Frontier Horizon

Chapter XLVIII: Underlying Objectives

"ANO BANG nais mong maunang marinig? Ang tungkol sa mga android o ang tungkol sa iyong pinsan?" Pinatunog ni Lora ang kaniyang dila sa pagtitimpi. Kahit seryoso ang mukha ni Loris ay may bahid pa rin ng pang-aasar ang tono ng pananalita nito.

"To gain your trust, I supposed I must tell you about my reason for approaching your cousin first, no?" Mula sa kaniyang bulsa ay inilabas ni Loris ang isang maliit na kahon. At kahit hindi pa niya ito binubuksan, alam na ng binibining kaharap niya ang nilalaman nito.

"I went to Medallion City to handle our businesses, and to delay my parents' arrangements. I have no plans of marriage, but as the prince of our organization, I was obliged in order to strengthen the power my family holds." Inilapag ni Loris ang maliit na kahon sa coffee table na namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa ni Lora.

"Traditions run deep in our family. I can only marry a woman who shares the same blood with us, the Keres' Blood." Napataas ang kilay ni Lora sa pagkabigla. Hindi niya inaasahang Keres' Blood din ang dumadaloy sa binatang kaniyang kausap. Hindi katulad ni Yzra, malayang naipapakita ni Loris ang kaniyang emosyon.

"Then, why Yzra?"

"Someone like us is rarer than you thought. In fact, my parents only got to hold your cousin's information after her Black Parade four years ago—when the Deathstalkers' regent, Eli Arden Hildegard, knocked on our doors and ask for Keres' Blood to keep her heart beating," sagot naman ni Loris at humalukipkip. "They have their eyes on the youngest princess ever since."

Nanatiling tahimik si Lora, dahilan upang mahirapan si Loris na basahin ang tumatakbo sa kaniyang isipan. Gayunpaman, ipinagpatuloy ni Loris ang kaniyang pagpapaliwanag. "I didn't expect to run across to Yzra during my stay in the city, but I took my chance. I approached her and introduced myself, then told her about the favor I wanna ask."

"What favor?" tipid na tanong ni Lora.

"I'd like you to go to the 4th of July Ball with me."

"Pardon?"

"Will you go to the ball with me?" pag-aaya ni Loris kay Yzra. Napahawak naman ang dalaga sa kaniyang baba at napatikhim. May sumasagi sa kaniyang isipan na hindi lamang iyon ang nais sabihin ng binata.

"I'm not here to attend parties, Mr. Saiz," pagtanggi ni Yzra sa imbitasyon. "You already know my identity, don't you? What's your true intention?" malamig na tanong niyang nakapagbigay ng senyales kay Loris upang huwag nang magpaligoy-ligoy pa.

"The Black Organization is planning to offer Deathstalkers a union in a form of marriage—"

"Between you and I, and you want me to oppose it?" pagtutuloy ni Yzra sa dapat sasabihin ng binata. Tumango naman si Loris upang kumpirmahin ito. "Understood, but what will I get in return?"

"What do you want in return?"

"I want a case solved. Can you be in any assistance?"

"It's a deal."

"I see. Now I understand why Yzra somehow trusted you." Tumayo si Lora mula sa pagkakaupo at nagsimulang maglakad nang pabalik-balik. "But as you already know, Uncle Izeno and Yzra didn't have a good relationship. Now that the deal is off, what scheme are you planning, monsieur?" tanong ni Lora kay Loris at tinapunan ito nang matalim na mga tingin. Kitang-kita sa mga mata ng dalaga ang pagtaas ng pagnanasa nitong dumanak ang dugo.

"You can calm down, mademoiselle. I want to see this case solved too, that's why I've brought you the information Yzra entrusted me to find out." Isang ngisi ang pumorma sa labi ni Loris bago niya inilapag sa coffee table ang isang sobre na kaniyang hinugot mula sa bulsa ng kaniyang amerikana.

"Before Trever and I left your penthouse after the incident that happened in The Crest, Yzra told me to further investigate and research about the circulating fluid she found on the android's system. That envelope contains my findings." Pinulot ni Lora ang sobre sa mesa at binuksan ito upang basahin ang sulat na nasa loob.

"I seriously don't know why your cousin dragged me into this. She could've ask Deathstalkers to do the job," wika ni Loris upang basagin ang katahimikan na nagsisimulang bumabalot sa kanila.

"I didn't know you're this talkative," kumento naman ni Lora habang nakatuon pa rin ang kaniyang atensyon sa binabasa. "And to humor your confusion, our hands were tied during our stay in the city. Uncle Izeno was keeping a close watch on Yzra."

Inilipat ni Lora sa susunod na pahina ang binabasa niyang sulat. Agad niyang nabitawan ang papel matapos basahin ang unang talata. Napatakip na lang siya sa kaniyang bibig na hindi niya maitikom dahil sa pagkabigla.

"Uhm. . . Are you okay?" Hindi inaasahan ni Loris ang ganitong reaksyon mula kay Lora. Malinaw sa kaniya na ang dala-dala niyang impormasyon ay nakakabigla, ngunit sa naging reaksyon ng dalaga, may iba pa 'tong ibinabatid.

"How sure are you about your findings, Saiz?" tanong ni Lora at kumuha ng isang lollipop mula sa mga meryendang nakalatag sa mesa.

"A hundred percent. I analyzed the blood thoroughly and compared it to other samples that we have in the blood bank," sagot naman ni Loris at pinagkrus ang kaniyang mga binti. "Is there something we should be worried about?"

"We're in a deep mess. I don't know if we can handle this alone." Napasabunot na lamang si Lora sa kaniyang buhok. "They're not targeting Yzra due to her connections with Pantheon. They're after the Keres' Blood."

"Huh? I don't think so," hindi pagsang-ayon ni Loris sa dalaga. "Katulad nang sinabi ko sa'yo kanina, ang buong pamilya namin ay nagtataglay ng dugong iyon. If they're really after it, my family is the one they should be targeting."

"That's if they want to exposed themselves, but they're not." Kinagat ni Lora ang lollipop na nakababad sa kaniyang bibig. "Pinapagulo lang nila ang utak natin. Inilalayo lang nila tayo sa totoo nilang plano."

"What information will you be needing?"

"Take this microchip with you. Yzra want it to be examined. I'll handle the information gathering. I'm the Bourbon one, after all."

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July 24, 2022 UPDATE
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