ARTEMIS LARCENA
"One of the important files from Clandestine Organization was stolen from me last Friday. It's inside the hard drive that the chief gave me and if I don't get it back by next week, I won't get my promotion and your salary will remain as it is," Klion stated while sitting on the couch, his right leg rested on the other, and his face devoid of any emotions.
Kumuha siya ng isang USB sa bag niya at tinapon ito sa'kin. I immediately caught it with my right hand and placed it in the pocket of the clothes that he gave me.
"I already know who took my files. All you need to do is insert that drive on her computer and the rest is up to the virus. Easy," aniya.
"Didn't you have a backup for it if it's so important?"
"The moment the chief gave it to me, it immediately got stolen. Luckily, the thief called me the next day saying that I should get it back from her house."
"So, sino?" I asked, pertaining to the person who took the hard drive. Tumayo na ako mula sa upuan at inihanda ang mga gamit ko.
"Clea," simple at matipid niyang sagot na naging dahilan ng pagsalubong ng mga kilay ko.
Is he nuts or is he just trying to piss me off?
"You're crazy, alam mong matagal na 'kong hinahanap n'yon. If she finds me, she'll drag me back to Clandestine and I'll get punished!" katuwiran ko pero parang wala lang siyang narinig at hindi ako pinansin.
Alam ko ang sitwasyon ni Klion sa Clandestine. His position there is not that great even though he's considered as one of the best when it comes to weapon making.
Halos lahat ng trabaho ng mga senior niya sa Artillery Department, sa kanya na lang inaasa. And he couldn't refuse because he's afraid that they would gang upon him.
In the past, he tried to complain to the boss about his situation but he only got this as an answer, "Clandestine is not for the weak. If you're going to work here, make sure that you can handle the problems on your own."
Despite his stern looks, he's actually a pushover.
"I know, but my promotion is at stake here. Money and free time are more valuable than you, you know? I'd die from overworking myself if I don't get that promotion. And besides, I trust you," he replied with a soft tone at the end. Halos kumislap na ang mata niya habang sinasabi 'yon.
It's true, he barely sleeps whenever he's working there. I took a deep breath and sighed.
"Okay. But I'll only do it if you double my payment," I negotiated.
Sandali naman siyang napatigil, ibinaba niya sa lamesa ang hawak niyang cappuccino at sumubo ng cake. I know that gesture. Gawain niya 'yan kapag nag-iisip siya.
"...I'll only add 10,000," medyo nag-aalangan niyang sagot.
"Dollars?" dagdag ko naman.
"Of course not! Where will I get that much money?" he exclaimed.
Lies. I know that much money is only a penny for him. Masyado lang talaga siyang frugal.
"Now I know why people call you a miser behind your back," komento ko bago pumunta sa restroom para magbihis.
"Hmm! Hmm! Hrm!"
"Oh, I almost forgot about you. Ang tahimik mo eh," baling ko kay Illian na ngayon ay nakatali sa sarili niyang swivel chair habang may busal sa bibig.
Nang dumating kasi siya kanina ay agad siyang nag-ingay at 'yan lang ang naisip kong solusyon para tumahimik siya nang hindi ako nag-e-exert ng energy. And it's also fun doing that to him.
"Klion, would you do the honor of releasing him from his wretched state?"
"I don't know... It'd be a shame if we let him go just like that," he replied while grinning.
"Hmm! Hm!" atungal ni Illian habang pilit na tinatanggal ang tali.
"Suit yourself," sagot ko pagkatapos ay umalis na para magpalit.
Once I got to the bathroom, mabilis akong nagpalit ng damit na ibinigay ni Klion pagkatapos ay pinatungan ko ito ng suot ko kaninang duffle coat. Itinago ko na rin ang iba pang gamit na binigay niya sa loob ng damit ko. Of course, how could I forget about my companion for today? Matapos ko itong isuksok sa loob ng duffle coat ay bumalik na ako sa office ni Illian.
"Why did you come back?" bungad ni Klion matapos kong buksan ang pinto.
Naguguluhang tumingin ako sa kanya.
"Where's my earpiece? And what about the plan?" I asked with a slight frown on my face.
"Oh. . . did I forget to tell you that you're on your own today?" makakalokong sagot niya naman.
". . .Are you serious?" I asked, unbelievably with a face devoid of any emotion.
"I don't have any information about her besides the fact that she has a hidden room inside her house where she keeps all her inventions. Someone suspicious told me that you're the only one who got to go inside her house and thus, I trust that you will navigate your way there, safely."
"This is clearly a trap! Isang beses pa lang akong nakapunta sa bahay niya and that was a long time ago. You do realize that she's targeting me, right? If that's the case, I won't do this mission. Torture ang aabutin ko nito," I said.
The moment he mentioned her name, I had a suspicion that she's after me. Wala akong maisip na ibang dalihan kung bakit niya kailang isabutahe si Klion.
Come to think of it, walang ibang nakakaalam ng bahay ni Clea maliban sa'kin. That someone suspicious who talked to Clyde must be working for Clea and I bet that he realized that Clea is after me but he wanted his promotion so badly that he's willing to sacrifice me just to get it back.
Well, If I were in his shoes, I'd also sacrifice myself for less work and money.
"Artemis, I'm really desperate. I don't want to die from overwork! I'll pay you one million dollars, just please, get the hard drive back."
A million-dollar. I'm not confident that I can finish this mission unscathed but that amount of money is definitely worth the risk.
"Add five hundred thousand and it's a deal," I said.
Hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip at agad na sumagot.
"Okay."
He replied surprisingly fast.
"Then I'll need a hacker. Kailangan ko nang magb-breach sa security ni Clea. Illian, you're up!" baling ko kay Illian na ngayon ay nakawala na sa pagkakagapos mula sa upuan.
"Pagkatapos mo 'kong itali dito? Hmph. No thanks," angal niya.
"I can do so much worst than that. It's either you help me or you get your ass beaten, you choose," pagbabanta ko.
"Ayoko pa rin. Kiss muna," aniya habang nakaturo pa sa kanang pisngi niya.
"Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan, Illian."
Napasimangot naman siya pagkatapos ay inirapan ako.
"Kiss lang, napakadamot mo. Akala mo naman ikaw na ang pinakamaganda sa mundo eh mas maganda pa nga sayo ang pinsan mo!"
"1...2.."
"Asan na ba kasi ang laptop? Siguraduhin niyo lang na babayarn niyo 'ko dito ha. Mahal ang serbisyo ko," reklamo niya.
Klion took out a laptop from his bag and gave it Illian. The latter accepted it and immediately turned it on. Kumuha rin ng tatlong communication devices si Klion at binigyan kami ng tig-isa.
"Her address is *** ***** *****. I'll contact you once I got there. Think you can handle her security?" I asked Illian who's now looking serious in front of the laptop.
"Yep."
His eyes are focused on the monitor and it seems like he's a different person whenever he is in his work mode. Kahit ako ay namamangha minsan kapag nasa-ganyan mode na sila ni Axl. Maybe that type of personality runs through their family.
"I'll go now. Kapag may napansin kayong kakaiba, sabihin niyo agad," I said before going out and leaving the cafe.
I wonder what kind of trap Clea has in store for me.