After the media blitz had waned, Holzfeurer spent a lot of his time in seclusion, talking to very few friends and members of his immediate family. After months of reclusive inner deliberation, the sole survivor of two martyred troops emerged with a rejuvenated spirit. The possibility that the Corps had seen its last audio assault was now eliminated with Holzfeuer's announcement that it was recruiting time. This time, however, Holzfeuer decided that non-Austrians would be allowed to prove their ability to follow all that was Arno.

As he prepared for a covert method of recruitment (going to gigs in other countries as an anonymous patron, to not let anyone know they were auditioning), Holzfeuer began getting letters encouraging him to give up his 'false beliefs' and accept the country he calls home for what it is, not what it was and never will be. Holzfeuer ignored the letters. And the more he ignored, the more threatening the letters became. Threats of inflicting bodily harm upon him or his family were sent to him almost daily. The letters evolved into threatening phonecalls. One morning, Holzfeuer's younger sister found the family cat hanging by its hind legs from a nearby tree, its fur shaved completely off and its body bearing the notation 'Give up'. The cat was not injured, but Holzfeuer was scarred. He worried about his family's safety, so decided that after his return from the recruitment, he would move out of the family home and into a safehouse.

Six countries and hundreds of clubs later, Holzfeuer had yet to find even one musician that personified Arno. Brokenhearted, but not beaten, Holzfeuer boarded a train for home, to start from scratch, to rethink his plan of attack. But, at the Austrian border, he was met by government officials who refused to allow his return into his homeland. Holzfeuer protested. The officials showed him the government issued warrant that proclaimed Holzfeuer as a political threat and that his citizenship had been revoked. He had become an enemy of the state. Again, Holzfeuer protested and attempted to cross the border into his country, but was met with soldiers aiming their weapons at him, ordered to fire if Holzfeuer attempted an illegal entry into Austria. Holzfeuer, knowing he could not win this battle, decided it was best to move along and fight another day. Holzfeuer trekked the European continent as a musical mercenary, joining in on gigs when other bands requested his services. Holzfeuer had become a man without a country, a musician without a band. All he had left was the one constant that always remained despite political pressures, despite opposition, despite death, the ever powerful belief in Arno. As Holzfeuer put it to one Hungarian band he performed with, "You can kill someone who believes, but you can't kill the belief."

Meanwhile, Austrian officials were confiscating ArnoCorps records. Those who were found with the said item were arrested for being in possession of illegal contraband. Soon, those loyal to the belief in Arno, kept it to themselves. Citizens were afraid to mention either Arno or Holzfeuer. They had become red flag words.

Next: Rebirth In the US