Deceptive Intrigue

As night fell, the skilled assassin returned to the bustling capital, driven by a single purpose - to claim his well-deserved compensation from the person who had hired him. His movements were fluid and graceful as he effortlessly infiltrated the heavily guarded Ministry of Defence, making his way to Lieutenant Dialla's office. Without hesitation, he entered the room, no need for polite pleasantries.

"Where's my money?" The assassin's voice was cool and composed as he stood behind Lieutenant Dialla.

"Woahhh! It's you! Hahaha! Have a seat," Lieutenant Dialla was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the assassin.

"No need. Just hand over the money now, and I will leave at once." The assassin replied, with a hint of impatience in his voice.

"Why the rush? I was hoping to have a drink with you." Lieutenant Dialla said with a smirk.

"Not interested."

"I see. So, everything is taken care of, I assume?"

"She has vanished from this world. My skill is beyond doubt."

"Marvelous! You truly are the best assassin in the world. You've saved my day and the military's honor."

" Cut the crap! Where's the money you promised me?"

Lieutenant Dialla's face contorted into a sinister grin as he remained silent, locking eyes with the assassin. Moving calmly to his desk, he took a seat and slyly reached for an emergency button hidden from the assassin's view.

"Did you sneak in all by yourself?"

"Yes, I am a lone combatant after all."

"Admirable. Breaking in alone and demanding your reward."

"Seems like you have no intention of keeping your word..."

"Hahaha! By the way, have you heard the story of a man signing his own death warrant?"

"I'm done with your games!" The assassin swiftly drew his revolver and pointed it at Lieutenant Dialla.

"Woah! Woah! Easy, my friend. I keep my promises. Your money is in this suitcase, just as agreed."

"Good... but I'd like you to open it for me."

"Sure thing..." Lieutenant Dialla cautiously opened the left buckle of the suitcase and began to turn it slightly, preparing to open the right buckle. Sensing something amiss, the assassin attempted to fire his revolver, but it was too late. The right buckle was opened, and a torrent of flames burst forth from the suitcase, directed towards the assassin. Reacting with lightning speed, the assassin dodged the flames unscathed.

Lieutenant Dialla quickly took cover behind his desk and pressed the button. The entire building's fire alarms blared, and protection systems sprang into action. In the thick smoke, the assassin and Lieutenant Dialla engaged in a frenzied exchange of gunfire, the flames rapidly consuming the room.

"A man of his word? Even a military officer proves to be a coward nowadays!" The assassin taunted.

"Your fate was sealed the moment you entered this room! There's no escape! My men are on their way. Hahahahaha!!!"

"Stop hiding! I'll take your life before your men arrive!"

"On the battlefield, only the smartest survive!"

"Smartest?! A coward like you can't claim such a title! Screw you!" *Cough, cough...*

The whole room was engulfed in thick smoke, reducing visibility to near zero. Lieutenant Dialla swiftly donned a gas mask, prepared for the chaos that ensued. The assassin knew the current situation was not in his favor, so he decided to escape and run towards the stairwell. As he left the room, a group of soldiers arrived at Lieutenant Dialla's office, their urgency evident as they spotted the rapidly spreading fire.

"Sir! Are you in there?!" one of the soldiers asked.

"Yes, I am. It's just a small fire, no need to panic. Put it out quickly," Lieutenant Dialla calmly replied, despite the fire rapidly growing out of control.

"Yes, Sir! You there, fetch the fire extinguisher now! Move, everyone! Hurry up!"

"And you! Inform the others to seal all the exits of this building immediately!"

"Yes, Sir! But why..."

"Someone broke into my room and tried to kill me. He's the one who started this fire! If you see any suspicious person, shoot on sight!"

"Roger that! Attention, all units! Seal all the exits of the building and apprehend the intruder! I repeat..."

"Hahahaha! He's as good as dead!" Lieutenant Dialla gloated with an evil laugh.

The soldiers followed the orders diligently, guarding the ground floor exits to prevent any escape. However, unbeknownst to them, the assassin had other plans. Instead of heading down to the ground floor, he raced to the staircase and swiftly made his way upstairs.

"As I thought, those idiots would never consider that I'd escape to a higher floor!" The assassin smirked.

Ascending to a higher level of the building, he swiftly dealt with all the guarding soldiers on that floor. Reaching a large glass window, he prepared his escape equipment. From his arsenal, he retrieved a grapple gun and used it to shatter the window. The grappling hook shot out, latching firmly onto the opposite building's rooftop. Ensuring the rope's stability, he gripped it tightly, preparing to swing to safety. Just as he was about to make his daring leap, a man appeared behind him, aiming a pistol at the assassin.

"Hey, you! Stop right there!"

"Who the hell…?!" The assassin feigned surrender, slowly turning around to face the man behind him.

As the assassin slowly turned around to face the source of the commanding voice, he was met with a striking sight. Standing before him was Captain Raynolds, a formidable figure exuding an air of authority and confidence. His tall, imposing frame was emphasized by a perfectly tailored military uniform, adorned with various medals and insignias, signifying a decorated and experienced officer.

"Did you just kill all my men behind there?"

"Probably yes, but probably no..."

"What do you mean?!"

"They wouldn't be dead if you all weren't cowards. So, I'm not the only one responsible for their deaths."

"Nonsense. What is your purpose here?"

"No comment…"

"Get down on the floor with your hands on your head! If you dare to play tricks, you will die!"

The assassin complied, getting down on the ground, but a confident smile lingered on his face as if he was contemplating something.

"Let me ask you one more time. Who are you and what is your purpose here?!"

"An assassin…"

"Who's your target?!"

"Nobody…"

"Nobody? Then are you simply having fun breaking in here and killing my men?!"

"Maybe!!!"

The assassin quickly threw a flashbang at the man, blinding him momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, the assassin returned to the window, ready to make his escape.

"Damn… My eyes…"

"If you want to know who else is responsible for the death of your men, you can ask your lovely comrade, Lieutenant Dialla!"

"Dialla?!"

Before Captain Raynolds could react, the assassin swiftly slid to the rooftop of the opposite building using his rope, escaping without a trace.

"Captain Raynolds!" Another group of soldiers arrived at the scene and called out to him.

"Are you alright, Captain?"

"Yeah, I just got blinded by a flashbang."

"Flashbang? Did you clash with someone just now?"

"Not really, but he's an assassin according to himself, and he is the one who caused this turmoil here."

"An assassin?! Where did he go?"

"The opposite building. Inform the nearby patrolling soldiers to search for him now! Tell them to be careful; he's a skilled person."

"Roger that!"

All the nearby soldiers acted immediately, their training kicking in as they responded swiftly to Captain Raynolds' orders. They dispersed in different directions, determined to find the assassin and bring him to justice.

Amid the chaos, Captain Raynolds himself did not stand idle. With a heavy heart, he approached each fallen soldier, paying them the utmost respect they deserved. He gently picked up their lifeless bodies, one by one, with utmost care and reverence.

With unwavering dedication, he carried each fallen comrade to the corridor, placing them side by side with solemn precision. As he laid them to rest, he took a moment to pause before each fallen soldier, bowing his head in a show of utmost respect and gratitude for their sacrifice.

"Farewell my men..." Captain Raynolds whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

'The guy just mentioned Dialla… I can't believe I heard his name again… This is not coincidence anymore; he must have done something shady behind us. I need to find out at once!' Captain Raynolds thought.

Meanwhile, as the chaos unfolded, Lieutenant Dialla waited impatiently at the lobby, his mind filled with a sense of triumph. He was convinced that the assassin had met his demise, and he relished the thought of his enemy vanquished.

"Lieutenant Dialla!" A soldier called out, snapping him back to the present.

"Any good news?"

"I'm sorry, Sir… Seems like he has got away..."

Lieutenant Dialla's face contorted with fury and disbelief. "Are you kidding me?! I JUST ORDERED ALL OF YOU TO KILL HIM AND THEN YOU ALL JUST LET HIM ESCAPE?!!"

"Sorry, Sir!" The soldier's voice trembled under the weight of Lieutenant Dialla's wrath.

"Apologize won't do anything! If the public finds out about this incident, it will ruin our reputation!" Lieutenant Dialla seethed, his frustration boiling over.

"Sorry, Sir! At first, we thought he would escape from the lobby, but he seems to have escaped to a higher floor!"

"Higher floor?! Then how did he manage to escape?"

"We are not sure, Sir... But we heard Captain Raynolds clashed with him before he escaped."

"Captain Raynolds?! Even a man like him couldn't finish off the assassin as well? I see… Maybe I can make him bear the responsibility this time… Hahaha!" Lieutenant Dialla's sinister laughter echoed through the lobby.

"What makes you so happy, Lieutenant Dialla?" Captain Raynolds' commanding voice cut through the tension."

Lieutenant Dialla turned to face Captain Raynolds, his expression a mix of surprise and annoyance.

"Captain Raynolds! Please rest assured, I have ordered my people to find out the assassin. I believe my men will bring good news after a short while."

"Hmm… that's good, but I am here for something else. Could you all leave us alone? I need to talk to Lieutenant."

"Yes, Captain!"

"I heard your office got caught in the fire?"

"Unfortunately… yes. The assassin is the one to blame for it."

"So that means he was in your office... Why is he targeting you?"

"I really have no idea, Captain… You should ask him yourself once my men capture him."

"So, you totally have no idea about this incident?"

"Of course not! What makes you think so?"

"I find it curious that the assassin mentioned your name before he escaped," Captain Raynolds stated, narrowing his eyes.

Lieutenant Dialla's heart skipped a beat, but he managed to feign innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Captain. This is just a coincidence, I assure you."

"I see… If you have any information about this assassin, provide to me immediately.

"Of course, Captain!"

After questioning Lieutenant Dialla, Captain Raynolds returned to his office. He opened a drawer and located a specific file, studying its contents carefully with a serious expression.

"Nisaeria… Exiles… Dialla…" he muttered, deep in thought.

He looked at the documents with a heavy expression and stroked his head with his hands. He sighed and put the documents back into the drawer. Then he picked up his phone and called someone he trusted the most.

"Hello? Rosseaulyn? It's me."

"Hello, Captain!"

"How is your new workplace in Luthernza?"

"I like it so far. I guess you are not calling me for chit-chat. Are you planning to assign something for me again?"

"Yeah, do you remember what I've told you about Lieutenant Dialla?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"I need your help to investigate something. Are you willing to help me?"

"Can I say no to my officer?"

"Ermm… Yes, you can if you want to."

"Just kidding. But I will only be able to come over to your place next week. I am going to visit my family this weekend."

"Sure, appreciate your help, Lieutenant Winton."

"No problem!"