5: Here’s A Deadly Mission For You, With A Side Of Unpleasant Opponents!

Reyna crossed her arms and impatiently tapped her foot against the floor. Rowan noticed that and chuckled.

‘Getting impatient, are we?’ He teased, and she narrowed her eyes at him.

It had been two days since she had last been here. He had called her and said that he wanted to discuss something with her, and give her a mission.

‘Okay, okay, sheesh,’ he muttered at her cold glare. He gestured for her to sit and she settled herself down in one of the swivel chairs in front of his desk.

‘What?’ She threw one leg on top of the other, and leaned back comfortably as if this was her throne. Her chin was held up high and from the way she was looking at him, he knew that she used this look all the time to intimidate people.

‘You look like a queen who can’t wait to torture her subject,’ Rowan noted.

‘I will start beating the life out of you if you don’t start speaking,’ she kept her expression completely blank, ‘Business first, casualties later.’

He rolled his eyes.

‘The thing you said about VILE Agency last time? Well, some other agents also noticed that. So, I’ve decided to give you missions.’

Reyna nodded, and he continued.

‘There’s something called “Code 000”, I want you to find out as much as you can about it, using everything you have. I’m telling you though-‘

‘Yes, I know who my opponents will be,’ her lips were pursued, ‘I’m ready to face them.’ That was an outright lie, and she was sure he knew it too. Her fingers trembled slightly at the thought of facing Horacio, and she crossed her arms to hide it.

He gave a grim smile, ‘I hope that’s true, Reyna.’

Me too, she thought.

‘Anyway,’ he said, trying to break the serious atmosphere, ‘Business done. Time for casualties.’

The corner of her lips quirked upwards, and he bent down to open a drawer.

‘I was at the mall yesterday, and I found something you might like,’ his voice was muffled a bit by the wood. She steered her swivel chair to his side of the desk, peering over his shoulder.

He straightened back up, shielding something behind his back.

‘What is it?’ She tried steering her chair behind him to see, but he placed his foot on one of the wheels.

‘No peeking.’

She huffed and sat back. He immediately brought his hands in front of him. In one of it was a book, and the other had a little blue box in it.

She took the book first eagerly, and looked at the title.

‘You got me Tears of Silver!? I love you so much, you big oxymoron!’

‘I am not an oxymoron!’

‘Whatever!’

She turned her attention to the little box, and he handed it to her.

‘It was a necklace I thought you might like,’

Reyna bit back a chuckle as she opened the box. Inside was a delicate owl shaped pendant hung on a silver chain.

‘It’s beautiful. Thanks, Rowan.’

He smiled at her, ‘Anytime, Rey.’

‘What is it, sir?’ Perseus asked him, sitting on one of the chairs. Rosalind took the other, and he noticed how- as always – she kept fiddling with her hair. He prevented himself from rolling his eyes.

‘Agents Milestone and Nerite, I have a job for you two.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘There is something going on inside the VILE Agency, called the “Code 000”.’

That’s a very specific number, he thought.

‘I want you to, using all the resources you have, find out what it is.’

‘And what of it then, sir?’ Rosa asked hesitantly.

‘Then...’ he seemed to be in deep thought, ‘Then, we’ll see. We might try to prevent it.’

‘And we have permission to go undercover, don’t we?’ Perseus inquired.

Agent Hal turned to him with a small smile, ‘I did say all your resources, didn’t I?’

‘Okay, sir,’ Rosalind nodded, ‘Well start looking into it as soon as possible.’

‘Well then,’ Agent Hal leaned back into his chair, ‘Your both are dismissed. Have a good day, both of you.’

‘You too,’ she smiled, getting up. Percy followed, and they left the large room.

‘You called?’ Celaena crossed her arms across her chest. She sat on the arm of Jason’s chair, Loki occupying the other one.

Jason bit back his grin, recalling how she had ‘Baby Shark’ set as his ring tone. Loki probably thought the same too, as he bumped Jason’s foot with his, obviously signalling him to keep it for later.

‘Yes, yes I did,’ Agent Hal said.

‘So?’ she raised her eyebrows at him. Jason almost nudged her sharply, when he remembered that she didn’t give a crap, and this was exactly how she talked to him every single time.

For some reason, Agent Hal’s presence didn’t have any effect on her. Why, he and Loki didn’t know.

‘Have you heard of “Code 000”?’

‘No, sir,’ Loki shook his head.

‘It’s something that VILE is planning. Something big.’

‘And we have to figure out what it is, using all we have,’ Celaena muttered under her breath. He could feel Loki inhaling sharply beside him.

Agent Hal turned his gaze to meet her blood red eyes. She kept their eye contact, which wasn’t really a problem.

‘Honestly, we’ve cracked so many codes already, we know the drill,’ she thankfully didn’t roll her eyes.

‘Well, like I mentioned before, this is something really big, and all of the major VILE agents are in on it. You do realise you’ll have to face them, right?’ Agent Hal asked, straightening his tie.

‘Yes, we do,’ she said bluntly.

‘Good,’ he nodded, and Jason thought he saw a hint of worry in his eyes.

‘Sir, can you please tell Celaena to let us do something and not try to handle everything herself?’ Loki asked, lacing his fingers together.

‘Agent Fowl?’ their boss raised his eyebrows at her.

‘Okay, okay,’ she rolled her eyes.

‘Besides,’ he continued, ‘There’s no doubt about her skills, but she can’t handle this mission alone.’

‘Noted.’

‘Are there any other questions?’

‘No.’

‘Then you may go. Good night.’

‘Good night, sir.’

Ash sat down on one of the chairs, and looked at Agent Hal.

‘Agent Okumura, how was your last mission?’ He asked.

‘Good, sir,’ Ash answered, ‘It was quite easy.’

‘Do you want to take a break?’

That was new. Agent Hal would usually give them about two days to rest before another mission. And usually he wouldn’t ask, it would just be a simple order. Unless the agent insisted that they didn’t need a break, and could take on another mission. Agents like Reyna.

Ash, focus on the task at hand right now, he scolded himself.

Anyways, if he had asked, that had to mean that the mission was urgent, and very important.

‘No,’ he paused, ‘What is it, sir? Do you have a mission for me?’

‘Well, yes.’

‘Tell me, then,’ Ash said with a slight dip of his chin.

‘VILE Agency has been a lot more active lately. Just a few days ago, Agent Milestone and Agent Nerite were cornered by some agents. They were minor ones, but still, it’s more than usual.’ He nodded along, listening intently. He hoped they were both all right. If they were minor agents, then he was sure the pair had kicked their butts.

‘And just yesterday, I caught wind of this thing called “Code 000”. I want you to find out more about it, with all you have. Any questions, Agent Okumura?’

The fire and ice elementalist asked, ‘Are there any other agents in on this?’

‘Yes,’ Agent Hal steepled his fingers together in front of him, ‘There’s the trio of Agents Fowl, Stoll, and Grace. Agents Nerite and Milestone. And of course, Agent La Rue.’

Those three? He talked to Jason Grace often, and Loki Stoll would sometimes join them. Celaena Fowl talked to him too, at times. Ash knew from the moment he saw her, that she would not fall for his charms. Once during training, he had gone on a mission with Celaena. He liked those three. They were a very, very formidable trio, and great people to befriend.

He had talked to the other two, and managed to charm- ha ha!- Agent Nerite. Though he felt like she was only pretending to be charmed. Agent Milestone didn’t like that, obviously. But he also obviously knew that Ash only had one girl in mind. So they were on good terms.

And then there was Agent Reyna La Rue. She was a real stubborn one. He could tell that she didn’t like him, but who said he wasn’t as stubborn as she was? Though he would keep away when he noticed that she was getting particularly agitated. Unlike all of the above, these two weren’t on good terms.

‘Okay, sir.’

‘Anything else?’

He shook his head, and quickly tucked back a strand of hair that had swooped down in front of his eyes.

‘All right then, you may go. Have a nice day, Agent Okumura.’

‘You too, sir.’

Ash got up from his seat, softly pushing it back into its original place. He turned around and walked to the door, his brown loafers padding on the floor. He opened the door, and stepped out, closing it behind himself.