"That’s what we’re going to do," Atlas announced. "Keep in touch."
"Alright! Let’s get moving too."
"First Brother, take care."
"All of you as well."
With that, Baby lowered his head, slipped the phone into his pocket, and walked out of the room. Everyone watched him leave before Atlas turned to the rest with a stern expression.
Now that the phone was out of the room, they could speak freely.
"Yuri," he called. "Where are you?"
Yuri’s voice ca through. "We’re already in the Holy Grounds. But we split up. From what we heard, Lola is being transported. It’s possible they’ve already arrived."
Finn’s phone was currently being analyzed by Penny, her laptop resting on her lap. She worked nonstop, ensuring the person they were speaking to was truly Yuri.
"Anyway, since things have already escalated to this point, I’ll save the apologies for later. Atlas, listen to ," Yuri said. "On our way here, I managed to contact Draken."
Atlas’s brows knitted. He hadn’t expected that.
"You don’t know this, but Draken and I t months ago while I was working on my last case before taking this one. When I uncovered that the church probably had a hand in everything, I arranged to et him secretly."
Everyone listened as Yuri explained the groundwork she had laid months earlier.
"You’re saying... he’s already aware of the situation?" Hugo asked with a frown. "Why didn’t you tell us, Yuri? And what was that call about you being abducted?"
"Long story short, that call didn’t co from . If it had, you would’ve been able to trace —like you’re doing right now, right, Penny?"
Penny almost coughed before looking up and nodding. "It’s a piece of cake to trace her. Good thing she doesn’t know much about this stuff. On second thought, I should’ve realized Yuri isn’t tech-savvy and that the call probably wasn’t from her."
The twins, Yuri and Yugi, were geniuses in their own ways. Yugi was a talented programr who had been running Penny’s company alongside her. Yuri, on the other hand, discovered her talent after joining the Order. But even the greatest detective didn’t have the sa expertise in technology.
"Anyway, Draken—or rather, the Tribe of Talmaru—worships a different god and follows a completely different faith. He’s always been dissatisfied with the church’s pretentious use of religion. Not to ntion their hypocrisy and treatnt of those who practice the tribe’s traditions," Yuri continued. "I figured we’d have the best chance of approaching him if the church was doing sothing shady behind the scenes. Besides, he needed help on resolving sothing, and had plans on approaching the Order prior."
"What I’m saying is, Draken answered when I reached out and is willing to cooperate. I told him to stay put until I contacted Atlas. But we ran into so problems, so it took ti. Still, it worked out—we were able to monitor the movents in the Holy Grounds and noticed sothing was wrong."
She went on to explain how they caught wind of the attack on the Order while observing the area.
"If my deduction is correct, the church will contact you. Or rather, they already have. Am I right?"
Atlas nodded.
"They wanted to take down Marceline and Draken." He drew a deep breath. "Now that Draken is aware, all I need to do is convince Marceline."
"Yuri," he paused, looking at the phone. "Are you alright?"
"For now, yes. But if things go south... I’m not so sure." She humd softly. "Penny, if you’re helping—and my brother is assisting—don’t tell him I’m here."
"He already knows you were abducted," Penny replied. "He’s terrified for you—and equally terrified of Aunt Jessa."
Yuri gulped. "Don’t tell him. Knowing Yugi... he’ll use this against ."
Penny scrunched her nose at the phone. "Seriously? That’s the only reason?"
Everyone couldn’t help but glance at Penny, because she would do exactly the sa. She would never tell her brothers about her situation unless absolutely necessary, just to avoid being teased. As if they weren’t all the sa. Penny was simply afraid of her own dicine—just like Yuri.
Won could be terrifying creatures.
"Yuri, stay safe," Atlas said. "If things go south, prioritize yourself."
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. "I’ll take it from here. Thank you."
"I know, but please." Yuri let out a shallow breath. "Hurry. I have a ticking ti bomb with , and I’m afraid Vito might explode and cause trouble at any mont."
"You have two," Atlas replied with a faint smile. "Once Lola arrives, you’ll have two ticking ti bombs ready to detonate at any ti."
"You sound proud of it." Yuri chuckled softly. "Also, Atlas, I have to tell you one more thing. This entire sche is simply put together by the cardinal... and not everyone in the church is aware of it. So who were, I’m sure, were not happy with it either. It’s just that... he got the Pope."
"I see." He nodded. "I understand, Yuri."
"I’ll find soone in the church who can help us."
"Then, trust us on cornering him." Atlas exhaled and looked at the others. "Penny—"
"I’ll mobilize my n," she winked. "We’re sending reinforcent to Marceline, right?"
"Yes."
"I’ll dispatch mine as well," Zoren added. "If we’re staging a massive attack to convince the church you’re complying, we’ll need more manpower."
Atlas nodded appreciatively before turning to Slater. "Have you reached Mint?"
"Yeah, she just replied." Slater blinked rapidly as he finally looked up from his phone. "She’s very close to where the Pope is supposed to be. Apparently, she’s following a drug raid in a neighboring country. The lethal drug that resurfaced on the black market is being manufactured there."
Awe was evident on his face. "And she said she wants to confess to the Pope. She thinks it’ll be a good start to turning over a new leaf."
Everyone doubted that it was going to happen.
"I see." Atlas pushed himself up, scanning everyone’s faces before looking at Charles. The latter gave him a nod.
"Don’t worry about Dad," Finn said with a smile. "I’ll stay with him."
And just like that, they dispersed, each heading off to fulfill their role and support Atlas from behind the scenes.
*****
Hours later, at the House Monreal...
"Atlas, you better have a good explanation for this."
Marceline sat on the divan, watching Atlas take the seat across from her. Her expression was sharp—ready to order a hit on him at any mont.
Atlas calmly placed a folded piece of paper and a phone on the table between them.
Her brows furrowed as she reached for the paper.
The first line read:
[Do not mind what I say. There’s spyware in my phone, and whoever planted it is listening to this conversation.]
Her brows twitched as she looked up at him. Atlas maintained a perfect poker face as he began speaking.
"My apologies for the unpleasant greeting, Marceline..." he started, while she refocused on the handwritten note.
What? she thought. The church... wants dead?
She let out a laugh and lifted her gaze to him as he continued spouting words that barely made sense.
"Hah! Don’t make laugh," she said aloud—her voice clearly ant for whoever was listening through his phone. "? Falling into your hands? I’ve never felt so insulted before."
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