Chapter 24: Mission
The training ground was silent.
Too silent.
Only the sound of heavy breathing filled the air. Sweat dripped from their faces. Bruises marked their skin. For weeks, Leo had pushed them beyond limits they didn't even know existed.
No mercy.
No breaks.
No excuses.
Nick collapsed on the floor. "Are we soldiers or machines?" he groaned.
Before anyone could answer—
Clap.
One sharp clap echoed across the hall.
They froze.
Leo stood at the entrance, dressed in black, hands inside his pockets. His eyes were calm… but dangerous.
"You all survived training," he said slowly. "Now it's time to see if you deserve to stay."
Their hearts skipped.
Mission.
The word hit harder than any punch.
They stood in the hall as Leo explained everything coldly.
"Half mission," he said, eyes unreadable. "You will meet Realiana. Observe her. Make sure she is safe."
Nick blinked. "Meet her… directly?"
"Yes."
"And the second half?"
Leo turned serious. "You will kidnap the organizer of the building where you first met Valley and the Silent Duchess."
The memory of that building sent chills down their spines.
"That man is not innocent," Leo continued. "He is connected to them."
"And you?" Smith asked carefully.
Leo simply replied, "I'll handle what needs to be handled."
Which meant — he would be there.
Somewhere.
Watching.
Half Mission: Meeting Realiana
The cafe door opened with a soft chime.
And there she was.
Realiana.
Wearing a simple white dress, hair flowing freely, completely unaware that half the room was already secured by silent protectors.
Nick stood first. "Hey."
She blinked in surprise. "All of you? Together?"
Natasha smiled warmly. "Are we not allowed to meet you?"
Realiana laughed softly. "You all disappear for weeks and suddenly appear like a secret squad."
Jhosen smirked. "Maybe we are."
They sat down. The atmosphere felt light at first.
Smith leaned back in his chair. "So… how have you been?"
"Normal," she replied. "Unlike you all."
Natasha tilted her head. "What does that mean?"
Realiana hesitated.
Then casually — too casually — she said:
"Someone once told me… that he was obsessed with me."
They all froze.
She didn't say Leo's name.
Not once.
Nick felt his heartbeat rise.
She continued, pretending it didn't matter.
"So… where is he?"
The way she said it — just he — made the silence heavier.
Jhosen cleared his throat. "He's… busy."
She nodded slowly. "Hmm."
Smith chuckled lightly, trying to ease the tension. "About that obsessed thing… boss was just being dramatic."
Natasha shot him a warning look — but too late.
Smith continued with a grin, "He says things like that for fun."
Realiana's fingers stopped moving.
"For fun?" she repeated quietly.
"Yes," Smith said, laughing a little. "You know how he is."
She didn't.
And that was the problem.
Her smile didn't disappear.
It just… changed.
"Oh," she said softly. "I see."
Natasha noticed it immediately — that tiny shift in her eyes.
The unspoken disappointment.
But Realiana quickly lifted her head again. "Anyway, why are you all here suddenly? Reunion?"
Nick forced a smile. "You could say that."
Jhosen added, "We were nearby."
"Nearby?" she teased lightly. "All five of you?"
They laughed.
But she didn't ask again about him.
And that hurt more than if she had.
Subtle Protection
While the conversation continued, they worked silently.
Natasha observed reflections in the café window.
Jhosen excused himself to "take a call," scanning the street outside.
Nick kept track of everyone entering and leaving.
Smith monitored the back exit.
Everything clear.
No threats.
No suspicious movement.
Realiana talked about small things — books, random thoughts, a movie she recently watched.
But there was one thing she carefully avoided.
Leo.
She never mentioned his name again.
Not even once.
Half mission: successful.
But emotionally?
It felt complicated.
Second Mission: The Organizer
Night fell like a curtain.
The playful café atmosphere vanished.
Now it was cold air and dark suits.
They stood near the same building — the place where they had first encountered Valley and the Silent Duchess.
The memory still lingered.
This time, Leo stood with them.
Silent.
Commanding.
His presence alone shifted the energy.
"The organizer exits at 10:15," Leo said calmly. "Three minutes window. No noise."
Natasha adjusted her gloves.
Jhosen checked the vehicle.
Nick glanced once at Leo.
"she was… fine?" Leo asked suddenly.
He didn't look at them.
He didn't say her name.
But everyone understood.
Nick answered carefully. "She was fine."
A pause.
Then Natasha added softly, "She asked where you were."
Leo's expression didn't change.
"What exactly did she say?" he asked.
Smith replied before thinking, "She said someone once told her you were obsessed with her… and asked where you were."
Silence.
Leo's jaw tightened for just a second.
"And?" he asked.
"And we told her you were dramatic," Smith admitted. "That you said it for fun."
The air became colder.
Leo didn't react loudly.
Didn't shout.
Didn't scold.
He just looked away.
"Focus on the mission," he said.
But his eyes had changed.
Capture
10:15.
The organizer stepped out, checking his phone.
Within seconds—
Natasha blocked his path.
Jhosen grabbed his arm.
Nick covered his mouth.
Smith secured him.
Leo stood watching as the man was pulled into the vehicle.
Smooth.
Clean.
Professional.
Second mission: completed.
As the van door closed, Leo finally spoke quietly.
"She didn't say my name?"
"No," Natasha answered honestly.
Leo looked ahead at the dark road.
For the first time—
He understood something.
Silence hurts more than anger.
And somewhere, in a quiet room far away—
Realiana stared at her phone.
Not texting.
Not calling.
Just wondering why the word obsessed now felt like a joke.