The other stages extended in all directions from the central stage, which was where Frank Guild was located. Revolucion (12)’s territory was in the north. My renamed city, ‘Death Upon Unauthorized Occupation,’ was placed in the southernmost part of the Revolucion (12)’s territory, so it was the first city that the Frank Guild encountered as they advanced to their north.

This composition differed from the arrangement in Act One, Stage Two, so it made it possible for other stages to contact other forces without having to go through the central stage. The eight cities of the central group were located in the middle, but that didn’t mean people necessarily had to go through them to go to other places.

When the five stages were combined, the lands previously known as the source of the night raid opened up. That land allowed the northern forces to meet the southern forces without passing through the central group. Naturally, the eastern forces could also reach the ones on the west side. This all assumed that they weren’t discovered by a hostile patrol on the central stage.

We were purposely making a detour to the east, treading on the newly opened land, as we knew...