Souma didn't reply, not in words. The tense poise of his form and the intent, piercing glare of his eyes conveyed enough. He was prepared for whatever he had to do, ready for any trick or trouble that was thrown in their way. With a resume like his, 'ready' became a way of life, the whimsy of fate well-known and well-experienced. Galina was the same, he had no doubt, and so when warned him before [i]and[/i] after scrambling across the cart on a mission of her own? He knew there was no choice [i]but[/i] to impress her.

And if the feral, almost manic grin spreading across his face conveyed anything, it said Souma was more than willing to do just that.

[i]"IMA!"[/i] All subtlety thrown out the window, the spymaster snapped the horses of his cart almost immediately into gallop. Workers jumped at his cry, the supervisor behind shouting as he saw the cart building speed. No use for subtlety now, if Galina had done what he expected she had. What was it now, five seconds? A small clock ticked down in the corner of his mind, as they flew free of the warehouse and out into the compound proper.

The alarm started from the back, if they had been caught off-guard, the guards likely wouldn't spread word for a few seconds more. The supervisor needed time to shout orders, others time to register and follow them, precious seconds they could afford to lose, as word would still make it to the walls before the runaway cart.

Sound was faster than horses, another shout from just outside the warehouse reminding him of that. His mental clock ticked down once more in time with the cry, and Souma hauled back on the reins, forcing the horses to slow for the turn they would have to make.

Also, to keep them in control, as one ticked to zero...

And the entire warehouse began to explode.

It started as a single, terrifying crack of fiery thunder, joined by more and more every instant until it grew into a deafening orchestra that consumed the structure entirely. Munitions, explosives, wood and cloth and more added to the devastation. Waves of heat and sound washed over their cart and the courtyard around, the horses bucking and neighing in blinding panic as Souma struggled to keep them in line. People tumbled to the ground outside, or bolted to windows and doors to see what had made such a terrible, continuing noise. Surprised, horrified, enraged, injured... but alive.

The same couldn't be said, of those who had been inside.

"Ready, Galina!" Souma cried out through the fiery roar, sweat beading on his face as he forced their horses to move toward the outer wall. "Gate might close first. If does, will have force open!"

Sound traveled faster than horses, and everyone in the area now knew something was wrong, somewhere. Panic and confusion were their allies, now, ones that might be kind enough to hold open those gates a few moments longer, or at least give them the time to do the job themselves.