The man entered the room slowly before kneeling down immediately.
"Speak." The voice said.
"We have bad news, Professor." The man said with terror.
But the professor simply stayed silent, not even looking at the man.
The man thought that maybe he should keep speaking.
"We have lost all our men situated in City A. Not just them but all others who were keeping an eye on Markus, his family and friends as well his business branches." The man said, his voice cracking from fear.
"Anything else?" The professor asked in as gentle a tone as possible, as if the news didn't mean anything to him.
"Miss Hazel… she is.." The man was almost stuttering, unable to utter the next part.
"What about Hazel? Finish off quickly." The professor urged the man.
"Miss Hazel is pregnant with Markus's child. This was the last news passed onto us by our men." The man finally said, sweat trickling down his forehead.
"Huhhh." The professor said before he started laughing a little.
A moment passed by but there was no stop to his laughter. Instead it only increased making him look like a maniac who was laughing like crazy.
The man simply kept kneeling on the ground, not lowering his guard for even a minute and suddenly the professor's laughter ended, scaring him to no end.
"Wrong news." Was the only thing the man got to hear before he lay on the ground in a pool of blood under the professor's poisonous knife.
*HALF HOUR LATER, MARKUS's PLANE*
"Markus." Kizy called out his name, even when they were literally sitting adjacent to each other, with her head resting on his shoulders.
"Hmmm." Markus said, placing his mobile aside and instantly focusing all his concentration on his wife.
"Which group is attacking first?" Kizy asked, turning to look towards Markus with serious eyes.
"Andrew's group." Markus answered.
"Victor and Nicole?" Kizy questioned shockingly.
"Yeah." Markus said, not wanting to discuss this anymore.
"Ask them to wait for us. Anyways we will be taking the sea route for the last part as no planes are allowed in the Imperial Nation. So let us join them and then we can attack all together." Kizy said, not wanting anyone to bear the attack themselves.
"That's too risky for you and the baby, little lamb. I had already tried to convince Andrew to stay back and let me lead. But he was stubborn till the end. He said that no matter what happens, I am never to leave you alone." Markus explained.
"But what if something serious happens? I am sure that the professor won't be standing there with extended hands to welcome us. He will be ready with a plan and you definitely know how extreme his plans are. Then why are we sending them in death's mouth?" Kizy asked, finding this unrighteous.
"There is one thing we can do. But I will be needing your cooperation for that." Finally Markus said after some time.
"What?" Kizy asked, knowing that Markus was about to explain something which she would never approve.
"You will stay back. I know that I promised to stay with you, but I don't even feel right to send someone else for the first blow when we don't know about the enemy's situation." Markus said.
"No. That was never the deal. I will be coming along with you." Kizy tried to negotiate.
"Fine then. Let Andrew take the blows. None of us is going." Markus said, ending the discussion right there and then.
"Markus! You can not do this. In fact we should not be doing this." Kizy said, trying to probe him.
"Yes we shouldn't be. You should be resting at home peacefully, yet I foolishly agreed to take you along. And now you won't listen to my suggestion. So let's continue with the original plan." Markus said helplessly.
"Markus it's not like that. I don't want you to face anything alone though." Kizy said, her voice diminishing by the end.
"But Kizy, it's just not you now anymore. Even if you want to stand by my side in every situation, you should think about the baby. Cause it won't just be you anymore but our baby as well. Do you really want the baby to face the first hand blows from that psycho?" Markus questioned purposefully, knowing full well that somewhere Kizy would back off.
"But what should I do? I don't want to see you hurting." Kizy said, almost on the verge of crying.
"I won't be hurted, Kizy. Protecting myself will be my responsibility. But protecting yourself and the baby will be your duty now. And I am not rejecting you from entering the Imperial Nation. I just want you to enter a little late, maybe with the last group. Can you do that?" Markus asked gently, not wanting to trigger Kizy at such a moment.
Kizy kept quiet for almost two minutes, as if calculating something.
"Okay. I will stay back. But make sure that you won't make me worried." Kizy said unwillingly.
"Thank you my little lamb!" Markus said while rubbing her head lovingly, genuinely thankful for getting Kizy's approval over his idea.
With that the couple stayed together for another half an hour before Marlus conveyed his change in plans to the remaining groups.
And though many of them weren't completely approving of his plan, they couldn't reject it completely as well. After all Markus was a strong opponent to begin with. Hence they couldn't have a better man than him to attack first. But at the same time they were worried about Kizy.
"Just stay at the back and wait for me. I'll be back soon." Markus said while holding Kizy's shoulders.
"Hmmm." Kizy nodded her head as Markus bent down a little, kissing her forehead gently as if she was the most precious treasure in this world.
With that announcement was made that their plane had landed, making Markus turn towards the door. But just as he was about to proceed, he stopped in tracks.
------------------------
I am so so ssookkkskskksks sorry for disappearing without any prior notice. First part of my internship ended day before yesterday and I had a lot of procedures to do then. Plus for the next stage of internship, I had to shift at a new place, resulting in all chaos from packing to shifting to unpacking. Yet I am sorry for making you all wait endlessly. I will try to write more chapters soon. Thank you for your constant support!
- Kizy