"Hi everyone! Nice to meet you guys!" she said in a cheerful tone, and the students in the class, who planned to let her go through a harmless initiation, instantly melted upon hearing her sweet voice.
Those who were popular welcomed her with open arms and shaking hands, while those boys and some girls with common sense followed Rafael's example, just laid back and observed from a distance.
Michael looked up at the ceiling in a daze because he was currently thinking of a foolproof plan. He sent a message to the Director of the ASIB on the status of the field agents tasked with monitoring the dean.
Recent reports suggested that the dean was meeting with people he was not reporting to Atlas and was waiting for council approval for the dean's elimination, but he needed actionable evidence beforehand.
'But the problem is that he's already moving the majority of his wealth and resources to the US, thinking that no one will notice. Sadly, he's mistaken,' he thought internally and saw Ruby sitting between Rafael and Michael. Rafael was just napping.
"Hello," she greeted with a small smile.
"Sup," Michael greeted back, since he had to commit to his persona.
"Hi," Rafael said in a plain tone, his eyes showing some tiredness.
Recess Time
Michael and Rafael were walking through the canteen casually, followed by the cheerful girl and her bodyguard. Ruby asked a flurry of questions, and Michael answered. After buying their snacks, they went their separate ways and headed to their hideout in Rafael's dorm room.
Their next class started around 2:30, and what they failed to account for was Ruby following them. She had sent her bodyguard to buy some food and followed the two of them into the room, managing to slip in before the door closed.
Rafael's Private Dorm
Ruby entered sneakily and walked slowly, trying to hide her presence from Rafael and Michael. Looking around the room, she saw military crates bearing the Atlas logo. When she opened them, she saw javelins, pistols, magazines, ammunition, and machine guns.
'It seems like they are a bunch of Atlas mercenaries,' she thought. Before she could think further, Rafael's voice rang out.
"Just what the hell are you doing here?" Rafael's stern voice was heard, and Ruby froze on the spot. She looked to her side and saw Rafael with his pistol equipped and Michael typing rapidly on a military computer. Luckily, Ruby couldn't read it easily.
"I'm exploring the school," she said with a small smile, her innocent shield activating.
"This room is in a restricted area where students like you are not allowed to enter," Rafael said, pistol ready to aim and fire.
"How about you? You're also a student," she replied.
"I'm a part owner of the school."
"What?" Ruby asked, confused.
"The company that owns this school is under a corporation that I own," he said, knowing he had already revealed it.
"Wait, you're…" she paused, connecting the dots.
"You're the administrator," she said, realizing it but not knowing Rafael's mercenary identity or that he was the one who saved her, since she thought he was serving in the Atlas Mercenary Services branch.
"Yes, and either be silent now and make sure your family doesn't know," Rafael said, not going to hesitate to use an experimental drug that could erase specific memories.
"Oh, come on, I know revealing this secret will lead to another world war, so let's make a deal. I will keep your identity a secret, and you will keep mine," she said, extending a hand for a shake. Rafael had to agree.
'She probably doesn't know that she's engaged with me, so that's good,' Rafael thought internally and shook hands with her.
"Fine, but if I hear one word about this, I will call the deal off," Rafael said, holstering the pistol and shooing her out of the door. Before closing the door, she shouted, "Let's hang out later!" She shouted cheerfully, and in the background, Michael just smirked and shook his head in amusement.
"Rafe, I have compiled the evidence on the dean. The security commander who was in the admin building was promised overall leadership of all schools under FIEG with a billion-dollar bonus and started a slow takeover by replacing the Atlas guards with their own," Michael reported and retrieved a transcript.
He sent it to the private group chat, and all 05 council members held an emergency meeting. A few minutes went by, and when they replied, they were not happy. A vote started by the 10 members of the Overseer Council, and the vote was unanimous.
"Sir, they agreed to it," Michael said in a respectful tone. Rafael might have the power to veto any decision and reverse any plans, and if he declared war on a nation, they would follow suit. His loyal generals were pulling his carriage, but Rafael took a step back in the decision-making, wanting Atlas to be a self-governing corporation.
"Commence the operation around midnight. I want a combined task force of Phantom Wardens and Red Right Hand to eliminate him, and you will command it, Michael," Rafael said as he put down the cup of coffee he was drinking earlier.
"Make sure he spits everything out before dying, and make sure to send another team to capture his family, who might be on the run, while tasking another unit in the US to retrieve any resources he tried to store there," Rafael said with the full approval of the administrator.
"Yes, sir. I will coordinate with the Special Activities Division around five hours. The task force is going to be prepared," he said and began typing out orders on a different server nicknamed Ghost Sec, using the rank of the right-hand man.
[Classified Location] [Atlas Training Facility]
Soldiers wearing black Kevlar vests with a humming sound of the exoskeleton and neon violet lights, which could be switched off if needed, stood ready.
Their weapons were lined up perfectly; some were disassembled, while others were polished. These were not the standard-issue weapons of Atlas soldiers or any special forces.
Instead, they were weapons that could fire .50 caliber ammunition, and with the enhanced exoskeleton, it could absorb the recoil and improve aim. The rifle itself was modified and could fire semi-automatically to automatically.
Its magazine followed the FN FAL rifle and could hold around 35 rounds, with the standard issue being over 10 magazines per trooper.
For their gear, an entire Kevlar armor covered them from head to toe, and their exoskeletons provided flexible armor plates in gaps that could be targeted. Their masks were similar to the Trauma Team battle mask but sleek black with neon purple lights.
The masks provided them information on the suit, heartbeat, communication, and a mini-map. For their sidearm, it was a Kriss Vector, but grenadiers were equipped with a modified grenade launcher.
Joining their ranks was not simple. They chose soldiers from within and outside Atlas, and once they joined, after surviving the selection process, they would undergo inhumane training for six months, with mostly only one or three operatives graduating from it.
Currently, there were over 150 active operatives, with a selected squad to be Rafael's personal executioners. Once they took the oath to serve the elusive figure of Atlas, the administrator, they would follow his every command.
"Alright everyone, gather around!" one of the officers, who wore a black t-shirt with the unit's logo, said. Soon, a platoon-sized group gathered around.
"Orders arrived from the top, and it was approved by the administrator. The Defender Squadron is mobilized and ordered to head to the Philippines for a priority mission, so a transport will be ready in two hours," the man said. The squad captain of the nicknamed Crown Guards (they didn't care about nicknames since they were the administrator's QRF) asked, "What kind of mission, sir?"
"Elimination and interrogation. You will be briefed on the finer details when you land, as I will have to coordinate another squad stationed in the American continent to intercept the targets' family and their assets," he said. The squad leader saluted and left to gear up with his squad. Since it was on short notice, they had to move quickly.
Two Hours Later
On the runway, a C-130 was waiting for the squad. Soon, 10 Wardens arrived with fully prepared gear. In the facility, other squads not part of the Wardens were moving fast as they boarded Black Hawks and Chinooks, as they were the intercepting team.
"Come on, let's get going!" the Loadmaster shouted. Soon, they began boarding, sitting in special seats where their exoskeletons charged up during the ride. Soon after loading the last crate of ammunition, the cargo bay door began closing.
Ten minutes later, the plane took off from the facility located in the Sea of Japan, on an artificial island protected by a battleship revived from Japanese history.
Rafael POV
Rafael was walking around the mall while munching on some fries. Next to him was Ruby, who was licking a strawberry ice cream cone. Michael wasn't with them since he had to organize the upcoming operation. Their bodyguards were also with them.
"A question, Ruby: why did you come to the Philippines since the United States provides a much better education?" he asked while stuffing a french fry in his mouth.
"Well, my father wanted me to study here to get more friends around my age, and since my family is somewhat known in my area, they don't trust other cities, so they opted for Tacloban, which is controlled by Atlas," she said after licking her ice cream.
"I see, but that doesn't change the fact that you're far from the comforts of your own home," Rafael said and found a place to sit down.
"Yeah, that's why I agreed. I wanted to explore beyond my family's turf and wanted to go on an adventure, so one of my first plans was here in the Philippines," she said in a cryptic way. Rafael knew she was lying; her true reason was that she was looking for the man who helped her all those years ago, and the only information she had was that he lived in Tacloban, but there was no name or exact location.
"I see, so your stay here is temporary or are you looking for a permanent stay?" he asked.
"Somewhat temporary, only for a year or two before going back to the US in order for me to learn about the family business," she said.
"Okay, well, enjoy your stay here since I'm not really much of a tour guide. So, wanna go to the arcade?" he asked, since he wasn't much of a tour guide. The two spent a few hours in the arcades playing different games. Their bodyguards stationed themselves outside, while a few looked at them from afar.
A Few Hours Later
Rafael drove the motorcycle while Ruby was behind, wearing her own helmet. They were heading to the pub where dinner was on Rafael, and it was 5 PM.
A Few Minutes: Pub Kitchen
Rafael was in the kitchen and was cooking dinner for the two of them, so he went with the classic fried rice and two slabs of A-5 Wagyu with sinigang nilaga or beef soup.
Second Floor: Private Dining Room
Rafael brought the food to the dining room where Ruby was on her phone. This time, her bodyguards did not come since she trusted Rafael not to do anything stupid, and Rafael wasn't really motivated to do anything.
"Finally, I'm starving!" Ruby exclaimed as she saw the steaming hot food that Rafael brought and was immediately hungry.
"It's on the house since I'm the cook," Rafael said as he gave her an empty plate, and soon she began eating since Rafael gave her a slab of Wagyu meat.
"It's sooooo gooood!" she said with small tears in her eyes as the flavor hit her differently. She wanted to keep Rafael and replace her household chefs, but she threw that thought out for a while and devoured the food.
BURP!
Ruby burped and patted her stomach, satisfied from the meal. Rafael, who also finished eating, drank another cup of coffee (it was his third one with the meal).
"Well, see you tomorrow," Ruby said and looked over her phone, seeing a message.
Outside of the Pub
It was already 6 PM, and at the same time, Rafael received a message from Michael that the operation was about to commence soon. When Ruby left five minutes later, a black-tinted Humvee arrived with two others following.
"Sir," one of the soldiers saluted, and Rafael entered the Humvee. They drove towards the military base, and after getting off, they went straight to the underground armory where the command center was located.
Michael chose the 40 operatives of Rafael's Alpha-1 company, and with them were the Wardens who would arrive later in transport. Michael was already prepared for this and came up with a proper plan.
To be continued.