"So, how many mushrooms need to be cleared?" Zen asked Fai, who was still focused in front of the rectangular object with a foldable wide screen. Fai's fingers were still dancing nimbly across his keyboard as if he were playing.
"There are mushrooms that don't need to be cleared, the outer walls will just make you run out..." Fai's retort was cut off. The young man with silver hair turned and looked at his coworker, Zen, known as the Fighter, who never knew exhaustion.
"Run out... of what? Fuel? Bullets? I can bring reserves, or do you think it's better to use a knife? Could also go with bare hands, no problem. So, run out of what?" Zen asked curiously because Fai had only spoken halfway. Fai refocused on his laptop screen and shook his head.
"Never mind, I forgot that I'm working with someone who never runs out of energy. It's been almost two years since Kevin last checked you, luckily our doctor left a large stock of vaccines."
Fai pressed a button, causing his laptop screen to change, now displaying a building's location in the center and a map-like image around it. On the map, there were several red dots glowing like lights.
"Is this the location?" Zen confirmed. Fai nodded in agreement.
"Yes, that's the location. See those red dots? There are more than five dots, those are their guards. At each red dot, there's likely fifteen to twenty people on watch. The least guarded part is in the north, because that's the route leading directly to the core guards. You can take this path, you'll encounter only five to seven guards in front, then go in about five hundred meters and you'll find another gate," Fai explained, fully focused. He didn't want Zen to get injured, let alone fail during a mission together.
Fai's current task was to be the backup planner. He had to investigate the enemy thoroughly, from their location, hiding spots, security, all the way to where the target was hiding. Once Fai gathered comprehensive and clear information, then Zen could proceed and execute the target according to the plan.
"Is it like a corridor?" Zen inquired, not fully understanding just by looking at the screen.
"Exactly. Like a corridor, a narrow one with a few traps, but they won't pose much difficulty. Just things like poison gas or tear gas, so it won't trouble you at all. Like I mentioned earlier, at the end of the corridor, there's another gate. There are no guards in front of it, but behind it. I can't be certain about the number of guards in the back, maybe around ten? The most distinct thing is that they are former Hongkong secret agents, their abilities are not to be taken lightly, possibly on par with the TRIAD. And their abilities might..." Fai's explanation was cut off once again. Fai looked at Zen intently once more, gazing at the slim, black-haired youth who seemed like he could fall down with a single punch. Fai let out a sigh and shook his head as if feeling his concern was in vain. He forgot once again that the youth he was working with was the Fighter known as a biological weapon. He had been sought after by many, from governments to other illegal syndicates.
"Could be... what? Why do you keep making me curious? Could it make things difficult for me? Could they be lying? Could they have a nuclear weapon? What?" Zen pressed with emphasis. Zen was genuinely intrigued due to Fai's suspended explanation.
"No, nothing like that. Sometimes, I get carried away when I'm working with Hayato or Rezt. And that's annoying. I know this is nothing to you; you'll handle it well. So, after you manage to pass the guards, you'll come across a maze, a glass maze. There, you'll truly need to concentrate and listen to me. Do you understand? Even as the top Fighter, you won't be able to navigate this glass maze easily. You must focus on listening to me. Because there might be other traps in the form of sounds that could confuse you. There won't be any guards inside, unless you're almost at ninety percent completion and almost out, that's when the installed alarm will go off. Right after that, other guards will arrive."
Fai pointed towards the screen, showing a square-shaped location with numerous lines inside. Zen didn't fully comprehend, he simply nodded and memorized all of Fai's words to ensure the mission would go according to plan.
"I understand. Is there anything else I should pay attention to?" Zen shifted his gaze away from the screen after his head began to ache a bit and looked back at Fai.
"After getting through the maze and guards, you'll find a room with an iron door. Inside that room, the target is hiding. And most importantly, you'll only have three hours to enter the room and locate the target. Because when the target realizes they're in danger, they'll send a distress signal, and within three hours, help will come to extract them. If you exceed three hours and haven't located the target, the mission fails. Our traces will be left behind, and that will be very dangerous, not just for us; everyone in the base will face the same danger. Do you have any questions?" Fai reached for the pack of cigarettes on the table and lit one up.
Observing Zen still standing there with a serious and focused expression, Fai fell silent, trying to understand the situation – was a three-hour limit too short, he wondered.
"If I finish it faster, like within two hours, could I use the remaining hour to look for a new novel? I mean, spend an hour at the bookstore?" Zen asked with a hint of shyness. At that moment, Fai realized he'd never have to worry about Zen ever again, as all his concerns were quite unfounded. How could one think about searching for a new novel amidst a dangerous mission, Fai thought to himself.
"Yes, you can. You can spend that hour, and I'll even give you an extra two hours to spend at the bookstore or library. I'll accompany you, how's that? Happy?" Fai exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke. Zen's face lit up, his eyes appearing round with disbelief. Until now, Zen had always gone to bookstores or libraries alone; Rei didn't want to accompany him due to boredom. Hence, Fai's current statement sent the young man, who was fond of wearing long-sleeved shirts, soaring with excitement.
"Deal. You can't retract your words anymore, you have to accompany me to the bookstore and library for three full hours, no less. If you lie, I'll be mad," Zen threatened in a hushed tone. He blinked, waiting for Fai's response, and Fai nodded in agreement to the threat aimed at him.
"Deal, I never retract my words, but if you finish it in more than two hours, the agreement is off." Fai smiled, at least he was confident that Zen would need more than two hours to complete the mission. There were plenty of traps, guards, and obstacles Zen would have to face.
"I understand. I'll get ready now; you can activate the earpiece. I'll wear it under my shirt as usual." Zen pointed to his chest before grabbing a few sheets of documents about the target and walking away from Fai.
They were in the city of Paragon, about a six-hour car ride away from Allegra. Fai chose an inn that wasn't located in the city center, not crowded, and had few visitors. According to Fai, it was much safer and wouldn't disturb their concentration.
Fai looked back at the stack of documents on the table and began preparing his tools: the laptop screen, the headset already connected to Zen, and various escape routes as alternatives if the mission failed. He took a deep breath before extinguishing his cigarette because this time, the two of them were betting on the success of a Class A mission they had to complete.