CH69:  THE DON… NOC?

This is a passion work. So, I would really appreciate it if you leave behind a review when you're done reading.

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CH69: THE DON… NOC?

Ignoring both the stunned Colonel Balogun and Special Agent Danjuma, he forcefully channelled the entirety of his remaining Will strength reserve into the {Mindhunter} script, blasting the Will tactics into Jonathan's head.

Done, he stood up holding his head. He felt a massive headache, almost every part of his brain was aching. He felt his soul tremble.

[Are you foolish? You actually over drafted your Will Strength. Do you have a death wish?] Aon shouted in his mind. Korede, however, ignored it.

"What have you done?!" Special Agent Danjuma shouted as he rushed forward to check Jonathan's condition.

Colonel Balogun, on the otherhand, didn't show much of a reaction. He just asked, "Did you kill him?"

Korede shook his head. Both to try to relieve his headache and to deny his superior's question.

"No. As I said, I can't let the NDI give him a deal and let him walk free. Not after everything he had done." He turned to Special Agent Danjuma who was about to say something. "Don't bother denying it."

He looked back to Colonel Balogun, "I shattered his spine in a way that it would block his spinal cord. He won't feel anything from the neck down. I also left something in his mind to torment him. When he wakes up, he'll wish for death but be unable to kill himself. Offer him the peace of death and he'll tell you everything ."

Special Agent Danjuma was a little horrified by Korede's heavy hand.

"Isn't that a little too cruel?"

"I was going to kill him. You were the ones who insisted he lives. I've completed my mission. The NDz is destroyed and the Duke is in your hands. Not only that, this way, he'll answer whatever you ask him. I believe that's all that matters. After all this man had done, I feel no remorse."

Colonel Balogun shook his head. Even though he agreed with his brother to an extent, he also thought his brother was a little heavy-handed in his actions. Korede would gain high infamy if this incident or Op was made known.

Suddenly, a clap was heard. Korede turned to the source with his guard up. Even with the serious headache and non-existent Will Strength, he drew his sidearm ready for another fight.

A person walked into the study. It was a face Korede recognised. He had once seen the face on the DSS crimelord's list. The person was number 1 on said list. The leader of the biggest gang in the country. The notorious ruler of the Nigerian underworld.

Ebele 'the Don' Donald.

Korede aimed at him, ready to fire.

"Stand down, kid. He's one of us." Colonel Balogun said

Stunned, Korede turned to his superior. Then, he looked at Special Agent Danjuma who didn't seem surprised or bothered by the new arrival.

Thoughts ran in his head before he concluded.

"N.O.C?" He asked.(1)

"Of course." The man said. "It's not like the NDI can let anyone know they control the biggest gang in the country."

"Meet NDI Special Agent Lewis Olise." Special Agent Danjuma said.

Korede was shocked, to say the least. To think the most notorious crimelord in the country was actually an NDI agent.

He looked to his superior who nodded.

Korede turned to face the man. He asked,

"If you're one of the good guys, how come you allow your men to do the things they do?"

"I don't know what you mean by 'good guys'. Besides, 'the things they do'? Wake up, kid. This is a criminal organisation. Of course, they have to do what criminals do. I'm already controlling them to the limits. There's only so much I can control with the little men I have." Special Agent Olise said 'nonchalantly'.

Korede frowned. He thought through things from the man's perspective.

Special Agent Olise secretly ran a criminal organisation for the state. To do so, he has to commit actual crimes.

There was also the issue with his organisation's members. They were only so many people that could successfully live such a double life without completely tilting to a side.

So the plan must be to fill up the gang's membership with actual criminals while the agents among them take managerial positions and control the criminals in the gang.

With how large the gang had gotten and how little the pool of 'eligible' agents for the job was, there was little Special Agent Olise could do. There was no way he could totally control the actions of 'his' men.

Even without {Life Communication}, Korede could still detect the unwilling resignation in Special Agent Olise's voice even though he tried to put up a façade of nonchalance.

'He must be vexed he couldn't do more without ruining things. He's already doing the limit of what he can which is why he has the 'patriotic' reputation. He is closer to the black side of the world than any of us while still being in the grey area.' Korede mused.

With this in mind, Korede said to Special Agent Olise.

"I don't like you, but I respect what you're doing."

Special Agent Olise grinned without replying.

Korede turned back to Colonel Balogun and Special Agent Danjuma,

"I'm leaving. My work here is done." He said, fatigue evident in his voice.

"Go back to the safehouse and get some rest. Tomorrow, a chopper will take you to Lagos." Colonel Balogun said.

Korede nodded. He saluted before turning around to leave.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard Colonel Balogun say

"Oh yeah, once you get back to Lagos, go meet your team. Their current situation is very confusing to them. You should enlighten them."

This caused a smile to appear on Korede's face.

"Definitely." He replied without turning back.

He left the mansion and headed back to his Sniper's post. He picked up all his things before heading back to the car. Inside, he contacted Special Agent Ndike.

"Homebase?"

"Reading you Operator. What's the word?"

"Mission complete. Jonathan Duke has been captured. He is currently in the custody of Special Agent Danjuma and Colonel Kola Balogun."

Korede didn't mention Special Agent Olise because he figured his identity was probably something only those with the highest security clearance could know.

"Huh? We didn't receive word they're in Onitsha. Anyway, congratulations on your success." Special Agent Ndike excitedly said.

"Our success." Korede corrected. "It was a group effort."

"Of course." Special Agent Ndike laughed.

"I'm heading back to the Safehouse to rest. Let me know if I'm needed for anything."

"No worries. You should enjoy your rest. Leave it to us to handle the aftermath."

"Alright. Will do."

The conversation ended.

At the NDI Op station, Special Agent Ndike turned to the small team around him.

"You guys heard. The mission is a success. Check everything. See if we missed anything. After that, we're going out to celebrate."

The small group cheered. Soon, however, they got back to work. The field agent had finished his part, now only theirs was left. They had to deal with the aftermath of the Op, sort out the intel gathered at the NDz establishments by the DSS, clear any tracks left behind by the field agent. In short, they had loose ends to take care of.

Back in the car

[Not how you wanted thing to end?]

'I don't know how I wanted things to end. I planned everything step by step but the ending was something I never planned for. Somehow, I knew in my head that I wouldn't be allowed to kill him.'

[Does it matter that you didn't kill him?]

Korede sighed. 'I don't know Aon. I don't know what to say or feel. While a part of me understands it's important to keep him alive since he is a valuable source of intel, another part of me feels he should die because of all the atrocities he had committed. After all the things I did to get to him, the people I killed, It felt off that he gets to live when he was the one controlling everything. Then there's a little part of that doesn't really blame him for Alpha team's death. I feel like all the blame should be the Emissary's. However, since I can't find him, I'm shifting the part of the blame on Jonathan and looking for excuses to justify wanting to kill him.'

[So you chose a method that satisfies all parts even though it was a 'crueller' method? Not to mention the risk to you.]

'Yeah, something like that. But still, this headache is killing me. And what's this feeling of loss of confidence I'm feeling?' Korede asked as he finally started to bandage his injured leg.

[You're lucky all you're feeling is a headache. In the worst case, Overdraft of Will strength will permanently cripple your Will. You better not do it again.] Aon said, solemnly.

Korede nodded his head seriously.

[As for the lack of confidence you're feeling. Will is born from 'confidence' in one's self or skill. Will can be said to be the 'manifestation' of the power of confidence at the extreme.

Even a novice performs better than expected when it's something he's confident in. So, Will is something that takes shape from channelling extreme confidence.]

'I know all that. Get to the point.'

[Patience, young one.] Aon said causing Korede to roll his eyes. [Will strength is thus a limited power born from confidence. As such, there is a strong connection between Will strength and confidence. The more one uses their Will abilities and understands it, the more they get confident in that ability which then increases Will strength over time.]

Korede's patience ran out so he completed Aon's thoughts.

'So you're saying the reverse can also be the case. If Will strength is reduced, confidence is affected which is why I'm feeling low on confidence right now. My Will strength is empty, so my confidence is low.'

[Youths nowadays. No patience at all.] Aon said, sounding like an old man lecturing an unruly youth. [I could have given you more useful information if you had just listened. Anyway, you're right.]

Korede showed a bitter smile. In retrospect, Aon was right. Old people sometimes talk a lot. One just has to be patient and one can gain little important things from them. Korede had used this numerous times.

If not, Korede might not know much about Kidigbo, talkless of using it to create his own unique style. This had also helped him win favour with Grandmaster Hattori who after every ramble would teach him something new. This was how he got the old man to teach him how to forge swords even though it was supposed to be a family secret technique.

Today, however, he was in a bad mood which caused him not to have his usual patience to listen to Aon like he normally would.

'I'm sorry.' The youth apologised.

[No problem.] Aon responded graciously

Korede was done bandaging his leg. He removed all of his gear and placed them in the usual duffel bag. He got in the driver's seat before driving off.

**

Moments Earlier.

Just as Korede left the building, Colonel Balogun stared at his back as he left.

'You really are a bookmark of history. To think there would be a team of Masters around you.' He thought as he stroked an inconspicuous ring on his right hand, shaking his head.

"I like your brother. Unlike you, he understands the shitty things that need to be done." Special Agent Olise said.

"You think I don't. I'm just worried about the limits we should be allowed to go." Colonel Balogun retorted.

"That's why you're No.1. Your main job is to keep the rest of us in line." Special Agent Olise said.

"But who checks me? I'm human too."

"Well, if there's anything I'm sure of. With your high morals and integrity, you would stop yourself before you do anything that leads you astray. The way I see it, the fact that you have such thoughts is already proof of that."

Special Agent Danjuma didn't bother to pay attention to the two. He was more focused on Jonathan making sure the guy wasn't dead. The relationship between Special Agent Olise and Colonel Balogun was a little similar to that of Korede and Temitope.

Two people who knew each other so well and trusted each other so much, yet they refuse to admit they're friends.

Long before Special Agent Olise became 'the Don'. He was Colonel Balogun's usual NDI contact for his missions. The two never saw eye to eye when it came to the 'morality' of their missions.

Colonel Balogun was a usual 'Boy's scout' to an extent while Special Agent Olise could do anything for the 'greater good'. This is why he was successfully able to become a crimelord.

One thing the two agreed on, however, was that when push came to shove, they could trust the other to have their back as long as they didn't commit treason/ become a traitor.

Outsiders saw them as good friends because of this but they claim not to be. The bickering back and forth between them was normal which was why Special Agent Danjuma didn't pay attention to them from the start.

Seeing Special Agent Danjuma far enough that he couldn't hear them audibly, Colonel Balogun asked,

"So, do you agree to him joining?"

[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion matters to me.]

AUTHOR'S NOTE/RAMBLINGS

1 Non Official Cover (NOC). A special identity used by intelligence agents/assets to carry out long term sensitive missions which mustn't be traced back to the intelligence agency. NOC identities can be anything from a teacher to a reporter to, even a postman.