MIKHAEL

I ALWAYS feel younger whenever I walk with students. Seeing them in a sea of blue, yellow, green, and red brought back some good old memories. Ah! I sometimes wished I could turn back the time and be a student again in this university. I may be wearing one of their color-coded uniforms right now, but I didn't get the feels that I used to have.

Well, those days were long gone. But I still missed them.

Baker Building's exit looked like a rushing river of four colors. Nagkasama ang mga magkakakulay na estudyante. I didn't have any classes this afternoon so it would be suspicious for me to just walk around casually. I waited for a bunch of them to pass by and I went along with the crowd that erupted in whispers and murmurs, mostly unintelligible. I tried to listen closely to their conversations, and boy, they're juicy!

If there's another thing that I missed as a student, it's the gossips about fellow students and faculty members. After all, we're detective wannabes here. Gathering information, also known as tsismis, was one of our strong suits. I'd expect nothing less from my juniors.

Everyone parted ways at the roundabout. Most walked their way back to their dorms. Some went to the direction of Hudson's Hub, the famous tambayan of students after class. A nice cup of coffee or tea would be lovely after a grueling school day.

I had a favorite spot in the Hub—my go-to destination after class and during break time back in the day. Fortunately, even after four years, that tea shop's still open and serving its customers. I went straight to it with some students eager to taste their bestseller black tea.

"Ay, sarado?" A female Adlerian frowned as she saw the "Sorry, we're closed" sign at the door. She and her friends turned their backs, walked away, and looked for another cafe. I waited for them to be out of my eyeshot before pushing the door and entering the shop.

"You're late," a man around his twenties greeted me. Was it just cold in here or did he just regard me coldly? I assumed it's the latter since he's been like that. Always. He's wearing an inverness cape that closely resembled the Holmesian's prescribed uniform, without any tinge of blue. "Masyado ka yatang nag-enjoy sa paglilibot sa campus?"

"Pagbigyan mo na ako, Roan," I replied with a smile. "I don't always get the chance to roam the familiar school buildings. I kinda missed it. Pinaghintay ba kita?"

"You're always holed up in your office kaya ganyan. Being the leader of House Mycroft must really suck."

Sorry, Roan, but I disagree.

Everyone in the university knew about the four Houses—Holmes, Watson, Adler and Moriarty—but only a few knew about House Mycroft. Well, that's how it's supposed to be. We live in the shadows. One may call us the fifth House or the secret House. Membership is only through invitation, and we mostly invite graduating students who want to master the path of justice and fairness.

I was a Watsonian before. When a Mycroft senior invited me to join them, I accepted without any second thoughts.

I gently pulled the chair, but stopped quickly when I noticed a black cat sitting on it. Roanoke glared at me, mentally saying that I should choose another seat. If I remember correctly, Bastet's the name of his pet. I sat on the chair across him and stretched out my arms.

"One nice cup of black tea for me, Mao!" I shouted, cupping my hands around my mouth.

Roanoke sipped from his teacup, holding it delicately. I sniffed, detecting the citrusy scent from it. Earl grey tea, huh?

"You know you didn't have to rent out the whole place." I casted glances around the shop, noticing the clean tables and empty seats. It felt so lonely here. So isolated. "Mas magmumukhang kahina-hinala kung nakalagay ang 'close' sign tapos nandito tayong dalawa sa loob. You should learn a thing or two about blending in. Look, you stand out too much with your outfit. Everyone can tell that you're not a student here."

"So is wearing the green V-neck sweatshirt of Adlerians your idea of blending in?" Roanoke placed his cup back on the saucer, glancing to his side. "Given everything that has happened in this university, I don't feel like I can trust anyone. Someone might eavesdrop in our conversation if we pretend to be normal customers. Besides, old Mao is a good friend of ours. Maiintindihan niya kung bakit."

"Isang olas rang kayo pwede magtagar dito sa akin shop!" Mao Di Ghong, the tea shop owner, brought my order to the table. That was quick! Well, he knew my favorite so he probably prepared it in advance and just waited for me to come here. "Baka ako marugi kung matagar kong isasala ito sa akin customers."

"Don't worry, Mao!" I gave him an assuring look before patting my date's shoulder. "Big shot na itong si Roan. He can pay for the one-hour rent of your shop."

I wasn't just teasing him. He is a big shot here! Roanoke Roswell is a distinguished agent of L.O.K.I., a specialized team of university alumni who trained under the Founder himself. He's involved in mostly classified missions, deployed to investigate high profile cases in the country. He's assigned here to investigate the assassination attempt on the university chancellor. Couldn't say if that's a downgrade from his usual case or a proof of trust in him by the Founder.

"Better charge it to Mikhael." Roanoke shrugged off my hand. "I'm sure his puppet Student Regent would be glad to pay for the expenses here."

"Ouch." I placed my right hand on my chest as if I was hurt. "How dare you call the incumbent Regent my puppet? Remember she's elected by majority of the students here. As a senior, I'm a mere advisor to her."

"Advisor, huh?" he scoffed. "Don't give me that crap. We both know you're the one who really calls the shot around here. You let the students vote for the leader under the pretense of a democratic exercise. That poor Regent is nothing but a front for you."

"You got me!" I grinned. He's right. Me and my fellow House officers were the real power in the university. The current Regent was just a figurehead, a symbol of unity or whatever. "But in my defense, it's not without any good reason. Students tend to follow one of their own. They might resist if they find out that an alumnus is pulling the strings. I don't want any conflict. You know me, I love peace!"

"Well, that peace is on the brink of being shattered," Roanoke said, raising his gaze at me. We exchanged glances for a moment. "The House War is coming. The four Houses will be at each other's throats."

"And as always, there's tension between Houses Holmes and Moriarty." I nodded. "Reminds me of the rivalry between you and Arturius four years ago. You almost won the tournament—"

"Did you call me here just to relive the good old days?" he cut my words short. Until now, he might still be bitter about his loss to that Moriartian. Who wouldn't? Victory was within his grasp then someone snatched it away from him. "Or do we have something more important to talk about?"

"Arturius has a younger brother here, right?" I asked, my eyes looking up. "He's one of the four members of... what do they call their group again?"

"WHAM," he answered. "Morrie ang pangalan ng nakababata niyang kapatid. I already met him and invited him over a cup of tea here along with his friends. They look very much alike. Why are you interested in him?"

I took a sip from my cup first. "My informant on the island where they held some sort of team building told me that he and his teammates were targeted. The female Holmesian got bitten by a snake, and the four got chased by a gigantic hound."

"Informant..." His eyes squinted at me. "You have your officer disguised as one of their classmates?"

"Planted, not disguised. My House needs to have eyes and ears everywhere." I looked out the glass wall, watching some students walk by. "I don't want to be blindsided should a tragedy strike the university. We need to know what's happening in every corner of the campus."

Before the school year began, I asked some of my officers to be enrolled in the four Houses. That way, they could establish rapport with their Housemates and collect information without raising any suspicion. They're like spies who report back to me whenever they sense something noteworthy on their radar.

"Take House Moriarty for instance," I said. "They've been collecting blackmailing materials against some remarkable students from the other Houses. Balak nilang paurungin ang mga potential candidate sa Quadetective Tournament para mas mapadali ang pagkapanalo nila."

"Ah, those sly ravens!" Roanoke clicked his tongue thrice, shaking his head "They'd do everything just to win a back-to-back championship!"

"Thanks to my plants in their House, we thwarted their plan." I blew the steam off my tea. "As much as possible, I don't want my House to interfere with silly student affairs, but I don't want to give another House an unfair advantage in the upcoming competition either. The House War is not just a competition. It's a sacred tradition. Anyone or anything that corrupts it shall be dealt with accordingly."

"So where do I fit in the picture?" He eyed me for a few seconds. "Mukhang kaya n'yo namang i-manage ang mga magtatangkang mandaya?"

"The case that you're investigating. That's what I'm concerned about right now," I replied, putting down my cup. "Whoever murdered the would-be assassin in the clinic and targeted the WHAM squad on the island might intervene in the House War. We can't let that happen, so..."

"You want me to keep you updated?" he chuckled. "You do know that I report only to the university chancellor and the Founder. You may be the leader of House Mycroft and the real power in this campus, but you don't have the necessary clearance to be informed of my findings. As I said, I can't easily trust anyone here."

"Not even me?"

"Not necessarily. I assume you'd be sharing information with your fellow officers. What if one of them is an accomplice?"

I reclined in my seat. "I totally understand your misgiving. You don't want your investigation to be botched—"

"But as your friend..." Roanoke leaned closer to me. His pet cat jumped on the table. He started patting its head. "Maybe I can share some details to you. Para may idea ka kung ano na ang progress sa imbestigasyon."

"I'd greatly appreciate that." I also leaned closer to him, smiling. "So what info can you share to a good old friend?"

"There's a mole inside the university."

I squinted my eyes at him. Was that supposed to be a breaking news? "That much is obvious already—"

"Not just an ordinary mole," he interrupted me. "You said you've planted some of your officers in the Houses, right? Whoever's behind the failed assassination plot on the chancellor's life also did the same. A well-planted mole in the campus."

I looked down at my cup of tea. "Who else knew in advance that the chancellor was going to attend the Sherrinford Soiree?"

"Aside from your House? Faculty members, security officers, and selected school personnel," Crossing his arms, Roanoke reclined in his chair. "Baka tama ang hinala mo. Posibleng may manggulo sa papalapit na House War."

"Lalo na't laging nag-a-attend ang chancellor sa major events ng competition. He'll be there to declare the opening and to award the winning House." I raised my gaze at him. "If I were an assassin, that would be the next perfect opportunity to carry out my plan. Should I advise the chancellor to not attend? Or should you?"

"Fool!" he retorted. "Pwede nating magamit 'yon para mahuli kung sinuman ang nagtatangka sa buhay niya."

"But that should only be our last resort. No matter what we think of the chancellor, we must not use him as a bait."

"Of course! I'll still track down who tried or may try to do him harm. But just in case I fail—which rarely happens—we still have another chance to catch them red-handed. Kung isa-suggest mong huwag siyang um-attend, siguradong pag-uusapan 'yan sa taas. Baka matunugan ng mole at mahirapan tayong hulihin siya. Hindi rin natin alam kung may iba pa siyang kasabwat."

He had a point there. I held my teacup at eye level. "Do you already have any suspect in mind?"

"I have a list. But I'm still verifying their alibis on the night of the soiree."

"Just keep me posted, okay?" I smiled at him before finishing my cup of tea. "I'll also inform you should we notice anyone acting strange. I told you, we have eyes and ears everywhere. We'd know if something's up. We can help in your investigation."

"I appreciate your help, but that's not necessary. I can handle this one on my own."

"Well, it's not an offer that you can refuse." I placed my teacup on the saucer and rose to my feet. "The tea here is still lovely. Hindi pa rin kumukupas si Mao."

"You're leaving already?" Roanoke asked, his cup was halfway to his lips. "Hindi pa nag-iinit ang mga upuan natin dito."

"I'd like to stay and chat with you, but alas, duty calls." I showed him my phone screen that flashed a reminder message. I was about to take a few steps, but I quickly turned again to him. "By the way, Arturius will be visiting the university in the coming days. It's a courtesy to invite a former champion and ask for his insights. Maybe we can have some tea together? Just like good old times?"

Rolling his eyes, Roanoke clicked his tongue. "I'd rather watch a paint dry than have tea with him."

"Bitter ka pa rin ba hanggang ngayon?" I chuckled. "Piece of advice: It's been four years already. Get over it. Baka nakapag-move on na siya tapos ikaw, hindi pa."

"Don't you have a meeting to attend?" he said, ignoring my question.

Waving my hand, I bade him and Mao farewell before exiting the tea shop. Roanoke hasn't changed. He still held grudge on the person who beat him in that competition. I didn't have to tell him about Arturius coming here, but I'd like to tease him sometimes. I enjoy seeing his annoyed face once in a while.

I went straight back to Baker Building. Iilan na estudyante na lamang ang nakasalubong ko. Thanks to my Adlerian costume and my baby face, my looks didn't stand out as old and odd to some students. It's a camouflage of some sort. I managed to blend in. Once inside, I turned left and right in the corridors until I reached the library.

I smiled at the librarian as I entered. I went straight to the Agriculture and Gardening section, walking past rows of bookshelves and rooms. If one were to hide a body, this would have been the perfect spot because rarely anyone goes here.

I stood at the bookshelf on the wall and pulled The Art of Domestic Horticulture book. There came a gentle clicking sound, followed by another shelf swinging inward.

Voila, a hidden room!

Inside was an office that had antique furniture. I took off my green sweatshirt and threw it at the couch. I grabbed the maroon long coat and necktie with maroon and gold stripes from a hanger and quickly wore them. Tumayo ako sa harapan ng isang tall mirror at umikot-ikot para makita kung maayos ang pagkakasuot ko. Satisfied, I put on a monocle and pinned a golden owl brooch on my right lapel.

It's time.

I opened one of the doors in the office, leading me to another room. Inside was a long, wooden table with chandelier above and paintings on the walls. Men and women who wore the same maroon uniform stood to greet me.

"Shall we begin?" I asked, and everyone nodded.

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