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@mitz
I understand.

I never touch US crosswords.

My central across and central down solutions clash.

I have been here after Brendan here helped with completing Round 1 last night.

Just saw the "fragmented downward note." Can't blame KGB for unclear instructions.

buddy@49
Thanks.

Hello all! I've got a couple questions about the first part and am completely flummoxed on the second.

First part, I have two or three undone:
Lost flower... seems like the typical 2, 3 but can't think of a "flower" to trim.
Hold against... can think of a synonym for "hold" but can't parse at all.
Cuts down on juice... no idea. Especially since I don't know whether my crosser from "lost flower" is correct.

As for Round Two, I have the "uncovered instructions" but nothing I can do with them seems to help. Is there a point in trying them before I have every single answer from Round One in?

mattw

It is not a flower I knew. I entered
?sssss? in a word-finder where sssss is your solution. The flower itself has an apostrophe.

"Cuts down on juice"
On is 2 common in Xwd land
Juice after recycling is 3 reversed.
Cuts is definition

Re Round 2, yes. First instruction should give you an isolated grid in NE.

The second instruction should lead you to Round 2 clues. Ignore the downward note.

Hold against...

It is 3, (against) and corruption 5 (think reputation, blemish) minus 1 letter, mostly.

Yes, you need to enter your answers to 'Cuts down' and 'Lost flower' before proceeding to Round 2.

'Hold against..' only explains why you must follow the instructions.

Thank you! The issue with that one was that I had a wrong crosser with improperly imprisons! I had thought the word was a slang term for currency.

Thanks for the help with the flower. I had used the solver on this site in the way you suggested, but it doesn't handle two-word phrases in that way... had not heard of the flower either.

And then with the other I was trying to cycle the whole answer and didn't see "on" as a potential part. Head may be a bit done in from this.

"Head may be a bit done in from this."

I don't blame you :-).

Let's blame KGB, and join the line with folks waiting for the penny to drop for Round 2.

I think I have completed Round 2.

Had to change an agent noun to one that has appeared in crosswords, so I may be right.

First down answer is also a guess, the clue being a rare word.

Have LEAKY REASONS in the right spots.

"Simple derived form" has one letter missing, if that is where it goes.

Thanks KGB, admirable setting!

Sounds like you have it Ilippu.
The answer to the first down clue is supported by the second definition of the clue word in Chambers.
SirCrispin gives a hint for the central down clue (the derived form) @43 below.