Geralt, Emela and Cyrus prepare to leave Canonia and go to the Blackflame Mountains. As they do, they cannot help but look back. admiring the ingenuity of the human minds that made the buildings in the town.
"You know, I never thought that Canonia would turn into a place like this. It's truly fascinating."- Cyrus says- "In the time when my mother was the Shaman, Canonia used to be a dull and uninteresting place. There were few problems to take care of and people were truly peaceful."
He sighs.
"I wish I was born back then."- He adds- "I have gone through so much in my time as a Shaman. Living in that time would have been much better for my poor soul."
Geralt smiles.
"Well, times were easier back then. People were still capable of trusting each other and villains were disorganized."- He says- "But now, it is actually more interesting. Heroes are capable of shining brighter than they normally do and there are many new opportunities."
Cyrus sighs again.
"Yes. Opportunities."- He mutters- "As if it's a good thing to jump straight into the lion's mouth."
He looks up and smiles.
"Anyway, we've got a job to take care of."- He says- "It's best not to delay. The lives of our fellow humans are at stake and we must make haste."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"It seems like you have a plan."- He says- "You can share it with us, if you want."
Cyrus smiles.
"I am a companion, not a leader. My job is to advise and help whenever I can. And I would never, ever dare to tell someone what to do. They must use their own minds to figure out a solution."- He says- "Now, shall we go? I am getting impatient. Adventuring has never been my thing, but I know that this will be exciting!"
Geralt nods.
"And so we shall."- He says- "Come on, everyone. March forward with no fear in your hearts. Soon, we shall discover the lost light."
Emela looks at Cyrus.
"The lost light?"- She mutters- "I do understand him most of the time, but he's lost me now."
Cyrus shrugs.
"We're talking about cousin Geralt. He's the kind of person to use clever words during a time like this, like a riddle of some sort."- He says- "Don't worry about it. I'm sure that we'll decipher it soon enough."
Geralt smiles.
"You surely will."
The two of them look up, alarmed.
"Wah!"- Emela exclaims- "Did you hear what we said?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"I think that you forgot that my hearing is pretty good."- He says- "Plus, I am not a fool. I can tell it with just a stare at your lips."
Emela rolls her eyes.
"Acting smart again, are you?"- She says- "Alright, we got it. Can we just go now."
Geralt nods.
"Of course!"- He exclaims- "Let's do this, everyone!"
With that, the three heroes leave the settlement of Canonia, cheered on by a group of respectful townsfolk who seemed to recognize them. They make their way into a nearby forest, noting that the wildlife in there is a little bit more quiet than usual.
"That's weird."- Cyrus says- "Nature must be disturbed. We have to do something about-- "
And then, a small group of bandits leaps out of the bushes. Brandishing their vicious daggers, they attack them without asking any questions, triggering an inevitable battle between the two groups, good and evil.
"Alright, chumps. You wandered too far and you're gonna pay for it."- One of them says- "Surrender your stuff. Now."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"I know that this might sound stupid, but we might need to give them what they want."- He says- "Facing their kind in battle will only cause us trouble for the long run. And if we do that, we might endanger my father and the entire region."
Cyrus shakes his head.
"As much as I respect your opinion, I'm afraid that we can't do that."- He says- "Bandits defile nature and destroy everything that we hold dear. They dare to attack innocent people and take their hard-earned supplies. We can't just let them do what they want, because it will serve as motivation for the other bandits to do the same."
He spins his staff a few times, conjuring the magic infused within it.
"We won't give you a single piece of our gold, foul outlaws."- He says- "In fact, we'll take your possessions and return them to their rightful owners!"
The bandits grit their teeth.
"It's on, fool!"- One of them yells- "Bring it on!"
Cyrus nods.
"As you wish."
The three heroes prepare themselves to face the group of attackers. Cyrus uses his magic to create a thick bramble around his allies, protecting them from the vicious stabs of their enemies. 
As it is clear that the barrier of vines will not last forever, Geralt devises a clever strategy to fend the enemies off. With the help of Cyrus, he manages to direct his potent magic and blast the vines down with a single blast, setting them and the bandits on fire at the same time.
"I don't approve of this, but it will do!"- Cyrus exclaims- "Strike the iron while it's still hot!"
The three of them jump out of the burning barrier and attack their weakened enemies. A few stabs from their weapons are enough to finish them off.
As soon as the deed is done, Geralt redeems himself even further by using his water magic to put the fire out before it is too late. The trees around them were left unharmed and no more bandits appear from the bushes.
It is truly a job well done.
"Well, that was a bit scary. That fire looked powerful enough to incinerate us all."- Emela says- "I'm glad that we managed to overcome this menace, though. Bandits are getting more and more bloodthirsty with each day and we need to find new tactics to eliminate them, sometimes in a not so... moral way."
Cyrus sighs.
"Nature is already crying. Its servants are being slain by villains like those and the forest are being burned down without thinking about the consequences that may follow."- He says- "Something like this is nothing more than a minor setback in the flow of Nature. We can dismiss it, as long as it does not hurt anything. Or anyone."
Geralt shakes his head.
"I am still surprised that there are bandits who dare to waylay innocent travelers, even in dark times like those."- He says- "I guess thatthe human greed knows no bounds. They think that they can personally enrich themselves in a time of chaos and turmoil. Little do they know that it is futile. They are only making us angrier."
Cyrus raises his eyebrow.
"But we are not mere travellers, my cousin."- He says- "We might be innocent and all, but we are far from defenseless."
Geralt nods.
"And that is what they were not aware of."- He says- "Bandits are cunning men, but they strike forth without analyzing their enemies. This often leads to their inevitable demise."
Emela smiles sadly.
"Is there a moral of this story?"
Geralt sighs.
"Do not be a bandit. Do not take what is not rightfully yours."- He says- "That is all."
Cyrus nods.
"Well said, cousin."- He says- "If only they had enough intelligence to hear you out."
Geralt looks up.
"Maybe some bandits are wise and will understand that they are not on the right path."- He says- "Yes. It is virtually impossible. But I dare to dream."
Cyrus sighs.
"And so do I."- He says- "But our job is not in this little glade. The dark mountains are still far away. We must continue walking while we still have daylight left to use."
The trio pick up whatever possessions were not burned in the little fire and brush their way pas the trees, their intention to discover the mountain even clearer than before and their determination enhanced by this encounter. They will stop at nothing to find answers and it shows.
En route to the mountain, Cyrus looks back at the little forest behind them and sighs.
"You know, I never thought that I would have to take someone's life away. Not until today, at the very least."- He says- "It's sad to see that some people are unable to see that they are doing that to themselves. Taking and throwing one's life away is quite similar, if not the same."
Geralt shakes his head.
"All this time, I was forced to deal with villains I was too young to understand. My innocence was nearly stripped away by the horrible things that I had to do. I could have been a simple student, in a simple town. But fate had something else in store for me. I was not forgotten."- He says- "I do not mind that, of course. Saving the world with my own hands has been a dream of mine for many years, but I do not approve of what I was forced to do."
Cyrus raises his eyebrow.
"So, you claim that all those foolish villains deserved your mercy?"- He asks- "Perhaps you're a little bit too soft, cousin. Those who spill the blood of others blindly, without any sense of honor, don't deserve to be respected. They're humiliating themselves with their own actions and it's only a matter of time before someone teaches them a lesson that they'll never forget. And if it's not us, I'm sure that it will be someone else."
Geralt sighs.
"Yes, Cyrus. I am aware that I may be a little bit too merciful. It is in my nature to understand others and try to give them a second chance."- He says- "However, I cannot help but look back at all the villains that we slaughtered. What if they had families like mine, and they just wanted to do all this in their name? What if they had a set of their very own laws that we were disobeying, and they thought that we were the villains? Is it morally right to take a living creature's life away, even if they did something horrible?"
He sighs.
"Sometimes, I think that I am no different from them."- He says- "A peacekeeper, maybe. But also a murderer. An outcast. Maybe even a menace to some people."
Cyrus raises his eyebrow.
"Listen here, Geralt. What you're thinking about is completely wrong. You have the right to do what you want, if it abides to the laws of this world. Even if you have to murder someone to make it happen."- He says- "Even though I am unable to sympathize and feel the same way, do not think that I don't understand you. I know what it is to watch someone wither before your eyes. I can see the world in a different way, one that makes me feel the things that my people are experiencing right now. But I understood that something like this had to be done, no matter how much I hesitated."
He looks up.
"Bandits may be living beings like us, but they're nothing more than that. Unlike us, they're brutish, heartless and disrespectful. Everything that they do is for their own benefit and they only work together so they can take from their own allies, should times get tough for them."- He says- "You claim that those people might have families, but have you ever considered that their families might be the same as them? A bandit does not simply become the way he is. At least one of their parents is an outlaw themselves. They learned the art of banditry from someone close to them, so that makes them just as bad. I cannot feel remorse for a family of miscreants and I think that it would be best if you acted like me. Mercy is for those who truly deserve it, like sinners who strayed too far, but saw the errors in their ways and strive to correct them. Not a bunch of no-good outlaws that live to make you suffer."
He looks down.
"Besides, we're a group of heroes."- He adds- "The world depends on us. We can't let them down by thinking like this."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"But what if we are not heroes in the eyes of everyone?"- He asks- "We might look like heroes to those that we help, but we are definitely villains to those who disrespect the laws of this world. Do you think that we can still serve as an example to them, even in this state of body and mind?"
Cyrus tries to respond with a good answer. However, the gears in his way start to move the other way. He starts to realize what Geralt is saying to him and is doing his best to comprehend it.
Defeated, he looks down and sighs.
"Perhaps you're right."- He says- "Maybe I haven't looked at the world like this."
He blinks a few times, as if to regain his composure.
"But this is not the time to be wise and philosophical."- He says- "As I said before, the world is depending on its heroes. In the face of us, they see light and hope, so let's keep on shining."
Geralt sighs.
"As you wish, shaman of Canonia."
The trio continues to move on the road toward the huge mountain. As Geralt gets lost in thought, Cyrus and Emela stare at each other, concerned about the recent events that unfolded before their eyes.
"Wow. The poor dear must be very annoyed."- Emela says- "You struck a bad spot, Cy."
Cyrus sighs.
"I'm sorry about that."
Emela sighs, as well.
"And yet, I can't help but see that he's right. When I was younger, I almost killed a bad man myself. And he was a really bad one. Like, a pure-blooded villain with no remorse of sense of duty. I felt really bad about it and regretted my own decisions, even going as far as to question my own loyalties."- She adds- "Even though I'm much more focused and determined nowadays, I still remember where I came from and try to be more merciful toward others. And I'm glad that little Geralt feels the same way."
Cyrus shakes his head.
"I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to show mercy to others. I was just trying to imply that some fools might use that kindness against you. And I... I don't want to see Geralt get hurt because of it."- He says- "And yet, I still think that I went too far. Maybe I should try to apologize later."
Emela nods.
"It would be for the best."- She says- "But don't worry about it yet. A true hero must never forget their true mission, so let's not forget ours."
Cyrus smiles.
"If it will make you feel better, I'll continue to perform my duties as best as I can."- He says- "Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me."
Emela smiles back.
"And I thank you for being such a good listener."
As the trio continues to move forward, they stumble upon a lone figure. It is too far to make out any details, but it almost seems as if it is carrying a spear in its left hand. Surprisingly, it is also coming this way, prompting the heroes to take a few steps back.
"Umm, Geralt?"- Cyrus asks- "Should we get ready for battle?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"I hear no threats. No battle cries that indicate their rage."- He says- "This is just a lonely figure, alone in the plains for some reason."
He looks back.
"Stay calm and keep your hands close to your weapons."- He tells them- "If that person attacks us first, do not hesitate to fight back."
Cyrus salutes him.
"Yes, sir!"
As the heroes move closer to the lone figure, it does the same. Soon, it becomes more visible, revealing the face of a young man, dressed in semi-heavy armor.
"We can see you. Come forward, slowly and carefully."- Geralt says.
The young man moves closer, obeying Geralt's command.
"That is close enough."- Geralt continues- "Now, it would be nice if you could identify yourself. Even though we may not be friends, a proper introduction is always a good thing."
The man raises his eyebrow.
"Are my eyes deceiving me?"- He asks- "Cousin Geralt? Is that you?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Umm, I beg you pardon?"
Cyrus glares at the man suspiciously.
"Wait a minute. I think that I recognize that face."- He says- "Let me take a closer look."
Then, he takes a few steps forward.
"Be careful, Cyrus."- Geralt says to him- "This man could be dangerous."
Cyrus nods.
"Don't worry about me."- He reassures him- "I know what I'm doing."
Then, he takes another step forward and comes face to face with the young man, fearlessly staring into his eyes for any signs of treachery.
"Tell me, friend."- He says- "Are you familiar with the Gonoru family?"
The man smiles.
"Of course I am!"- He exclaims- "My name is Dante Gonoru and I am a proud part of it!"
Geralt gasps.
"Wait! Dante Gonoru? Cousin Dante?"- He asks- "That cannot be. From what I heard back in Goznor, my cousin had been out in the wilds for months. It is not possible that he returned so quickly."
Cyrus takes another look at Dante.
"Well, how about we prove that it's him?"
He raises his eyebrow.
"So, Dante. I know that you abide to the laws and enforce them in the most fair way. But I need to know this."- He says- "How much do you respect this world?"
Dante smiles.
"Respect it?"- He asks- "I respect it a lot! In fact, I would gladly risk my own life to keep it safe from evil!"
Geralt gasps.
"So, it really is you!"
Dante continues to smile.
"And hello to you too, cousin Geralt."- He says- "It's been a long time, huh?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Yes, Dante. It is very nice to see you."- He says- "But please, tell me something. How did you end up all the way over here, away from any civilized settlement?"
Dante smiles.
"Well, I was just about to ask you the same thing."- He responds- "But my reasons are noble. I came all the way here, because I am, so to say, a mercenary. But not the one who only works for the money, of course. I am an honorable and determined individual whose sole goal is to help others endure against Redmark's rule. To resist his call and help people themselves.
Geralt nods.
"If that is the case, then it is a very honorable task."- He says- "And yet, I still cannot trust you. You appeared all of a sudden, claiming that you are willing to help others. Even though I would love to let you join us, I must first make sure that your interest is genuine."
Dante sighs.
"Of course. I understand that I'm not welcome here just yet. That's fair enough."- He says- "But I won't cry and I won't complain. Instead, I will prove myself by doing what I was sent to do, all by myself."
He smiles.
"You see, I travelled this far because I detected signs of dangerous activity. A group of particularly dangerous bandits has been harassing the townsfolk of Canonia recently and I think that the troublemakers are not far away."- He says- "I don't want you to join me. Knowing that I did not do this alone would bring shame to me and my family. Instead, I want you to watch the inevitable fight from afar and determine whether I am worth allying yourselves with or not."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"So, this is some sort of a test?"- He asks- "And you want us to monitor you?"
Dante nods.
"Pretty much."
Geralt nods.
"Very well. We will do as you say."- He says- "But don't do anything reckless. We don't want you to get hurt."
Dante sighs.
"I assure you that I am more competent than I seem to be."- He says- "Now, shall we begin?"
Geralt nods.
"Go ahead."- He says- "We will be watching you."
Dante grins.
"Sweet!"- He exclaims- "Let's do this!"
Our heroes sneak into a nearby forest and watch as Dante bravely marches into it, spear drawn and heart on fire. He doesn't try to hide himself from his enemies. His hands don't tremble as he moves. He is on a mission to prove his competence and he is showing it at its full extent.
"Alright, Danny. Focus."- Dante says to himself- "This is your chance to change your life. Don't waste it."
As he moves forward, he listens for enemies, completely aware that making a single move could cost him literally everything. He soon comes across two paths that lead toward different directions. 
Listening closely for any signs of unwanted activity, he determines that the path to the left is filled with wild beasts, ones that are of the ferocious variety. The bones at the beginning, as well as the growls further inside, are a clear indication of that. The path to the right, however, is eerily quiet. Or so it would seem.
To a normal person, this would seem like a nice stroll in the forest. They could easily chose to go to the right, unaware of the dangers that dwell within the deeper parts of the forest. But Dante is not fooled. He has been trained to detect and destroy for many years, and is eager to show his pathfinding abilities. The whispers of the bandits ahead are not quiet enough to escape his notice and he has managed to pick up their scent, as well.
He fearlessly steps on the path to the right, intending to prove himself. Not just to the people who are watching him, but to the entire world. 
"Those bandits, they're all the same. They drink. They rob. They fight innocents. They make mistakes that lead toward their inevitable end."- Dante says to himself- "They think that they're safe in here, but it won't be long before they see my inner fire."
As soon as he makes a few steps toward the bandit fort, a few of the sentries notice him. Alarms start to blare in the entire settlement as groups of archers arrive on the walls to fend him off.
"Bandits! You foolish, incompetent excuses for warriors!"- Dante exclaims- "You have been robbing Canonia for a long time! You thought that you would remain undetected! But that is not the case, as I am here to stop you! Once... and for all!"
The bandits stare at him for a few seconds. And then, they laugh.
"Hah! All that the law sent was you?"- One of them says, barely believing what he is saying- "Go home and play with your toys, kid! We're too strong for you!"
Dante nods.
"You know that those are fighting words, right?"- He asks- "Well, let's not delay this confrontation. I'm here to put you all down."
Then, he takes a few steps back, putting his spear on his back. Tiny wisps of flame dance around his fingertips as he prepares to unleash his rage upon the unsuspecting outlaws that are in front of him.
"And that's exactly what I will do!"
Dante runs forward as arrow fly through the air, avoiding them with great skill and precision. It is clear that he is not just some kind of everyday hero and he has the skills to prove it.
Much to everyone's surprise, Dante jumps in the air and transforms the globules of flame in his hands into a gigantic hammer of fire.
"The hammer of Justice shall smite you down!"- He yells- "Prepare yourselves!"
As Dante continues to fall, he throws the hammer at the seemingly impenetrable wall. In just a single hit, he is able to shatter it and send some of the archers flying in the air. Then, he takes it back and swings it, crushing the rest of the wall and leaving little more than a bunch of ruins behind. Most of the bandits who mocked Dante died during the first strike, and those who did not are now flying in the air, never to return.
Now that Dante has defeated every single bandit in the fort, it becomes eerily quiet. Even the bell on top of the bell tower stops to ring. This is a sign of true danger and he is ready for it.
"Alright, Brutus Scarface! I know that you're hiding somewhere in this place!"- Dante exclaims- "Show yourself and fight me like the man that you'll never be!"
A lone bandit emerges from the mess hall. He is a short and muscular type, a perfect warrior for this harsh environment. He is holding a scroll in his left hand and saber in his right one, indicating that he has been quite busy, perhaps planning his next robbery.
"What's all this noise?"- He asks, annoyed- "Don't you know that I, Brutus Scarface, am not to be disturbed? Do you want me to cut you he-- "
And then, he sees Dante.
"Wait a minute!"- He exclaims and takes a step back- "Oh no! I-it's you!"
Dante smiles.
"Did you miss me, Brutus?"- He asks him- "You thought that you could cause trouble for the entire kingdom and escape while everyone is busy. However, it seems like that is not the case."
Brutus clenches his fists.
"No! I won't accept this insolence!"- He exclaims- "Guards! Bring that do-gooder down!"
Then, he looks around and realizes that something is not quite right.
"G-Guards?!"
Dante shakes his head.
"I'm sorry, Brutus. It seems like all of your dear guards abandoned you, in the bloody way."- He says- "Now, there is one more thing that must be done. How about we see whether the infamous Brutus Scarface can live up to his reputation or not?"
Brutus clenches his fist.
"I don't want to fight you!"- He says- "You're not worth the risk!"
Dante shakes his head.
"You have no choice, villain."- He says- "In this world, you must fight to survive. Every scar on your body has its own story. The world is always changing and people like you are nothing more than a waste of space."
Brutus takes a step back.
"S-shut up! Stop mocking me!"- He exclaims- "I'm better than that! You don't know me!"
Dante sighs.
"Nobody is mocking you right now, Brutus. You're only pretending that it happens so you can confuse me. But that... is not the case."- He says- "The only person that is mocking you right now... is the one in front of me!"
Tired of Brutus's rambling, Dante rushes forward. He meets the bandit leader's charge with a series of powerful attacks, forcing him to fall on his knees as he continues to struggle against him.
And yet, the bandit proves to be quite a challenge. As Dante continues to hit him, he raises his scroll and wraps it around the young hero's face, blinding him for a few crucial seconds. Then, just as he tries to lift it away from his face, Brutus tries to plunge his dagger into his chest.
Surprisingly, Dante was prepared for that. He quickly blows the scroll away from his face and grabs Brutus's weapon, struggling to keep it away from his chest.
"H-hey! What are you doing?!"- Brutus exclaims- "Let it go! Now!"
Dante shakes his head.
"You're not my mother!"- He retorts- "You can't tell me what to do!"
Brutus grins.
"Well, I'm sure that your mother is just as foolish as you."- He says- "She gave birth to a weakling, so she must be a weakling herself."
Suddenly, Dante's rage rises. And it continues to rise with each passing second. The inner fire that he held under control until now is being unleashed, and it cannot be stopped. Not anymore.
"Not only are you an insolent freak that enjoys torturing people, but you also dare to insult people's parents?!"- He yells- "I'll show you who is the weakling, fool!"
As the two of them continue to struggle, Dante lunges forward and kicks Brutus in the shin. Then, as the vile bandit leader yells out in pain, he pushes him next to a tree and points his spear at him.
"Game over, Brutus. You've been subdued."- He says- "Now surrender, or I will be forced to do something very horrible to you."
Brutus shakes his head.
"Haven't you ever heard of the bandit's codex, hero?"- He asks him- "We don't surrender to anyone. We don't abide to any of your sacred laws. All that we do is rob and destroy. And I won't be humiliated by the likes of you."
Brutus tries to attack Dante one last time, but the young hero pushes him back against the tree. Then, he sighs and nods.
"If that is what you want, so it be."- He says- "It's probably for the best if you are gone, anyway."
Without a warning, Dante executes a powerful fire spell. As his spear begins to glow, he unleashes a large get of flame on the surprised Brutus, setting his entire head on fire and watching as he screams that he will come back to haunt him.
Of course, Dante is unmoved by the bandit's threats. He simply continues to watch as his entire head is burned by the blast, leaving nothing more than a charred, unrecognizable face behind.
Dante sighs again.
"And good riddance."
As our heroes come out of the woods, Dante picks up a small picture, possibly of his uncle and aunt, from the bandit's pocket and stores it in his own.
"Wow. That was... brutal."- Cyrus says- "Are you sure that you're still a pacifist, Dante?"
Dante shrugs.
"Times change and so do I."- He says- "Remaining a pacifist has worked out very well for me, but I'm afraid that I can't stay helpless anymore."
Geralt sighs.
"It does not matter, cousin Dante."- He says- "You have proven yourself to us. And now, you are welcome to join us for as long as you would like."
Dante smiles.
"Much appreciated, cousin Geralt."- He says- "I shall fight alongside you with courage and valor!"
He stares at the forest ahead of him.
"But tell me something else."- He says- "Where are we headed right now?"
Geralt smiles.
"I am glad that you asked!"- He exclaims- "We are heading to the Blackflame Mountains, a perilous region to the west of here. It is filled with all kinds of danger and I believe that my father might be hiding there."
Dante raises his eyebrow.
"So, you say that uncle Adam might still be alive?!"- He says- "That's awesome! Count me in!"
Geralt turns around and sighs.
"Thanks to Dante's efforts, there is one less nest of villains in this world. I am very grateful for that."- He says- "But our troubles are still far from over. The true villains are still out there and we have yet to deal a significant blow to them. So, we shall proceed toward our destination and hope for the best."