COLD KNIGHT

Chapter One

8:45AM. Monday. Pagkarating ni Armand sa opisina ng SUIT ay kasalukuyang naroroon na ang lahat at siya na lang ang kulang. Napatingin siya kay Illya na prenteng nakaupo sa round table at nagkakape, he was with Hil and Azterix there, while Reyes and Hade were on their designated tables, having coffee as well. Pagkalagay ng mga gamit sa post niya ay walang anumang dumiretso siya sa coffee station para magtimpla rin ng kape.

"Bakit ang aga mo?" He asked Illya while placing the mug of coffee on the table.

Illya snickered. "Everything kind of went back to normal on EverRose's side. Balik trabaho na rin siya gaya natin, office hours as well kaya sabay kaming umalis sa bahay kanina. Of course, I wouldn't be allowing her to work if she wasn't swarmed by bodyguards that I approved of, she has two of our best agents added to her own bodyguards when I'm not around."

Napatango-tango si Armand. Sang-ayon siya sa karagdagang bantay ni Eve lalo pa at nandiyan lang ang banta ng Dominus Mortem sa paligid.

Napakunot-noo si Hil. "Anong trabaho ni Eve? Is she working at their company?"

"Isa siyang fashion designer maliban pa sa position niya sa family business nila." Sagot ni Illya.

"If she's that busy how can she train like a spartan?" Tanong ni Azterix na ikinatawa ng lahat. "I'm volunteering to be her instructor in shooting."

"Sinabi mo 'yan, ah. Wala ng bawian." Natatawang saad ni Illya. "She'll make time for the training, she has to."

"Wow, parang ang istrikto mo naman, Illya." Sabat ni Hade. " Ikaw ba ang magtuturo sa kanya ng self-defense?" Tumango bilang sagot ang binata. "Be lenient on her. I know you."

"Sobra ka, Hade," Illya said. "Hindi ko siya pahihirapan, I don't have the heart to do that."

"Siguruhin mo." Ani Reyes na muling ikinatawa ng lahat. "Hindi ko makitang may matigas na dating si Eve. She will always be a softy for me."

Illya grinned and agreed at the same time, so were the other towering men inside that office. EverRose will forever be the princess, and them as the cavaliers.

"Maiba," seryosong saad ni Armand. "Sa tingin n'yo kailan sila magsisimulang kumilos matapos ang ginawa nila sa agency kaninang madaling araw?"

Natahimik ang lahat sa loob ng ilang segundo sa tanong na iyon.

"They could be plotting schemes right now as we speak." Sagot ni Hade.

"Marami tayong nalaman mula kay Torrino tungkol sa Dominus Mortem, but there's one thing he may have never known or even realized. I don't think Luca Ardizonne is the leader of that group."

"Paano mong nasabi?" Tanong ni Armand kay Illya.

"I had a chance to face him personally, he was the same age as Reyes for sure. Though he definitely lacks the description of a leader. Mas malakas pang 'di hamak ang dating ni Reyes kaysa sa kanya." Paliwanag ni Illya.

"Ang ibig mong sabihin 'yong nanloob dito sa agency, iyong may pakana niyon ang siyang totoong leader?" Paniniguro ni Armand.

"Exactly." Illya said.

Muling natahimik ang lahat, mga hindi mapakali dahil sa kaalamang hindi nila hawak ang hinaharap at kung anong maaaring gawin ng Dominus Mortem makapaghiganti lang.

According to Olivier Torrino, the mafia group resides in Porto Venere, Italy. They have their exact location. Maaari din nilang i-infiltrate ang lair ng grupo kung gugustihin nila, the sooner the better. Napatingin si Armand sa mga kasamahan, if they have to assign two people to go on a mission, his best pick would be Azterix and Hade. Hade for one was a computer genius, maliban pa sa pagiging medic ng grupo. And Azterix could secure Hade in the shadows while they were on a mission extracting information. Illya was one of best picks too, being a tactician himself but he was in a happy relationship as of the moment... he knew Illya, he wouldn't say no to a mission but they have to take in consideration that EverRose needs him the most in this matter. He was her protector. And EverRose's life was pretty much in danger for being associated to the group as well.