Chapter 10: At the edge of the Storm (1)

Edward is currently seated inside a van with other 15 people that had the same destination as him. He was wearing a black American suit that was the same as others. They're on the way to the meeting place where the debriefing will happen. After almost an hour, their van stopped and parked on a fast-food chain. Without a second thought, they exited the vehicle.

"Team, please go inside. We had already arranged so no one will be bothering you. But remember, don't make any commotion," the man on his late 40's instructed.

He was Lieutenant Radcliffe, the current reigning Lieutenant of the Home of Fearless located somewhere in the southern part of Greece. Also, he had been given a tasked to supervise and lead the mission given by the Headquarters. He was just notified about the mission yesterday. It was quite late for him to fully understand the tasked while he was in the Home. He could only review the mission details oh his way here.

Meanwhile, Edward entered the fast-food restaurant, he already felt mixed emotions; joy, sadness, fear, and tiredness. He stopped to observe the surrounding but his observance was interrupted by a Lieutenant Radcliffe. It signaled to him to go inside the meeting room of the fast-food restaurant. Even though the whole room was only separated by the glasses, it was covered by blinds without any gaps or to eavesdrop the people inside. The members of the mission noted the many soundproofing devices and some anti recording devices inside. While almost everyone saw the boxes in the front as quite peculiar because of its size.

"I assumed that all of you already debrief of how much danger we are facing. I'd observed most of you noted the proofing devices that were installed in this room. Whether it was for sound or any type of recording. This means that the Headquarters especially the Generals had high expectations for us to complete this mission. I also hope we could finish this without any complication despite the danger," Lieutenant Radcliffe hoped while giving the brief overview.

Lieutenant Radcliffe took from his pocket a folding knife in his pocket and slice the sealing tapes. He gropes for anything for a second or two and then took out something that had a quite weight. He immediately smiled when he saw the name "FEARLESS" imbedded at the object's front. It was a messenger bag. The Lieutenant opened the bag and inspect inside. The bag holds quite different things inside. What he immediately took out was a stack of paper that had a printed "Instructions". He carefully flipped the pages and read it twice. After reading the first page, he turned to the participants of the mission.

"Well based on the Headquarters instruction, you need to surrender your any personal telecommunication devices. Also, anything that you will be identified as another person. Don't worry it was just a protocol for any high rated mission like this. Your personal belongings will be returned to you after this mission ends with either success or failure. Do you understand?" Lieutenant Radcliffe instructed and took out a pack of plastic bags and a marker.

He gave it to the nearest participant. He quietly observed the whole session of makings and surrendering the personal belongings of the participant. When all of the personal belongings of the participant had been given to Lieutenant Radcliffe and placed near the boxes. He took another thing from the box. It was quite a sizable hand-carry traveling bag. It was grey and printed "VALOR".

"Before I proceed to distribute the bags for this mission. I'll be debriefing the mission once again for the sake of everyone," Lieutenant Radcliffe taught while observing everyone and noting each of them.

"This mission named "OPERATION: BLINDSPOT". THREAT LEVEL: HIGH. THREAT TO HUMANITY: MODERATE. THREAT TO THE CHURCH: VERY HIGH. Investigate the source of rumors about the resignation of the Holy Father. Find anything suspicious in Vatican City. Whether it's part of religious Order, clergy, Swiss Guards, or civilians. The Main Hall suspected that something is happening that will disturb the current equilibrium and order," Lieutenant Radcliffe debriefed.

A young man that was on it's early 20's raised its hands.

"Sir, couldn't the Headquarters investigate by themselves?" the young man asked.

Lieutenant Radcliffe already anticipated the question being asked by the newbies.

"Yes, the Headquarters could do the investigation directly but there are some implications. First, the real evidence will be destroyed immediately by perpetrators. Second, the Headquarters will not know who was really behind the incidents that may happen. Last, we would lose out training grounds and merits. A mission like this is more or less merit whether it failed or succeed. I assumed that all of you know the use of merits?" Lieutenant Radcliffe answered.

"Was in this mission, we're playing fire with fire?" the same young man asked.

Lieutenant Radcliffe smiled.

"Yes, the Headquarters always play fire with fire or putting more gas on the fire. I had already directed a mission like this but had a lower threat rating. Right now, the Generals foresees that the See of Peter will be shaken," Lieutenant Radcliffe answered once again.

"I'll be ending the introduction. Is anyone of you wanted to back off for this mission?" Lieutenant Radcliffe continued with a question while gazing at the participants.

After a minute of silence, Lieutenant Radcliffe nodded.

"So none of you wanted to chicken out of this mission despite the danger. Hmmm, good. By the way, as I said earlier, we are doing an infiltration of our sanctuary, the See of Rome. It will be quite tricky for us especially to our newbies but fear not, the Headquarters already made an arrangement. From this day, you will leave your identities here in this room. You'll be living as what the Headquarters given identity for you. Do you understand?" Lieutenant Radcliffe asked.

"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison.

"House of Valor," Lieutenant Radcliffe started to call out the participants where Home or Zone they came from.

"112"

"79"

"66"

Hearing his Zone number, Edward stood and approached Lieutenant Radcliffe that was holding a green sizable hand-carry traveling bag.

"It's nice to see you again, Edward. It seemed that well be working once again," Lieutenant Radcliffe greeted Edward when he recognizes him.

"Take care of me," Edward greeted back with a smile and slightly bowed before going back to his chair.

The Lieutenant continued to distribute the bags until the last participant. He observes that the participants are waiting for his order to open the bags, especially the newbies that couldn't hide their curiosity.

"You may open your bags. I'll be giving your position a little later after everyone already examines the contents," Lieutenant Radcliffe announced with a little consideration with the newbies.

Edward also took the time to examine what's inside the bag. He saw a plastic that had a lot of identification cards that had the same name as his picture. After checking the cards one by one, he took the wallet that had a lot of cash that seemed to be his pocket money for the whole duration of the mission. He also sees a smaller bag that has different sets of clothes and a pack that of papers that has sort of scripts. These scripts hold basic information about the character that he was playing. Their also some hygienic goods and a new mobile phone.

Lieutenant Radcliffe browses the instructions for the next steps. He nodded while reading because he knew all the people that were assigned in the specific positions. He chose to read the instruction further and his expression darkens. He couldn't help but swallow. He looked once again to the joyful participants.

"I didn't know that this mission was high. This was the reason why the Headquarters rated it Very High. This also was why Edward was here. He was one of some that were specially requested to be part of this mission. They're camouflage with the newbies. The Headquarters knew how to play with fire," Lieutenant Radcliffe murmured and gaze back to the participants.

He clapped to gather the attention of the participants.

"I'm expecting that you already know what was inside of the bags. The most special equipment inside the bag was the mobile phone. If you turn on the mobile phone, but I prefer that everyone will do it later. You will see an application that had a key icon with a COMM name. That application will be used as our communication source. It had enhanced security that other than you, no one could use it. Everything was already arranged, just do according to your scripts and report if anything was suspicious. Everything will happen according to plan if you don't let anyone saw your scripts and eavesdrop your phones. Are we clear?" Lieutenant Radcliffe commanded.

"Yes, sir!" everybody answered.

"Dela Cruz, Villaluna, Jefferson, three of you will be leading each team that will be depending on the colors of the bag. Yellow will be the tour guide. Green will be tourists. Grey will be part of the Swiss Guards. I expect all of you will have full cooperation with your respective leaders. Any violent reaction?" Lieutenant Radcliffe questioned.

When no one objected, Lieutenant Radcliffe looked at his wristwatch.

"It's almost time for lunch. I will call the fast food crew to deliver the food. We'll be departing after lunch," Lieutenant Radcliffe spoke before leaving the room.

Currently, Jake was seating with Luke in the cafeteria. They just finish their class with Professor Anderson. Luke hadn't get his food or Jake drawing out his pack lunch.

"Sorry to ask you, but who are we waiting for?" Jake asked impatiently.

He was already waiting for over a quarter an hour. Luke could only smile helplessly and type to his mobile phone.

"Just wait for just five minutes? She was already on her way here," Luke answered timidly.

Jake could only scratch his nape and wait.

After a minute or two, a lady that had almost the same age as the two sat between the two.

"Luke, I'm sorry. We, especially our professor didn't notice the time. We also silent our phones. So, forgive my tardiness," the lady asked while making her look pitiable.

Luke rolled his eyes.

"Fine, just don't make us wait again. By the way, This is Jake. Jake, this is Hyacinth." Luke introduces the two with each other.

Jake offered his hands but Hyacinth hugged him. In truth, Hyacinth didn't have any towel to wipe her sweat, so she takes the opportunity to wipe her sweat. Seeing his friend's action, he could only shake his head. He stood and separate the two and to save the two from embarrassment.

"Why don't just we order our food. I think if we don't order now, we'll be running late?" Luke suggested.

"Oh, fine!" Hyacinth immediately accepted Luke's offer and followed him to the counter to buy their lunch.

While Luke and Hyacinth are in the queue. Hyacinth couldn't help but ask.

"Base on the character of the people around you, you don't supposedly have any acquaintance or a friend. Seriously? What happened?" Hyacinth asked while glaring at Luke intently.

Jake can't help to smile bitterly.

"Remember, when I was rushed to the hospital because of some bane mixed in the pool? Which paralyze me for three days?" Luke answered while refreshing Hyacinth 's memory.

Hyacinth nodded.

"He just jumps to the pool to save me but it was vain. Hopefully, it bought time for her sister to save me," Luke added.

"Wait? That guys' sister? Ms. Reyes?" Hyacinth taught while in shock.

She even turned to Jake's direction and her forehead wrinkled.

"Just ask him, you know?" Luke advised her.

Hyacinth nodded. At the time that the two already seated, Jake took his pack lunch. Hyacinth immediately shined.

"Can I have some?" Hyacinth asked while looking at Jake's pack lunch.

Jake moved his pack lunch towards Hyacinth.

"You can have some," Jake answered awkwardly.

Luke inhaled while seeing his shameful friend.

"Jake, are you and Ms. Reyes siblings?" Hyacinth asked while munching the food given by Jake.

"Yes," Jake shortly answered while eating.

Hyacinth nodded and remembered something.

"Aren't you the guy I brought to the infirmary? The day I know that she had siblings," Hyacinth spoke according to her memory.

Jake smiled secretly and thinking that everything was a coincidence, from when he had lost his consciousness until now she was Luke's friend.

"It's pretty unrealistic right?" Hyacinth asked the two.

Jake didn't answer and just smiled.

"Yeah, it is," Luke affirmed.

"By the way Jake, Are your sister part of the Office?" Hyacinth diverted the topic.

"I think so. It wasn't that strange that she will be the part of the Office when your whole lineage was already members of the Office," Jake answered while mixing his opinion.

"Since you know much, is that true that if you had any stain of witchcraft on your body, you can't be part of the Office?" Hyacinth asked that seemed to out of curiosity.

"As far as I know, the Office's Headquarters had already set maximum requirements for the people who had stained by the power of witchcraft. If someone could pass the threshold, they probably became a member of the Office," Jake answered in the best of his knowledge.

"Do you want to hear the certain fact between the Office and the Prophetic Clans?" Hyacinth talked like a paparazzi.

"What is it?" Jake curiously asked while finishing his lunch.

"Well, the Office and the Prophetic Clans are like oil and water. The Office despite the Prophetic Clans on how they shift someone's fate which sometimes leads to the disturbance of the current order. If I were in their shoes, I will also despise them because I was working hard to maintain the peace and order," Hyacinth spoke.

"Aren't you part of the Prophetic Clans? Aren't you loyal to your clan?" Luke interlude.

Hyacinth rolled her eyes.

"Not everyone like their families," Hyacinth spoke with dissatisfaction.

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