Victory In Defeat

"Location B. The main target is approximately 50 meters from your current position."

Running above a nearby roof, Liam was closing in on the target.

"How many guards?"

"4 on the first floor, 1 on the second outside the room housing our man."

Lucas was monitoring every single movement with all of his focus. For the distraction plan to work, his brother had to pull off a stealth takedown of the mark. No witnesses, no extra time for people to be suspicious.

Liam stopped some distance from the end of his current roof.

"I have the location in sight."

A balcony on the second floor, which was 7 meters ahead of him. He would have to make a clear jump without alerting anyone else.

"Will you be able to make it?"

Liam was calculating his chances.

"Not sure."

That length was only 3 meters short of the current world record. Plus, he could alert others if he wasn't careful enough.

"We must act quickly."

Location A was already covered by officers. It wouldn't be long until someone sent a message to the guards at location B to be alert.

"Fine."

He took a few steps back.

'The fall isn't steep, but it isn't an option.'

'Sigh.'

He tensed his muscles.

"Going in."

Stepping forward and increasing his pace as fast as he could, he rushed towards the edge of the roof.

'15 steps, maximum acceleration. Arm extension and grip calculation,'

The final push. His body was off the ledge. Extending both his arms as far as he could, he found himself in mid-air at that moment. Soon enough, realization hit him.

'I won't make it like this.'

He was missing it by an inch. Both his arms would not be able to make contact with the ledge. It was time for quick improvisation.

'This will work.'

Slightly lowering his left shoulder, he extended his right arm even further.

'Slap!'

His hand grabbed the ledge. Without wasting any time, he used his left arm to grab and pull himself up.

"Made it."

Liam whispered.

"Good. Left from the balcony exit."

He checked his watch.

2:53.

"10 meters from the target. The guard will be visible after you take the next right."

He looked around the corner.

"I see him."

He tapped the alarm icon on his stop watch.

'Beep beep!'

Two soft but audible beeps resounded. He quickly tapped the icon again to stop the alarm.

"!"

The guard was somewhat alarmed. He carefully moved towards the turn, which was to his right. The rifle was ready to dig bullets into the intruders.

'3...2...1...'

The guard was right around the corner.

'Now.'

The barrel came into sight.

Liam moved right in front of it.

The guard was about to press the trigger.

"Dakh-"

'Bang!'

A palm strike to the intruder's throat. Dizziness took over, and Liam finished him of by rotating his body to deliver a back heel strike with his left leg to the opponent's skull.

'Crack!'

Placing his left leg on the ground, he looked at the corpse in front of him. The neck had been broken, and blood was slowly starting to flow through the nostrils and the eye socket.

"Was the target alerted?"

"He is sleeping."

The only guard that they could afford to kill was this one. The kidnapping was to be fabricated to look like an escape attempt.

"I am going in then."

Walking up to the door, Liam rotated the knob.

'Click.'

The door opened. No security, no extra precautions except for the guard.

The light was on. The room itself was almost completely empty, and there were no windows. Only a TV and a bed were visible, along with the unconscious target with his back towards the entrance.

"I have him in-"

Static sound. His connection with Lucas was cut off. Simultaneously, the lights in the room switched off.

'Bang!'

He took out his pistol and shot it towards the target. His eyes had still not adjusted themselves to the light, but the shot was right on target.

'Click.'

The light was turned back on.

The bullet had torn through the mattress and was lodged in the hardwood frame of the bed.

"Drop your gun."

A gun was aimed at the back of his head by the person that was supposed to be the target.

Liam didn't respond. His mind was busy making sense of this situation. He dropped the gun first.

"Turn around."

The target took a step back. He turned around.

'Edvin Kempainnen' was standing in front of him. This person was supposed to be their target. However, there was one irregularity.

'Bloodlust.'

This wasn't Edvin.

"Long time, no see,"

He grabbed his own hair and pulled it from the top. The mask came off.

"Brother."

For the first time in a long time, Liam was surprised. Not because he was outwitted, not because he couldn't get to his target.

But because the wimp that used to be his younger brother was confidently aiming a gun towards his head. And from his body language, he wouldn't hesitate to shoot.

"Alex."

He closed his eyes and gave a nod.

"You got to the target before me. I guess I was still underestimating you."

Alex lowered his gun.

"I can't fault you for that. From the second you made the challenge, you stood no chance."

The last two days had been hell for him. He hadn't slept at all, and everyone associated with him had been working overtime to make this happen.

"I stood no chance. Aren't you getting a little too cocky just because you won?"

Liam was confident that he could beat his ass in a one-on-one.

Alex smiled.

"I am not being cocky, and I also didn't win."

He placed the gun in a holster tied to his vest.

"What does that mean?"

The younger brother pressed a button on his left earpiece.

"Restore connections."

After saying that, he raised his hand and pointed all of his fingers towards Liam's ear.

"Lucas?"

"Brother, something weird has happened."

Lucas couldn't believe his eyes. A singular message was displayed on his phone.

"Target, Edvin Kempainnen. Assassinated by Liam Curran. A reward will be assigned by the collective after a proper report submission."

Liam opened his eyes. Alex took out a file from his system space and threw it towards him.

"The required report."

He caught the file.

"Congratulations, brother. You have successfully finished the mission."

Alex folded his arms.

"Is this a joke?"

There was rage in his subdued and controlled voice.

"You wanted to humiliate me and show me my place, right?"

The best way to beat a superior person,

"That is exactly what happened. The collective will display that two people took this assignment into their hands, and the most capable one emerged victorious."

Is to let them win.

Liam turned silent.

"Brother, did he-"

"Everyone will know that I lost to you. And I have no qualms with that."

All of that hard work has paid off tremendously.

"But I had to make sure that you knew what true loss felt like. It is in your hands now. Become a joke in front of everyone by telling the truth, or live with the lie that I have created for you."