[Nanu nods without directly answering the question. One had to be above the rest, of course. There's always a predator on top of the food chain.] My partner and I—we'd been tracking down these things for a while, and this one took the cake. Enough of a widespread danger that we were tasked with...putting an end to it.

[Implying exactly what Archie thinks that means. He shakes his head, not quite lost in the memory, but getting there. Only twice he's had to tell the full story, even if he's intentionally leaving bits and pieces out this time.]

Except this time, they gave us a third team member. A girl. Young. No combat experience whatsoever. [Taking a deep breath, his gaze falls on Absol. A small comfort in this shitty story.] ...I should've known. I was in charge of that task force, but I still let it happen.

[While that wasn't directed at either Archie or Absol, the latter lets out a huff of denial. He pauses, ruffling Absol's head underneath his scythe. Nanu thinks that Archie does know where this might be going; just not how it's going to get there.]