Kosu and his team hurried back to the Guild Hall, the sense of urgency palpable in the air. As they entered the familiar stone building, the usual hustle and bustle felt overshadowed by an unsettling tension. They made their way to the main office, where an unfamiliar man stood, engaged in conversation with a couple of Guild members.

The man was tall, clad in a crisp uniform adorned with insignias that marked him as a high-ranking officer. Thorn's expression shifted from concern to recognition as he stepped forward. "Marco?" he said, saluting sharply.

"Thorn," Marco replied, his tone businesslike. "I see you've returned from the field."

Kosu and the rest of the team exchanged glances, sensing the weight of the moment. Marco was known as the chief navigator of the City Hall, a position of significant authority. The atmosphere grew tense as they observed the interaction; it was clear that the City Hall was displeased with how the mission had progressed.

"Team," Thorn said, glancing back at Kosu and the others. "You don't need to follow protocol here. Just... stay alert."

As they stood to the side, Kosu could feel the undercurrents of discontent flowing between Thorn and Marco. The Guild had always maintained a degree of independence, and it seemed the City Hall's involvement was unwelcome.

"Welcome back, everyone," the Guild Master, Tetsuo, announced, stepping into the room. His presence commanded attention as he approached the group. "Marco has come from the City Hall Office to help navigate the situation."

Kosu noted the slight annoyance in Tetsuo's voice, but the Guild Master kept his composure. "Let's get to the matter at hand."

Marco stepped forward, his demeanor all business as he activated a holographic display from his tablet. The shimmering image illuminated the room, capturing everyone's attention. "First, let's review the results of your mission," he began. "You successfully completed the primary objective of destroying the core, which has halted the influx of monsters from the dungeon."

Kosu felt a swell of pride at their achievement, but it was quickly tempered by Marco's next words. "However, during our investigations, we discovered evidence that ties the breeding machine you encountered to the Black Sun—a known evil organization. Their influence is spreading, and it's crucial we stay vigilant."

Tetsuo's expression darkened. "We've been aware of their activities, but this confirms our worst fears. And Ken?" he prompted, turning to Marco.

Marco nodded, continuing, "We've compiled information regarding Ken's activities in the City Hall leading up to his demise at the hands of the Black Sun. He was involved in several covert operations, and it appears he was gathering intelligence on them before he... fell."

The room fell silent, the weight of Ken's loss felt deeply by the team. Kosu clenched his jaw, anger simmering beneath the surface. The revelations only added to his determination to uncover the truth.

After finishing the mission overview, Marco shifted gears. "Now, regarding Sakura and the logistics team," he said, his voice grave. He activated another holographic display, revealing a series of blinking dots on a map. "We tracked the last signals from their devices. They left the Blackstone Mines and moved to a remote location at an unthinkable speed."

Kosu leaned in closer, his heart racing as the map zoomed in on the path taken. "What do you mean 'unthinkable speed'?" he asked, confusion etched on his face.

Marco pointed to the trajectory. "These readings indicate movement that far exceeds human capabilities. There was no traffic or means of transport that could logically explain it. It's as if they vanished into thin air."

Thorn's brow furrowed as he processed this information. "Could it be Ken in his monstrous form who abducted them?" he suggested, a hint of dread in his voice.

Marco shook his head. "I sent a recon team to retrieve any evidence from the scene, but they found no traces of a struggle or fighting. It's unlikely to be Ken."

Elara, the scout, interjected, "I found traces of two groups near the portal of the Blackstone Mines. If Ken's group is not the culprit, then the other group is most likely responsible."

Marco considered this, his expression thoughtful. "I agree, Elara. Given the Black Sun's involvement, it's plausible that the other group could be them."

The team exchanged worried glances, remembering Ken's grim fate at the hands of the Black Sun. The thought of their comrade being subjected to similar experiments sent a chill through Kosu. "We need to save them before it's too late," he said, determination flooding his voice.

"I want to start going right away," Kosu insisted, ready to launch into action.

Tetsuo stepped forward, shaking his head. "Kosu, we can't. You and the team need to rest. It's not like we can pinpoint Sakura's location at the moment; her GPS signal is still jumping around like crazy on the hologram map."

Marco and Tetsuo exchanged glances, then turned back to the team. "We'll need to formulate a plan to search for Sakura and the logistics team," Marco said. "But for now, you all need to recover and prepare for the next mission."

Kosu nodded, though frustration bubbled beneath the surface. They had a lead, but time was of the essence. As the meeting concluded, he felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. The path ahead would be fraught with danger, but he was determined to find Sakura and bring her back, no matter the cost.