"Thanks for having me today. Please have a seat, sir Travis."
A woman in a suit offered Travis a seat after they met at an Italian restaurant, albeit they were positioned outdoors to prevent hearing too much commotion from the guests inside. The ambiance of the location was ideal for the bright sun. However, a polished wooden structure constructed above their space served as their roof to protect the two from scorching. The same as the other spots.
"Thank you, Vanilla." Travis sat and on his facade was the woman he called "Vanilla". Because it was a weekday, there weren't many people dining outside, so Travis and the woman, Vanilla, were the only ones. And in this manner, they could communicate quietly with one other without any disturbance.
"Shall we get to the point then?" Travis started.
"Y-Yes, sir." Vanilla fixed her sitting position and then afterward, she breathed deeply. "Actually, we have a problem, sir."
"I knew this would happen," Travis intoned vocally, "Please explain further so I can discuss it with you."
Before Vanilla could speak a word, Travis felt something was already off. Not to Vanilla but to their surroundings. "One, two, three... twenty." There were twenty people spying on them. They were disguised as civilians and vendors, and some were at the top of the buildings, holding monocular scopes to eye them. But despite the knowledge, Travis didn't blink nor glimpse into any of them and just acted like he had no idea about several people spying on them. And so, while being conscious of their place, Travis had his five senses open while listening to Vanilla.
"As the vice in charge of the Head Group..." Vanilla started, "we did everything we could to barricade the system of the Auriga Team against the Charioteer Team since the Charioteer planned to annihilate the Front Group just so they could get rid of you through their corrupt strategy. Ever since we knew that they first hacked the Auriga Team's system, the Auriga Team and the Aries Team decided to shut off their systems for a month and will secretly eradicate the Charioteer Team and the Ram Team."
There were always distinct Teams under each of the Elites. Travis, as the Elites' Headman, had the ability to select whether he'd work with teams or on his own. Consequently, he preferred to have teams subordinate to him, exactly like the other Elites. Travis wanted to have a team only for equality — he doesn't want the Elites to feel as if they were unequal with their Headman. And so, Travis formed four teams; the Front Group (the main organization Travis had handled, he's also the President of this group), the Head Group (a subgroup Travis had built, but an ally of his was handling this group), the Auriga Team, and the Aries Team (the two subgroups of Front Group). Despite the fact that they were all in Travis' palm, they had different objectives and shouldn't be talking with one another unless Travis ordered them to. The woman Travis was now talking to was the Vice In Charge of the Head Group.
The opponent teams were all in the hands of the third Elite, Algos Deniz. He had formed three teams on his own: the Orions (whom he managed directly), the Ram Team, and the Charioteer Team (the two subgroups of The Orions). Prior to forming his own teams, Algos was a member of the Black Agency, which was founded several years ago. In fact, he used to work for their agency as an assistant. However, owing to unforeseen events, he had left them and was now a former Black Agency Assistant.
"Good idea." Travis crossed his arms and leaned against the chair. "But the Ram Team is on their move now, I know that knowing the head of their organization along with The Orions is Algos. For sure, the first thing they're going to attack is Lachlan. Be sure to close all the systems and take an off for a month. I will inform Akari's Handler and their organization."
"You mean the Federal Intel System Organization?" gasped Vanilla.
The fourth Elite, Akari Tachibana, although she hadn't really built her own team, she had already belonged to the Federal Intel System Organization (or the FISO) for a long time. Her handler was the one handling that organization and Akari was recruited into their group as an intelligent analyst (or spy). Travis had mentioned informing the FISO about the plan since the Front Group and the FISO inconveniently had the same mission before and now the two groups often exchange words to help one another. But, it was always illegal to side with other teams as per instructed by the old head.
"Yes. And I, too, will inform Lachlan's, which is the Strategic Intel Organization. Have the Auriga Team and the Aries Team build a new plan while they're closing off. I'm pretty sure that the new plan of theirs will be obliterated by the Ram Team, so make it as a Plan D, a decoy plan." As for Lachlan, only the Strategic Intel Organization was the team he had built, known as the SIO.
"B-But isn't it too risky, sir?" Vanilla greeted her teeth as if worried and furious, "I think they knew already that we have to resort to a new decoy plan. There's a possibility they will manage to get ahold of the Auriga Team and eliminate that plan through their system. Moreover, I recently heard from the boss that they built a new agency that the aim was to only target you."
While he crossed his fingers, Travis leaned closer to the table and had his elbows set above. "Yes, I know that," he smirked. "There's a possibility that I might get killed whenever or wherever I go, but only without keening my senses. But if that's what you're worried about, Vanilla, then you don't have to. Whether it's Plan B, Plan C, or Plan E, I'm pretty sure that they have no idea what kind of plan they're going to eliminate so that they could get rid of me. Trust me, I'm immortal. I have big faith in you guys that's why I'm counting on you all with this."
"But, sir —" Travis cut her off by reaching out her shoulder and tapping them three times to calm her down. "Don't worry about me, Vanilla. I will be fine."
Vanilla was about to cry as she stared him in the eyes. Travis was the most real and kind person— a rare person one could ever meet. She could never afford to lose someone she considered to be the most important person in her life. He was like a big brother to her, he was like a guardian to everyone. Travis smiled as he drew his hand back and rested against the chair once again. Vanilla recalled what was said in the contract: Separate personal matters from the job. With that, she then shook off her head and breathed in and out to mend her composure.
She scarcely sighed. "This won't happen if that goddamn Algos didn't side with the Black Agency and—"
"and chose to kill my brother."
A moment of silence was made after Travis breathed out those words as if it was nothing. Vanilla was astonished to discover she had made a mistake by mentioning the Black Agency, prompting Travis to reply to her rash comments. Guilt coursed through her veins, and she clenched her fist after becoming anxious behind Travis' veneer. She was aware of the contract, yet she continued blurting out personal details.
Fortunately, Travis looked unconcerned by it and just continued conversing with her. "If the Auriga and Aries Team will shut off their systems for a month, that means they couldn't protect my students outside that classroom for a month. And since they've also taken part in bearing care for my students, then that means my students won't still be joining the school tomorrow until we're fine settling this. Well, as a class teacher of theirs, I shall do everything to have them safe in my hands."
The two teams, Auriga and Aries, under Travis' command were in charge of monitoring the students. Of course, they had no intention of intruding into their personal lives and leaking every detail about them – Travis had made certain that none of his managed groups would do so. Their goal was to safeguard the students from their adversaries. By opponents, it meant the entire school, the opposing teams, and Travis' past and present enemies.
"Sir, I don't know what happened in the past between the Elites but..." Vanilla stuttered, "but if this won't be stopped, your students might be killed."
Travis nodded as if agreed. "I know that. There's also a chance that the Ram Team will hostage one of my students while the Charioteer Team is busy bothering the Aries Team and the Auriga Team. I'm so certain that the student they will be taking a hostage will be my beloved Clara."
Charioteer and the Ram teams' objective was to annihilate Travis. But since he was too difficult to be killed, they chose the Class 11-5 students of the Bihira International High school, particularly under Algos' administration, as a mere second choice.
"S-Should I inform the Head Group president about this? There's also a chance that we all will be killed."
"Don't worry, that won't happen," Travis shrugged, "If only we have to move faster and perform the strategic plan, then we're cleared. The Front Group will protect my students as of now. I'll also inform the Front Group Vice-President since I also received a report just recently that they were busy settling things with the SIO about the bombing attack on the Southeast without my notice. And your group, the Head Group, will side with the SIO and FISO as of now to screw up The Orions and other organizations led by Algos."
"W-What? We will side with them?" Vanilla lowered her voice in case there might be people overhearing their conversation. "Isn't it illegal to side with the other Elite's organizations? You're risking your life, sir!"
"Sigh. Don't worry, Vanilla. I am the Headman and I know what I am doing. I hope you get that. Whether I will be punished or what, at least things had already settled and I will be penalized with my mind at ease."
Travis, as the Elites' Headman, had his own set of rules to follow, which included punishment if he broke one. Although he is the Headman, the teams under each of the Elites should never work together. The goal of the teams was to obey their leaders, not the other teams. Travis considered that to be contrary to his ideals. The thing he desired was that if the goal was for the betterment, then there should be no constraints on one team supporting another.
"Sir..." Vanilla couldn't help but sniff and cry. Cold tears then rolled down her cheeks.
"Hey, hey! Don't cry." Travis saw her and then laughed hysterically, shaking her shoulders gently to calm her down. "I'm already risking my life ever since I was born, yeah? So there's no need to —"
"But, sir!" Vanilla wiped her tears with the tissue she brought, "You're the one who saved my mother's life! I can't ever lose you if we fail this plan! That's why I became your agent once and joined the Head Group..." She gathered up her courage and then strengthened up, saying, "I am not what I am now because of you, sir!"
"I feel grateful, honey," Travis slowly retrieved back his arms after seeing Vanilla stop her cry, "Although we might fail this plan, there's also a chance we might succeed. Don't worry, Vanilla, my dear."
And Travis beamed, "Save your tears when we've won."