Achilles: The Warlord Emperor

6: The Masked Rescuer

The Liverpool Theatre of Dreams Center buzzed with life. Thousands of attendees across the globe; politicians, celebrities, and dignitaries filled the grand hall, their voices screaming with excitement and anticipation.

Liverpool Girl Child's event was being broadcast live to millions across the nation. An annual event crucial in calling for massive investments in the girl child's future.

The moment the Prime Minister stepped onto the grand podium, the entire hall gave in to loud applause.

Several media camera shutters flashed to immortalize every second of the historic speech on Girl Child’s Day.

The Prime Minister adjusted the microphone, clearing his throat with a beautiful smile.

“Today, we celebrate not just our daughters but our future. A future where every girl has the right to life, education, freedom, and active political participation.”

Achilles Hector, dressed in a black hoodie and mask, strategically stood in the crowd like a shadow.

With the aid of the three Brigadiers, he was able to trail inside the venue unnoticed. While the prime minister was still giving his famous speech, Achilles paid absolute attention to the environment as he sensed looming danger.

He swiftly scanned the surroundings with his razor-sharp eyes, his years of experience in the military came alive. He didn't take anything by chance, he knew the cartel had already plotted on how to take out the Prime Minister.

While the public was cheering the Prime Minister as his sound words re-echoed in their minds…

Achilles saw something, it seemed like time had slowed, his eyes caught a glimpse of a positioned figure 3000 meters away.

The suspect was on such a high ground, completely unseen, that the Prime Minister’s special forces couldn't suspect anything.

He narrowed his eyes further with his eagle-sharp eyes in action. Right at that moment, he fully saw the killer.

[It was a sniper]

Positioned on top of an abandoned skyscraper, the assassin was motionless; from what Achilles detected, his rifle aligned perfectly with the Prime Minister’s skull.

From the sniper’s stance and patience. Achilles knew the killer was no ordinary gunman. He was definitely a pro.

But Achilles wasn’t the only one watching.

Inside a constructed hideout, a cartel operations team was monitoring the mission through a secure radio frequency.

“Alpha-1, do you have visuals?”

The sniper’s voice reeked of calculation, “Copy that. Target in range. Subject in clear sight.”

“Execute on my mark. Ten… Nine…Eight…”

Achilles suspected the Prime Minister had barely seconds to breathe. If he must rescue him then he must incite a distractive tactic.

Suddenly, his voice roared, “We got a sniper!”

The crowd gasped in terror, tension clung in the atmosphere, the security personnel darting their eyes on guard.

The Prime Minister’s eyes flickered with caution. He paused from his speech reading and scanned his eyes in a dumbfounded state.

Within seconds, everything was happening rather too fast. Achilles was already in motion to protect the subject while the sniper pulled the damn trigger.

BOOM!

Remarkably, he was faster, and in a flash, he held the prime minister tightly and pushed him beneath.

The bullet raged past them, missing its mark by inches. It slammed into the podium, sending shards of wood and glass exploding into the air.

The venue struck into chaos; all guests took to their heels— an immediate outcry was perceived, the security personnel still flashing their eyes to catch a glimpse of the shooter.

Terrifying screams filled the air. Guests ran under tables while some hastened for an exit. Journalists abandoned their cameras, sprinting for cover.

Security forces quickly communicated through their earpieces.

“Shots fired! Protect the Prime Minister!”

Amid the commotion, Achilles was a step ahead. Inside the cartel’s hidden command center, they bulged their eyeballs in disbelief.

“What the hell just happened?” They resumed communication with the sniper.

The sniper responded in a loud breath, “Impossible! The shot was missed. Target is still alive. Someone interfered.”

“Who did?”

A deafening silence crept in, no one had a single idea who the masked hoodie person was.

After a few moments, one of the cartel figures instructed, “Find the disguised personnel. Now!”

The sniper drew a sharp exhalation, his heart racing in palpitations, he had never missed.

By the time security forces reached the abandoned skyscraper, the sniper was already gone.

Back inside the theatre, security had formed a tight human shield around the Prime Minister, escorting him toward the armored convoy.

The Prime Minister, still catching his breath, turned toward the mysterious fellow who had saved him.

In a desperate tone, he inquired, “Who are you?”

However, Achilles didn’t give a response. He was more concerned with ensuring the Prime Minister wasn't caught up in any imminent danger after he rescued him.

Before the security forces could engage him in a conversation, he swiftly found an exit and vanished within split seconds.

Minutes later, inside a bulletproof limousine, the Prime Minister’s phone buzzed; an anonymous message popped in:

[They desperately wanted you dead, but they won't succeed]

The prime minister exhaled deeply in deepened thought, he suspected whoever risked saving his life would prefer staying unknown.

In the course of the sudden crash of the cartel’s plot, they couldn't help but ponder who the mysterious rescuer was.

They assumed the unknown figure would haunt them and was several steps ahead.

With the unexpected turn of events, they sensed a looming war hovering over their necks.