The Mole

Ring! Ring!

Uriel slid the phone up to his ear, answering the call. "Hello?"

"Uriel," the other side spoke. "How did it go?"

"It worked. I'll be CEO of Initiate Co. from now on… More importantly, I've created enough distance between me and the Cardinal Nexus to avoid raising suspicion, but also maintained enough partnership to still have an influence in the government."

"Perfect. That's the best of both worlds…"

"Couldn't have said it better. With that in mind, I can finally reunite with you all soon. But knowing you, 'all' would be an overstatement. Right?"

The speaker on the other end let out a faint chuckle. "What should you mean by that?"

Uriel sighed, closing his eyes while doing so. Amidst the white noise from the phone, he could sense an aura of dreaded passing, but also an eye that watched, continuously. He concluded that the ambience lacked in presence.

"Nice to know not everybody died."

The speaker scoffed. "We only need the four of us."

"My innate sensations have dulled out spending my years here. Refresh me on my comrades, would you Michael?"

"Hmph." He paused. "The Angel of Death, the All-Knowing Eye, and I, your commander."

"We've formed some sort of an elite squad, haven't we?" Uriel smiled.

"Azrael makes our firepower, while Chamuel is our strategist. With your position in the Cardinal Nexus, you make the ace up my sleeve; grabbing confidential information and relaying it to A.X.A." Michael heaved his stress into the microphone, "We can undoubtedly impose our power through a setup like this. Don't you agree Uriel?"

Uriel's smile stretched further across his face. "I do. It's about time A.X.A. unravels its shadows and makes a bold move. Soon we'll take back what the Cardinal Nexus stripped from us so long ago…"

There was silence. A moment to mourn the past.

"Anyways, I'll keep you updated on my whereabouts, Michael."

"Mhm."

"But before I go, how's the sword fairing for you?"

"It's well. How about your wings?"

Uriel laughed. "You think I've got any time to use them while working here at the Cardinal Nexus? Hell no. What a dead giveaway that would be. I don't think I've even used it more than once, ever."

Michael exhaled, which Uriel quickly noticed, "What's the matter?"

"If I still had those wings, I could have easily prevented those seven subjects from escaping…"

Uriel understood. "That may be true. But do not fret Michael. Certain things happen for a reason, whether good or bad. This rather unfortunate path for A.X.A. might lead us towards an even brighter future."

Michael took a deep breath. "Brighter future my ass. We need to relocate those seven nuisances before they take a chance at exposing our position. There's no way they aren't plotting something against us."

"Hmm… I mean from all we've been able to observe as the government, they seem nothing more like convicts causing havoc, cursing this unfamiliar society. But if there is more to it, I'll keep you updated. My colleague just recently informed me of a new squad formation. He called it 'Squad Zero' or whatever. A team-up of military elites used to track and take down your seven escapees."

"Hm…" Michael pondered.

"What? Doesn't that sound great? These kids'll be doing the dirty work for us. We can have the Seven Sins taken care of without exposing ourselves carelessly."

"My only issue is time. If they take too long in finding the Sins, it'll give those kids enough time to prepare for an onslaught by both A.X.A. and the Cardinal Nexus combined."

"I feel like you're underestimating our firepower," Uriel speculated.

"No. I think you're underestimating the Sins."

Uriel scoffed. "Really now? That's not the Michael I know…"

Michael remained silent.

"Whatever… We can discuss this more in person. I'll be seeing you soon anyways."

"Hey," Michael spoke up. "Make sure those kids are taken alive. They are future prospects for A.X.A.'s upbringing."

Uriel rolled his eyes.

Beep!

The phone call ended.