222 Youngsters Are So Troublesome (1/2)
”Nevermind, I don't want to hear what you'll say nor am I interested on why you're so intent in bringing me along with you. Let's be honest with each other. I only came together with you because I wanted to meet Marianne, and yet, she's gone. Isn't it obvious that we have to go on separate ways now? Do you even remember where you found me last night? Of course, you do. You probably spent some time tracking me.”
”Shut up. Tie him up!” Carl ordered. His subordinates watched the scene from behind and hesitated. He shouted again, ”Tie him up!” and caused the driver to follow him.
”Do you still have a mother?” Jun's hand were inside his jean's pockets as he casually asked Carl who menacingly points a pistol at him. ”Is she still alive? Because I was looking for mine and I don't even know whether she's still alive.”
Carl's ferocity disappeared and he became dazed. The driver who walked forward stopped in his tracks. Matters regarding family has always been something highly valued by the Filipino people. Giving back and taking care of your parents was a must for every child of the family. It's already part of the culture and someone who disrespects that culture would always be looked down by everyone.
”I need to go back to Taytay and you have to shoot me if you want to stop me,” Jun said as he turned around and started walking.
Carl continued aiming at Jun's back, contemplating whether to shoot or not. Should he forego his values and do it for the mission?
Loved ones? Everyone has that. Nothing personal Jun, I'm sorry.
Carl lowered the pistol and aimed at Jun's legs, his hands were trembling due to some cold that seeped into his body earlier.
Jun was using Aura (Death) to see what Carl would do. With his reaction speed, he trusts his capability to dodge once due to predictability of the angle of the shot. What happens next were matters he really had no control whatsoever. His best bet was to enter a building to take cover and made plans accordingly.
—
In the commander's office, a nameplate reflected light from the outside. Brigadier General, Corwin Homes.
All high-ranking personnel were deployed in different areas around the capital city, Manila, to extract the president. The initial plan after communications became available was to strengthen the capital city's defense with reinforcements. Unfortunately, entry points; national highways and other major roads were clogged up with heavy traffic preventing blitzkrieg operations. The available tanks were already moving at a turtle's pace but having to fight dozens of giant monsters even made them slower.
Currently, Manila can be entered from three land directions; the North, East and South. While the West was a bay area and has some docking ports, the landing zone could be immediately swarmed by enemies once they notice any big ship nearby. The current plan was to whittle down enemy numbers from all sides before charging in. Paul's regiment operation shows how worried the higher-ups regarding the president's safety.
The army distributed limited resources on every possible entry/exit point. The Rotunda Tikling was positioned to the east of the capital and even has a bridge that gives easier defensive positioning for Brigadier General's troops.
Corwin was known as a tactician, the main reason he was assigned to a defensible area with lesser soldiers. He had to make sure that every day the soldiers go out, they accomplish something of value.
As he was reading through the reports from yesterday's operations, the mobile phone on the table that remained silent for a long time rang once again.
Corwin picked the call up after looking at the caller's name on the screen. It was his old classmate, Paul Celestine.
He looked at the numerous injured personnel on the report and answered with irritation in his voice. ”What do you want this time? You won't be able to change my mind and you know that, right? I don't have enough people here.”
”Whoa. Did something happen? Nevermind, I don't need to hear your problems. I heard there was a civilian named Jun on your outpost, is that true?”
Corwin lit a smoke and took one puff before he replied, ”How would I know? Maybe, what of it?”
”He's been acting troublesome lately and I need you to teach the man some lesson.”
Corwin frowned for the disrespectful tone his friend had while talking to him. He barely calmed himself down by biting his lips. People like him who were already old and had no backings we're being eyed by a few alligators on the topbrass. The only reason he wasn't being touched by ambitious people was his ties with Paul.
He composed himself and asked, ”Any reason someone of your standing would bother with him?”
”He dated my daughter.”
Corwin frowned, then became infuriated. Someone beat his own son to the dish! He almost blurted what he was thinking on the phone but stopped before he embarrassed himself.
”Don't worry, I'll take care of it.”
”I know you will, that's why I called you. Later.”
The call hung up and Corwin could only stare furiously at his phone. What a bastard! Ego really goes up together with rank!
He remained seated wanting to defy the request but his logical mind urged him to stand up and suck up to his friend. In the end, he could only sigh deeply while thinking in his head: This is why I need more power.
Let's hope the man's already gone, that would save me the trouble. He called his secretary in and ordered for the man named Jun to be detained.
Corwin stood up against his will and made his way downstairs. Now, he just has to give some punishments and everything should be done. Every step he took shook his self-esteem, so he hypnotized himself that he just wanted some food from the cafeteria and he could casually visit the rebel interrogation rooms while bonding with his soldiers.