Chapter 2: The Briefing

Rose awoke today to a cool and windy morning.

She looked at the time.

It's already 9:00 a.m.

Luckily, she has no classes scheduled this morning.

She found herself naked, and wet down there with her fingers still inside her private part under the sheets.

Her boyfriend is beside her, also naked and fast asleep.

It seems that they made love late at night, right after her boyfriend's mission.

She looked at his handsome face and chiseled body.

She caressed his face and whispered into his ears. "You can rest, for now, my love. The sex yesterday was great. I've got to go now."

Then she took a bath, had a quick breakfast, then drove straight to the Secret Unit HQ.

"Takeshi, good to see you here. Where are the other two? We got important stuff to discuss. I know you three also received the same email from the Premier himself."

"Relax, Rose. They are already inside. All right, let's head straight to the conference room and start the meeting straight away."

After that, we went straight to the conference room.

A pre-recorded video of the Premier started speaking.

"To the Secret Unit, I know that the four of you have received and read the email I sent to you yesterday. I'm a busy woman, so I'll go straight to the point. Tashiro and his team sent back classified info to the Renegade Extermination Squad that a masquerade ball will happen in the mansion of one of their leaders in the Fuzhou District. The information also points out that they are planning something possibly sinister and dangerous. You are to infiltrate that masquerade, find out what they are planning, and wreck their plans if possible. Be careful to avoid capture. The masquerade will be held tomorrow. Arrangements are already made for your transportation and entry card there. Get yourself ready by then. "

Then the latest flat screen smart tv blinked off once again.

" What are we supposed to wear and bring to the masquerade ball? We can't just waltz in unprepared. That's an obvious giveaway. "

Kokoro, a girl of 19 chimed in.

" Are you daft Kokoro? Of course, we don't just waltz in unprepared. That's an obvious and dead giveaway. Luckily, Rose's boyfriend is willing to give us a hand. I'll make the necessary arrangements later. "

Riku interjected and nudged Kokoro.

"If there is nothing left to discuss, how about we go to that burger place you keep talking about to us? Seems we still got a lot of time to kill before the afternoon class. "

So, they all hopped into Rose's smart car and sped along to the burger place Tashiro always mentioned.

While we were en route to the burger place, all four of us made small talk.

" So Kokoro, how true is it that you and Riku are planning to go dating?"

Rose teasingly asked Kokoro.

Kokoro blushed for a moment, then replied back at Rose.

"You're already behind with the news. We've dated so many times already that I lost track."

"And it's not just dating. We're already a couple, and you know what couples do after a date."

Riku added, looking lovingly at Kokoro and kissing her on the cheek.

"You mean you've had sex already, and do it every time after dating?"

"Yes." Kokoro and Riku answered in unison.

"How about you Rose, how's your relationship going along"

"Well, we are still going strong and seeing each other from time to time. Yesterday he dropped by to see me at the coffee shop, and we made love later that night after his mission."

"Does he get jealous when Takeshi visits you?"

"Of course, he sometimes gets jealous, but I reassure him that Takeshi is just a good friend and nothing more."

"How about you Takeshi, when do you plan to get into a serious relationship, you playboy?"

"Until someone manages to catch my attention? Well, what's the point of being single if you don't get to enjoy the company of one girl after another? We only live once."

They finally arrived at the burger place and ordered large burgers and shakes to go along.

They happily passed the time eating, drinking, and talking.

Rose returned to the condo unit and found that Tashiro already left, but he left behind a quickly scribbled note on the fridge that said " To Rose, thanks always for everything. Will see you again when I got some free time. Love, from Tashiro"

Rose smiled while reading.

He's always this sweet and caring.

Then Rose took a bath again and put on my school attire

This time she's opting for something cute and sexy.

So, she wore the sexiest schoolgirl outfit she had.

Then she placed her tablet, and other things she need for school and then drove to the university for the afternoon class.

Tashiro felt refreshed and well-rested.

He could still remember what happened yesterday, but his mind is set on the tasks he needs to do today.

He has already finished buying the list of stuff the Secret Unit needs and sent everything he bought to the respective houses of the Secret Unit members.

He remembered that he was supposed to set up a meeting between two high-echelon Renegade leaders who belong to two different factions.

He let out a long deep breath and hoped that everything would go smoothly.

He could not risk going against his grandfather's superior directly, so he opted to play one faction against another, pretending to work for the Renegades when he was in fact a double agent for the Elorian Secret Service.

And not just any other agent, he was also a member of the Secret Unit.

He once believed in what the Renegades claimed to be their main mission, but he secretly defected when it was obvious that he was being lied to all the time.

He was one of the agents who played a hand in arranging the death of Rose's family by feeding Rose's younger sister fake information.

The news that came back shocked him to the core so badly that one day, he met the Premier in secret, confessed that he had a hand in the event, and said that he regretted working for the Renegades.

He switched sides since then and focused his efforts on helping to weaken, if not destroy the Renegades once and for all.

He didn't regret his decision to switch sides.

He looked at his limited-edition smartwatch and as if on cue, the leaders of both Renegade factions arrived right on time, each with a small entourage of elite bodyguard mages just in case.

"Shou Yevgeni of the Death Angels Faction, and Nara Fujiwara of the Ancient Curses Faction, it's a pleasure to meet both of you. I've long heard of what you both are capable of. So, let's get down to business at hand, shall we?"

"It's also a pleasure to work with you, Tashiro. I've long heard of your prowess as a master spy and an expert fighter."

Shou said.

"I haven't seen your father for a long time. Send him my regards when you both cross paths again."

Nara added.

The three of them shook hands in the VIP section of a bar somewhere in the seedy side of Kuragari, another district infested with a lot of Renegades from both major factions.

" So, I believe that tomorrow's masquerade ball is to be held at your mansion right, Nara? And you worry that other factions, including the faction of Shou here, might try something funny? Is it why we're here again today?"

"Precisely. I like your quick thinking. Your predecessor was a bit slow and clumsy though."

"I've instructed those under my command not to stir up trouble, Nara. I assure you that. As for the rest of the factions, they obviously won't risk themselves by doing something stupid."

Shou interrupted.

"And besides, we have already known each other for a long time. You don't just go about angering people left and right."

Shou added.

"Now that we've ironed things out, it's left to the Grand Leader and his advisors to finalize what they got planned for tomorrow."

"By the way, Nara, you need clients for that smuggling business of yours, right? I can help you out."

Satisfied those things went smoothly, Tashiro excused himself from the bar and left the two to talk business and other stuff.

Kokoro, always a bubbly, cheerful, and attractive girl, is doing a live demo on advanced coding.

She's proud to have risen a long way from her poor, humble origins.

She used to live a hard life, born to poor parents who indulge in vices now and then, in the slums of Akiko, but she eventually gained access to the exclusive Akita University because of her hard work and intelligence.

Now a second-year college student at Akita University, she is also at the top of her class in the course she took.

It is her second subject for this afternoon.

Today she is in the midst of doing a live demo on advanced troubleshooting.

Good thing she always has her gaming laptop ready wherever she goes.

She ended her live demo by giving her classmates a custom-made program intentionally riddled with errors, and also malfunctioning.

She challenged them to spot the errors and fix the program.

Then she went back to her seat and let the rest do their own live demos.

Her professor, a handsome yet tall middle-aged man wearing glasses, looked on with approval.

The sweet and innocent-looking young girl he agreed to sponsor back then has now developed into a smart, tough lady capable of dealing with complex problems.

Kokoro looked at her smartwatch.

Then she realized that she had a full schedule ahead of her today.

Her last subject will end at exactly 9 p.m. in the evening.

"Ugh. Whatever. This is such a hectic schedule. Let's just focus and get this over with."

She just gritted her teeth and thought out loud.

"Kokoro, I can clearly hear you complaining from here. So much for being at the top of the class, you silly slum girl."

A couple of punks in the back row heckled her.

"What a bunch of punks who look like troublemakers. I bet their parents look like trouble too. They'd run for their lives if I exposed their parents, along with who they really are."

Kokoro thought to herself as she just smiled back in silence at the rowdy-looking punks in the back row.

It did not take long for the second subject to finally come to an end,

As she is preparing to leave the classroom and go to another hall for the next class, her close friend approached her.

"Kokoro, wait up. Let's go to the next class together. Just ignore those weirdos at the back seat earlier." Sakura said.

"All right Sakura. I'm not even entertaining them, Sakura. They indeed seem like an odd bunch. They look like trouble."

"You might be correct right there, Kokoro. I did some digging around and it looks like they are Renegade sympathizers. Those who heckled you earlier look like wild but dangerous rich kids. Look like even their family is involved with the Renegades in one way or another."

"Juicy information. Anyway, stay out of trouble, will you, Sakura? You can't have me clean up the mess you make all the time. And stay away from peeps like those."

"Trust me, I know how to handle myself. See you later."

And they both went to the next class to focus.

Takeshi is in the private battle simulation center owned by his family.

He swiftly picked his weapons, skillsets, magic, and other needed items. To go into battle simulation unequipped meant suicide.

He placed the latest Headgear on his head.

"Commencing Raid on Shinjuku battle simulation in 3,2,1. Be careful not to die out there in the virtual world."

He could hear the AI say in a fluid, human-like female voice.

And he found himself in a strange new environment, battling against a highly skilled Renegade Demon Summoner. He knew it was just AI, but he had to stay on guard.

Takeshi is 23 years old, the eldest in the Unit, richer than all of the Unit members, tall, rugged, and handsome. He is also a playboy, and it is an open secret that he's a fuck boy who likes to bed different girls every night.

He is also a university graduate.

Riku, who is just the same age as his girlfriend, just finished his class and is preparing to enter the next class.

"Whew, today is kind of hectic. When will we ever get a respite from all of this? I feel like I'm going to drop dead anytime."

.

"Stop that Riku. I can clearly see through all of your drama. It won't work on me."

His classmate and close friend, Yuugi, an attractive girl just about his age, chided him.

Riku is also rich, but he came from a nouveau riche family who got rich purely by trading magical supplies mages need.