Following the termination of the call, Adolf had been uneasy and tried calling the operative back without answer. Furious, Adolf watched as the plane arrived without any incident to the Academy. Upon the students, arrival, Adolf sent agents to check for the status of the hired operative.

Adolf impatiently waits until the expected call arrives. He swiftly moves to answers and icily says, “What did you find?”

The male voice replies, “The operative has been terminated, sir.”

“What!” Adolf roared in fury as he slams his hands into the oak desk. The oak lets out a loud crack and dangerously slumps weakly in the middle. Adolf lets out a string of curses in his mind as he composes himself. He roughly growls, “How?”

“A professional hit, sir. The operatives body was effectively decapitated and flushed into pieces except for the head. The head was purposefully wrapped and placed in a trash bin for us to find. I think it’s a message or warning of sorts, sir,” The man politely stated his mind.

Adolf lets out a bark of laugher, become dangerously silent. “Are there any clues or signs left of the professional?” Adolf steadily asked.

“No, sir. Penny is down here and she’s the best hound on the force. Even she couldn’t find anything, not a smell, fibers, DNA or any other trace for that matter. We tried to check the video feed, but there is nothing abnormal on the feed. It’s almost as if the operative killed himself and destroyed the evidence of his own murder,” the man replied.

“Yes,” Adolf mused to himself. “But that sounds exactly what a powerful Esper would be capable of. And that plane carried several powerful Esper’s.”

After that long pause of silence, the man asks, “Sir?”

Adolf collects himself and says, “Thank you for your services. That will be all.”

“Of course, sir. Anything for the pack,” the man sincerely said, before ending the call.

Adolf reaches for a button under his desk and swiftly rings for his sectary an Avian Changeling with brown and large golden eyes. “Yes, sir?” The secretary promptly asked.

“Assemble the packs, I wish to meet. And order a new desk,” Adolf said.

“Yes, sir. Will that be all?” The secretary swiftly asked.

Adolf is silent for a moment before reluctantly saying, “And request the presence of the old one.” The secretary nods in response, before swiftly turning on her heels and closing the door behind her.

Adolf almost sits down at his desk until he remembers the precarious state of his desk. Furrowing his brows, Adolf marches through a side door in his office and into a conference room. A wooden clock in the corner ticks rather loudly in his ears, but he ignores the meaningless sounds and waits.

Sometime later, the video cameras and screens turn on for a global face call. Adolf glances at the figures on screen representing the various Changeling factions. “We lost the operative and were unable to test the new students,” Adolf flatly said.

“How?” Interrupted Sobek of the crocodile faction.

Adolf narrows his eyes wolfishly and chokes down a snarl threating to emerge from his throat. “We are certain as there is no evidence except for the objectives final state. The objective was cleanly decapitated and his body as well. There was no trace evidence left behind nor the sign of an individual on video feed. Which only leads one possibility, a professional hit. And if so, the bigger question is which of the students was it or more importantly, was it outside help? And if so, do we have a traitor among us?” Adolf crisply said.

The various faction members faces grow quiet and thoughtful as they gaze at each other for signs of weakness or lies. A freckled female sighed showing off her glistening teeth. “Enough. We won’t learn anything of value if we merely gaze at each other with suspicions. For now, we should try to narrow down the candidates for the death of the operative. Which students on board are capable of such a feat?” The female said, representing the shark faction. Not all Changelings wished for the destruction of the humans, but simply the protection of their habitats. This faction was one such. Of course, not every member in this faction felt the same way. There were some who agreed with the proposed creed of death to all Humans.

A charming man with red eyes and white hair, who’s physical appearance resembled that of a Vorpal, but was a member of the Leporidae Changeling family. “There are a couple of candidates. But I am more concerned if it was related to outside help. After all, 56 an #32 do possess such capabilities. Could they be playing against us or are they simply playing a game, Adolf?” The man firmly said, despite looking quite innocent and cute.

The members instantly remember the two wild animals on leashes. Adolf narrows his eyes and stiffly says, “Impossible. 56 is currently on another mission. And as for #32, #32 is leashed.”

The members on screen carefully study Adolf’s face for lies, but the wolf changeling maintains a straight face. Unable to grasp a proper read on him, the meeting continues. After much time, the meeting finally concludes having come to an agreement of sorts. The faces vanish one by one until Adolf is left alone in the room.

From the shadows of the conference room an old man’s familiar voice says, “You’re an impeccable actor, Adolf. Though true 56 is on a mission, you neglected to mention 56 being on board of that very flight and having the means to do so. And as for #32, you can’t be certain. Because #32 is #32 and playing such games would not be out of the realm of possibility.”

Adolf glances at the man known to many Esper’s as Master Ferguson, whom he fondly called, “Magei.” “Magei, I am sorry to ask, but could have been one of your own. After all, your side too must keep up a front. I would not be perturbed by the actions, but I merely wish to be kept in the loop next time,” Adolf politely said.

Master Ferguson sighs and says, “Adolf, you are my only grandson and as such, you know I keep you as close as I can. I most certainly powerful, but I am not all seeing, my son. It is quite possible that it was an Esper who terminated your operative, but I can assure you that it was not of my faction. And excluding members of the Esper organization and 56, remember that some of the children on board belong to powerful families. It would not be surprising to know that any one of them paid for additional security.”

Adolf nods in understanding and says, “Grandfather, how long must we wait?”

“Patience, my grandson. We must bait as many as we can to move and destroy themselves. That is the only way we can win,” Master Ferguson cunningly stated.

Adolf nods in understanding as his grandfather motions for him to help to his feet. Adolf rushes over and gently sets the old man on his feet. “Thank you, son. These old bones of mine aren’t what they use to be,” Master Ferguson cackled.

Adolf smiles gently and says, “Do you need help leaving, grandfather?”

“No, my ride is here,” Master Ferguson said as on older woman in a sari appears at his side. The older woman nods in greeting to Adolf, before gently placing her hand on the old man’s shoulder and disappearing.

Adolf tiredly stretches his neck, before his eyes grow cold. He would hunt those that opposed him. But first, he would stalk and wait until the time was ripe. With that in mind, Adolf returns to his office to follow up on the two animals that should be very much leashed.