[Ark]

A raid is about to happen a month from now. Yes, we have a month to prepare, that's how serious the raid is.

I took the remote for the projector and opened it. Kani-kaniyang pwesto ang mga captains na kasama ko sa audi. 

"The operation plan Eva. Threat level, Alpha." I nodded at them despite none of them asking, knowing what was already in their mind. "Only a chance, but still . . . there's a possibility of a pureblood vampire."

I looked at the projector and clicked the remote. "District 67." The slide showed the district.

"It's quite different from the other districts . . ."

Kita ang pagbabago ng mga ekspresyon ng mga nasa silid, matalim din ang tingin ko sa scene.

The projector showed the district. Instead of huge tall walls and the city, an old huge castle greeted us, big enough to be called a city.

"Oh . . ." Captain Moria reacted.

"A castle built during the Renaissance period, owned by a governor. It was declared as a district and used as a shelter and a hospital . . . not until of course, it was infested by vampires," ani ko.

I clicked again, showing the floor plan sketch. "No courtyard, no quadrangle, just a huge brick of trash, filled with rooms and towers. No sunlight could hit the middle, perfect for nesting. Surrounded by thick brick walls, standing for over a century."

"Four wings, the north, east, west, and south. Each has its own towers. There are inner and outer halls, with the ballroom and throne room being inner, possible nests. Three main chambers on the outer, the great hall, the chapel, and the dining room. Then, of course, we have the long gallery that separates the inner and outer halls and the grand staircase."

I looked at them. "The plan is to infiltrate starting from the outer, inwards."

I clicked the next slide. Their eyes lit up. 

The teams.

A sketch with names, a whole plan. Numbers of squads and troops, their leaders, their positions, their objectives.

"You'll receive a copy of this," pagpapaliwanag ko. "The operation will have three phases. First, the infiltration and positioning. Second, advancement to the long gallery, and third, inner hall."

Nawalan ng buhay ang mga mata ko. "If we lose 1/3 of our troop during the 1st phase, we wouldn't proceed to the 2nd. Consider the operation a failure. Surviving the 1st phase is already a success, we will retreat no matter what."

The atmosphere suddenly became heavier.

"We'll be divided into three main teams, each will have 4 squads. You'll be free to choose the leaders for those 4 squads, those you think suits the role."

I looked at the projector. "To make it easier to remember, Team Eagle- Captain Moira and Captain Ryo." I looked at them. "Team Snake- Captain Aurie and Captain Jake."

"Then, you'll be alone for the other team?" Tinignan ako ni Ryo, pasimpleng nakaangat ang kilay.

"Oh, I'm not." Binalik ko ang tingin niya sa 'kin. "I forgot to mention, another captain is joining us . . . but she's currently out for a mission."

"Captain Yuki, a project, will also be joining us. She'll be on my team, Team Mouse."

Ryo scoffed. "A snake, eagle, and a mouse? What a set of names you chose."

Well, they have their meanings.

I didn't answer him and looked at the screen once again. "Moving on, Eagle's main objective is the great hall. Snake, the dining room. Mouse, the smallest chamber and closest to the grand staircase, the chapel."

I looked at them, telling them what the goals are, what are the objectives of each team. The plan was made beforehand, and we have a month to prepare. We, I, made sure that despite not being 100% flawless, the plan would at least kill 40- no, the best is 60% of the vampires in the district.

Of course, the pureblood is not included.

"There's no information about the pureblood, it's only a chance since there's already a nest. There could be a maverick residing one of the nests," sambit ko, malapit ng matapos ang pagsasalita ko. 

"The total number of our hunters is 400."

The captains nodded, proud. Captain Moria smirked, full of confidence. "Quite a lot, I don't see this operation failing with that many hunters," she said.

I nodded with her, and with the same expression I had, I said, "Yes. And the estimated number of vampires in the outer hall, is 2,000. It might be doubled, no, maybe tripled in the inner."

I wiped the smirk on her face faster than a bullet. All of them were taken aback. Agad na angsalubong ang dalawang kilay ni Ryo at napaangat sa pagkakaupo.

"W-What?! You're telling me, that district has 4,000- no, might be 6,000 vampires inside and a pureblood?!" giit niya, napalabas ang ngipin na nanggagalaiti.

"T-That's too many! Too many for an invested district!" Captain Aurie reacted.

"That's the largest number I've heard . . ." Captain Jake added. He looked down, hand on his chin. "I don't think the late Captain Cyrene could pull this off . . ." he mumbled.

I secretly flinched hearing him, a slight ache hit my chest. I deeply sighed.

"I understand where you are coming from . . ." Pagkuha ko ng mga atensyon nila. "The number is great . . . too big and dangerous for us." Bumaba ang tingin ko.

And without her, it's almost close to impossible to successfully complete this operation.

For some reason, her face appeared in my mind.

Oh, Cyrene. Your presence still haunts the association.

"But please, hear me out," muling sambit ko. Hinabol ko ang mga tingin nila.

"That's why we'll do everything and take the advantages we have."

Nagtama ang mga tingin namin.

"A month from now, we'll do the operation at sunrise."

━━━ † ━━━