Then There Was Life

"You were stabbed just a few days ago?!" Callista's eyes widened with shock and fear.

She quickly stood up, slamming her hand on the side table.

Madame Rosaria's eyes also widened at the news. She looked at me with a sharp, concerned gaze.

"Let's go to the hospital now!" Callista exclaimed, approaching me worriedly.

I was surprised. Deep down, I was happy that Callista cared for me, but I didn't show it.

"It's fine, young miss and madame," I said with a smile.

"Good thing I was wearing a concealable vest at the time. Even though the knife penetrated it, the wound wasn't too deep," I explained.

"To stab you successfully, even with your guard down, that man must be a professional," Madame Rosaria remarked, still eyeing me with sharp concern.

"Yes. I found out later he was a retired assassin—someone who conducts missions even abroad," I said.

"But..." Callista, still worried, held my hand.

"I'm fine," I reassured her.

We looked at each other silently, no words needed.

"Ahem. Are you done with the report, then?" Madame Rosaria asked with a light, elegant cough.

Callista and I shyly withdrew our hands. I looked at Madame Rosaria and said, "No. I will continue the report, madame."

Rewinding to the day of the mission…

"Roy!" Elle shouted worriedly, rushing to check my stab wound.

"I'm fine. It's not too deep. Luckily, I was wearing a concealable tactical vest. Plus, it's far from any vital organs," I said to calm her.

"You!" Elle pointed her gun at the elderly woman angrily.

The bystanders started to move, prompting Elle to draw another gun and aim at them.

"Let's see what you can—" she started to say, but I cut her off.

"Elle, enough. Focus on the task," I said firmly to calm her down.

"Listen to him, Neneng," the elderly woman said.

"Let's go," I said, turning to walk away.

After a few steps, I stopped and looked back at them with sharp, menacing eyes.

"There should be a good reason for this. If not, I'll be back—and I'll kill you all," I warned lowly.

Elle glared at them angrily and followed behind me.

My killing intent created a heavy pressure in the air, making even the bystanders feel weak and nervous.

"Where do we go now?" Elle asked seriously.

"A tracker. I placed one of our micro-trackers on Tonyo before I grabbed his mask," I replied.

"Great. Let's pay him a visit," Elle said.

"Ards, locate the target. The micro-tracker is on him," Elle said firmly into her cell phone, her voice clear and commanding.

Ards quickly sent the exact location. I watched as Elle snapped her phone shut and nodded to me.

Without hesitation, we headed to the parked car nearby. As I started the engine, we sped through the quiet streets, the headlights cutting through the darkness. Navigating swiftly toward the coordinates, we moved efficiently through the area, the tension building with each turn and every mile closer to the target's location.

Using binoculars with night vision, Elle scanned the area. It was an old, abandoned building. Armed men stood outside, and everything seemed to confirm we were in the right place.

"I'll contact you when I need backup," Elle said, turning on her covert microphone and earpiece.

I activated mine too. Elle, being an expert in reconnaissance, handled the surveillance.

After a while, she contacted me.

"Second floor. Left wing. Alone," she whispered through the earpiece.

"Okay," I replied quietly.

Moving silently, I reached the destination.

"I'll make a diversion," Elle said through my covert mic.

Suddenly, gunfire erupted—bang! bang! bang!

The gunshots signaled her diversion. She wanted me to face Tonyo one-on-one, drawing attention with a frontal attack.

Before Tonyo could slip out of the room to join the armed men, I swiftly entered through the window, gun raised, and fired a quick shot in his direction.

Tonyo quickly took cover behind an old, battered sofa, his silhouette flickering in the chaos.

Anticipating his move, I reached into my pack and threw a mini smoke canister, the hiss releasing a cloud that cloaked my approach. The thick fog muddled his vision, giving me the edge.

Drawing my combat knife, I moved swiftly, aiming for a quick, decisive stab—sharp and precise.

Tonyo spun around, parrying my attack with his own knife, metal clashing in a sharp ring. We pressed against each other, blades locked in a tense struggle.

He pushed back, forcing me to stumble slightly, then both of us leapt back, eyes locked, each sizing up the other in the smoky haze. The room was thick with tension, the sound of distant gunfire echoing the chaos outside. Neither of us spoke, but our movements told the story: this was a battle of skill, will, and survival.

"You're well trained," I said sharply, eyeing him.

"A bit rusty, but—" Tonyo started to say, smiling, but then hesitated as if sensing something was wrong.

"Feel it now? That smoke canister was poisoned," I said calmly, advancing.

He grimaced in pain.

"That's cheating."

"There's no cheating in our profession," I replied, kicking him in the stomach as he fell.

"The coin. Give it to me. Who has the last one?" I asked, grimacing.

Suddenly, all the lights flickered on, and a voice boomed through a megaphone—Señor Caloy, with a loud AARRRGH-SSHHH!.

"Ah! Looks like you can hear me now. Sorry to interrupt the fun, but the trial is over."

I looked to the window and saw three pickup trucks with gunmen approaching. Señor Caloy was walking toward the building, megaphone in hand, the sharp screech of the device echoing through the air.

"Elle," I whispered.

Elle responded through our covert mic and prepared an escape route in case things went wrong.

I grabbed Tonyo and dragged him outside to meet Señor Caloy.

"Tonyo," Señor Caloy said softly after turning off the megaphone.

His men pointed their guns at me.

"What happened to him?" Señor Caloy asked, worried.

"Poisoned," I replied, locking eyes with him.

"Tsk. I knew it. You're different," he said.

He looked at me and continued, "Do you have the antidote?"

"The coins?" I asked.

"Ah! Still talking about the trial. You won—the painting's yours," he sighed, supporting himself with a wooden cane.

"It's done. Sorry if I went overboard. I got too excited when I saw you. How long has it been? Since I met someone like you?" he said apologetically.

I didn't respond, just kept my gaze fixed on him.

"Look, how about this? I'll deliver the painting myself to your boss and apologize. I'll add a separate compensation for you, too," he offered, glancing nervously at Tonyo.

In a swift move, I pulled out the syringe and injected the antidote into Tonyo's neck, watching as his eyes widened in shock. I pushed him toward Señor Caloy.

"Thank you!" Señor Caloy exclaimed as Tonyo looked at me with thankful eyes.

"With everything that happened, I hope you can still trust us. Come to my mansion. I don't think we can win against you now that you're wary of us," he said.

I nodded in agreement.

"Elle," I whispered.

Elle stepped forward, holding two guns.

"Neneng, I'm sorry," Señor Caloy said.

Elle nodded silently.

We agreed to go with Señor Caloy and discussed the terms for the painting, along with the extra compensation.