"He doesn't have to be, though. We could be doing a lot more to get information. There are plenty of unlisted people who could be doing digging outside the City. Just because he controls things here doesn't mean his influence reaches everywhere. Although . . . " Mello tapped the arm of the couch thoughtfully. "It might be greater than is immediately apparent. That'd be something to investigate. As far as killing any 'heroes' that are ported to the HIVE, that's . . . also a possibility. I can't see any way of proving it short of going there, however.

"If it's a cage, though, I can't imagine he'd be as afraid of them as he seems to be. No . . . " Frowning, Mello looked at the space just above Duo's head and gritted his teeth. "It's something else . . . "