Deception: A Tactician's Card

To the Villain's Lair!

The International Bureau of Rune System Regulation, or simply Bureau, a sector that has the main purpose of dealing with the laws regarding the rune cards' usage and the like. There's been a lot of changes of the International Rune Card System Laws and Regulations as time passes, but there's one rule that never changed.

RULE D298:

Abusing the use of rune cards, using it against the law, and disrupting the peace and order of a nation are hereby punishable by the authorities.

It's a simple rule, but the Bureau's been struggling to implement it in countries that were still in civil war, and colonizing and colonized countries. The Int'l Rune Card System Laws and Regulations was either ignored by the public or abused by the authorities. Their branches all over the globe also suffers from riots, and sabotages. The world is in chaos, and the Bureau is doing the best effort it could muster to lower the possibility of creating another world war.

The Bureau also acts as an intermediary between guilds and clubs, and the Bureau itself is technically both a guild and a club. A guild is an organization that allowed individuals be engaged in various requests, whereas a club is an organization that focuses on nurturing someone's talent whether it's academics, sports, arts, and crafting rune cards. In that aspect, an academic institution could also apply to the Bureau and label itself as a "Guild School" or a "Club School", or perhaps a "Mixed Institute". Crimson Academy is an example of a "Mixed Institute".

Brian Hugh, a Bureau member for two years, approached the office of one of their supervisors. He's a seemingly talented individual, 18 years of age, bearing pale red spiky hair and mean-looking eyes. He's 6'1" tall, and has a buff physique. He often wears a red scarf, a checkered pair of pants, plain black T-shirt and a pair of combat boots. He just got promoted, and is currently one of those who bear Authority Level 4, a great feat of someone who's a Bureau member working within two years. Normally, it would take four years to achieve that level.

He knocked the door twice and twisted the knob after hearing that he's been authorized to enter.

"Madame Leblanc, it's great to see you."

"Save me the flattery. Just take your seat", said the supervisor without batting an eye.

Brian shrugged and sat down as per mandated by the supervisor.

Sitting on a gaming chair, of all chairs accessible, is Annie Leblanc, the supervisor. She's wearing a gothic outfit and a pair of sneakers (which is contrast to her clothing) and is always wearing a headset, as if it's a hairband. Her messy short lime green hair tends to cover her violet almond eyes.

"So, why are you here? Huh!? Oh, come on... I lost again. Tch."

"Ah, I came here because you asked me to, remember?"

"Did I? I guess I did then."

Brian did a sigh, and tolerated this seemingly emotionless, forgetful game geek.

"So, what am I supposed to do here?"

"I need you to trace my brother's whereabouts."

"What the-? I ain't babysitting your sibling."

"You don't understand. That guy's a pain in the butt when he lost his sanity. He's too obsessed with a certain female."

"What? You want me to be a love guru now? Giving him guidance towards enlightenment?"

"It's neither of those. Anyway, he was able to escape from his house arrest. The guards are..."

Annie just lowered her head while bitting her lower lip.

"So, your brother is a psycho?"

"I wish he's not that kind of a person but sadly... He did became like that."

"I see. Oh, what's the name of that girl he's obsessed with? I'll ask her cooperation since I'm pretty darn sure that he'll come for her."

"Yes. Her name is—"

Before Annie could finish talking, the door was heavily knocked by someone outside.

"Seems like an emergency."

"Kind of. You got permission to enter."

"Oy. I thought you said that everything's going smoothly?"

"...Yukti."

Perhaps not knowing who he was, Brian decided to ask for the visitor's identity.

"Uh, I know it's pretty awkward but hey, could you tell me who you are?"

"Allow me to answer that in his stead, Brian. He's someone affiliated with the Bureau. To make things brief, he's an elite."

"It's WAS."

"You leaving the Bureau won't change my opinion on you. By the way, why did you came at a sudden notice?"

"Your brother just kidn*pped my sister in our house."

"HE WHAT!? THAT GUY'S GONE AND DONE IT!" Annie exclaimed as she slammed her palms on the table.

"Since I'm here, even though I don't want to, you probably knew what's next right?"

"I understand. Ah, you should bring us as well. Who knows, there'll be an unprecedented scenario that you can't handle alone."

Yukti just nodded, gestured with his fingers that he'll wait for four minutes. Annie stood up and started preparing. The agitated Yukti stepped outside the room, slamming the door shut.

"Damn. That guy sure is agitated."

"Of course he is. If you listened to our short conversation, he did say that my brother kidn*pped his sister."

"I did listen, sheesh... So, change of plans?"

"Yes. Let's go."

•••

"Hah... Kukuku... Finally, FINALLY! After a looooooooooong time... I finally got you! Nothing's going to stop me now!"

A wraith-like being is hanging an unconscious Leen with its hands holding her arms.

The hallway is dark if it weren't for an illuminating cell card screen. It's Leen's phone displaying a call coming from a certain person. The one who's holding it is no other than Annie's brother, Jaxonn Leblanc. His appearance is no longer human and could no longer be described except that all of its body parts turned into water. Since the water is transparent, one could see his brain and that's it -- there's no other internal organ crucial for living that existed.

"Leen. LEEN. LEEEEEEEN! You'll be happy to have me as your husband! We'll sleep at the same bed, cuddle a lot, and of course, I'll have you bear my children! Then we'll be one happy family!"

"Oh? You finally got the girl of your dreams? Congratulations~"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Hero! You wouldn't believe this! I finally got her!"

Hero Zlasier, one of the masterminds of Dawn Edge Incident, was clapping happily as they celebrate his "friend's" triumph.

"However, that rune card is preventing you to do things further than what you're doing right? I'll have it removed by my good friend~ He's about to come here tomorrow!"

"That's great! I'm glad I joined this crew!"

"Of course, of course... Friends help each other! Oy! Nefario! Come here and let's celebrate Jaxonn's first achievement of his life!"

"Nefario. Happy. But. Nefario. Need. Go. Mission."

"Oh, is that so? That's unfortunate, well...go now!"

"Nefario. Thanks."

His loud thuds coming with his every step slowly decreased little by little as he walked away. Hero waved his hands while staring on Nefario's back. He then diverted his gaze back to Jaxonn and saw him crying.

"Oh? What's wrong?"

"N-nothing. It's just... I'm so happy!"

Hero tapped his back, and nodded while smiling. However, he immediately stood up and turns around to face the wall.

"Oy~ I think you've been followed."

"Huh? That's impossible. Unless..."

He stared at Leen's phone currently in his possession. He threw it away with force enough to shatter the cell card.

"Dammit! I'm so sorry big bro Hero!"

"Nah~ Don't worry, don't worry~"

An area of the wall exploded. It's the first time that the sunlight was able to illuminate the inside of this place. From the hole, two individuals entered. One of them, a female, was wearing a gothic outfit, a pair of sneakers, and hanging on her neck is a piece of headset. Next to her is a man wearing a red scarf, a checkered pair of pants, plain black T-shirt and a pair of combat boots.

"I wanted to at least finish the game today but dealing with you is more important than it. Look at you now, you stupid brother. You may have a different appearance, but it's my intuition that it's you, water guy."

"Eh? That's your brother? He looks nothing like what he looks like in the picture you sent me! And who's that guy next to him?"

Hero just clapped his hands with glee.

"Oh my~ Your sister is dazzling! Mind if I take her as my wife?"

"I prefer to have her dead. Hey, Wraith! Move away from here and make sure my wife is safe and sound."

The Wraith vanished along with Leen, and the four of them were getting ready for an intense fight.