Released? Minako's eyes narrowed at that; she'd been here long enough to know that "released" was code for "brainwashed" and sent off to... wherever people went when they were brainwashed. Outside of the Institute, at least, which was the important part here. So, what, Alfred didn't think he was a country anymore? It was probably an improvement, but it seemed to have disturbed Arthur and he was friend enough by now that that annoyed her on his behalf.

"I hadn't seen him, so...." And there she paused, alerted to the arrival of another -- and one kind of familiar. Except he looked a lot nicer now than he had the last time they'd spoken, and he'd managed to get some new clothes, too. How did he get so lucky? And why was he trying to get them to leave? Was there something down this hallway that he was trying to protect?

Minako tilted her head to one side a little, giving the man a curious look and completely ignoring Arthur's own annoyance. "Howl-san? What's down there?"