SVO

HEADQUARTERS OF NATIONAL SENTINEL BRIGADE {NSB} WITH SUPERNATURAL VIGILANCE ORGANIZATION {SVO} AS ITS COVET SUB-ORG.

Amidst the urban thrum of the city, a towering edifice of glass rose defiantly against the skyline, proudly staking its claim as one of the loftiest structures in the vicinity. Inside its sleek corridors, amidst the symphony of bustling activity, strode an employee, immaculately attired in a crisp white dress shirt paired with a sleek office black pencil skirt. With each click of her black heels echoing through the polished floors, she navigated the labyrinthine halls with purpose, a dangling ID tag swinging gently from her neck. Her short locks of honey-blond hair cascaded freely around her neck, framing her determined countenance as she moved with effortless grace through the heart of the bustling metropolis.

With haste, she traversed the hushed corridors, the late hour casting a ghostly stillness over the once-bustling halls. As the clock inched closer to midnight, she found herself among the dwindling few who lingered within the confines of the towering structure. Arriving at the sanctum of her CEO's domain, she stepped into the expanse of his spacious office, where an air of tranquility reigned supreme. Every facet of the room was meticulously adorned in a palette of understated elegance, with hues of pristine white and soft grey casting a soothing ambiance that enveloped the space in a cocoon of serenity.

She circled her CEO's vacant desk with a purposeful stride, her hand gliding over the pristine white wall that stood sentinel behind his workspace. With a deft touch, she located a discreet button concealed within the wall's surface, its presence known only to those privies to its secrets. Pressing it, she watched as a soft blue light emanated, bathing the room in its ethereal glow.

In response, a sleek AI-generated screen materialized before her, its digital interface humming to life with a gentle hum. With practiced precision, she entered the requisite PIN, her fingers dancing effortlessly across the touchscreen before the window vanished from sight, leaving behind only a faint trace of its existence. Next, a curious gadget in the shape of an eye emerged, its laser gaze penetrating her own with a brief cerulean flash, accompanied by a reassuring 'beep' that echoed in the silence. In a seamless transition, a glass door materialized before her, silently beckoning her toward the awaiting elevator that would ferry her to her next destination.

As she stepped into the waiting elevator, its descent into the depths below commenced, the passing minutes stretching into what felt like an eternity. Finally, after a journey spanning seven painstaking minutes, the elevator ground to a halt, releasing her into a dimly illuminated room. The space, expansive and shrouded in darkness, bore the unmistakable hallmark of sophistication, its decor dominated by a striking palette of black and regal blue. With measured steps, she traversed the room, her keen eyes scanning the array of weaponry meticulously displayed along its perimeter on both sides of the room.

Venturing further into the room, she remained vigilant, taking note of each weapon's make and model as she moved. Ahead, a door loomed ominously, its presence signaling the threshold to her destination.

Steeling herself, she pushed it open, revealing the figure of her CEO engaged in conversation with a cadre of men adorned in attire befitting their elite status. Clad in sleek black jeans and high-necked garments of the finest quality, designed to ward off the chill of the underground environs, they exuded an aura of formidable professionalism.

Yet, her CEO was adorned in a black dress shirt paired with formal black trousers, his ensemble completed by a flowing camel brown coat that lent an air of refined elegance to his attire.

"Ah, Stella, you're here. What tidings do you bring?" inquired the blond CEO the instant his gaze fell upon her, as the two men clad in the sleek black dress code departed the room. With a heavy sigh, Stella settled into a seat at the expansive table, designated for the purpose of meetings.

"It's a dilemma, to say the least. We've uncovered the presence of two supernatural entities wreaking havoc, enough to warrant swift elimination. But here's the rub—they're both enrolled in a prestigious university that caters to both humans and supernatural beings alike. And... well, our roster of assassins is currently depleted, as they're off dealing with a nest of vampires responsible for a spate of fatalities. As for Mason, he was supposed to be available, but he's taken an unexpected holiday, claiming he was bitten by a werewolf during his last mission and now finds himself confined to one of our hospitals. The situation with him is precarious—we can't say for certain whether he'll succumb to lycanthropy or not, given the complexities of his case," Stella elucidated, her words punctuated by a weary sigh as she reached for a bottle of water on the table, taking a refreshing sip.

"Why is that?" queried the CEO, his brow furrowing with concern as he settled into the chair opposite Stella.

"We believed we could cure werewolf bites with the appropriate medical attention and timing. So, what went awry?"

Stella ran her fingers through her hair, a gesture of frustration, before she began her explanation. "Well, it turns out Mason hadn't divulged the entire ordeal regarding Katherine, his partner, being taken hostage. Katherine herself filled in the missing pieces, revealing that to secure her release, the Alpha of the ‘Saphire Pack’ proposed a peculiar offer; she'd grant her release if Mason would grant her desires. In a moment of desperation, Mason agreed, but the Alpha's proposition came with a bite to Mason's neck. Katherine barely managed to escape with both of them intact, as the Alpha had intended to keep Mason as a hostage. According to the doctors, this isn't your ordinary bite—it's a mate bite. We're at a loss as to what's happening with him, but his body temperature is soaring abnormally high, and he remains unconscious," she recounted, her tone laced with a mixture of concern and uncertainty.

The CEO absorbed Stella's account with rapt attention before issuing his directive. "Have our witches delve into this issue immediately. If it means consulting with that Alpha, then arrange for her presence, ensuring that Mason remains unharmed throughout. Should this endeavor prove fruitful, we may consider integrating her into our ranks, given our current shortage of assassins. However, if she proves resistant, negotiate an arrangement that serves the interests of both parties," he instructed, his tone measured yet resolute as he mapped out their course of action.

"I believe our best course of action is to eradicate that pack. 'Sapphire' isn't merely a name; it was chosen because every werewolf within that pack is notorious for their murderous tendencies," Stella retorted promptly. However, the CEO dismissed her suggestion with a solemn shake of his head. "No, that's not an option. Mason is involved in all of this, and with his life in jeopardy, we can't afford to escalate the situation any further. And besides… Mason caught her interest," he countered, his expression grave as he weighed the gravity of their predicament.

Stella acknowledged with a nod before inquiring, "Very well, I'll attend to it. But who do you propose for this operation? Or do we intend to postpone it for the time being?"

The CEO rose from his chair and paced around, deep in contemplation, before responding, "I have a perfect candidate in my mind. Moon Crystalia."

Stella's eyes widened in disbelief before she voiced her concern, "What?! Boss, to my understanding, we only enlist her for missions that are beyond our control or demand immediate termination due to her reputation as an insanely ruthless assassin, only hired for a killing spree. We're still uncertain whether the professor and student we've been monitoring pose a genuine threat. Sending Moon on this could result in unnecessary bloodshed. Especially, if there's room for diplomatic solutions. We can't afford to jeopardize innocent lives. What if Moon's involvement amplifies a minor issue, leading to a path of no return with only bloodshed?"

The CEO let out a thoughtful hum before responding, "Stella, trust me on this. While there might be risks involved, I'm confident in my decision. We might inadvertently put an innocent professor in jeopardy, but when it comes to the student, I have no doubts about her lethality."

With measured steps, the CEO made his way to a cupboard nestled in the corner of the room. Retrieving a stack of neatly arranged documents wrapped in brown paper, he handed them to Stella. Curiosity piqued, she unwrapped the package to reveal a photograph depicting a girl with striking pink hair streaked with red highlights, her one eye concealed beneath a black eyepatch.

"She's Felicia Rosette, a globally renowned singer," the CEO began.

The CEO’s expression darkened as he spoke, his tone laced with gravity, "But there's more to her than meets the eye. We've uncovered some rather unsettling details. Despite being a witch herself, she's been systematically targeting and killing off vampires, werewolves, and even fellow witches. The motive behind her actions remains a mystery to us, but the evidence we've gathered paints a chilling picture of her ruthlessness. She doesn't adhere to the norms of witchcraft; instead, she behaves like a ferocious beast driven by an insatiable thirst for blood. In our attempts to confront her, we dispatched a witch assassin disguised as a regular student. However, Felicia saw through the ruse and retaliated, resulting in the death of our operative. What troubles us most is how she even became aware of our presence. Our organization exists in the shadows, operating under layers of secrecy, yet she uncovered us as if she had known all along.”

CEO paused before he narrowed his eyes and added seriously, “But one thing's for certain—she poses a significant threat to us," he concluded, his words laden with a sense of urgency as he outlined their next target.

As Stella sifted through the documents, her gaze swept over the images captured within. Some depicted a grim tableau of supernatural beings lying lifeless in pools of their own blood, stark reminders of Felicia Rosette's lethal handiwork. Yet amidst the macabre scenes, there were snapshots of the fallen assassin, a haunting reminder of the price paid in their pursuit of the truth. Interspersed among these somber images were photographs of Felicia herself, captured in moments of jubilant performance upon the stage, a stark contrast to the darkness that shadowed her true nature.

"We must deploy Moon for this mission," the CEO declared resolutely, his tone brooking no argument. "She's the only one with the strength and skill to confront Felicia head-on. The fact that we've never lost an assassin to any creature of the night until now is enough to make Moon the perfect candidate. This target is officially a 'RED ZONE.' While we typically operate as partners here at SVO, Moon is the exception; she excels in solo missions and is the only assassin who works for both NSB and SVO," he emphasized, his words carrying the weight of conviction as he outlined their strategy.

Stella found herself nodding in agreement, a silent acknowledgment of her unwavering trust in her Boss's judgment. She knew all too well that he possessed an innate sense of wisdom and cunning, traits that had served him well even in his youth, even when he was merely in his mid-thirties.

~><~*~><~

In the eerie glow of the dimly lit room, the walls and ceilings bore witness to a grisly tableau, splattered with blood stains that stood out vividly against the yellowish hue of the bulbs.

Amidst this macabre scene, a girl with platinum blond locks moved across the floor, though its surface seemed more akin to a river of blood than solid ground. Her attire, once pristine, was now drenched in the scarlet liquid, the simple white crop top now transformed into a canvas for the gruesome artwork. With a smirk playing on her lips, she leisurely licked the blade of her knife, relishing in the metallic tang of the blood coating it. Finally, she halted before an elderly man, bound and battered from the relentless torment he had endured. Despite his wounds, his eyes held a glimmer of defiance amidst the despair.

She gathered her sweaty and blood-streaked shoulder-length hair into a tousled ponytail, securing it high atop her head. Taking a seat before the man, she fixed him with a piercing gaze from her narrowed light ocean blue eyes. Her voice dripped with venom as she spoke, each word laced with the satisfaction of vengeance.

"Today was quite the thrill, wasn't it? Killing your mafia was hectic, yet utterly delightful. Tell me, how did it feel to witness your comrades meet the same fate they once inflicted upon innocent teenage girls? Oh, let me repeat it in your language… how did it feel to see your fellow members butchered up, just like you used to do with teenage girls for selling them? I imagine it must have been somewhat gratifying for you. As for me, well, I thoroughly enjoyed cutting all of you limb by limb, you worthless pieces of shit.”

The man groaned in agony; his weakened body unable to muster even the strength to lift his head. Death loomed ominously, fueled by the torrent of blood loss he had endured. For four agonizing days, he had been subjected to relentless torment at the hands of the woman who had mercilessly slaughtered his entire mafia of forty-six members. All alone. As darkness encroached upon his consciousness once more, a single thought echoed through his mind; She's a psycho.’

"Tsk."

The killer uttered, her voice tinged with irritation. With a resigned sigh, she continued, "Very well, sleep all you want. Because now... you'll never wake up again. It's time for you to join your mafia in the afterlife. At least I've extracted all the information I needed from you. Now, you're nothing but a useless lump of meat. Or perhaps I'll sell you along with your buddies. Hahaha."

The killer cracked her neck, seeking relief from the stiffness that had settled in. With a humorless laugh, she rose to her feet, moving behind the lifeless body. Gripping his hair, she deftly slit his throat open, a torrent of blood gushing forth. Undeterred, she proceeded to sever the head from the body with a swift, practiced motion.

Disposing of the severed head in a darkened corner, she moved towards the table where her phone lay, its incessant buzzing a persistent reminder of the outside world. However, before she could reach it, her miserable fate intervened, sending her crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.

She grumbled in irritation, flared as she glanced down to find the cause of her fall; the severed arm of one of her unfortunate victims, its bloody remnants smeared beneath her shoe. With an exasperated sigh, she rose to her feet, brushing off the gruesome debris before making her way to the nearby table. There, amidst an array of implements ranging from knives to firearms, lay the tools of her torturous trade.

She retrieved her phone from the table and answered the persistent call.

"You're quite persistent, aren't you? Calling non-stop," she muttered, annoyance evident in her voice.

The man chuckled on the other end before responding, "Hello, Moon. I have a new mission for you."

Moon let out a weary sigh before reaching for a pack of cigarettes resting on the table. She extracted one, flicked open a flame, and drew a puff, letting the smoke swirl around her in a momentary escape from the tension of her piling-up insomnia.

"I thought I had a whole week off after wrapping up my last mission today. Wasn't expecting another one on such short notice. What's the deal?" Moon inquired; her tone tinged with a hint of frustration.

The man sighed before responding, "You're the one who prolonged your last mission unnecessarily. You had obtained the necessary information by the second day, yet you chose to continue torturing them until now. However, Moon, your next mission isn't about elimination. You're to gather information undercover and only act upon my command. For now, your task is observation."

Moon let out a thoughtful hum before posing her question, "You know, I'm not exactly known for my patience with mere observation. What about the others? I was under the impression I was only called upon for elimination missions. So, what's the reasoning behind choosing me? Care to shed some light on it?"

In response, the Boss released a weary sigh before speaking, "Indeed. Our other assassins are currently occupied with another mission. As for Mason, he was originally intended for this assignment, but his role was compromised in a previous operation where he was captured as a spy. Now, he is in somewhat a bad state, leaving only you available for this mission. Furthermore, while your primary task is observation, there's a possibility that you may need to eliminate the target on site if they respond aggressively to the bait."

Moon let out a sigh, the tendrils of swirling smoke from her cigarette accompanying her exhale. "Fine," she acquiesced. "I'm in. When do I begin?"

The Boss responded with eagerness, "We start on Monday. Tomorrow’s Saturday, so we can’t start the mission tomorrow as you'll be needed at the university as a cover. The disguise is up to you. You can either blend in as a fourth-year student or portray yourself as a visiting artist at their upcoming events in the performing arts. It's your call to make."

In a swift response, Moon uttered a dismissive "Tsk," a clear indication of her discomfort with crowded spaces.

"Heh... I can tell you're not thrilled, but trust me, it'll be entertaining," the Boss retorted with a chuckle.

"Are you kidding me?" Moon responded hastily, flicking her cigarette away with a casual gesture of her finger.

"Also, Moon... is the medication having any effect?" The Boss inquired, met with a moment of silence before Moon responded softly, "Yes, it seems to be working. At least for the time being."

The Boss let out a thoughtful hum before steering the conversation away, aware of the sensitivity surrounding the topic. "All right, excellent job on wrapping up your mission. Take some time to rest, and I'll arrange for the cleaning team to tidy up the unnecessary mess you might have left behind."

Oh, she sure did.

Moon realized when she glanced around the area, her eyes falling upon the multitude of severed limbs strewn in the bloody mess.

Moon let out a weary sigh before responding and concluding the call.

"Sure thing."