Chapter 4: Following the Trail of Shadows
In the morning, Satria sat at the desk at the safe house, checking the documents obtained from the factory last night. The sunlight slipped gently through the window, in contrast to the darkness he had experienced before. On the table, there are files and pictures showing the details of the Consilium Virtutum operations as well as a list of important names.
On the other side of the room, Beni, a friend and partner of Satria who is a strategist and a hacker, works on his laptop. His eyes focused on a screen showing a rapidly moving data stream, his hands typing without stopping.
"You're really taking a big risk tonight," Beni said while staring at the screen. "These data are important, but we need to be prepared for a bigger threat."
"We need to dig deeper about Ivanovich and their plans."
"There are some names here who are involved in a major operation. If this information is true, they are planning a major transaction in the near future."
They meet Maya, a young woman known as the key information liaison, in a street-side café. This place was chosen to keep the conversation safe.
"So, is there any news?" ask Beni while drinking coffee.
"Ivanovich is the head of an important branch at the Consilium Virtutum. He is very careful and few people know the location of his headquarters."
Because it focuses on the information that's being delivered. "How can we track it?"
Maya's checking the data on her laptop. "Ivanovich will meet some senior members in a villa in the suburbs tonight. I can get their schedule, but we need to move fast."
Because, Beni, and Maya agreed to continue the plan. They're back at home safely to prepare for the next step. In the afternoon, they make sure all equipment is ready, inspecting and drawing up a backup plan if necessary.
"Maya, make sure the monitor is ready and the communication channels are kept awake," Satria ordered while checking the equipment.
Beni immediately set up a surveillance tool and Maya ensures that the communication works properly.
When night came, the three of them moved towards the villa in the suburbs using a vehicle without a number plate. They're moving carefully, avoiding detection. When he arrived at the location, he observed the villa from a distance using a terrace.
"Beni, put the monitor in a hidden position. Maya, make sure the communication channels work properly," Satria ordered.
Beni and Maya immediately executed the instructions. Because he moved toward the back door of the villa carefully, avoiding areas that were too bright. He opened the rear door without making a noise and made sure the entrance was safe.
Inside the villa, the atmosphere seemed calm. Because he walked through the hallway carefully, following the voice of the conversation coming from the meeting room. She hid behind the curtains and stared through the gap, trying to hear and see what was going on inside the room.
In the meeting room, Ivanovich and some members of the Virtutum Council were gathering. They look serious when discussing the operational plan and the defence strategy. Because they look at the important details of the delivery plan and the various tactics they're using.
As Satria gathered information, he heard footsteps approaching. Aware of the risk, he decided to retreat quickly. Using his trained running speed, because he returned to the entry point without leaving a trail.
He's in a safe house, it's getting late at night. With the new information obtained, they started analyzing the data and planning the next step.