Deception: A Tactician's Card

Thera-Pain

"Heya, I'm home."

"Took you long enough, mentor."

"Come on, stop calling me that. Where are the others?"

I finally reached home.

I have the key, so I don't need to knock the door and ask for someone to open it. The hinges lacked in lubricants -- the door made a squeaky sound as it progresses to open. Perhaps curious as of why the door opened, someone popped her head behind a wall.

It's Annie.

After seeing me, she vanished from my sight, and retracted herself from my back to her position (probably). I could hear a "pomf" sound coming from one of our sofas. I went inside, and found her lying on our two-person sofa. There are three sofas here in our house, and the two were currently occupied. I talked with her in a low, tired voice. I'm beat.

"They're with your sister. As for my companion, he's sleeping on the sofa as you can see. You won't mind, right?"

I looked once more at the other guy. He's almost fully wrapped in bandages. Man, he looked like some mummy. He's staggering a little bit but I think he's fine. Hopefully.

"I won't. Is my sister fine?"

"Don't worry, she's awake. I just came from her room, that's why I know. You can go and see her well-being yourself."

"Nah, I'm just going to lie down to the sofa for a bit. We need to go back immediately to that place. I'll show you something. In the meantime could you...?"

"Call them out? Sure thing."

I sat back, leaning my back against the sofa, with both of my arms kind of supporting my weight. I leaned my head upwards and sighed exasperatedly.

"Hey! Kiddo! You're back! You should've gave us a holler, you know?"

"Broki!"

"Yukti. Welcome back."

I've been greeted by the three individuals, namely Chairperson Michaela, my sister Leen, and Snow.

Hmm?

Aren't we missing one?

"Hey Annie?"

"Yes?"

"Where's the other one?"

"Oh, her? She went outside and didn't came back ever since. I asked her to stay but she just shook her head. She didn't utter a kword either. Ah, she left a note though. Uh, where is it... Here."

She just threw it towards me. I wasn't able to receive it so it ended up landing on my lap. I withdrew my arms from that position and opened it.

It's just a note folded rather neatly. Inside that girl's note contained something I find fishy.

To the one who saved me,

Thank you for what you've done.

- Agony

PS. I'll appear whenever my help is needed.

Oh... Okay...?

At least I know that she's well. So her name is Agony huh.

"Oh? So her name's Agony? What a strange name."

Snow sat beside me and took a peek on the note.

Don't you know the term "privacy"? Well, it's too late for that, and I'm not bothered at all.

"Yep. Why are you seating near me? There's still a lot of space over there", I said as I did a gesture using my eyes to point a fine amount of space on the sofa.

"You're pretty dumb Broki."

"Huh? What's that?"

"Nothing. By the way, why did you gather us here?"

"I need you guys to come with me."

"To where?"

"To that hideout."

"Huh?"

All of them reacted that way.

Of course anyone would.

"Surely you're not hypnotized or something right?" said Snow while tilting her head and raising her eyebrow as she looks at me with those doubtful eyes of hers.

"Surely you jest. Let me finish. There's something important in that place you guys need to see, especially to you two -- Snow and Michaela."

"Important...for us?"

"What do you mean?"

Their responses overlapped. Their state of confusion is troubling them. But I can't spill the beans here. It would be best to let them be the ones to see it in person.

"You'll find out soon enough. I don't have a [Teleport] rune card, and so I'll have you teleport us instead, Annie. You can leave a note for that guy, in case he wakes up. Oh, lemme have my cell card now."

"On it. Here you go."

I stood up, despite the throbbing sensation I felt just now in my head, and grabbed my cell card.

After few minutes of preparation, Annie casted [Teleport] to all of us, except the sleeping man on the couch, and reached the place.

•••

"The base's location was compromised? Okay, I got it. Hide yourselves for now. I'll have you prepared for the next step."

In a room with only a lamp that illuminated the table it's placed on, a guy was sitting on the chair, while holding some papers on his right hand. Due to the lack of light, only his body could be seen, a buff one that could even rip his clothes with his muscles alone. He's wearing a plain white sleeveless shirt and trousers. His husky voice is rather loud by default, and could make anyone wonder if he's angry at them or not.

"I see. That doesn't matter anymore. We already got the results we wanted. Let's proceed with our plan."

After telling that to his caller, he ended the call. He was then approached and hugged from behind by someone. Basing from the slender limbs -- the light illuminated, it's a woman. Her figure couldn't be shown due to the darkness. Her sexy voice is soft to the ear of anyone who could hear it.

"Heh, so someone destroyed the place?"

"Mhmm, it's what Hero reported. Nevertheless, we will proceed as planned. That facility is good as gone. Thinking about it would be a waste. You better prepare too. But before that, I would like to accept this request from Salowe."

"Salowe? That bald guy so skinny he's technically a walking skeleton?"

"Come on, don't be like that. Anyway, he needed some blood."

"He need more people? He ain't a vampy, so why does he need blood?"

"Beats me. But he did show us incredible results. Let's just put our trust to him."

"Trust, huh? That existed in our organization?"

"What, does this mean you don't trust me?"

"I trust you with all my heart. The others? No."

"Heh. You better trust them. After all, we all share the same objective. It's for the betterment of our country."

The woman chuckled before she withdrew her arms off from the man's shoulders.

"Hah~ don't expect me to follow suit."

"Oh? What's your objective then?"

"Simple. To know who I really am and what's my purpose", said she as she teleported away.

The guy switched off the light and mumbled.

"Mmm. Is that so? I'll cheer you on then."

•••

"So this is the place?"

"Where's the facility then?"

Snow and her sister wandered their eyes around.

"Here", I said as I snapped my fingers and revealed the facility I hid using my rune card.

"How and why did you dug a hole?" asked Snow while looking at the pit I made for the facility.

"That's a trivial question. Let's just proceed inside."

"Let's use my [Teleport] rune card this time", said Michaela as she holds her rune card.

"No. Let me try something."

"Huh? I thought you said that you don't have a [Teleport] rune card?"

"It's different. You'll feel a bit uneasy but please bear with me for a moment."

All of them nodded in unison. I responded by nodding back at them and used my spammed rune card.

"[Nightmare Requiem]."

Focus on the fourth floor...

Near the machine...

There!

We teleported at my desired location. It's dark, so Annie used her [Light Flash], a rune card that illuminates the surrounding. It's a multipurpose rune card. It could either be used for the basic lighting of a dark area or for blinding the enemies, robbing their sight out of any opponent.

The four of them were astonished to find themselves in a different location. Michaela approached me, with her arms crossing just below her chest.

"How did you do that!?"

"I casted it earlier right? It's my [Nightmare Requiem]."

"Huh? That killing rune card? Do you want us to perish?"

"You didn't die after being teleported here by my rune card right? Calm down now."

Michaela clicked her tongue as she turned around to look at the canisters.

I heard that loud and clear, you know?

"An extracting machine? They're using it?"

Annie touched the surface of the supercomputer-ish equipment. She's followed by the others, who are also wondering about its existence in the enemies' former base.

"Yes. There's also a Bureau logo on the small screen over there. And, I think you should have these, you two", I said as I shown two particular cards at Snow and Michaela, with a gloomy look on my face.

"These...these are..."

"No way...WHERE IS SHE!?"

Snow fell on her knees, trembling. As for Michaela, she grabbed my shirt, with tears flowing on her cheeks.

I couldn't utter a single word. All I did was to turn my head and look at Cory's canister. She followed suit and loosened her grip. The light emitted by the rune card is enough to illuminate the canister and show her figure.

Michaela ran towards it, followed by Leen. Both couldn't believe their eyes. Annie widened her eyes and lowered her head upon knowing that she's also here. Annie and Cory knew each other so well that they often go out for fun. I could see tears falling down to the ground. I could only clench my fists out of infuriation.

Snow got it worse.

She's still trembling.

She tried to stand up but failed.

She couldn't muster even an ounce of strength.

"Sister...even in death...you're..."

"Snow..."

I lifted her up and carried her in a way how those child books based on romance depicted -- a princess carry. Normally, any woman would try and struggle to get rid of an embarrassing moment, but Snow could only look at me with her seemingly blank stare, without saying a single word.

It is said that finding the truth is a form of therapy, and I find it painful.

I'm so sorry, Cory. I'm sorry for not being there to save you.

Your loss is my biggest regret.

However, I don't plan to repeat the same error.

I'll protect your family that you cherished in your stead.

I promise.