Russian Requiem (Book 2 of RR Trilogy)

Requiem #5

Chapter 5

(Encounter)

Diretsong pumasok si Malekeith sa opisina ni Clade sa isa pang mansyon nito na kanilang pinuntahan noon kung saan nila pinlano ang giyera laban kina Stefan. Bumungad sa kanya ang mga seryosong mukha ng mga kasamahan habang nag-uusap sa mahabang mesa at may mga larawang naka-flash sa projector screen. Dito nila napag desisyonang mag-meeting upang maging pribado.

"Sorry I'm late. I went here as soon as I can," aniya nang makaupo sa tapat ni Clade.

"It's alright," sagot ng katapat.

"We were just talking about how we can figure out who the hell is that mystery man lingering around us. Based on his figure from afar, we've not seen him before. But Clade suggests that there's a possibility that they know him," ani Alek na katabi ni Clade.

Ilang araw pa lamang mula nang dumating ang anim sa Pilipinas.

Kumunot ang noo ni Malekeith. "They? Who are you referring to?"

"My father and I." Sagot ni Clade.

Lumingon si Keith sa iilang larawang nakuha nila mula sa sinasabing misteryosong lalaki. Pawang malalayo ang kuha nito at kahit naka-zoom in ang camera, hindi pa rin malinaw na makikita ang itsura nito. Tanging ang hugis ng mukha, ang buhok, at ang hubog ng katawan ang nakuhanan. Ngunit ang napansin niya sa lalaki ay ang madalas nitong pagsusuot ng sunglasses at maroon na pormal na kasuotan.

"So you think you know him..." aniya habang mariing nakatitig sa screen. "Can you tell us who he is?" Baling niya kay Clade.

Napabuntong-hininga ang kausap at ilang saglit bago ito sumagot. "Just like what I said to Ariadne, I will not jump to conclusions unless I have a concrete evidence that he is who I think he is."

Isa isa nitong seryosong tiningnan ang mga kalalakihang nasa silid.

"Now that I have a hunch that he is someone I know, I'm giving you this chance to investigate more about him until you figure out who he is. All of you... While I conduct my own investigation as to why he showed up now."

"Why don't we just investigate together?" Tanong niya. 

Umiling si Clade. "I'm taking that this is a challenge he personally threw at us. If it's him, then I know that he didn't show up now for nothing. He must be planning something against us. And we have to challenge ourselves to thoroughly investigate him because I know he's good at hiding. If we could break his mask, then we will have a chance to defeat him when he starts to attack. We will do this before he launches his first attack."

"So now, we will think ten steps ahead of the new enemy?" Sabad ni Rodion.

"Yes." Walang pag-alinlangang sagot ni Clade. "I'm sure that he is also ten steps ahead of us, we have to keep up with him. I have to see you succeed in this challenge that I gave you so that I know the limits of your capabilites because I'm telling you... this enemey we have now, is not ordinary."