Chapter 13 - Chapter XIII

'So you were able to contain this new growing force from Country R for such a good period of time and yet suddenly things became out of control?' 

'Yes President.' Dmitri, answered trying hard to hide his fear.

'And why is that?' Rawlf was unsmiling now. The calmness in his voice is the very opposite of the wrath that he will surely put his Spartan force into.

'I can't-'

'I?' Rawlf cut out. 'Since when did my Spartan force started to be a one man team?'

'Forgiveness President.' Dmitri who was already on his knees trembled.

'Go on.'

'We can't be sure about it yet President. It's -'

'Can't be sure?' Rawlf once again cut Dmitri out. 'Secretary Ryan as the head of my Athenian Force, tell me, since when did my Spartan Force became so weak that they can't even be sure of their own report.'

Secretary Ryan fix his eyeglass first before speaking. 'I believe if that's truly the case President, then the yearly core strengthening of both forces should be held a month earlier.'

That was actually the safest answer Secretary Ryan could give. He valued his camaraderie with Dmitri as both of them were the team leaders of Rawlf Sy's forces but his loyalty for Rawlf was beyond and more than anything else. He knew that Dmitri won't take it personally as both were extremy loyal to Rawlf Sy. The Athenians, to which  Secretary Ryan leads, was Rawlf Sy's outer surface force that function mainly with dealings with the government, economy, international trades and hacking. While the Spartans Dmitri leads was Rawlf Sy's underworld's force. Actually there was  two more forces but those were dormant for 3 years now after Rawlf Sy successfully conquered the whole economy and politics of Country P. The fearsome people of those two forces were now around the globe having their best days in lives and will only come back to Country P if their King will to summon them. But of course, their vacation weren't only for naught, they were also around the globe collecting information, gaining strenth, power and influence for their King. If one is to dream, why not big enough, right? At least Rawlf Sy only dreamed of world domination and not the universal one. 

'Dmitri, you are temporarily suspended from your duties. You are not allowed to aid or intervene with the operation until Ryan succesfully finished what you are supposed to do,....in the first place.'

Dmitri's whole body trembled in humiliation. For an over achiever like him, taking his tasked from him and giving it to anyone even that someone is capable of is a big humiliation for him. But he can't do anything about it but to obey their King's decree.

'Leave.'

Rawlf was storming inside but knows well not to show his anger. He doesn't really mind that another underworld force was growing in his own land because after all, a little competition is a good entertainment until he will get bored and crushed it into dust. What irked him the most is that he was supposed to surprised and have dinner with his enchantress when an urgent call from Dmitri destroyed his earlier plan.

'Speak.' He directed to Secretary Ryan who didn't leave yet and was waiting for him to give him the right to speak.

'President this isn't confirmed yet but I think the underworld force is related to the Lady Boss.'

In as much as Rawlf would like to savor his little enchantress being called as the Lady Boss by his subordinate, the matter is very serious right now. Much that it involved her enchantress.

'Elaborate.'

'Dmitri mentioned that the Spartan had been suppressing the new force for a good period of time and it was almost at the same time that the lady boss' arrival that the force seemed to have found a new strength and gained a footing to finally be able to enter here and in fact stabilized now. Based on the timeline it seems like it's the lady boss who help the that force and what's more, both were from Country R.'

.....

Rawlf was now deep in thought alone in his office after Ryan left. Until now, it annoyed him as to why he hasn't been able to find who and how Veronica and her family suddenly vanished after the incident 5 years ago. It's too late for him to be informed that she was involved in a car accident and also too late for him to know the severity of her situation. He decided first to  gather his Persian and Macedonian forces to turned the whole City I upside down as to who was responsible for her accident. He would visit her by the next day but what awaits him was an empty hospital bed. And no matter how he tried and tried and even to the point of abusing all of his four forces combined, no news of her or of her family was ever found out. She seemed to vanished from the face of the earth. No tracks. No leads.

A dangerous smirked left his lips. 'Very well then.'