An Idle Moment before the Storm
1329 Words
"Well, first of all, I would like to thank you for restoring the damaged facility."
"Please don't mind about it. Just think of it as some kind of school project."
I'm inside my sister's office, together with Mister Andrew, Leen, and of course, my sister.
For some reason, I could see that my sister's a bit anxious and was fidgeting. Not taking it anymore, I removed my hesitation to ask.
"What's the matter, sister?"
"Well, you see..."
And there goes a long conversation.
She told me about what had happened while we were apart. She's managing the private property she used for a new facility where all we gathered from that old enemy base were being kept. As for Yukti, he managed to fend off some spies, leaving one of them behind to squeeze some information.
"Uhmm, the truth is..."
"Truth is what, sister?"
"... For now, let's go to our secret base. Mister Andrew if it's possible, could you...?"
"No worries, chairperson. You put your utmost trust upon me, so there's no merit for me to expose your movements. I, for one, dislike some parts of the Bureau and it's great to know that there are a handful of incredible people doing their best to bring back what's the equity needed by the individuals. I'll see to it that this place will be fine. I'll call you if anything comes up."
Mister Andrew...
He's someone we all trust, even Yukti (uh, though he's not that cautious, still). He told us about his past before he became an entertainer. He's also someone affiliated with a person from another country who's rebelling against the Bureau's current ways of doing things. That resistance leader and our objectives seem to coincide, and so we're exchanging information, with Mister Andrew as our mediator. This is one of the reasons why our plans were sailing smoothly, as well as theirs. Mister Andrew is surprisingly a tight-lipped individual, a feat that's rare nowadays. Most people would sing if interrogated for a few moments, based on my knowledge after reading a lot of novels. Tee-hee.
Mister Andrew has a separate office just next to the chairperson's office. Ah, it's called Management Office but it's just like a condominium unit, frankly speaking.
"Thank you so much, Mister Andrew. You've been a great help."
"Anything for the ones who helped me when I have nothing. Go now, and please leave the rest to me."
I could only smile at him while waving as my sister cast [Teleport] and brought us to our hidden base.
•••
"Thank you so much, Mister Andrew. You've been a great help."
"Anything for the ones who helped me when I have nothing. Go now, and please leave the rest to me."
They teleported to the hidden base, leaving me behind to deal with the aftermath of this day's incident.
What I said earlier were my genuine feelings. I feel indebted to them, especially to those two. Yukti and Leen, was it? They're superb individuals if you asked me.
"Now then. I'll tend to the faculty members who could wake up any minute now. Leen did say that she wiped their memories about that incident. Everything will be fine" I said to myself as I walked towards the faculty room.
•••
"Oh. Welcome back."
"Eh? Liz Plasma?"
"Is something wrong with me being here?"
"No. Nothing at all. I'm just surprised you are still here."
The fact that Liz accompanied Agony here slipped my mind.
Sorry about that.
"Huh? Where are the others?"
"That's the thing. They said that they're going to that clone's secret enemy base. I wonder if they'll be fine."
"Don't worry about that Yukti. He's even dangerous than I am."
"Eh? He is?"
"Oh yeah, you didn't know who he was and what is he capable of. It's fine, you'll know about it soon enough. If you cooperate with us, that is."
Liz Plasma nodded, her face visibly shocked upon hearing my sister's remark about Yukti.
Indeed. Out of all of us, Yukti is the most dangerous.
"Chairperson, just how much do you know about that guy?"
"Hmm? Well, let's talk about it over a cup of cappuccino. Would you like some, Leen?"
"Sure. I haven't drink one once in a while", Leen responded with a smile.
"Okay. Now, how about you, Liz?"
"I prefer the cold one."
"The cold one it is then. Snow, could you prepare and serve us three hot cappuccinos and a cold one for Liz."
"Okay."
There's a separate building built to serve as a kitchen. It's about the size of a house, though. Why so gigantic?
Questions aside, I left the room and proceeded to my destination, as my sister and the others are briefing Liz about our motives.
•••
Twenty minutes have passed, and I finally brought the beverages, as well as some pastries to go well with it, and served it to all of us.
"Just who is Yukti, ma'am?"
Liz sprung the first move. She's quite puzzled about Yukti's identity.
I've been in that mess, Liz. I know how it feels. That's exactly what I felt during and after the Dawn Edge Incident.
"I could see how puzzled you are when it comes to that guy's existence. But first, let me ask you something."
"Fire away."
"Have you heard information circulating about a certain guy in the Bureau dubbed 'Ghost Tactician'?"
"I'm well aware of his existence. He's infamously known as someone who could make even a novice defeat a mid-tier boss in a dungeon and yet he didn't monopolize any dropped loots. At first, I didn't believe it, but I soon realized that it was the truth after I overheard my parents talking about him."
"That's nice that you know much to that extent. Then, what if I tell you that the 'Ghost Tactician' and Yukti are the same person?"
"WHAT!?"
Liz got too shocked and jumped from her casual sitting position after hearing my sister's statement.
I mean, who wouldn't?
Yukti as the Ghost Tactician was infamously known for his near-impossible achievements and exploits. One of his greatest ones includes making a team of inexperienced individuals defeats a high-leveled boss. He didn't even lend a hand during that time, as per what those guys he accompanied with told the public.
How much more if he did?
The enemy would die in an instant if he pleases.
My sister later told her what she knew about Yukti. His sister Leen even introduced herself formally to Liz. She's surprised to know that one of the most famous creators of rune cards for females is the sister of an infamous individual.
"Haha, sorry for bombarding you with shocking details, Miss Liz", said Leen with a gentle smile.
"Ah, no! It ain't a problem at all! Anyway...uh, how many are you in this group?"
My sister paused before she responded.
"Mmm... It's only a handful, that's for certain. Our team includes me, my sister Snow—"
"Wait, Snow is your sister?"
"Yep."
"Ahhhhhhh."
Liz leaned her back against the chair with considerable force enough to lean the chair a little.
"It's too hard to swallow everything at once."
"I know. Take your time to chew it. Oh, now that you know about it, I would like you to keep it a secret."
"No problem. I could guess why you wanted to."
"Thanks for being considerate, Liz. Anyway, let's—"
Our talk was then interrupted by the buzzing of a phone.
"Sister, I think it's yours."
"My, who could it be, I wonder? Hmm? It's Yukti."
"What did he mailed you?"
"Calm down. Let's see...Going back to get you and the rest to the facility. I'll show you something, is what he says. Everyone, let's put this talk on a hold right now. Prepare yourselves."
"Yes!"
"What are you going to do then, Liz?"
"I'll accompany you."
Yukti, just what are you going to show us?
- Writer
