Ren, Doc-san, and I were the first group to explore the Northern Forest. Unfortunately, in our attempt to ward off the rage-inducing spores, it would appear that we blew them closer to the city.

[He avoids eye contact, still tense, though he's far less snappy with Ingo...

For a few moments, anyway.]

The mission was our chance to make up for that blunder and excel. We took so many precautions. We were prepared! It isn't fair that our efforts were for nothing! We were just as capable of making discoveries, and we took it more seriously!