Ava Monroe, the head of security for the event glanced up as Rion and Hugh Jass entered, her sharp eyes assessing Rion in an instant.
"This the last person?" she asked, to which Hugh responded with a nod.
"Let's cut to the chase," Ava said, motioning toward the monitors. "We've got eyes on most of the property, but tech only gets us so far. That's why we've brought in reinforcements. I expect professionalism and quick thinking. You ready to pull your weight?"
"Always," Rion said, his tone steady.
"Good. Let me introduce you to the rest of the team." She gestured to a cluster of people gathered around a table in the corner. "That's Karim, Anna, and Leo. Karim's on the perimeter, Anna's monitoring the main entrance, and Leo's stationed near the guest rooms. We rotate every two hours, so stay sharp."
The team exchanged brief nods with Rion, and Ava handed him an earpiece. "Channel three for general comms. Any issues, you call it in immediately."
After the introductions, Ava handed Rion a clipboard. "This is the catering roster. We had the staff vetted, but I want you to double-check them. Too many variables in events like this."
Rion nodded and headed to the kitchen, where caterers in crisp white uniforms moved with practiced efficiency. He scanned the roster as he walked, cross-referencing names with faces. He made a mental note to keep an eye on some of the suspicious members as he continued through the kitchen.
After leaving the kitchen, Rion took a walk around the property. He tested exits to ensure they were secure, checking each lock and latch. He noted one side door that didn't shut properly and flagged it in his earpiece. "Ava, we've got a loose latch on the east side service door. Needs immediate attention."
"Copy that," Ava replied. "Karim, handle it."
Rion moved on to the main event area, now fully set up with elegant tables and soft, ambient lighting. His eyes scanned the room, quickly identifying key areas of concern. The entrance would likely become congested, but the real problem was the pool deck.
It was an open space with few barriers, multiple access points to the gardens and side paths, and too many ways for someone to slip away unnoticed.
"Pool deck needs an extra set of eyes," Rion said over comms. "Too open. I'll station myself here during the initial rush."
"Noted," Ava replied. "Stay flexible, though. We might need you elsewhere."
Finally, Rion returned to the security hub for a briefing with Ava and the team. They discussed contingency plans for various scenarios, from unruly guests to more serious threats. By the time the meeting wrapped up, dusk was beginning to settle over the city.
As the first cars began pulling up to the mansion, Rion moved into position by the pool deck. Dressed in a tailored suit that exuded quiet confidence, he looked every bit the part of an event coordinator or high-level security detail.
However, his bulletproof vest was concealed underneath, and his recently crafted handguns were holstered discreetly around his waist.
He scanned the growing crowd, his mind already calculating. The music started, blending with the hum of conversation and the clink of glasses.
The party had begun.
Rion maintained his position near the pool deck, his sharp eyes scanning the mingling guests. He kept his stance relaxed but alert, projecting a calm presence that wouldn't alarm anyone while allowing him to observe subtle cues in body language and behavior.
The event started smoothly, with guests chatting and laughing as servers weaved through the crowd, offering expensive alcohol and food. The soft music from the string quartet added a layer of sophistication to the atmosphere.
Rion couldn't help but notice how the guests fit perfectly into the stereotype of the wealthy elite. They strutted around in designer outfits with price tags that were sure to be mind boggling.
A man in an obnoxiously tailored suit gestured wildly with a champagne flute, likely spinning a tale of his latest "humble" business venture, while a woman nearby nodded enthusiastically, her jeweled necklace threatening to blind anyone who got too close. Every so often, someone would glance at their companion, a silent competition brewing over who could feign disinterest while simultaneously showing off the most expensive accessory.
Even the various Young Masters and Mistresses present seemed locked in an unspoken competition of wealth and status. The men, with their perfectly styled hair and wristwatches that most likely cost more than all the money he had ever made, lounged against railings and chairs as if burdened by the sheer weight of their fortunes.
Meanwhile, the women strided across the deck in heels so high it was a wonder they didn't topple over. They moved with a kind of practiced elegance that made it clear they didn't care who was watching but still hoped someone was.
Rion calmly sipped his water because, unlike these people, he couldn't justify drowning his senses in overpriced bubbly and watched as another guest made a grand entrance. This one arrived with an entourage, their arrival announced by the clatter of heels and a laugh so deliberately loud it could've shattered glass.
Must be nice to have so much wealth that even your obnoxiousness feels custom-tailored...
Despite the sarcastic commentary swirling in his mind, he kept his face neutral, his gaze steady. As ridiculous as the scene was, he wasn't here to judge or gawk. He had a job to do and the crowd's obsession with appearances might just help him do it.
As the evening wore on, the level of alcohol in the guests' systems increased, and the party began to take on an even more chaotic tone. Some guests became overly friendly, others started dancing with a vigor that might have been more at home in a nightclub, and a few appeared to be fading into the background, whispering among themselves in hushed tones.
Rion didn't miss the opportunity to keep his eyes peeled on the quieter, more secretive movements in the crowd, particularly those near the back rooms and exits.
Minutes later, a pair of teenagers, both dressed in the kind of vaguely expensive yet deliberately understated clothing that screamed privilege, slipped away from the main hall.
Rion's eyes narrowed. Something about their demeanor was… off. They weren't stumbling, despite the flushed faces and the alcohol. And then there was the way they kept glancing over their shoulders, as if expecting someone to notice them but hoping no one would.
Interesting....
The pair slipped toward a hallway at the far end of the room, their movements fluid and deliberate. Rion set his glass down on a nearby table, the condensation leaving a faint ring on the polished surface. He adjusted the cuffs of his jacket and began to follow, keeping a comfortable distance.
His fingers brushed the earpiece tucked into his ear, ready to call for backup if needed. He doubted it would come to that, a pair of kids wasn't something he should find hard to handle but his instincts told him this was worth checking out.
The teenagers turned down a narrow hallway, their silhouettes briefly illuminated by the warm glow of a wall sconce before disappearing into the shadows. Rion's footsteps were nearly silent on the polished wood floor, his movements practiced and deliberate. He slowed as he approached the hallway, taking care not to let his shadow stretch too far ahead of him.
The hallway was quieter, the distant hum of the party muffled by thick walls and heavy doors. Rion spotted the pair at the end of the corridor, slipping into a room without so much as a backward glance. The door clicked shut behind them.
Curiosity tugged at him, but so did a sense of caution. He approached the door slowly, his head tilting slightly as he strained to hear any sound from the other side. His ear pressed against the cool wood, and for a moment, there was only silence.
Then came the sounds.
«Hmm! Hmmm!»
Rion blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion. The soft muffled moans were unmistakable, accompanied by the faint rustling of fabric. He pulled back slightly, his expression shifting from curiosity to disbelief. A beat passed before the realization hit him, and when it did, his lips curled into a sardonic smirk.
Well, well. A little after-party action?
For a moment, he debated barging into the room, just to see the panic that would undoubtedly ensue.
"Kids these days," he muttered as he shook his head, completely ignoring the fact that he was biologically the same age as them.
With a quiet chuckle, he straightened his jacket, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles as though preparing for a business meeting. His composure returned to its usual cool precision, and with one last glance at the closed door, he turned on his heel and retraced his steps.
His footsteps were as silent as ever as he retraced his path, the muted laughter and music from the party growing louder with every step.
When he reentered the main hall, the scene had somehow become even more chaotic. Someone was attempting an ambitious dance move that could only end in disaster, while another group cheered them on with the unrestrained enthusiasm of people who had clearly overindulged.
Rion slipped back into the crowd, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever, though a faint trace of amusement lingered in his eyes.
Deep into the night, the atmosphere finally began to wind down. Guests had drunk their fill and started filtering out in small groups. Rion kept an eye on the exits, ensuring that no one left without being accounted for. The last few stragglers, in varying states of drunkeness, had begun to trickle toward the door, the night slowly coming to an end.
By the time the final car pulled away from the mansion's entrance, he exhaled deeply, his shoulders easing for the first time all night. The tension from the crowd had finally dissipated, and his job was complete.
He made his way to the security hub where Ava and the team were waiting. She was reviewing the night's footage on the monitors, her expression a mixture of tired satisfaction and readiness for anything that might have slipped past their attention.
"All clear," Rion reported as he entered the room, handing over the clipboard.
Ava glanced up, nodding in acknowledgment. "Good work, Forger. We didn't have any serious issues, but I appreciate the sharp eyes. You can head out when you're ready."
Rion nodded, feeling a familiar sense of calm settle over him. Apart from that one incident, the job had gone smoothly, and he was satisfied with how things had turned out. As the team wrapped up, he exchanged a few words with Hugh before making his exit, stepping out into the cool night air.
Back at his temporary lodgings, he logged into the Black Lotus network to report the successful completion of his assignment. The system had updated his profile, increasing the counter from Recruit to Operative by one point.
Nice....
The corners of Rion's mouth lifted slightly. The rank progression wasn't particularly significant, just another step on the ladder but it marked steady progress.
His payment for the job had also been deposited in his bound account, a modest sum but a start nonetheless. Rion reviewed the transaction, ensuring everything was in order, before moving on to the job listings.
As always, the Mercenary Legion portal was a hive of activity, with new assignments being posted regularly. He browsed through the available jobs, noting the variety of tasks ranging from personal security and asset recovery to more dubious missions that hinted at espionage or sabotage.
As he scrolled, one particular listing caught his eye:
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High-Value Asset Escort
Estimated Level: Recruit, Operative
Initiated Date: 23/11/127
Client: Confidential
Location: Outskirts of Northern District
Reward: 1,00 kila
No of Participants: 2/4
Description: Guard a package until it reaches its destination. Slight resistance expected. Details provided upon acceptance.
Deployment: 4 hours 12 minutes
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