Chapter 1

After eleven years...

"TODAY we are going to watch a brief history about the long lost famous diamond in the world, the Koh-i-Noor or the "Mountain of Light," a teacher in her pencil skirt pressed the button of the projector that shows a prerecorded of a diamond on the dark wall of the room, "Please take note of the important details because later on or tomorrow we are going to have an exam about the Koh-i-Noor. Am I making myself clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," the students said in unison. The majority of them are energized but bored because history is the most boring subject on their afternoon schedule.

The bleacher stairs were packed with one hundred students enrolled in Lusia Madden's history class. Every time they have a prerecorded video during their class hours, they use a large screen on the stage. Now that they're talking about the long-lost diamond, the teacher let them watch a one-hour pre-recorded video without interruption. As the lights were turned off, the only light in the room was the brightness from the screen. Some students are taking notes in their notebooks, while others are not paying attention because they are only talking to their seatmate or using their cellphones.

"That's all about the Koh-i-Noor, the long-lost diamond, and I hope everyone pays attention to what the prerecorded is saying," the teacher said as he turned off the screen after an hour of watching. The lights have returned automatically, and everyone is now visible.

"I have a question, Miss Madden!" a girl with huge eyeglasses raised her hand, holding her small notebook.

"Yes, Miss Agua, please raise your question to the class."

"Why are we still debating the Koh-i-Noor when it's been lost for decades? Why can't we just make another one? I know we can make a lot of it and I'm wondering why," she asked, intrigued, before returning to her seat.

"Thank you, Miss Agua, and in response to your question, the answer is that there is only one precious diamond in the world, and it is the Koh-i-Noor, so we can't duplicate it for its unique features," the teacher replied, "Let me tell you something that the prerecorded didn't include. The Koh-i-Noor or the Mountain of Light is emphatically, didn't belong to a specific person. The value of it exceeds the value of all fortune in the world, and even our lives are not worth more than the Koh-i-Noor. But no one knows after decades the dark secret and lies behind the Koh-i-Noor, only a few of them know about it," she said, drawing everyone's attention.

"Can you tell us what the dark secret is that lies behind the koh-i-noor?" a student in the front asked.

"I wish i could, but i don't even know the true story behind the koh-i-noor; all i know is the basic information about it."

"What if the Koh-i-Noor isn't really lost?" a question piqued the teacher's interest, and everyone in the room turned to face the woman wearing black aviator square sunglasses.

"And what are you trying to say, miss with short hair in the back? Please take off your sunglasses when you are in my class," the teacher replied in a strict tone that matched her attire, much like the headmistress Miss Minchin in the novel A Little Princess.

The woman remained motionless in her seat with her legs crossed as she stated, "What I'm trying to say is that it's been decades since the Koh-i-Noor said has been lost. Who knows if it's truly missing or if the entire prerecorded event was a lie to hide the truth? " She was dressed in black skinny jeans, matching over-the-knee boots, and a black halter inside of a denim jacket. Her bangs obscure her forehead, and the ash hair that reaches her shoulder is a touch unkempt.

"So you were saying that you don't believe the Koh-i-Noor is a lost diamond?" The teacher's brow arched as she walked down the stage to see the student clearly.

"Sort of, Miss Madden."

"I said take off your sunglasses and please tell me your family name. You don't seem familiar to me."

The woman let out a bored sigh and removed her sunglasses before saying, "My name is Zaiah Sturm, the new student," her voice as flat as her expression when she introduced herself without any blink.

The teacher nodded, realizing why she is unfamiliar with her. "I see. So, let's get back to our discussion, and please keep your eyes on the board and not on our new student," she said, and everyone returned their attention to the front, "So, where are we with our discussion now? Oh, right! Someone here doesn't believe the Koh-i-Noor has been lost for decades; tell me, Miss Sturm, why do you say so in your answer? Can you justify it to the class?"

"I have nothing to justify Miss Madden; that's all I have to say about the prerecorded we have." She smiled a little for a second before returning to her emotionless expression.

(School bell ring)

"Before I dismiss you from my class, I want you to do more research on the Koh-i-Noor and write your opinion about it on yellow paper; I want you to write a back-to-back essay, and we'll continue this discussion in our next meeting, are we clear?"

"Yes, Miss Madden," everyone replied, except Zaiah, who continued to stare at their teacher.

"All right, class is dismissed; you may proceed to your next subject." Madden closed their class and began reorganizing her belongings in the stage in preparation for her next class with the second year.

Except for Zaiah, everyone leaves their seats with their belongings and exits through the steel door of the classroom. She hadn't taken her gaze away from her teacher since their class began. Madden noticed her staring, which caused her to stop what she was doing. The way her students look at her creeps her out, and they are now the only two in the classroom.

"Is there a problem, Zaiah?" the teacher asked in an awkward tone.

"Not at all," she replied flatly.

"Don't you have a class? You're supposed to have been left with your classmates."

"I misplaced my schedule list and can't find it; will you help me find it?" she asked, placing her legs down, "I don't have any friends here, so I think you can help me."

"Is that the only reason you're still here?"

"Yes, Miss Madden. I can only ask once for a list of my schedule in the registration office, and I'm hoping you can help me get another one."

"All right, wait for me outside, we're going to the registration office together," Madden said, continuing to fix her things in front.

Zaiah says nothing and descends the bleacher stairs, exiting the classroom with her satchel bag. As she walks out, every student in the hallway is staring at her cool outfit. She shook her head and leaned against the wall, waiting for her teacher to come out. Her eyes were fixed on the wall in front of her when three men appeared out of nowhere. They were dressed in black shirts and pants and were grinning at her. The other one, who is blonde, is the leader, who has a crush on her.

"You're Zaiah, right?" asked the blonde, and his friends began teasing him. "I'm Jasper," he introduced himself, offering his hand to have a soul shake.

She gave them a dull look as she turned her head. "What exactly do you want?"

Jasper was embarrassed as he put down his hand and awkwardly laughed. "I'm going to throw a party at my house tonight and I'm hoping you'll come," he said, scraping the back of her blonde hair.

"I have a plan for tonight," she replied, returning her gaze to the wall in front of her.

The three look at each other as if they were going to miss out on inviting the woman who piqued their interest in history class, especially Jasper. Before they could say anything else, a loud scream of women filled the hallway as a man dressed casually walking to their way. He was dressed in jeans, a white collared dress shirt, and a brownish loafer on his feet, with an athletic bag in his left hand. The three's expressions changed to annoyance as he comes to a halt in front of them while his gaze fixed on her.

"Are they bothering you?" he asked, turning his head toward the three.

"Yes, and if you want, you can have them." Zaiah grimaced at the four men in front of her before shifting his position on the other side of the wall.

"What do you want, Vance? We're just inviting her to my party tonight," Jasper said irritably.

"You don't have to throw a party at your house; I've already planned a party in a hotel to which everyone is invited."

Jasper laughed, and his friends did as well because it was in their favor. "All right, then, we're going to your party; I hope Miss Sturm will come!" he said louder, his gaze fixed on Zaiah. "We'll see you around!"

Zaiah remained with Vance as the three walked away. Before anything else could happen, the door opened and Madden emerged with his belongings. The teacher shifted her gaze to the man and arched her brow as she noticed him.

"Why didn't you come to my class, Mr. Salcedo?" she asked sternly.

"I'm sorry, Miss Madden, I didn't notice the time while I was practicing on the gym," he apologized sincerely. "Let me carry your things to your office," he insisted to divert the attention of his teacher.

"Hmmm, I hope this is the last time you skip my class, or I will drop you out of our history class; am I clear?"

"Yes, Miss Madden."

"Good. Here, carry this, and where is Miss Sturm?" Madden asked, turning her head behind her back. "There you are! Let's go to the office first, and I'll give you a paper to sign because you are new to my class, as well as a copy of our course outline that will serve as your guide in the first semester."

Using the school's elevator, the two followed Madden to the third floor, where the teacher's office is. The wall visible in front of the school is made of glass, and they are using curtains to block the sun from entering. The view outside is visible from the office right now because the curtains are folded in the side. Zaiah was quietly observing the entire room, which had fifteen tables for each of Adamson International Academy's teachers. Since the majority of the teachers are in their classes, there are only a few teachers in the office. They went to the last table near the glass wall, and Vance placed Madden's belongings on top of her table.

"Thank you, Vance," their teacher said as she sat in her swivel chair, "I will give you a paper that you have to fill up and you can give it to me tomorrow once you are done," she said as she flipped through the papers in a folder, searching for the paper that Zaiah needed to fill, "This is the form and this is the course outline to our subject only," she handed a two piece of different papers, "You can ask your other subject teachers for a course outline with their specific subject so you can be guided."

"Thank you," Zaiah only said after accepting the papers, opening her bag to place them, "Oh, crap."

"Why?" Vance asked, as his eyes was on her.

"What is it, Miss Sturm?" the teacher asked also.

"I already found my schedule," she replied, showing them her schedule written on a half index card that was printed.

"Great! We don't have to go to the office anymore; as for both of you, go to your next class; you can ask Vance to help you with your schedule, Miss Sturm," said of the teacher with a smile on her face.

"OK," she only replied before turning her back, and Vance quickly followed her.

"So, what's your next class?" he asked as they boarded the elevator heading to the first floor.

"Biology."

"Let's go together in the biology room because my next class was there," he insisted, and they walked out to the elevator when they arrived on the first floor.

Zaiah rolled her eyes because she thinks he's following her. She faced him with no expression on her face or in her eyes. She was blank, and it was difficult to tell what was on her mind. "I'm not going to the class; you can go on your own." She said as she walked away from the building's exit.

"Wait!" Vance ran after her until they arrived at the parking lot. "I can drive you wherever you want to go, I'm not really going to my next class."

"I don't need a ride; I have my own."

"So, where is your car here?" he asked, looking around at all the branded cars parked in front of them.

Zaiah didn't say anything as she walked over to a black Ducati motorcycle, which surprised Vance. "You know what? It doesn't mean you helped me find the registration office earlier; we are already friends," she said right through his eyes before putting on her helmet and drives away from the parking lot.

Vance was left alone in the parking lot, and he suddenly face palmed as he realized what he was doing. "Yeah, she's right we're not friends," he said, shaking his head and walked to his car to place the bag in the backseat. As he put it, he returns inside the campus to see his friends who have been waiting for him since their first class began.

Zaiah arrived at a five-star hotel two miles away from her school. She parked her motorcycle in the parking lot and opened the trunk of her black Bugatti, which she also owns. She took a large bag the length of a guitar and walked with her cold aura to the hotel's entrance.

"Welcome back, Miss Sturm," the security guard said, and she returned the greeting. She entered the elevator safely, not inspecting her bag, because she had given a tip to the guard on duty.

It's been two days since she was checked into the hotel, and she tried to make friends with the security guard so she wouldn't be suspicious. She even gave a tip to have privacy on her belongings. The elevator brought her to the floor where her room is located and placed her bag on top of her bed as if she is in a hurry. She quickly removed her jacket and opened the bag she had brought, revealing a JTF-2 sniper in pieces that she needed to assemble first. For her, time is gold, so she didn't waste any of it and began assembling the sniper gun, which she finished in one minute because she was used to it. She opens the glass door on her balcony and looks out over the campus before returning inside to retrieve the sniper rifle. She inserted her earpiece while placing the sniper gun's folding bipod on the balcony railings.

"I'm on my position, Goddofāzā (Godfather)," she stated as she adjusted the zoom scope on her sniper rifle.

"Do what you have to do, Zaiah," an elderly man on the other end of the line replied.

"Hai, goddofāzā (Yes, Godfather)."

She could see her target clearly after adjusting the zoom scope of her sniper refle. After all, it was her history teacher, Lusia Madden, who was still seated in front of her desk. Madden did not attend her next class because she was given paperwork from their head that she needed to finish today. When Zaiah pointed the target locked on the teacher's head, an evil grin appeared on her face. With the click of her fingers, a fifty-caliber bullet struck Madden in the head, and her face was dumped on the blood-splattered papers on her table.

Two days earlier...

"What do you want to talk about with me, Goddofāzā (Godfather)?" Zaiah asked as she entered the garden and sat with the old man in his casual attire.

"I want you to transfer to this school," the old man said, handing her a photo of a campus with the names of the schools written on the top of the gate. "You will no longer be required to travel to Tokyo to continue your studies; instead, you will enroll here in the Philippines."

"What gives, all of a sudden?"

"Your next mission will be there, which is why I want you to enroll."

"What is the mission?"

"I want you to kill this woman," he said, handing over another photo of a woman in a teacher's uniform. "It was Lusia Madden, Okinawa's wife, and she knows about our organization because he told her everything; Okinawa is already dead, and if she finds out we killed him, she might tell about us, and that will be the end of us if the Kontroller finds out."

"But we have rules against killing innocent people."

"She is no longer an innocent, Zaiah; she knows our organization, and she must die in order to protect our family; you must kill her, but first you must enroll in your new school, and that is an order..."