TO KILL IS TO SERVE

Chapter 14: The Cool Cat

“Info, I need your help. I need your techno skills.”

“You know I only do negotiations between clients and assassins, right?” He replied as soon as he let me finished talking. “So, no, unless you’ll be my client.” He finished without sounding interested. This is not something I could demand of him, yes, but f**k that’s so annoying.

I groaned in his direct answer. If I could only do this by myself, I will. “Info, you know background checking and shits are not my specialization. It’s not even in my to-do list. Or to-learn whatever.” I grumbled as I rest my back onto the headrest of the bed. “It will only take you a minute.” I added, unsure about the time but at least I gave him a specific duration.

Assassins are factotums, Jack of all trades, but we definitely have our own little short-comings. I admit I suck when it comes to techy things. Hacking, background checking, programming and everything that Info can do are not in my area of expertise. It hurts my assassin-ego but to hell with egos when I have a job to do.

“No.”

What a firm rejection. I groaned in defeat as a protest and but he didn’t care, as expected. “Fine, connect me to an assassin who can.” I inquired, having no choice.

“Budget?”

This sneaky—“Five digits.” I replied after sighing dejectedly. I am sure he has friends he could ask for free and yet… everything for this damn job is nothing if it’s not money and blood.

“How about Dange—”

“f*****g no.” I replied in a swift when I felt that he will suggest me to contact Danger I.

“Okay.” He answered and began typing in his computer afterwards. I can hear him typing and chuckling at the same time. Reisun, you need him, so f*****g calm down. I sighed while patiently waiting. “Found four. Sending the file. They will be in chronological order, so read everything first.” He said just right after a few seconds of confirmation.

He’s making me speechless with his out-of-this-world technology skills but his out-of-this-world attitude is more bothersome. “Same old set-up. I’m going to pick and send the payment to you after our negotiation.” I replied and ended the call when he agreed. A bomb mail was immediately received and there flashed four candidates: their masks, code numbers, code names, ranks, contact number and fee. But I firstly wore my t-shirt before I browse through the assassins’ information.

The first candidate is a woman, wearing a well-worn mask, looking old fashioned.

Code number: 0077

Code name: E-type

Rank: Stealth

Contact number: 0909*******

Fee: 60,000-90,000 (non-negotiable)

My face turned grim as soon as I finished scanning the first candidate’s information. Is Info teasing the hell out of me? I cursed under my breath. “That fucker.” He knows that this is just a simple background checking. How dare he to send me a Stealth? Is that geek really that tired of living?

I went to the next candidate who is apparently, also a woman. Her mask is just too fancy for my taste.

Code number: 0126

Code name: Youngdeath

Rank: Agent

Contact number: 0956*******

Fee: 30,000-50,000 (pre-set)

I bet Info just randomly picked four candidates with 5 digits price range. He did not even think of how easy the freaking job is. “I kind of want to dirt my hands with a colleague’s blood.” I whispered to myself and scrolled down.

The third candidate is a male, with a mask of pure black. I think I’ve seen him in the tribute a few days ago. He was flirting with some assassins back then. I arched my brow and started reading his information.

Code number: 0112

Code name: Heart-catcher

Rank: Agent

Contact number: 0927*******

Fee: 20,000-40,000 (women can get huge discount)

I groaned in disgust. He is so filthy. How in the world did the organization accept that cursed codename? I thought and cringed for I am utterly sickened. f*****g f**k boy. I wonder how unpleasant he feels whenever he accepts men as his targets and pleasured when he takes women’s lives. I don’t want to f*****g imagine—no. I slid unto the next candidate, shrinking my eyes, preparing for the next disappointment.

If this were to disappoint me, Info’s blood will stain my hands tonight.

The next candidate is a woman again, with a mask obviously making her look young-at-heart. “What the hell is with those hearts?” I mumbled, with my brows meeting, thinking if I have seen her in the tribute. But that kind of mask will surely attract attention. I thought while scrolling down to her information.

Code number: 0158

Code name: Cool Cat

Rank: Clandestine

Contact number: 0908*******

Fee: 8,000 and above

I growled, silently complaining. What the hell? And before I could even say anything more, I already called Info in annoyance.  That geek knows how pissed off I can get because of this hellish temper and yet he’s still testing my patience.

“Which?”

“Fucker.” I grunted over the phone. “You gave a freaking Stealth, with the price range of 60k to 90k. And then a Clandestine, who is obviously too young to be called an assassin!”

“Why? Cool Cat seemed fine and she’s not—”

“How could I trust her? I bet she’s only eight asking for eight thousand!” I am losing my f*****g cool. There are hundreds of assassins working under Mister Love… It is impossible to have only four of them who can do background checks. This hitman is playing with me. I frowned while massaging my forehead.

Info went silent for a second and then I heard him sigh. “You’re the youngest assassin ever baptised and ever lived as a THD, Reisun. Have you lost your mind over—”

“How old is she?” I cut him off again. She cannot be thirty. She looked like an eight year-old, without exaggeration. “Did she join THD for fun or something?”

“She’s twenty-eight, young man.” He answered after typing something on his keyboard. I can hear every click of his keyboard but I cannot count for he’s typing in such fantastic speed. “And she just started her side-line, which is background checking, because she hasn’t got any clients lately.”

How could she get clients with her twisted code name? I sighed through my nose and placed my left hand to my right forearm. “Is she reliable?” I asked and Info chuckled. “Is it a no?”

“MSCS, Reisun. At the age of 23, she’s already an MSCS degree holder.” I don’t know what MSCS stands for but is it necessary for Info to praise her like that? The last time he did praise someone, three assassins f*****g died. And no, the one with Danger I is not counted. I blinked in realization. “She’s basically a genius in tech—”

“Copy. I’m going to call her now.” I ended the call instead of receiving more admonishment from someone over the phone. I called the number of Cool Cat and after a ring, she has already answered. “Code 0099.” I said over the phone after activating my voice-changer.

“Code 0158. Greetings, legendary Reisun.” She answered with a voice-changer almost identical of that of a cat. I pursed my lips to avoid chuckling on someone who just unnecessarily called me legendary. “What can I help you with?”

“I heard you’re doing a background check as your side-line?” I replied candidly without mentioning anything pointless. “I need you to check on something.” If she’s not praised by Info and if I weren’t this desperate because of the remaining time for this mission, I will not bother to hire and negotiate with my fellow assassin.

I heard a few breaths and a door closing before she spoke again. “Shall this be discussed personally?” She asked, obviously whispering. “I apologize but I do not accept work through phone, Code 0099, especially background checking works.”

I nodded. For an unsophisticated and artless lady like her, being professional is the least I expected, but never judge someone by their chosen code name. No matter how weird and childish it is. “Indeed.” I replied and she tapped the microphone once, indicating a yes. What a lazy cat. “Give me a place and a time. I am available every day after 3PM.” I said.

“Tomorrow, at four. I’m going to send you a map of our meeting place.” And she ended the call. Just like Info, the bomb email arrived right after I put my phone down from my ear. She indeed is a professional, too. I opened the map and it’s an animated map… I take back what I just said about her being professional. “She’s just babyish.” Annoying for her age and profession.

-

“Grei!” Alora called me in such an enthusiastic manner and I turned to her with my well-worn gentle smile. “You in a hurry?” She asked while putting her easel properly at the back of the classroom.

“Nah. I just need to do something at four.” I replied while fixing my bag. The classes ended pretty late today, I only have thirty minutes to prepare. “I probably cannot walk you home today, is that fine?” I asked and she nodded. Alora also walked towards me and carried her bag. “Take care.” I noticed that we have been together a lot lately. I also sounded like a normal teenager telling a friend I won’t be able to go home with her. How can a f*****g moment like this come to me? I chuckled as I think. 

“Sure.” She replied and waited for everyone to go out before walking behind them. “Bye! Bye!” Alora mouthed when she turned around for the last time before going out of the room. I forgot to ask her about the green and pink color combination but I still have plenty of time for that.

I wore my Bluetooth in-ear and called Cool Cat when no one’s around anymore. She answered right after a ring, like she did yesterday. It’s obvious that she has nothing better to do but wait for someone to call her and hire her to do some background checks. “Twenty minutes.” I mumbled and got out of the building after everyone else. I headed towards a public comfort room with no CCTV that would catch me changing appearance.

“I am already here. I am wearing red.” She replied and I tapped my Bluetooth once, as my reply. I also have ended the call without talking back.

I just resorted to the least expected way to catch the real culprit of this deal. I am f*****g uncool.