Chapter 2

August's POV

"We just received the report. The mafia triad......is finally annihilated." Chief introduced us. His expression seems still in shock.

We were all seated. Everyone has a confused look at the chief. Who doesn't? What Chief just announced is as if he said, the end of the world later.

"Chief, maybe that's fake news." A colleague of mine, Drake, said. He is in the investigation department.

Almost all of us agreed but I didn't speak. I know Chief. This is not the type to trip or believe in fake news. He doesn't entertain news if it doesn't have any sense.

"It's unbelievable, but this report is from Interpol." It answered us and it showed pictures on the screen of the mafia lords who are now in prison with a sentence of life imprisonment. Even their subordinates were annihilated and the black market was obliterated.

"Daebak!" Reed next to me commented. Yeah, he is half Korean and Spanish. It looks Korean, but the name is Spanish. It's so weird. At first glance, you thought the name was Park Jimin or Kim Yoongi, but it's not.

"How did they get caught? The government was chasing them for years... then they got caught all at once?" Misha asked in wonder who was now really wondering looking at the pictures on the screen. She looks like contemplating on what are the possibilities.

"As I expected, this will create chaos within the government. But there is a group from the US who are capable of doing this. They captured these with evidence of illegal transactions, drug syndicates, prostitution, mass killing, firearms smuggling, human trafficking, and money laundering. They captured these people, just within a week." Chief explained to us so I swallowed.

What the fuck? Who the hell are these people who did capture the top three mafia lords in the world in just one week? Are they still human? How good is it? Are they better than the fictional stories that Misha used to read? It's terrible, I don't want to believe it but the evidence is there. And just imagine, all those three mafia lords have private armies. But they fell!

"Phantom Troupe?" A colleague of mine asked. "Aren't they the Alpha Team of the CIA's Undercover Agents?" And it looked at us. "You're the Delta Team, right? Do you know them?"

I shook my head. Besides us, I don't know any other undercover agents. Every country has a team from the CIA for undercover jobs. We are the people who lie about our public information. I am registered as a clerk in a big company, and my school records were changed as well. No one knows that we are undercover agents aside from our workmates and associates.

"We haven't met them before. But I heard, Phantom troupe was born, three years ago." Reed answered. "They have escalated to Alpha Team right away with their lethal abilities and the former Alphas were down to Betas."

I stared at Reed. He is so knowledgeable, I don't even have a clue about this Phantom Troupe! Well, after all, he is the leader of the Delta Team. He got great skills after all. Well, I got great skills as well that can rival him but a girl can never be a leader with the undercover team in the CIA. I also don't want to be a leader because many reports need to be made and that's not my trip.

"A-Alphas?" Misha assured. I already memorized this Misha. I know it's getting insulted in his mind because he can't believe it either.

"You don't know?" One of our companions asked that I will not mention the name because it is not important.

"Well, all we care about is just delta. We don't give a fuck about other teams. They are not within our jurisdiction anyway." I replied coldly. I don't like the tone of his question. Seems like he is belittling Misha, I don't even know.

"But you should know them." It still insists.

"Is it in the book of Law that requires we should know them?" I still ask here.

"No." He shook his head at me.

"Oh, what are you shooting there?" I raised an eyebrow at him so he was quiet. Does it matter if we don't know that group? I haven't heard anything about them. He's not even a member of the Delta Team!

"Quit it. This is not the reason why we have this emergency meeting." Chief is angry because he knows that if he doesn't intervene, my colleagues and I will have to answer. "Next week, Phantom Troupe will arrive here in the Philippines. They will be conducting a training for the Delta Team."

"What?!" We all stood up. Nope, we're just Delta Team. Me, Misha, Reed, Jasper, and Ryujin. All undercover teams are composed of five members the best agents in the country. Best in their fields. I, Reed, Jasper, and Ryujin are best in fields, detonating bombs, spying, undercover missions, combats, and guns and we are like a ghost when we do our jobs. We don't leave marks. While Misha, she is our navigator. She handles tracking, computers, satellite location, GPS, bugging, hacking, and creating fake documents for our fake identity when we have a mission.

"But Sir, why us?" Reed asked. He seems against the idea of ​​this Phantom Troupe, training us.

"We can't do anything about it..." answered Chief and he sighed before answering again. "They are the ones who selected you."

I swallowed. Well, why us? Why not Beta or Charlie Team? Why are we in Delta and still here in the Philippines? Is this for real? It's not that I don't like it, it's an honor to be trained by these people because it's obvious that this group is really good. But it's surprising, because of the number of choices, even in the Philippines. They can choose, Brazil or Spain or Russia or Japan or Canada, Finland or Australia or Brussels, or Germany. There are many choices but they chose the Philippines.

"Then, that would be great... maybe if they will train us, we can be great as them," Jasper said and now he looks excited about what will happen.

Reed did not react. He looks like he is displeased or something. But suddenly it came to me and whispered.

"I have a bad feeling about this. It sounds suspicious." It whispered to me. He looks serious and there is no hint of making fun. He is concerned.

I nodded. He got a point because what is happening is suspicious. But somehow I also felt excited because of the training that would take place. I missed it already. Those days. And a flash of memory was rushing through my mind. My training in Pandora. It's been a few years and I've given up hope that I'll be able to go back there. And see him.

"Suspicious or not, this is a good thing. We will learn from them." I can only make a weak promise here. I'll take this as a positive side. It will be good for all of us.

"Well, that's a point." Reed smiled at me and Misha suddenly opened his mouth and she is giving us a dirty look. Abnormal at any time.

I just struggled with it and didn't say anything. We just listened to Chief's other reports and folders were distributed again for another mission.

•••

"I will take the lead. Tail him without being noticed." Reed said from the small earpiece attached to my ear. It looks like an earring so it's not too obvious.

I am wearing a sophisticated black gown wearing a silver mask. My hair is in a messy bun. I was eyeing the target. Senator Velasquez is allegedly said to be a drug lord and smuggler. The FBI has been monitoring it for a long time but they haven't been able to find any evidence so they have approached us. This is the mission we received from the meeting.

"The show will begin," I promised and I know that all my colleagues heard what I said.

I walked with swaying moves so many people turned to me. I must do all the guts that I have to catch the attention of Senator Velasquez to get close to it. I was smiling at everyone and waving and even sending flying kisses to those flirty men who were whistling while eyeing me.

"Stop that August. I'll wring their necks if they won't stop." Reed's threat. I did not respond but I was holding back my laughter.

"Oh gosh, you're jealous. You don't have K! K for rights so shut up!" Misha's groin.

I smiled more because I was laughing at both of them. Reed is somehow, too possessive for a friend but I'm not complaining about that. He's a great friend after all and besides, he still has the strength to be free. I was greeted by a waiter with a tray of white wine, so I took one and continued to walk toward the senator's table with others of his age. He is too young for a senator. He's around in his early thirties.

I was eyeing him and his eyes made contact with mine. A devilish smile curved on his lips as our eyes locked. I approached their table and I made a smile with the rest of the people there. There were women there who were also shocked to see me. Why do girls always like this? Is it not possible not to cry? I am trying to be friendly here.

"Hi, beautiful! I'm Senator Nathan Velasquez... may I know your name?" It asked me with a smile.

Who wouldn't know him? If I didn't known that this is a drug lord and smuggler, I might have had a crush on him. He is just too handsome for a criminal. So it will not be late because it is also clean to work and he is using his looks as well to make his figure in public in high commendation. Many women stumble here. If they only know what kind of man he is, maybe no one will come near him. What normal woman would like a drug lord? Just addicted?

"Raven...." I answered. I usually use that name when I am on a mission.

"Raven?" This is another question. He wanted to know my surname.

"Just Raven." I just answered and winked at it.

He smiled and it is giving him a look like every girl will drool over, but of course, it won't affect me because I know, behind that smile is a criminal.

"Okay Raven, would you mind if I request you to sit with us?" He asked more and he sounded with courtesy.

Well, he can be a gentleman after all and I will take this opportunity to get close to him. "It will be an honor," I answered and he immediately stood up and pulled me to a chair so I could sit. I immediately sat down and placed the silver purse on my lap.

"Are you enjoying the party?" This is my first question. The conversation is just too normal but I already expect that since he is a public figure after all.

"Yes, my kind of thing." My answer. Just not my kind of thing. I am already dying of boredom here. I wanted to answer that but I don't want to blow up this mission.

"Hahaha. Just the opposite." Misha laughed as he looked at the earpiece.

"Way to go, August. We're just around the corner." Ryujin promised.

"Be careful," Reed promised.

I didn't answer because first, I would look crazy. Second, I might get sick. Silence means yes. That's our code.

"That's great. I believe this is my first time seeing you and I am wondering what on earth is hiding behind that mask." Nathan promised me with a smile.

A smooth talker. No wonder, girls swoon over him. "Hmm... just a face, a normal one," I answered this and I sipped a wine because I was a little nervous. After all, he might request that I remove my mask. I am already thinking about what will be my reason not to.

"Hhmm... why do I have this feeling that behind that mask is a very beautiful face?" He smoothly asked.

"I'll kill that bastard!" Reed growled from the earpiece.

"No!" I immediately answered but what the fuck?! Did I just blurt out? Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! He looks confused! "Ahhh, I mean no, you're wrong. It's not very beautiful, just beautiful hahaha." I want to hit myself and I want to hit Reed too. It's like crazy.

Nathan smiled. "I like your humor. Can I have a dance with you?" It's still my nanny.

I wanted to say no, but for the sake of the mission, I said. "Yes." And he stood up and offered his hand to have a dance with me and we walked towards the dance floor with smooth music playing.