Chapter 8: Ambush

DZION WILLIAM MHRIZ 

“Handa na ba kayo?” I asked, habang naglalakad kami palabas ng Underworld. “Kailangan nating maghiwa-hiwalay mamaya para mas mabilis matapos ’to. I already assigned you to your respective parts and who will be your companion.”

“Aye, aye, Master!” sabay na sigaw nina Terson at Jerome at nag-salute pa. Hays, mga siraulo talaga.

We parted ways when we reached the parking lot. I hop into my car. Dinukot ko mula sa aking bulsa ang kapirasong papel na naglalaman ng clue para sa misyon naming ito.

“Ako ang tagalutas ng problema.” I read it several times, but I still don’t get it.

I was in the middle of thinking who the hell is the culprit when my phone rang.

“I have something for you, Prince Dzion,” Dex said, and ended the call.

Inis kong hinampas ang stirring wheel ng kotse ko na naglikha ng malakas na tunog dahil sa busina, at saka ko ito pinaharurot ng paalis.

🗡️

“What is it this time, Dex?” I asked, when I arrived at her office.

Lumapit siya sa akin at ibinigay ang isang white envelope. Binuksan ko ’yon at binasa ang mensaheng nilalaman nito.

“The real culprit can stab your back any time.”

“So, ibig sabihin nito kilala ko ang culprit?” I curiously asked, pero hindi niya ako sinagot.

Lumapit siya sa akin at kinuha ang envelope. Tinanggal niya ang gold na sealing wax na nakalagay roon.

“That is one of the rarest sealing wax in the world. It is made out of real and pure gold with diamonds in it. I concluded that secret messenger of yours was damn rich to afford this. Maybe he or she belongs to a royal family or a noble family, rather.”

“If that’s the case, hindi na tayo mahihirapan mag-imbestiga kung sino ’tong nagpapadala ng sulat dahil ibinuking na niya ang sarili niya sa atin.”

“Leave this to me, Kuya, I’ll handle this one. Just focus on your mission first and do me a favor,” Dex replied, while plastering a smile on her lips.

I was about to reply when I felt my phone vibrating. It’s Terson. Naglakad na ako palabas at pumunta kung saan naka-park ang kotse ko.

“We saw something on the CCTV,” he said. “Mahaba ang buhok ng culprit. That only means that the animal serial killer is a woman.”

“Yesha! Wait for me!” I heard someone screamed from behind. I saw a girl running while chasing a dog. Tumigil sa harap ko ang asong may sugat sa siko kaya kinuha ko ito. I don’t know if it’s just me or its eyes were really full of fear.

“Your Majesty,” the girl bowed her head nang makalapit siya sa akin.

“Here you go. Huwag mong pabayaan ang mga alaga mo dahil delikado na sa panahon natin ngayon, baka hindi na makabalik ’to sa ’yo. Gamutin mo rin pala ang sugat niya para hindi ma-infection,” I handed the dog to her, and she thanked me before she leaves.

I watched their back until my sight cannot reach them. Bumalik lang ako sa katinuan nang muling mag ring ang phone ko.

“Alam na namin kung saan matatagpuan ang serial killer.”

🗡️

Nang makarating ako sa bahay nina Jerome ay ipinakita agad nila sa akin ang CCTV footage na nakuha nila. Wala akong ibang nakita roon kundi isang babae na hinahabol ang alaga niyang aso. This scene was kinda familiar.

“According to the investigation, hindi lang nilason ang mga pusa kundi sugatan din ito. The serial killer’s trademark is the bruise on the animal’s left elbow,” Caz explained.

A memory flashed on my mind. That is the scene when I saw a girl chasing her dog. The bruise on her dog’s left elbow was same as the serial killer’s trademark.

“Nakaharap ko na ang serial killer kanina, pero hindi ko alam na siya pala ’yon. Ipinakita niya sa akin kanina kung paano niya pinapatay ang mga binibiktima niya.”

“Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa amin kanina?!” gulat na ani Terson.

“Alam ko na kung saan natin makikita ang serial killer,” I said, and a grin formed on my lips. “I saw her wearing a uniform from Dungeon Station. That only means that she is one of the authorities. By this case, Gunster, we need a plan.”

🗡️

While preparing ourselves for our mission, my phone vibrates. I received a text message from Dex.

“Nahuli ko na ang taong nagdala ng sulat, pero ayaw nitong umamin. He tested my patience so I killed him.”

“What an idiot,” umiiling na sambit ko nang mabasa ang message niya.

So how are we supposed to know who that sender is kung pinatay niya ’yong maaari naming maging lead para mahanap ito? Dex and her patience…

“Master, handa na kami,” ani Jerome, at inihipan pa ang dulo ng baril niya. “Kating-kati na ang mga kamay ko na patayin ang killer na ’yon.”

Binatukan siya ni Terson. “Wala ka talagang utak! Our mission is to protect that serial killer, and not to assassinate her. Gusto mo bang maparusahan ang Gunster, ha?!”

“Sa misyon na ito, all you need to do is to protect the Crowned Prince and not the leader of this group.”

To avoid the consequences, we planned to do this mission as a commoner and as the Crowned Prince, and not as assassins. It’s my duty to punish my people who disobeyed the rules of my country.

Pagkalabas namin ng office, naabutan namin ang ibang grupo na naghahanda rin para sa kanilang misyon. I roamed my sight around para hanapin ang Fencers, pero hindi na sila mahagilap ng mga mata ko.

“We need to move fast, Gunster, baka maunahan tayo ng kalaban nating grupo,” I ordered, at kumaripas na kami ng takbo palabas ng Underworld.

Nang makarating kami sa labas, sumakay kami sa royal limousine car na madalas kong ginagamit kapag lumalabas ako bilang prinsipe. Si Caz ang nag-drive habang nasa front seat naman ’yong dalawa.

Jerome and Terson are dressed as my knights and Caz as my driver. Dahil malapit lang naman ang Dungeon Station sa Underworld ay mabilis kaming nakarating doon.

Nasa malayo pa lang kami, nakita ko na agad ang paglabas ng mga knights and authorities sa labas ng Dungeon Station. Nakahilera sila habang hinihintay ang pagbaba ko.

Naunang bumaba sina Jerome at Terson upang pagbuksan ako ng pinto. Nang makalabas ako ay sabay-sabay silang nag-bow bilang paggalang.

“We are honored to be visited by the Crowned Prince. What help can we offer to you, your majesty?” the Chivalry Commander asked.

“The news about the animal serial killing has come to my concern, and it is punishable by the law. The culprit must taste her own medicine,” I said, while roaming my sight para hanapin ito, pero hindi ko siya makita dahil sa dami nila.

“Sa ngayon ay hindi pa namin nahahanap ang killer, your highness.”

“We already did.” Kinuha ko kay Terson ang laptop ko. “This device contains all the evidences needed to prove my words, and in this case, one of your knights is the culprit.”

Bakas sa mukha nila ang pagkagulat dahil sa sinabi ko. Binuksan ko ang laptop at bago ko pa man mai-play ang CCTV footage ay bigla na lang itong tumalsik kasabay ng pagputok ng mga baril.

“Ambush!” sigaw ng commander. “Protect the Crowned Prince!”