Lion and the Serpent: Assassination

Hotel Misato, Green Ville

Metro Tondo, Republic of Verlusia

12 Hours Ago

A tense atmosphere was observed inside the penthouse suite in the hotel. All the windows were covered by the curtains and bodyguards are within the four corners of the room. Five men in suit were gathered in a table, they were in a serious discussion. They were agents of the organization and are involved with the planning of the attacks in Lipis City.

"The siege of the city of Lipis took 5 months for the government to resolve the issue. It seems like they held longer than planned... against the Verlusians." Eric, the man who is smoking a cigar facing the door said.

"The terrorists are merely a test of their military capabilities. Soon, the heart of their country shall fall to us!" Carlos replied to Eric while holding his documents on his hand.

A bodyguard approaches Eric and wisphers something to him. He nodded after the bodyguard spoke who returned to his position earlier.

"The boss wants to expedite the process of the plans. Verlusia shall be ours, our friends and supporters are eager to make this plan into fruition!"

In unison the men inside the room said, "It will be done!"

The meeting is adjourned and the men left the room. The bodyguards opened the curtains as the men went left. Eric proceeds to the window and lights his cigar. He enjoys the gentle morning breeze and sat in the balcony. He calls one of his bodyguard and relayed a message to him. The bodyguard nodded and left.

From an adjacent building, an assassin saw his target on the balcony from the penthouse suite. A man in his forties, smoking his cigar and relaxing withi his drink. He grabs his binoculars to check the identity of the person which he confirmed from his briefing earlier by his client.

Moments after confirming his target, the assassin assembled his weapon. The famed 55 caliber sniper rifle. After the parts were assembled he went to position and estimated the shot.

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Cobra sat in front of the table with Enrique while discussing their plans. Enrique again ate his favorite fried chicken from his favorite fastfood chain in the country. Cobra looking at Enrique cannot describe the disgust he felt seeing the food in the hands of his boss.

"What's with that face Cobra? Have some!" Enrique offered his spare set meal to Cobra.

"N-no thanks, boss..." Cobra refused.

Enrique was amused of the reaction of his subordinate. He knows pretty well that Cobra hates the aroma and the sight of Atlantican-inspired food. Nonetheless he continued to tease him out of amusement.

All of a sudden one of their men hurriedly called Enrique. He was panting as he approached his boss and told him of the recent news and turned on the television set in front of them.

"At 0800 hours, a man was shot from his penthouse suit in the hotel from Green Ville in Metro Tondo. The police are now looking for leads about the incident..."

Enrique lets out a smirk signified of succes of their plans. Cobra nodded to his boss in confirmation. Enrique told his subordinate to leave the room and had a conversation with Cobra about the matter.

"You know what will be our next plan, Cobra... We cannot allow the snake to take over!" Enrique said.

"Yes boss!" Cobra replied to him.

Enrique stood up after finished his meal and lights a cigarette after his drink.

"The siege of Lipis City took longer than expected. But I thank you for derailing their plans, I can always rely on you for your competence!" He praised Cobra in his seat.

"Boss, what if they know?" Cobra asked his boss, concerned of the consquences in assassinating a key figure in the organization.

"I intended it to be, I believe that even we lack numbers, we can take them on!" Enrique replied to the question not bothered.

Cobra agrees with his boss but deep inside he feels troubled. With one of the Right Hands dead, the organization will not keep a blind eye to their actions. He knows that there will be a huge conflict with their organization but he knows that they are not prepared for such confrontation.

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The Two Towers

Kingdom of Leondria

2 Hours after the assassination

The leader of the organization looks very displeased of the incident in the Republic of Verlusia. The assassination of one of their key figures in field hinders their progress in their plans in the country. Lawrence, the secretary of the room observes the situation in the room.

Lawrence saw two members of the committee summoned before their boss. He couldn't overhear their conversations because of the soundproofing but he is sure his boss is pissed. The two immediately left as their boss throw a fit and was asked to leave the room.

"Lawrence, Lawrence!!!" His superior calls his attention.

"Oh, sorry sir! I am heading there right now!" Lawrence hurries up to the secretary's office.

Inside the room, one of their supervisors reprimanded Lawrence who caught him eavesdropping.

"My apologies sir, it won't happen again!" Lawrence said to his supervisor.

After being reprimaded for ten minutes, Lawrence was let out of the room and sighed. He went back to his desk and was surprised in seeing an envelope in the table. He looks around to see if someone was watching him and placed the envelope in his desk.

"Oh, it's you! Lawrence!" A familiar voice calls his name.

"Oh, hi, ma'am Abbott!" Lawrence greeted one of his superiors.

"Please finish these by ten days!" She said and dropped a document in his table, "It is urgent, the boss cannot wait further to process these!"

Lawrence nodded and accepted the task that was given to him. After that, his superior ma'am Abbott left him. Seeing that the coast is clear, Lawrence opened his desk and took the mail and read it.

It is written in a code but he understands it, "Verlusian..." He recognized and read it.

"The war of the lion and the serpent will begin! You are to choose your side."

Those were the words he interpreted from the code on the letter.