Back in Safehouse No. 3 Li Jian was at his wit's end. "None of the people who have replied are good enough" he muttered, rubbing his temples. "We need a bit more time…"
"No time." cut in Aegis curtly. "We need to move before this safehouse is found out and while we still have the advantage. If we don't get someone, we do Plan B."
"Plan B is too dangerous" snapped Li Jian. "It was just yesterday since your benefactor brought you back from the brink of death - have you already forgotten?"
"And if we do not act now, we loose the advantage we have! Retorted Aegis. "Currently, the spy knows we are lying and would be hunting for us. The longer we wait, the lesser chance we have to smoke them out."
Li Jian took a deep breath. I will not get mad. I will not get mad. "One more day. Give us one more day. If it doesn't work, we choose Plan B." Despite stating it as a command, he waited - without Aegis saying yes, Li Jian will not proceed. Military order was carved into his bones. His respect for Aegis' command ran deeper. "Please Aegis" he whispered.
Aegis smiled wryly at him. He had to admit he was touched. There were not a lot of people who cared about him. His fingers subconsciously brushed the bracelet in his hand. Staying here means I get to be closer to her longer.
"One more day." he agreed. "We move out tomorrow night with Plan B otherwise." And, without waiting for Li Jian's response, he left the conference room.
Li Jian moved to the console at his desk and hurriedly signed into the darkweb. The contract for the hacker was still up. They have had numerous people apply so far - and not one of them had managed to crack the encryption Lin Ke had set up. "Did that kid make it too hard?" he wondered. He called for a team meeting - maybe they needed to rethink capacity.
In the next 3 minutes, their team had assembled - Lin Ke joining via a highly discreet and untraceable phone. Since Lin Ke was the only operative on the team who hadn't been on the field, the Black Lotus didn't have any intel on him. He was the perfect person to guard the hostage while they carried out their plan.
"I vote we reduce the intelligence level of the challenge" said Rhino. "Having someone is better than not having anyone at all" he urged. Their next operation was going to be tricky. Aegis wanted to run a decoy game, and target the Black Lotus before they could recover from the last hit. They knew that City C's exits were watched closely. If they moved out with a fake "hostage", that was bound to smoke some vermin out.
"Negative" came Lin Ke's reply seriously from the other end. "We need someone smarter than me. Not dumber. The challenge is something I couldn't solve. If the hacker who assists doesn't get it, I rather we do it without support"
"Such a low bar - smarter than Lin Ke, you would think that was a lot of candidates, no?!" muttered Viper.
"Hey.."
"If we don't get someone, Aegis has decided on Plan B." Li Jian interjected grimly. "We have till tomorrow night".
The silence was heavy. They knew how hard Plan B would be. Oh, they weren't worried for themselves. Aegis always had their back. But who would have his?
In the next room, unconcerned by his team's concern, Aegis was carelessly talking on the phone. The light of the afternoon sun filtered in, catching the sharp angle of his jaw. "Commander General Huo doesn't have to worry - I will be there by the end of the week to keep up appearances"
"Brat. I am not talking as your superior…"
"Then, there's no reason for us to continue chatting Commander" and Aegis moved to cut the call.
"Your mother is worried" rushed in Commander General Huo. "She was trying to reach you and wanted to come to the hospital to check."
"So Commander Huo is trying to guilt me into rushing back? I have already assured you I will be there in 3 days."
Commander Huo was at his wit's end. "Can't you talk properly? I.."
"No." denied Aegis flatly. "If there's nothing else, I am heading to make arrangements for the trip back." and he abruptly cut the call.
The Grand Commander General Huo who had ordered legions of men gazed helplessly at his phone. When had this all gone so wrong? He didn't know. And, despite trying his best, he hadn't been able to find a way back.
Aegis aimlessly made his way back to the kitchen. Talking with the Grand Commander General always put him in a bad mood. On autopilot, his hands opened the fridge and he took out the last of the medicinal porridge she had made. He had eaten it sparingly, and had threatened his team with death if they so much as breathed in it's direction. Despite his best efforts, there was very little left. "Maybe it's good to finish it now." he muttered. "If it's all over, there's nothing left to want."
Aegis had no more illusions left in his life - about family or relationships. He knew that benefits always came above everything, for everyone. That was the smart thing to do after all. However, he couldn't deny the rush of hope he felt when she came to help him. The gentle touch of her hands as she stuck to his side when she didn't have to. He longed to feel that again - for one more second. I know you could do it alone - but you don't have to.
How he wished that was true. To have someone on your side, to have your back, to unquestioningly give you love and trust. Her soft eyes flashed in front of him again.
The yearning caught him off guard. He thought his life was enough. He had his job as Aegis, his brothers on the team who solidly stood by him, and a little side gig himself. Since when did he start longing for something else?!
She's a school kid. He scolded himself. Enough. And what if she was planted by the enemy?!
That, he mused is rather improbable. Firstly, he was confident he had covered his tracks well. To plant someone at the exact time, with so much accuracy was something even he wouldn't be able to do.
Second, if that was the case, this safehouse should've been swarming with Black Lotus assassins by now. Black Lotus had all the intel on their team. They would also know the team was on a one month break. So assassins should've attacked immediately and tried to capture or neutralise him.
Aegis had been working against Black Lotus for almost 5 years now. He had always operated in the shadows, taking down so many of the organization's cells - he was the biggest thorn in their side. Aegis' methods were ruthless and untraceable. Despite their best efforts, Black Lotus had not been able to track him nor recruit him.
Was this their new way of getting him in their fold? He mused. Who are you kid? I will find out he promised himself. With the organization on high alert for him, every single move of his would be watched. He couldn't risk leading them to her - not when his time in this city was coming to an end. He finished the last of the porridge, the warmth gently travelling across his body.
I will find you. What he would do once he found her, he honestly had no idea.