CHAPTER 37: GAME OF TRUST

He rushed towards the door, startling Diana, but Anton walked in before he could reach the door.

"What’s happening?" Diana asked

"It’s nothing, Princess— your friends will be picking you up tomorrow" Anton replied, with a smile.

"That didn’t sound like nothing" Trent whispered to him, glancing at Diana.

"We’ve been tasked to find and kill the kidnapper" he replied softly

"What?!"

"Sh..." He hushed, nodding his head. "It’s bad"

Trent turned to Diana and composed himself. "What’s happening, Man?"

He said through his teeth, faking a smile.

Diana turned away from them, uncomfortably— seemed to be an issue they didn’t want her hearing.

"We have to play this right"

"How?" Trent turned to him again.

What the fuck was playing this right?

Wait—

"You weren’t ordered by the top for this mission, huh?" He asked, exhaling.

"Right..." Anton scoffed, "This is a personal mission— I’m sorry about pulling you into my problems"

"Wanda?"

Anton turned immediately, shocked.

"How do you know that name?" He asked— eyes shot, like it was a taboo.

"Relax..." He turned his face away,

"I told Angela to do some digging— everything felt weird with Newton— I’m sorry"

Anton looked at him for a while and sighed deeply, "she must be so good— to be digging up something so deep"

"I’m sorry— about it and the loss"

"It’s alright" Anton interrupted, "it’s been a very long time. Good job being cautious, kid"

He glanced at him, walking forward,

"You alright?"

"Yeah"

Anton tapped her shoulder as he reached her, "You’re a strong lady, Princess..."

"T–Thank you...?"

"Can you tell us who you think is after you? There’s gotta be a few people that can pull this off" He asked, dragging a chair towards himself.

She glanced at Trent— eyes moving around the room, nervous.

She definitely knew something.

"She’s not going to tell us anything at this rate" Trent walked over and sat on the table close to her.

"Truth serum?" Anton muttered— louder than he’d intended.

"He’s joking" Trent assured her as she shifted backwards, shooting him a glare.

"Why don’t we play a game?"

"Game?" Anton asked,. raising a brow.

She stared at him, surprised too.

A game?

"We each take turns in telling a truth to one question"

"Uh... I don’t know, Man. I’ve got secrets"

"Let’s build trust first, no?" Trent shot him another glare, making him turn away.

"I’ll go first" he chuckled, reaching for his ear to pull the mask off.

She gasped, surprised as she saw his face.

"Are you insane, Twerp?" Anton stood up, surprised.

"Ask me anything" he smiled, ignoring Anton.

She looked at them for a while, "W–Who are you people?"

"That’s your question?"

She nodded, glancing at Anton as she stood up.

"We’re Handlers— I’m Trent and this is my Boss, Anton"

"Congratulations, Twerp..." Anton scoffed, running his hand through his hair, "You just made front cover for most confidential Agent of the Century"

"Good to know" he scoffed turning to him, "Your turn— ask"

Anton looked at him, dumbfounded... What was he playing towards?

"What do you think of me?"

"Childish, playful, talkative—"

"Alright... I got it" he huffed, turning away.

"And a father figure"

He turned immediately, surprised.

"I—" he clenched his fist. If...

"It’s your turn" Trent said, snapping him out of his thought.

Diana’s eyes trailed from his clenched fist to his face. There was definitely an interesting story here.

Not now... She snapped herself back.

"What do you people want with me?"

"...I’m just doing a friend a favor— protecting you"

Trent looked at her. She seemed unsatisfied with the answer.

"You say protecting her— up to which stage?"

Her eyes shifted to him, surprised.

Anton’s eyes narrowed, bringing his head down

"As far as I can to make sure she doesn’t die here and gets back safely"

That look— he was serious and being very truthful.

He looked up, at her,

"Your turn, Princess. Who’s after you?"

Trent stabled himself on the table as she thought about the question.

"M–My Brother" she stuttered.

"Succession disputes? You’re not even very close in line" Anton asked walking forward

"You’ve use up your chance, Man"

He exhaled, looking at Trent.

"Succession disputes?" Trent asked.

She pulled her head down,

"Yes... More like for a qualification"

"What?"

"You’ve used up your chance" she raised her head, sniffling.

She looked at them. Why was this little conversation making her emotional?

"I’m going to tell you anyway" she chuckled, leaning her back on the chair.

"That’ll be much appreciated, Princess" Trent replied with a smile.

This dude... She chuckled. He looked better than the mask he wore... And familiar too.

"As you know, I’m Diana Le Kravenberch— eldest of my generation from the Le branch"

"Yeah. What’s this gotta do with succession?" Anton asked, taking his sit.

"Shouldn’t you know about this?" Trent asked.

His jaw tightened as he looked at Trent and Diana quietly... Only a little about the Direct family.

"It’s a secret not many know about— the branch families are allowed to birth only 4 children in each generation— a method used by the Direct line for protection"

"How many branch families are there?"

"5... The leaves of the blossoms" Anton answered, clicking his tongue.

"That’s general knowledge" she replied with a soft laugh.

Trent laughed, shaking his head.

"Not my fault he didn’t know it" Anton huffed, turning away.

"Well... When the children of that generation are complete, or a branch deems it’s line complete, they bring their eldest to a sort of test for promotion into direct lineage"

"What type of test?"

"I don’t know— the details are secret and could get anyone that leaks it killed. It’s a test with the Emperor"

"And your brother needs the qualification for your line?" Trent asked,

"Yeah" she scoffed, "That rude bastard..."

"You don’t seem to like him— and he he seems to be quite the interesting bastard" Anton said, standing up,

"I take it you didn’t have any idea some people turned betrayed you"

"I–I didn’t" she replied, clenching her fist.

"That’s alright..." Trent cut in seeing the mood turn sour.

"What would you like to eat?"

"I–I don’t know" she muttered, wiping the tears forming from her eyes.

"Call Marie— my phone doesn’t connect here" he turned to Anton, standing up.

"I hope you know all these is our little secret"

"Y–Yeah"

"Thank you, Diana"

"Where are you headed?" Anton asked as he headed towards the door

"For Cisco... What are you going to do about that order?"

"Oh" he thought for a while, "I’ll call them after a few hours that I have her and we’ll find someone— death row inmate and wear them the mask"

"Alright"

"I guess I’ll have to get a new mask"

He glanced at Diana,

"Everything’s alright..."

_________

"Hey, Man" he knocked on the door before entering,

"Why’d you leave the door open?" He looked around.

"I–I’ve been... Fuck!!"

"What’s up?" He walked closer towards Cisco. He seemed to be busy on his laptop.

"Sorry" Cisco laughed, completely removing his headphone.

"These bastards think they can rank up with me" he shook his head, scoffing.

"Rank up?" He looked at the screen— a video game?

"Please, don’t tell the Chief— this is my free activity"

"I understand" he laughed,

"I’m here for Internet— I need connectivity urgently" he added, glancing at his phone, 11:34.

CATALYST— BUY. 12:00 pm.

He’d ignored Ave because of how tough the whole situation was. Just 26 minutes more.

"Sure" Cisco closed his tab and stood up, "Use this— it’s secure and doesn’t save the history"

"Thanks" he replied, sliding into the chair while Cisco walked off.

He searched the company— a major producer of chemicals with a lot of hold in the industry.

There’s been some buzz and conspiracies about them trying to fuse some deadly chemicals

"Catalyst..." He murmured as he searched the name on his trading account.

10 million this time... Seemed to be against the market as stock price was falling.

"No issues" he scoffed, logging out.

"Thanks a lot, Man" he turned to Cisco, standing up.

"It’s alright... Uh..."

"What’s up?"

"About the things you said you’ll give us... How much is the budget?"

Hmmm... Never thought about it. Was he asking so he’d know what to ask for? How considerate.

"Would 2 million be enough?"

"What?" Cisco’s eye widened,

"2 million"

"Holy... T–That’s... That’s more than enough. I’ll talk to the team and get back to you. They’ll be so happy" he laughed, holding him tightly in excitement.

"Alright" Trent broke himself free slowly,

"S–Sorry... I’m just so excited"

"It’s no problem"

"T–Thank you very much" he added with a bow.

_________

It’d be enough if the 10 million did +900 before the market closes.

90 million more sounds cool

What’s that voice? He listened as he walked closer.

Didn’t seem like Marie’s.

Did Anton call one of the Agents over?

Wait—

No way... His jaws tightened as he opened the door,

"Hello, Pest..."