Preparation for Phase Three
1704 Words
"Three and a half years ago, I and two other division masters decided to quit the guild. We joined the guild in the first place because of what it stood for.
"But, as the years passed, they grew even more corrupt. As our ways are ... brutal to say the least, we were hired out like mercenaries.
"If anyone had a grudge on someone powerful, we were the people they would go to just to take them down.
"Unlike many other guilds, our thrived underground and we were making so much money by the day.
"We were only known as a brutal guild that loves violence on the surface. That was what people wondered how we were still able to function or where we got all our money from.
"After a while, killing people you do not even know begins to take a toll on you. Even if they are unknown to you.
"You see their home, their families and you wonder what they think. You may be doing it for a good cause, or it could just be a throwaway thing for you but not to them.
"To them, you are a monster that just wanted blood in your hands. I have blood on my hands and, if you see my body, you will find scars from those struggling to stay alive.
"To this day, their screams continue to haunt my memories, their begging and their cries.
"At first, I could justify that they were bad people but not anymore. One day I killed a couple under the orders given to me and left their child for dead.
"I never had to kill an entire family before so when Roshi came into the Guild and took everyone pout, one by one, I believed my judgement had finally come.
"But, amongst the many in the guild, I was not one of the ones to go. Roshi offered me a new start, a fresh start and who was I to say no to him. So I agreed."
She turned to everyone in the room listening intently to her speak and paused at Carvill.
"As you all know. Carvill was one of the old members as well and he joined as Roshi's right-hand man. I thought I would do that too and joined as the Third Division's Master, Madam Lottie.
"But Roshi pulled me aside and told me that he would need me somewhere else in three years’ time and asked if I would be of help to him.
"I agreed immediately. And he gave me very specific instructions to follow for the next three years. It was difficult, I am not going to lie. So difficult but I wanted to be of help to him so I pushed on.
"The day before yesterday I got a call at my residence. I was a little tired so I answered unenthusiastically until I listened to the soft voice I hadn't heard in over three years.
"'Lottie!' He said brightly and I knew it was him immediately. 'I need you.' He did not have to say anything more as I packed up my things in that minute and took a train here.
"I arrived yesterday afternoon and stood where he told me to and ... I got to see him again. Right in front of my very eyes.
"All those three years of working so hard was worth it when he said, 'I need your help'."
She clasped a hand over where her mouth should be on the mask as everyone looked at her, jealousy filling the atmosphere until it was suffocating to breathe.
"Don't you think it's wonderful? My experience?"
"Sounds great." Some mumbled under their breath.
"Why her?" Others asked.
"Did he really say that?" More asked but no one looked at her in the face, they couldn't bear to.
“Well, I wondered if I should tell everyone here of what Phase two was about and why it took three years to get it ready but I am thinking that I will just keep that to myself.” She said with pride in her voice as the jealousy in the air seemed to thicken.
“Lottie. You are doing something you just might regret.” Carvill said, looking at the woman who gave him a wink under her mask and hat.
“Let me bask in this, Carvill.” She mused, but his stare made her roll her eyes at him. “You are no fun.”
“We are not here to make younger people jealous.” He scolded. “This is a meeting for an operation we have been waiting three years to come into effect. I believe everyone is already impatient enough.”
“Fine. Fine.” She said with a sigh, turning to the others. “The second phase is a success and I believe, the third phase of the operation is already in preparation?”
She turned to where Thunder sat, “Wouldn’t you say so, Thunder?”
Again they began to whisper to each other, confusions all around.
“Thunder?”
“Does that mean he met him?”
“When? How?”
“Why him?”
“Quiet!” Carvill shouted, silencing everyone in the room immediately. “Thunder, you may speak.”
The man stood up slowly and everyone in the room could feel the smugness just radiating off him and it urked them to no end.
“I spoke with Roshi yesterday and he told me to begin preparation for phase three of Operation Eggs. It will happen one week from now.” He said, turning to Carvill. “That is all he told me. I would like to ask if I can be a part of this phase.”
Carvill looked at Thunder then at Madam Lottie who chuckled almost instantly.
“What? What is so funny?” He asked, annoyed.
“My dear.” The woman said softly. “You are to be the leader of phase three.”
“What?!?” The entire room seemed to fall into silence as everyone stared at Thunder, whose smugness level seemed to increase tenfold.
“Me?” He asked, pointing to himself. “He did not tell me that though.”
“He gave you the plans, did he not?” The woman asked, leaning on the table as she looked at him intently.
“Yes?”
“Then you are the one in charge of Phase Three. Who are you going to take with you on this phase? And how many of them?” Carvill said, still standing. “We are awaiting your orders because no one else in this room knows anything about phase three, except you.”
“Well, don’t you feel important?” Teri teased as the man only stood there in silence.
“Shut it.” He shouted, turning to Carvill. “I am still making preparations for phase three so I am quite busy at the moment. Find me the stealthiest person from all eleven divisions.”
“Is he ordering Carvill?” Ourd asked, turning to Lotus who gave him a cunning smile.
“And why can’t he?” Lotus asked back, playing with the fan in his hands. “He is the commander at this point.”
Carvill said turning to everyone in the room. “One by one, come up here and tell me when you will be free within the week and when.”
“I suppose I am first.” Madam Lottie said, getting up from her seat and told Carvill who only nodded. Once she was done, Nameless walked to Carvill and then everyone else.
After talking with Carvill, he stood up and declared, “The day after tomorrow, the seventh of June, the divisions I want here will be Three, Ten, Five and Eleven at the same time as tonight’s meeting.
“On the eighth of June, the Divisions I am meeting are Eight, Seven and Two.
“On the ninth of June, are the remaining, One, Four and Nine. You can bring one pick. The person chosen will participate in phase three of Operation Eggs.”
“Wonderful. I will be first, again.” Madam Lottie said. “And I know just who to call.”
“So do I,” Lotus said turning to Ourd. “What about you?”
“I don’t know.” The man said, trying to bury himself in his hood. “I will have to talk to them, don’t I? I don’t want to talk to them.”
“They are people under you, aren't they?" Nameless asked, scoffing. "You have the least number of us all."
"Fifty is still a lot," Ourd complained. "But I won't bail."
"Wonderful!" Lotus said, grinning at the man.
“Who do I bring?” Lian asked, turning to Nepto who just shrugged.
“We can check tomorrow,” Nepto reassured her. “We still have time.”
"Ok." She said blankly.
“Do you have someone, Soul?" Teri asked looking at the man. "I might have some picks but I need to look through them first."
"I just can’t wait to see them again." The man said grinning. "Perhaps I can tell them to meet me at a bar."
"Are you planning to book an entire bar for all your seventy-three men?" Teri asked, surprised.
"Yes, and I know just the place," Angel said brightly. "I could give you directions?"
"Ok," Soul said turning to the girl. "Why do you know a bar-?"
"No questions to be asked." She said, holding her hand up. "I plan to meet mine in front of the river. The best way for them to run and pull themselves to their limit."
Teri and Soul exchanged looks and then decided to not say anything in the end.
“Thunder." Carvill walked to the man, "I will have the person picked and ready in by the morning of the tenth.”
"I will be more prepared then," Thunder said, thinking. "We can have a meeting that night with the person picked, yes?"
"Alright. I will inform them." Carvill said walking away from Thunder and made his announcement. "That is all. You are free to leave."
- Writer
