Assignment

_02_ (Jace's Point of View)

I just came back from my flight and my uncle called me here to report for duty.

"Gosh, Uncle, I already told Jace to buy me a dress from the states but he didn't." Just like what she always does, she threw tantrums at my uncle

"Jean, I'll just tell Jace." My uncle said so the brat exited his office

"Jace, son, you just came back but you made Jean cry right away." Uncle said

"Exactly, Uncle, I'll be right back. You don't have to always give in to Jean." I reminded him

"Jace, you know that Jean's father is gone and Jean's older brother is gone – So we're going to give in to her every whim like that?" I cut off what my uncle was saying

"It's not like that, Jace," Uncle said and sighed

"All right, do it your way," Uncle said so I left the office

As I was walking, I thought of going to the mall. I am still very grateful to Aunt Jenny, Jean's mother, and because of that gratitude I decided to give in for now.

I bought two dresses one for Aunt Jenny and one for Jean, just as I was paying for the said dresses, I received a call from my Uncle.

"Hello, Uncle?" I answered the call

"Son, please buy Jean the clothes she wanted, she won't give it up." Uncle said over the line

"All right, Uncle. I already bought what she wanted." I said and hung up the phone

I went to the parking lot and drove to the police station. I handed in the dresses for Jean and Aunt Jenny then I left again.

I went to my desk and started doing paperwork.

"DETECTIVE SCOTT !!" My comrade said

"We caught two drug syndicates because of your tip." He said

"That's our job," I said

"Detective Scott," I got up just in time when I saw the Commissioner-General of the Country arrive in front of me

"Good morning, Sir." I greeted and paid my respects

"I will expect you in your Deputy Chief's office." He said and left leaving me there wondering

"You're done." Inspector Sariin said

"What the hell did you do?" Inspector Francis asked and I shook my head

"Suspension."

"Reassignment."

"Surrender the gun."

They were betting on what punishment I would have. But, why would I be punished? What did I do?

I ignored their remarks and went to the office.

"Police Detective Jace Scott reporting for duty, sir." I said and raised my hand to salute

"I won't beat around the bushes anymore. We need you to lead the group of police who will escort the heiresses of the richest family in the world." The Commissioner-General said

"Sir? Don't they have bodyguards?" I asked

"Yes, Ms. Hanazono has her bodyguards but we have received a report that she is the target of a big crime syndicate. We don't know why, but you have to assure her safety during her stay here in the Seryphil." He said

"When will I start?" I asked

"You will guard Ms. Hanazono and the men you'll lead will guard her friends, who are also heiresses of rich families during her stay here." He said

"Thank you for your trust, sir," I said and paid respect

"Tomorrow, you must be at her house at 6 AM sharp." He said strictly

"Sir, yes, sir," I said and he handed me the files I will need.

Hanazono Family is ranked first in the ranking of the world's richest families, and this girl is the daughter of the sole heir of the Hanazono and the first heiress of the second richest family.

I can already foresee that she will be more spoiled than that brat Jean, given this background of hers.

"What did they say? Why were you called?" Inspector Del Mundo asked

"Assignment," I answered shortly

"Are you Jace Scott?" A group of men dressed in SAF uniforms asked

"Yes, that's him." Inspector Sariin answered

"Sir, reporting for duty, Sir." They said and saluted

"Oh, what a sudden promotion." SPO2 Tenero said

"Sir, your outfit is delivered to your address." They said and I went out while leading them

"Men, we are to protect Ms. Hanazono and her group of friends. There is no room for errors or mistakes. Do you understand?" I asked strictly

"Understood," They said

"Tomorrow you should be at their address before 6 AM sharp. I won't tolerate any tardy and lazy officers. Their lives are in our hands, understood?" I asked

"Sir, yes, Sir," They answered

"Dismissed," I said and they all scattered

I drove home and looked at the files about the heiress I must protect. These files are from her brother

| Name: Lavalee A. Hanazono Age: 18

Birthdate: 19 December 1991 Time: 17:32

About her:

Source: Interview with Abbigail Fuentabella (Lavalee's Aunt)

Lavalee loves anything that resembles fire. Although she is often hard-headed and mischievous, she is caring kind, and gentle, and nevertheless, she's a gem of our empire.|

I went to the mall though it is already four in the afternoon. While in the elevator, a group of girls came in and they were talking in a language I couldn't understand.

"Duh, he was handsome but I think he's gay." The girl with red hair then said

She's familiar so I glanced at her from time to time and I think she felt my gaze because she looked at me then she seemed surprised.

"Oh, we meet again." She said and smiled at me

"The spoiled brat," I murmured

"Is he the guy you're talking about, Lav?" the girl wearing eyeglasses asked her

I then recognized her, she's the Lim heiress; Crystal Chelsea Lim.

"Obviously, Chels, she's talking to him." The girl with three ear piercings said

"What are you doing here? What's your name anyway?" she told me

I ignored her and looked straight ahead, I don't think I have to answer her.

"Snob," she said

"As if you aren't used to that," I heard her friend said

"At least I can make those three ice blocks at home speak long unlike Mr. Snob." I heard her say

"It's probably because you're so annoying." Her friend with ear piercings said

"Tondemonai! I'm not." She said while shaking her head

"Uso-tsuki," The girl I recognize as the Collins Heiress said

"Īe, kare wa watashi sae shirimasen." She said

"So, how big was their version of the Hanazono Mansion?" that question from the Collins heiress took my attention

She went to the Hanazono Mansion…?

"I was the only one at home, my baby wasn't home either so no matter how big it is, it's boring." She said and they laughed

Realization suddenly struck me when I recalled something from what her friends with ear piercings called her; Lav.

She's Lavalee Hanazono, she's the Hanazono Heiress… I think I just messed up.

"So, how's the fundraising I told you about, Jess?" I knew it was Lavalee Hanazono's voice

"Well, YOUR fundraising project earned at least 1.7M. Just think of how many charities that amount would help." From that, it seems she's also working on charity projects.

I went out of the elevator and went to the parking lot, I rode my car and drove home. Mom wasn't home yet, she's probably still in the grocery.

I checked the uniform in the package after I cooked and ate dinner. After a few minutes, I went to my room and prepared for tomorrow.

After hanging up my clothes for tomorrow, my eyes landed on the jewelry box on my bedside table. This jewelry box has a necklace made of 24-carat gold, I asked the pawnshop in the states to check if it's fake or real, and they said that it's real. We have no clue as to whom the necklace belongs to but it's the only clue I have for the massacre case as it's the only thing left in the house.

There are engraved letters on the back of each pendant, although none of it makes any sense. There are three 'S's, four 'F's, a 'W', and a letter 'L'. The engraving at the middle pendant and the right pendant is almost just the same. I've tried every cipher and I already sent the photo of the engravings to a cryptographer but there were no results, they said it's probably some initials.

"Come in," I said after I heard someone knocking on my door

"How was your day?" Mom asked when she opened my door

"Fine," I answered and she stood by the doorway

"Brother told me you received a new assignment from the Commissioner-General." She said

"Yeah, babysitting some spoiled heiress," I answered and she chuckled

"Are you sure?" she asked and sat on the side of the bed

"What do you mean?" I asked her and she chuckled

"Are you sure she's a spoiled heiress? I heard she's from the Hanazono family." She said

"That's why she's spoiled," I said she smiled at me and shook her head

"Since when did you have some sort of prejudice against young heiresses, huh?" she asked and shook her head then she tapped my shoulder

"But I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I used to have some misconceptions about your father as well but then he proved me wrong." She said and stood up to leave my room

"Good luck on your first day tomorrow, Jace, and I'm happy that you've been reassigned to a less dangerous job." She said and left

***

Translation

Tondemonai! - No way!

Uso-tsuki, - Liar,

Īe, kare wa watashi sae shirimasen. - No, he doesn't even know me.