*ೃ༄

Kizuna brew the smoke from her kiseru as she was in the villa, it is a relief that they made a truce even though it didn't end very well--but the boss lady let out a smirk. Takashi was staring at her suspiciously, folding his arms. "Just... why the fuck did you apologize to Kohaku?" he asked, making her give out a small and irritated groan. "Two of my men betraying my clan and made his two friends got involved in car collision, so I have to take responsible to apologize on behalf of their mistakes. Of course, I killed the traitors," the boss lady explained.

Takashi noticed that Kizuna's men were glaring at him cautiously and hatefully, after all--they are enemies of the rival clans. That, and his clan's reputation for working for the shadow government was a proof that they won't be trusted easily. Because his clan was responsible for killing a young man, it was the reason why his enemy immediately detected his presence and got out of their car to find them; and most likely if there were eyewitnesses who saw it happen, Takashi would have ordered his men to kill more than just a sole victim. "Ane-san, why is he bringing some fruits on his table?" her bodyguard questioned her, while glaring at him.

"Its something that humans used to eat in long journey," Takashi answered, before he smirked. "Just let me satisfy my curiosity..."

Kizuna narrowed her eyes, before she politely grabbed one of the fruits and she was about to take a bite--until one of her men snatch it from her hands and ate it instead. Turns out, it was a fucking wine that he injected into the fruits, and to think the boss lady actually fall for his deceptive trick. "Oh dear, how could you?" Takashi asked sarcastically, before he and his members cackled from the reaction of his enemy. The man spat the fruit piece, since he's immune to the alcohols. "Ane-san, a wine is injected into the fruit to make you intoxicated!" he said, making Kizuna's expression went into scowl. 'This bastard know that I'm weak to alcohols?!'

Takashi can sense it when Kizuna's aura grew darker, but she still sat calmly despite being drunk and struggling to make herself feel alright. "You... dare to play a game with me?"

Kizuna questioned, still scowling at him. "You used to get drunk by looking the two glasses, you don't even know how to drink well... but this is new; how about a sparring round as to who has the strongest strength, my dear..." Takashi mocked her, his smug demeanor infuriated her--especially for a powerful person who didn't had much experience to solve a simple game with alcohol. 'Damn it, this motherfucker's getting annoying!' she growled, before she stand up and glared at him murderously. "You never changed, One-Eyed Dragon of Shinjuku. Because your skills are the source of your pride, you don't know how to treat other people fair and square... as they have an equal talent as yours."

"I'm the only one who knows your weaknesses, Crimson Lotus Dragon of Osaka. Our skills have our perks, but there are ways to tell our disadvantages from what we can put our strengths on. Isn't that funny?" Takashi chuckled lightly, leaving the female yakuza almost burst of anger and clenching her fists. As she grabbed a cup of wine, she splashed them on his face--causing his laughter gone as Takashi was shocked at her... he was pissed. "Ooh, what the hell did you do that for... bitch?!" he groaned before wiping the alcoholic liquid from his face, good thing his men didn't have water guns on their hands to take the chance to shoot at her for the revenge.

Kizuna found him bold that made her interested in him, while Takashi also interested in bold woman like her--is something that they have in common. "I'm supposed to give a 'friendly' reminder, especially from a woman, not a bitch," she answered with a smirk. But that smirks meant... he should stay away from her, but he choose not to leave--he was so intrigued with her that he was ready to approach her. But, both of them are full with different motives and different ideals for their work. However, an impulsive thought about to be with her because she's capable of staying here and he also decide to do what must be done. "Also, if that's how a gentleman like you behave..."

Takashi flinched as he got spat by her, a huge insult to a male yakuza boss--before she glared back at him. "Stay away from me if you wanna live... your words have no meanings, same goes for that alcohols."

His men cackled at the spit in front of him, before Takashi began to grow and fueled with hot anger and rage. His right eye was throbbing dangerously with burning bloodlust, he grabbed her arm and slammed her body to the wall until their noses met close--that really pissed off Kizuna because her personal space is no longer her territory. "Well then... how about being ravished by someone who really wanted you to kneel? Take some lessons, but not the good lessons... the 'bad' ones, shall I say it was a better words to describe your... rather foolish decisions?" he whispered.

Kizuna was laughing like a lunatic, before she grinned. "Come on, do it... will you kill me, when I'm alive and beating you now?" she taunted, Takashi murmured in pleasure. "Hmm, not in the mood... I'll do it for next time, but I'll gladly visit your villa if you invited me--"

POP!

The Crimson Lotus Dragon men immediately knocked Takashi and his men out, before the men of One-Eyed Dragon thrilled and began to drag Takashi who became unconscious away from the villa. Kizuna sighed, shaking her head as she sat back down on the couch comfortably. "Ane-san, are you okay?" one of her men questioned her, she nodded. "Don't mind the unnecessary banters from a guy like him, we've known each other and... it's not like he always made a 'suggestive' advances."

He grunted in pain when she managed to hit him in the chest, he can feel the immense stinging sensations. "Good for you," the one-eyed yakuza groaned, holding his chest. "You really know how to lure people into your little game, huh?" he added, before he took another step and left the villa. Because there's not enough evidence to tell that Takashi has any grudges against her, it's better to left her hang as he walked outside the villa, without turning back to looked at her again--in the last.

The next morning...

"Come on, Kayana."

Kohaku rolled his eyes, Sherry keep insisting him to go out with her even though they're close friends in his team (and flirting with him sometimes), until he finally gave up and allowed her to tag him along during their 'fake date' that made Radjasa yelled at them from afar because they accidentally tricked him. "Seriously, you're so clingy..." he scoffed when Sherry was cuddling with him, clinging into his left arm as they went into the cafe as their 'date'. "We look like couple," the light purple-haired woman playfully commented before the man sighed, shaking his head. "Seriously, you have a taste for something."

Sherry dragged him to the table, ignoring the people--excluding Kohaku with a rather embarrassed expression but try to stay calm despite being in public and witnessed Sherry acting lovey dovey towards him, before placing her hand above his and... entwined her fingers with him, just a friendly date. The two waited on the food that they're ordering to get served for today, but Kohaku felt uneasy since he's never had these kinds of things before, not after what Damien had discussed about the two leaders of criminal underworld as well as their 'great rival'. This is clearly not just what was talked about. "It's alright, those two leaders already stopped attacking for now..."

Kohaku gripped his hand, before she leaned forward. '...but our problems won't stop. Those two and their clans will possibly target the hostages and innocent citizens, we have to do something.'

"Here are the members of Damien's Administrators who were part of his team."

Sherry said, sliding the folders into the table and taking out the documents--possibly to work on some stuff that involved their team. Kohaku read the profiles that Hisato provided for him, his father Kahayana also one of Damien's assassin group in Secret Garden but he already know that. However, there's the other seven members in the organization.

The first assassin is Dorothy Salim; the twenty-five years old Indonesian secretary of Secret Garden organization, a a young-looking woman, with long loose blonde hair that tied in half-pigtail and blue highlights, white skin and turquoise-blue eyes. She wears a black body-con dress with straps and a white coat, together with blue and gold flowers on her coat--with sea green and blue ombré underneath the white coat, with a pair of small round black sunglasses and black tights with black high heels--along a pair of bracelets on her wristbands.

The second is Erfan Salihin or Erfan; the twenty-five years old Indonesian psychic and visionary of Secret Garden, he was the 'script supervisor' for Damien. He has a short white messy hair with light ashen shades, a long bangs over his closed eyes and purple sunglasses with gold chains, with a dark purple hat that has a green ribbon around it and has light complexion with tan shades. He wears a Willy Wonka-styled purple suit with dark purple shirt and waistcoat, brown belt, knee-high purple socks and black shoes. He wears a bracelet, a golden watch, a purple bow tie and a gold earring in his left ear--along a black cane with diamond on top.

The third member is Kartina Soebianto or Tina; the twenty-five years old Indonesian researcher and scientist of Secret Garden, known for the 3P's described as a "pure being, a pure seeker and a pure evil" with ability to manipulate her targets. She has a long, curly, green hair that extends to her waist, pale complexion and turquoise-olive mixed eyes with frameless spectacles. She wears a dark green collared formal shirt with black and bronze tie underneath her white lab coat with borders of black-olive design, wearing a black choker around her neck, black bodycon knee-length slitted skirt and brown tights with black heels.

And lastly, is the dark brown-purple mixed short-haired mysterious Indonesian man named Robin Sanjaya, he has long uneven bangs over his golden-colored eyes and black sunglasses--pale complexion and has a 'homme fatale' presence almost like Damien. However, his appearance is covered and the appearance is still a silhouette.

"What the fuck...?" he swore out of shock, there are many more profiles that he didn't know and not everyone had participated in the meeting yet. "They're tasked outside Bali, each assassins were in charge of Indonesia's cities respectively..." Sherry explained and pointing to their task around the provinces and many other islands, with the team consisting of different skills and specialties. And it won't be simple--not a lot of those ones that interested him, but the reports from the six of them are written. "See something interesting?"

Kohaku flipped the next pages, before he halted and eyed them. "Can you tell me about Erfan guy? Is he that important?" he asked, only for Sherry to shrug her shoulders. "Erfan is Damien's most trusted friend and his primary secretary, his status is that of a seer and always in charge of supervising everyone's actions in the Secret Garden..." she explained, taking her vanilla shakes as Kohaku sat down to their table while Sherry leans closer. "As for Dorothy, she's a secondary secretary of Damien--she's specialize in business and always prepare for any occasion. She was sent to many places in the world to make sure things were prepared on the day of the ceremony," she added while sipping her drink.

"Tina... no thanks, she's an ambitious research geek if you ask me. She also has temper, always locked in her laboratory to finish her research--like a little villain whenever she failed to do her task," the latter commented, which took Kohaku by surprise. "As for Robin... he's mysterious, but said to be a magician or an illusionist. If you wish to meet him in person, you have to play his mind games first to gain his trust. We don't know more about him except if you're lucky, he'll show up out of the blue," she answered, making him to give a stunned expression. "He's a phantom thief, right?"

Sherry grinned, almost mischievously. "He stole some hearts of a billionaire's heiress, and I'm okay with that--even if it's you."

Kohaku blushed at what he heard from her, he couldn't believe he fell under her trap again and decided to grab his drink and slurp it away--with Sherry smiling and eating her food. When the two finished their meal, they got out from the cafe and stroll around the neighborhood. "Kayana!" Shania growled at her high school friend Kohaku, while Andrew sighed as they recovered from their comatose--after Kohaku took a visit for them. "Are you going out with that Sherry girl again?!" she snapped.

'Fuck, not again...!' he thought while grabbing his head, before he glanced back at her. "We're just outing, that's all," he answered, making Shania went silent and Andrew clarified. "Sorry about that, I don't know why she has been so worried sick of you."

"I'm fine, okay? I'm a grown ass man. Like, what are you--my mom?"

Kohaku retorted, somewhat already annoyed by Shania's overprotective nature. Although they have known each other for a long time, he had to endure her attitude for a while. He glanced away, only to feel that somebody is there and peeked behind the plantation along the flower field. But, he decided to ignore it. Shania narrowed her eyes, wanting to give a hand and protect him because she has been worried of him--even though Kohaku just wanted to repay their debt for protecting him. "Kayana, look... you've been looking somewhere, what are you thinking?"

'What is she...' Kohaku thought, before he glared at her and gritted his teeth. "What are you talking about? I wasn't thinking about anything, I don't have time to come to your side," he added, turning his face away. He noticed the field that brimmed with white flowers, even seeing some of them being picked by hand. Shania's attitude can make him mad, they were always like this since their childhood times before Andrew tried to stop her when he reached his hand. "Stop! He's not stupid to get hurt so easily..."

"That's what you always do! Every time you get some sort of injury, you would convince yourself it's all right... you keep protecting those kids from bullies in high school and kept hurting yourself," Shania accused, pointing at him with her index finger. Sherry lifted her eyebrows, witnessing their heated conversation. "... but don't protect me and Andrew from now on, I don't want you to hurt yourself again. Don't force yourself, Kayana. And most of all, I don't wanna see you get hurt just because you try to protect me or any other people."

Kohaku was wide-eyed, before he gritted his teeth. "Then what for? Quit that shit or else," he warned her, shaking his head and giving off a sharp glare. "Don't think of me as a weakling who constantly getting bullied on a daily basis... I used to be weak, but that doesn't mean I would avenge my weak self--I just want to protect those in need from bad guys. I may look weak, but you also can't stand seeing people getting hurt too--it's not just about us."

"...!"

Shania was taken aback when she heard Kohaku's words, so did Andrew. "I keep training and training until I get stronger, that's why I became an assassin--why do you think I'm weak? Don't you see how much... I've changed?" he snapped, pointing to himself. It doesn't seem that Kohaku was satisfied with her overbearing nature, he had enough of her lecture and didn't want to listen to her anymore--it became worst, she doesn't want him to engage in battle or taking part in action of putting herself in danger. "DON'T YOU GET IT?"

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Sherry was interested to see things getting deeper and worse, judging from her friend's point of view--she noticed it ever since she watched Kohaku ever since they first met, Andrew would say to her. "Kayana, on behalf of her--we just need you to know something..." Andrew claimed, approaching him. "You've been taking care of us... far too long. You seemed to be that strong, we know--but you're more than you realize. We were glad that you protected us in these times, you're our friend since we were teenagers and saved us from bad men."

Kohaku heard Andrew as he couldn't blame him nor the two, there are many things that he didn't know, right? He bit his lower lips before glancing away. "If you knew better that we're strong enough to stand up for ourselves, we wanted you to..." Andrew said but when the other auburn-haired man heard it and decided to interrupt him by raise up his voice--with the rage beginning to simmer. "I know that, I'm a grown-ass adult, thank you very much!"

'How unfortunate... after everything Kayana have gone through, so many hells and obstacles--he had to face harsh reality...' Sherry thought, before she gave out a sadistic grin. 'This is where he snaps, I can't wait to see how he overcomes the doubts and fear--conquering his inner monster that haunted him...'

Shania growled and glaring at Kohaku with a hint of anger, now both were silent in either glares or feeling hopeless to forgive each other, there were tension thickened like a rope around them and want to see that they don't care about each other's safety--at all. "Shania... can't you just accept who am I? Can't you trust me to help you and Andrew? I don't know what is going on to be honest," Kohaku responded, his attitude made her widen her eyes before turning her face and grabbed her head--in frustration. Her hands were shaking, before she shouted to him. "YOU REALLY DON'T GET IT, DO YOU?!"

"ARE YOU THE STUPID ONE OR NOT, CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND MY POINT OF VIEW OF US?!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH YOU TWO!"

Andrew barked with strict expression to them, his shouting left them startled from the outburst as they almost forgot that his sweet, happy-go-lucky facade had abandoned their thought of him, just a moment ago. "I'm sorry, for bursting out..." Kohaku apologized, looking away with tears almost about to roll down. "I'm gonna leave, maybe I've go a bit too far with you..." he added, feeling remorse of losing his composure because of his emotions. Sherry watched him walk away, before she sighed softly. "Seriously, Shania Wijaya... you are way too blind with this kind of thing," she mocked her, making the sandy-blonde haired young woman turned around at her. "How... exactly is that fucking relevant, Sherry?"

"Wouldn't you say so? I've watched your bond through my comrades and had a glimpse through him--I want to see what you guys have gone through. I think your relationship just got a major upgrade and you've gained their compassion..."

Sherry commented with a mysterious smile, even the light red color shades around her irises signifying her pure sadism towards others' sanity. "On top of that, you were the one that wanted them to stop with his attitude right now because you don't want him to see them..." she giggled, tapping her fingers before turning around. "It's easy to apologize when you were so, so young... but when you grow up? It's not easy, ain't it?"

Shania had to silently agree with Sherry, that isn't her--to shout in anger and break down into tears because of her feelings.

She felt her arms almost shaking, gritting her teeth in the anguish of the consequences of her attitudes and reactions towards Kohaku. She couldn't admit her mistake and become soft when she got confronted, just because of Kohaku who began to save others and do the right thing rather than become a burden to them.

Kohaku was standing in front of the railings that shows the view of Tanah Lot Temple from the distance, before Sherry tapped his shoulder playfully. "Kayana," she called out to him, which caught his attention. "Just wanted to check with you, feeling better now? Andrew asked me if you were," she asked to check his status of the emotional trauma with him, Kohaku listens to her and letting her say her words. "I tried to save them, no matter how many methods that I did until they survived... I keep wondering if their gratitude is genuine or just doubting the trust we have."

Kohaku was thinking of the consequences of his friendships, are his friends treated him that they really trust him or just playing with him and thinking of him as a weakling, no matter how hard he tried to show off that he's not a weakling anymore. Sherry clings her arm around his own, before caressing his cheek to make him looks up with his magenta-red eyes that almost roll down his teardrops. The assassin put his head on her shoulder, letting him inhale and exhale as he's almost about to have another emotional breakdown. "I don't wanna see more innocent people like my best friend hurt..." he sniffed, trying to resist the tears from the breakdown.

"It's alright, just cry whatever you want."

Sherry cooed with a gentle smile, stroking his messy auburn hair as he sobbed gently into her while comforting him--wiping away his tears. A seagull screech from the nearby shore, before flying away to search for something. Unknown to Kohaku and Sherry, they are being watched by the woman who witnessed it. Nadya was watching them with worry, especially to Kohaku who was her Indonesian compatriot. "Did something happened...?"

Nadya asked innocently, unable to assume the worst possibilities or conclusions that she wasn't sure of, at this point. "Some internal problems with his high school friends, that's all..." Sherry smirked with a hint of devious amusement, albeit rather melancholic as she watch Kohaku letting his feelings out and cried when she hugged him. 'Hate to admit that he must have been exhausted...' she thought, before Kohaku sniffled. "Do you mind if I walked in and greeted him?"

"Please do," she motioned to the latter.

"You have a chance and then change his mood a bit," Sherry said before the auburn-haired saw Nadya approach him, worried of what is happening to him and smiled warmly. "What's wrong, Kayana? Do you feel sick, you want to go back?"

Kohaku was still sulking, even though he feels like falling into despair--after all that shit he has endured before. "I... can't describe it, but feel shitty enough that I wanted to sleep a lot," he said, shaking his head. "Sorry... I shouldn't have shown you guys with this side of me," he added, unable to admit his flaws and mistakes. Nadya and Sherry tilted their heads before they wrapped their arms around him, assuring him that everything is alright and they have his back. Kohaku widened his eyes, looking around to see the two females (with Sherry teasing him and Nadya giggled)--he gritted his teeth before giving a quiet sob in his throat, yet looking away and try not to emit it. "Who said that boys shouldn't cry, in fact, you're handsome enough."

Hearing Nadya's encouraging words, somehow made him stop emitting his crying sounds with eyes slowly widen until they slowly closing them again, just too shocked that she comfort him. "I... decided to move on," he said when he released himself from them, his mood is suddenly reversed from the sulking state to the peaceful state. It may not going to be easy, there's not just so many things that he has to face if he wanted to move on, like any common normal youngsters or teens have to do for their future. It takes time to take the right choice, and Kohaku had faced many problems after problems--more reason that he wanted to go and seek for the solutions.

Few hours later, Radjasa was picking some clothes as he pondered on what kind of fashion they will be wearing before they depart to Malaysia for a mission from Damien. "Radjasa," Kohaku called him, making him shrieked as he glanced at him. "Haiyah! You almost scared me, we can pick that outfit or we need to steal something for us? They will notice the goods that we are stealing from... oh, but that's the assassin things that we do and--"

Radjasa was interrupted before Kohaku hugged him, making him a flustered mess with his face painted in red. He was speechless to talk anything until he hugged the auburn back, caressing his back. Kohaku pulled away, before he saw Kyouka and her older brother Byakuya also with Radjasa. "Oh, Kohaku--" Kyouka paused when he suddenly hugged her, causing his best friend Byakuya glared at him protectively. "Hey, you're not allowed to touch my little sister!" he warned, before he shrieked when Kohaku hugged him out of the blue--even if he's tough to break his bones, he's still embarrassed--albeit his serious attitude remained composed. "WHAT THE--HU-HUH?!"

Radjasa sweatdropped, while Kyouka watches. "Thank you for having my back all this time..." Kohaku thanked him, making the two of them widened their eyes in shock that he said it to them. Rayna walked towards them as she stood beside Sherry curiously, before the little girl yelped when Kohaku hugged her as well--with Sherry grinning with excitement. Byakuya was confused, since it wasn't usual with his appearance and Kohaku are allies in one organization. Sherry watches him hug the child--an innocent girl, even if it wasn't apparent anymore from her psychopathic sadistic facade. "Nya! What happened here--"

Kiryu yelled when Kohaku hugged him as well, what the fuck is this hugging spree that he didn't expected at all?! "KOHAKU-NYA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Kohaku laughs with a joyful laugh, before being released from Sherry and was tapped by Byakuya. "Wait, you... being clingy out of blue, do you fell sick?" he asked in concern. The auburn blinked, then facepalmed himself as everyone laugh along except Kohaku. "Goddammit, can't you at least say that it was just teasing?!" he snapped, making them laughed together even more. Sherry let him to be with others, his emotional state makes her admire the best part of him and feeling better to heal their emotions. This is the time to fix the wounds and their love, a moment to know and understand each other's point of view.

'It was kinda interesting to see our new allies... I want to know, because sometimes the real you came from others, not just yourself--and these people had become your family.'

Kyoran thought, before he got hugged by Kohaku that made the psychic shuddered in fear--how unusual for him to become soft because of the others and has positive emotions. "Are you..." he uttered, before sighing. 'You've gone too soft, not too soft, in fact--I think your personality had changed.'

When everyone was done with their clothes and personal properties, they're finished packing and taking their leave until they come back from their job.

--THE NEXT WEEK IN KUANTAN, MALAYSIA, HANGING GARDEN'S HQ--

A ten-stories high elegant apartment, surrounded by the trees to make it easier to kill any witness while the mansion was hidden from prying eyes, can easily blend in as a resident of well-off family. Marduk lived in the room where he can enjoy a nice view in day and night. Marduk Kamal's residence and headquarters was located in Kuantan, Pahang since his assassin group--Hanging Garden was originated and their local country was Malaysia.

He wears a dark blue Chinese robe with gold-platinum patterns under his white vest with Mandarin collars and black borders with jade green buttons, dark blue long hanfu pants, black socks and black traditional sandals. His short brown hair with long bangs remained the same with his bangs framing over his light brown eyes, his porcelain skin was hit by a sunlight across him and holding his hand fan on his hand. He was wearing a chained spectacles, keeping his scholar aesthetic.

"Welcome to my humble abode."

Marduk greeted to Damien who had a business trip to Kuantan in Malaysia, all because Marduk Kamal wanted his Indonesian friend to see his residence here. "You took me more than just business traveling alone..." he scoffed, there were the other Secret Garden members arrived with three assassins--one is the Indonesian secretary, Dorothy Salim; another is a magician and illusionist, Robin Sanjaya, another is the 'seer' known as Erfan Salihin--lastly is Tina who was a scientist-researcher. Hisato stood with his little girl Ichika, while Kahayana let his son Kohaku have his time and mission with his team. "Kamal, good to see you again..." he welcomed him with a respectful bow, not forgetting his status.

They entered Marduk Kamal's residence since the British-Malaysian lived alone in the place for more than ten years, but everyone in his group--they're living in different places with a few staying in here. Now, the other Secret Garden members entered his room. Robin stood beside one of the wall pillars, wearing a purple suit with purple necktie that has a top hat and a long-furred coat with dark purple fur-like around the collar and arms, with white long gloves that has black borders. "Pray tell, regarding the secret of Phantom Samsara."

Hisato asked, causing him to hum while he glanced at them. "I know that universe, it has Phantom Beasts in it right? Yup, in this world... where our enemy is the World Government--we always liked the magnificent magic that exist in this world, even when it is similar to ours... that's why, we often have some similarities," he explained, looking at the Indonesian boss of Secret Garden. "Dami, what do you think?"

"Fucking hell, it's Damien you piece of shit."

"Man, you're so funny, maybe I should tease you more..."

Erfan's closed eyes glanced at everything around him, folding his arms and observing the situation between Damien and Marduk Kamal before looking at Dorothy who crossed her arms and listening to the conversation between them. "Where's Bastian?" he asked, Marduk Kamal grumbled. "Oh, him? He was busy in relocating Eden Garden in Naga City, Bicol in Philippines. Lucky bastard, how dare he escaped our secret meeting..." he laughed, making Damien quietly chuckled alongside him while they walked into the building.

"So, I heard Bastian is actually an orphan with his younger sister?"

Damien asked, sitting on the chair beside the table on the opposite of his rival-friend. "Yeah, her name is Nathalie Sampaguita Althea Guzman or simply Nathalie--she just turned seventeen now. Look, I know Bastian never been an open about the things to us; because he never tells his past to anyone. Not even with me, but not entirely," Marduk explained while crossing his legs elegantly, pulling a drink that he got from a waiter as he poured the water onto the glass and taking a sip on it--still pondering about the Filipino assassin who was the leader of Eden Garden.

"And, Damien. You're the only person who he shared his vulnerability, and he trusted you. Just like me."

Marduk Kamal explained, before the Indonesian businessman-assassin hummed with a nod. "Yeah, his parents died because of a politician who used his power and money to keep them silent. That's why Bastian never trust them, despite his calm and friendly demeanor, but behind those facade--he was really cold-blooded and cynical. Sure, he loves to smile--but most of the time... he can be too damn intimidating."

Damien explained, he remembered how Bastian hated politicians so much--especially when it comes to journalists whose lives are in danger that they have to keep a gun to defend themselves. When something terrible happens, how badly it turns into a big deal that the law-enforcers tries their best to stop the anarchy--or anything awful ever occur while the people started to fight among each other with their fists, guns or weapons until someone got killed.

"He became a successful businessman, a tycoon in agricultural industry and arms trading in exchange for power and influence. He also part of Philippines' shadow government, since Eden Garden is part of it. That's why he never wants his identity revealed to anyone outside the nationality, except me, you and other assassins. Same as you, maybe... in different perspective. But you're trying to save this nation's security while he want to seek control and dominate his power with weaponries."

While Bastian sought-power, he often used his abilities to seek control through fear or otherwise. Not many of people here understand both, while both Damien and Marduk have equal power and intelligence, yet always keeps their own agenda a mystery from the others; maybe a kind of man with secretive and strategic nature is essential--as these types of men are rarely seen and feared by those people who gets in their way. "So," Marduk took a big gulp, before pouring down into his glass again. "Why are you taking a day off?"

"Secret Garden and Hanging Garden will combine missions to eradicate some criminals who disrupt our operations--also this country needed to have a good government that must be controlled with better management," Damien stated that made Marduk nodded. "It applies to Eden Garden too, since he don't interfere with other country's's shadow government. He doesn't give a shit and prefer to work on his weapons, besides how can we deal with Takashi and Kizuna?"

"It's my bad day as well... apparently both of them keep changing their 'spots' in Kuantan and Bali... is there any other places other than Indonesia and Malaysia?"

Marduk made a sound of affirmation before continuing what his friend was saying. "I heard that he almost got robbed by a thief in Manila?" he said as he raised an eyebrow and rested his chin on top of his knuckles. "Yeah, he was in the SM Mall of Asia. He and his friends are doing their job, not knowing that there was someone following them. When they were doing the errand for Bastian himself and having fun, he sensed that someone trying to grab his gun that have a trigger remote-control--I can even imagine him smirked with a demonically mischievous grin on his face, calling his subordinates for a back-up and proceed to kick the culprit before interrogating him. Then, after that guy spilled out the bean about 'whose idea is this, and what are you planning to do?'."

Damien explained, he didn't want to imagine Bastian's expression when he was doing that. Marduk's eyes narrowed, leaning his head against his palm. "The thief turns out to be the accomplice of a certain Filipino politician named Santiago Cortes Almario, along with other five governors of Luzon regions who were plotting to assassinate him, just a few minutes before they could do so--that Bastian created several traps near the venue," the Indonesian couldn't help but sweat drop at his close friend. "What was the motive for attempted assassination against Bastian?"

"You know, Bastian is quite well-known in underground businesses," Damien answered the other's question. "He's very popular and skilled in agriculture, so those politicians tried to seize his position, since he was influential and powerful--his great business-minded and strategic capability have established him as a primary player. He KNOWS many people wanted to go after his head, his younger sister always been the target of assassinations in Philippines but Bastian's always there to protect her. The criminality rate in Philippines has been rising at an alarming rate and government has never bothered to do anything about it."

They began to wonder, what is he up to now?

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