CHAPTER 16

"Hmm, it'll be tough to identify who they are." General Felipe muttered as he was thinking about the suspect. "I just found out that the pink diamond that was supposed to be exchanged was a national treasure of Europe," Jill said making the General look at them.

"It's possible that an outsider was able to export that rare gem. To think they stole such treasure means they're no ordinary people." Phileo told them. "To sum it up, it may be connected to the Lycoris Syndicate which is the biggest organization. But the question is, 'Why would they show up for a mere pink diamond?' It's also possible that one of the groups that I saw was under the said syndicate. And it couldn't be these dead men here. Perhaps, it's that masked group I saw." Phileo added making Jill and General Felipe look at him.

"What?" He asked as they acted as if they were surprised because of what he said when it was already that obvious. "Support your claim, Lieutenant." General Felipe asked with his stern voice. It means that this topic has become serious enough to Felipe who now calls Phileo his title.

"The syndicate wouldn't reveal themselves, more like they hide their existence using masks to cover them. Knowing this, we wouldn't be able to look for clues and continue investigations about them. By using this technique, everything about them is a mystery. But I think there's a third person who's shaking the whole investigation right here as if it was pushing the syndicate to reveal themselves, yet also seek the disruption of the balance they created. What's more, this third person might be bigger than the Lycoris Syndicate. I also come to this conclusion that it's that third person that involved me somehow in this mess." Phileo answered General Felipe.

"What do you mean, Lieutenant?" Jill asked Phileo with his confused face.

"I received a call before this mess happened. It leaked the information by transmitting the call to them, letting me interfere with the operation. Then I checked the I.P address given by the call and immediately found this place." Phileo replied.

"So that means, these corpses are just part of their decoy. So we fell into their trap now." General Felipe blurted out and sighed. Frustration was already showing on his face realizing there was another storm that will destroy their country once again.

"What trap are you talking about, General Felipe?" Jill asked as he stared at General Felipe who was massaging his temples.

"A war against Lycoris Syndicate. If this keeps up, they will shake our movement, and reveal each one's secret files to create a crack against us and the syndicate. By this, not only the country will fall against them, but Lycoris Syndicate will also disappear, making them stand still amidst the chaos they created." Phileo answered before General Felipe talked to Jill.

"As expected of my vice-captain, there was never a time you disappointed me, Lieutenant Colonel Baros." General Felipe complimented Phileo. He admired his possibilities and logical thinking. Even he couldn't figure out this kind of strategic analysis planned by those who oppose them.

"Thank you, General." Phileo thanked his General for praising him. "I'll give you a day to recover, I'll have a meeting with the rest of the generals. Given your testaments, I think we finally figured out the Lycoris Syndicate. Good job, Lieutenant." General Felipe said and saluted Phileo before turning off the call.

Phileo let out a sigh and looked at Jill with his observing gold eyes. "You had a hard time, Lieutenant," Jill said and began to apply medicines to Phileo's face.

"It's a very hard time." He replied as he removed his t-shirt. The way his muscles flexed made everyone jealous of his physique. "What are you all looking at?" Jill asked shouting at them who were eyeing their seniors.

"Leave them be, Major Castro." He said and stood up. "Hey! I'm not done yet!" Jill exclaimed but Phileo looked at him and raised his eyebrow as if he was questioning him.

"Okay calm down, I'm done you can go now Lieutenant Colonel." Jill sighed and saluted Phileo. Phileo saluted back and left the scene, half naked with fresh wounds and bruises on his body. Everyone started to bid their goodbyes to him and saluted but Phileo didn't bother to reply to them back, he was tired as hell after that attack from a woman.

A woman!

He thought all women only knew how to curry their favors, acting cute and shy. But that woman was fierce like a lioness looking for prey. He sure was beaten up by someone opposite his gender. Unconsciously, his lips raised, thinking of how both of them fought till every sweat rolled down from their body.

The night was cold, yet Phileo felt a little warm after that exercise. Whoever that woman is, he made his entire night hot and full of sweat. And bruises too.

"There must be a problem in me," Phileo muttered to himself as he walked to where he parked his motorcycle. But all of a sudden, when he raised his head his beloved motorcycle was nowhere to be found. His eyes went wide as he looked everywhere but still couldn't find his motorcycle.

But then realized that when the Police sirens were heard, those two left. They must have used his motorcycle! He should've been mad because of their brazen act, of stealing something from a police officer. Wouldn't that be worthy of a crime?

He found himself chuckling as he grabbed his broken phone and tried to locate his motorcycle by checking the tracking device he placed. But even the locator stopped tracking his motor, which means the tracking device was removed.

As expected of someone who's extraordinary genius to run the biggest syndicate. As expected of their rival.

Hah, I can't believe myself smiling even though I've been beaten to a pulp and was stolen from a motorcycle. Shouldn't I be in a bad mood?" He asked himself and called Major Castro.

"Major Castro speaking, I thought you already left Lieutenant, sir?" Jill asked Phileo who was on the other line. "My beloved little Ducati was stolen. Let me borrow a car." He said to him as he looked back at the warehouse.

"Ha? What do you mean by stealing?" Jill was surprised and immediately ran towards the nearest police car. "Should I drop you off somewhere?" Jill asked as he showed his ID to the police who were guarding the vehicles. After confirming his rank, the police salute Jill and let him use the police car. "I'm coming," Jill informed Phileo and immediately drove the vehicle.

He can see Phileo's silhouette from afar, how does he know it's him? It's because he's half-naked even though the night is cold. "At least wear some decent clothes," Jill muttered to himself before he pulled off the car and waited for his senior to enter the vehicle.

"You know that I could hear you muttering to yourself right?" Phileo said as he entered the passenger seat. "My false didn't know how to close my mouth." Jill joked, making Phileo chuckle a little

"Where to senior?" Jill asked him.

"At the office, I plan to reside there." He replied closing his eyes and leaning on the window. Tonight's been hard on him, but at the same time, excites him.