Chapter 4: Two More Shadows

Pateros, Manila

2:14 A.M.

---

The street below was lit only by the flicker of a cheap beer ad mounted above a sari-sari store. Three men in red bandanas stood at the gate of a narrow boarding house, one of them jamming a crowbar between the padlock and the hinges. The other two smoked like they weren't committing a felony.

Third floor, right side — that was Jomar's unit. A middleman. He brokered one of Louie's early deals and held a list of three more willing buyers.

Louie had told him not to stay put. Jomar hadn't listened.

Delta-01 stood beside Louie on the rooftop, crouched low behind a concrete lip. Uzi ready. Head tilted slightly, as if measuring angles before the first shot was needed.

Louie opened the system quietly in his mind.

> BALANCE: ₱163,240

SPENT: ₱319,100 / ₱1,000,000

He'd held off long enough.

He needed numbers now.

> [SUMMON NEW SOLDIER — CUSTOMIZE]

A black box unfolded in his vision.

He moved fast, thinking in sharp fragments.

Height: Shorter

Build: Thick, stocky

Skin tone: Pale brown

Face: Burn scar across temple, squinting eyes

Clothing: Black hoodie, torn denim vest, combat boots

Extras: Masked, full sleeve tribal tattoos

> [CONFIRM — COST: ₱150,000]

He confirmed.

Three seconds later, a man appeared behind them on the roof, crouched low with both palms flat on the concrete. He rose silently.

Eyes locked on Louie.

No words. No salute. No hesitation.

> UNIT DEPLOYED: BRAVO-02 (UNARMED)

> [EQUIP: AK-103 — ₱4,200]

[30-round mag — ₱90] x3

[Kevlar vest — ₱2,000]

He confirmed all. The rifle appeared across Bravo's chest in a black sling. The vest materialized beneath his open denim. He loaded all mags and secured the extras behind his belt.

> BALANCE: ₱6,860

SPENT: ₱475,390 / ₱1,000,000

Louie crouched again and pointed downward.

"Three targets. We go clean," he whispered.

Delta nodded once. Bravo gave no response, only tightened his grip on the AK.

They moved as one.

---

The first man never even looked up.

A single shot snapped across the street — Delta's Uzi burst, low and controlled. The guy slumped back against the gate, dead before his cigarette hit the ground.

The other two turned in confusion. One drew a .38 revolver. Too slow.

Bravo leaned over the ledge and opened fire — short, brutal bursts. The rifle thundered through the alley like a sledgehammer. One man dropped, twitching. The other screamed and stumbled behind a tricycle, wild shots punching holes through tin siding.

Delta was already halfway down the fire escape, boots hitting steel like clockwork. He rounded the corner. Two more short bursts. Silence.

Louie walked down slowly, eyes sweeping.

The men lay twisted across the concrete. Blood pooling under their limbs. The one with the revolver had lost his weapon in the gutter.

He recognized the tattoos now — Lagusan Katorse. Tondo crew. Small, vicious, unpredictable.

And now — watching.

---

One hour later — Safehouse, Makati

The fluorescent bulb flickered overhead. Sweat pooled beneath Louie's arms as he sat, hunched over, staring at both of his soldiers.

Delta stood by the door, reloading casually. Bravo crouched beside an open crate, checking his vest, calm as death.

Two men. Both permanent. Obedient. Silent.

And now, there were rumors.

He'd already received a text from someone in Pasay.

> "Did u shoot up pat 14? my guys heard an untagged ak talking. u starting a war?"

Louie didn't reply.

He didn't need to start a war.

But if one came?

He was building the army first.