Author's notes:
The conclusion of the hunt for Blankface is finally here. It surely takes me back to think when I started it. Whatever, go ahead and...
Enjoy!
Chapter 20 – Report of a failed mission
It was quiet as always in the Organization's headquarter's main hall. Rimuto was patiently listening to the report by the two warriors who had just returned from their latest mission – although only one of them, the higher ranked one, was speaking. The two warriors were the Organization's Number 2 and Number 5 at that moment, Vectra the Persistent and Soundcutter Hitomi.
The moment Vectra had completely explained what had happened Rimuto summed up what he had heard for confirmation: "So you managed to find her, she turned down our offer, you then fought her and got defeated and when you came to she was nowhere to be found?"
"Yes," Vectra confirmed, "that is exactly what has happened."
While Rimuto was apparently putting his thoughts in order, to decide what to do next, Vectra slowly formed a fist with her left hand and opened it again directly afterwards, two times in a row. Rado, who was standing at the far side of the room, saw this, turned around and left the hall immediately.
Rimuto then arose and spoke up: "With things like this chasing after her is probably a waste of time. Seeing the two of you back alive after trying to kill her leads me to the conclusion that everything she wanted to do was to show us that we can't do anything about her – successfully, as I have to admit. For now we will let her be. We can't afford to waste the few forces we have on a deserter. That concludes this meeting for you, Number 5. Return to your post."
Without a word Hitomi turned around and left.
"As for you, Number 2," Rimuto continued, focusing her, "you are on every mission you are on to at least roughly keep track of Blankface's movements. We have no idea to know what she is up to – so, whenever you meet your handler Ermita you will report her location as precisely as possible."
"I understand" she blankly answered.
"Dismissed."
###
Rado sat alone in his room. As one of the higher ups of the Organization's men it was rather spacious, about twenty five square meters in total, with a rather high ceiling. Though it was this big there wasn't much furniture inside – a simple study made of wood and a few chairs were about everything. Rado liked to keep things as simple as possible, but as complex as necessary. Despite a few candles that stood atop his study was nothing to brighten the room, but that did not bother him in the slightest. As long as it was enough for him to do his work it was completely fine with him. Though he had windows in his room they were facing the north and hence he barely had daylight in his room. Not that he minded. Atop his desk there were, apart from the candles, but a few documents, an ink vial, several quills of differing stroke width, and a sheet of blotting paper, everything arranged painstakingly to match the owner's sense of order.
As Rado, who was sitting behind his study, almost became impatient, two knocks signaled him that who he was waiting for had arrived. "Come in" he simply demanded.
In stepped Vectra, who, without saying anything, closed the door behind her and placed herself on a chair in front of Rado's desk.
"Well then, Vectra, what is it you might want to tell me?" Rado asked without further ado.
"An interesting amount of things, Mr. Rado, that I thought you were more capable of handling than Mr. Rimuto would be" she answered.
"Cut the sweet talk and get to the point, if you will!" he demanded rather harshly.
Vectra closed her eyes and bowed forwards a little, apologized, sat straight again and began to tell what she had to: "Things were like this..."
###
After I had come to the first thing I heard was former Number 6's voice. Pretending to still be unconscious I eavesdropped on the conversation she has had with Number 5. Seeing how little time you have I'll give you just the major points:
Firstly, former Number 6 claims to have uncovered things that put our Organization in a bad spot considering our work here. She claims it might be possible that we are creating Yoma ourselves. She did, however, not go into detail in how we might be doing that.
Secondly, former Number 6 still admits that her thinking is a mere hypothesis and that she has no proof whatsoever. She claims that she will investigate further.
Thirdly, she asked Number 5 to stay with the Organization for the time being, claiming that she either will or won't attack the Organization, depending on whether she finds proof or counterproof for her hypothesis. Number 5 accepted, which I personally think is enough reason to not trust anything she says anymore. You could say that, in case former Number 6 attacks us, Number 5 is nothing less than an accomplice.
Fourthly, former Number 6 asked Number 5 to not mention to anyone that former Number 2 is still alive. Seeing how Number 5 did not tell me about it she probably did not care about that part too much. I also figured that Mr. Rimuto would be overchallenged with this turn of events.
Fifthly, former Number 6 asked Number 5 to act as a proper Organization's warrior in case former Number 6 decided to ever attack our Organization. This is probably thought as a mere facade to let Number 5 seem innocent in all of this.
Sixthly, considering Number 3, which became subject of Number 5's and former Number 6's conversation, former Number 6 claims that Number 3 is in good care and, in addition to that, is better of spending her life sheltered by Number 10 than going out there and awaken in her first fight.
Former Number 6 left shortly after everything was discussed. Number 5 waited for me to come to and, when she noticed I had, acted as if nothing had happened.
###
Rado let Vectra's report sink in for a few minutes. With things as they were he could not help but feel troubled. He was not concerned about Vanessa being still alive. Not in the slightest. She was, on the long run, nothing more than a nuisance that would vanish soon enough, of that he was sure. He was a little concerned about Hitomi, the mentor of the Number 1 at that time, Hysteria the Elegant, who probably could still put up than a fight with her, mostly because she was way more experienced. However, if Numbers 1 to 3 were to work together even Hitomi was nothing but a nuisance, if she decided to betray the Organization or not. What really bothered him was whatever Jacqueline might or might not have found out about the Organization. And the fact that Vectra and Hitomi at least have a hunch about it. However, he was the second in command of this Organization, and, as Rimuto's right hand he had to act like that. He arose and straightened up, signaling Vectra to do the same.
After the latter stood, too, he told her: "Thank you for your work. For now, we can't let ourselves be concerned about former Number 2 or Number 5. The former is not a menace, the latter we could take out, too, if it was to render necessary. We do not have anyone to deal with former Number 6, though, that is, why I want you to keep track of her, even if you have to abandon a Yoma hunting mission or two. I will take care of getting that into Rimuto's head, you just do how I told you. Got that?"
"No questions."
"Then get to your job already!" Rado almost shouted.
Without a word Vectra left. She would tail Jacqueline for quite a while.
Author's notes:
Yep, that's that. For those who hoped to actually read the conversation between Hitomi and Jacqueline and those who wonder what Evidence Jacqueline might have found, the next update will give you insight.
'til then!
kstefan88