Achilles: The Warlord Emperor

9: Shadows Of Alliance

In an underground, discreet location, the powerful cartel assembled for an emergency meeting. That would be their official gathering after the abrupt failure of the Prime Minister’s assassination plot.

Marcel Vidal, with a commanding voice, broke the silence. “One shot. That was all we needed to send the Prime Minister six feet underneath.”

The tension amplified, Victor Calderon, with a thick voice, mouthed. “But he missed.”

Lucia Montoya leaned further with a deep frown. “No. Dante Cruz didn't just miss. Someone saw him, interfered before he pulled the trigger.”

The room fell into a puzzled silence. The fear that a mysterious figure knew about their plot before execution sent shockwaves down their spines.

They had invested time and resources to ensure the Prime Minister was taken out during the Girl Child's event.

They ensured the skilled sniper was well-positioned in an undetectable skyscraper for their plot to go as planned. Yet it didn't.

Marcel spoke again, his voice subtle, barely above a whisper. “There’s only one God of War who can see like an eagle.”

Lucia let out a demeaning scoff that echoed across the table. “Hope you aren't suggesting the disgraced Col. Achilles Hector? C’mon, he's finished: we ensured that happened. Stripping him of his rank and privileges. He's nothing.”

“You think he was the masked mysterious rescuer?”

Victor Calderon chimed in, “I suspected he could be the one behind the rescue so I organized a team to search for corresponding evidence.”

“We found no connection between Achilles and the Prime Minister. No calls or meetings of any sort. The last we know, he was knocked down on the street. Since then, no one has known his whereabouts.”

Victor Escobar, the cartel's enforcer drew a deep breath. His voice was tight with growing frustration.

“Then why does it feel like we’re being hunted?”

No one had an answer: that was strange and terrifying.

***

A few hours later at the Prime Minister’s exclusive apartment by 2AM

Despite the designated security protocols, the Prime Minister ensured his private abode was less guarded for a purpose.

Achilles swiftly moved like a shadow and had access through the apartment's backdoor as he was earlier instructed.

The Prime Minister made sure the camera footage positioned in his private apartment was inactive at midnight to avoid leaving clues.

Inside the Prime Minister’s study room, Achilles dressed in all black, his face still masked, wasn't taking chances.

The Prime Minister, upon sighting his appearance, swallowed slowly in uncertainty.

Achilles had anonymously reached out to him a couple of hours ago— the Prime Minister was so curious to meet with the mysterious savior.

“Relax. I'm not here to harm you. I wouldn't risk my life saving you just to murder you right away.”

The Prime Minister readjusted in an observational mood. The voice sounded quite familiar, but he couldn't pinpoint who the figure was.

Achilles stood in a composed aura and slowly undressed his mask. The Prime Minister’s eyes bulged in surprise at the revealed sight of him.

“You…?” he stuttered. “You saved me?”

Achilles nodded, taking a step forward. The Prime Minister’s countenance flushed with confusion after realizing who his guardian angel was.

“But why save me? After everything?”

“After your family underwent a national humiliation?”

It didn't make sense to him that Achilles would take such an alarming risk to save him.

He should have folded his arms and watched him get murdered after the shame his family had suffered.

Achilles’ brow furrowed, his voice sharp and distinct. “Because the real enemies would walk freely if I hadn't intervened. The cartel would be at large and that'd be sickening for the country.”

“Months back, the Minister of Defense discovered the cartel's plot to undermine your authority. They assassinated him and framed my father for it after he refused to play by their rules.”

“Despite the humiliation, my family had been subjugated. The country comes first and I wouldn't turn a blind eye and let them take you out without a fight.”

A heavy silence crept into their midst. The Prime Minister swallowed hard and gave a deep exhalation.

Achilles’ thick words froze him in silence. He hadn't met a soul as patriotic as the disgraced vehement Warlord.

The Prime Minister sighed, shaking his head. “Achilles, if I had known the truth, I—”

“It doesn’t matter,” he politely cut him off halfway. “I need to fish out the cartels. As long as they remain at large, they won't stop plotting to take you out and install a puppet into the office.”

The Prime Minister's face etched with a purpose. “Then I should reinstate you right away. Give you back your rank and privileges. Unfreeze your family’s assets—”

He quickly retorted, “No.”

The Prime Minister’s eyelids blinked in confusion. “No?”

Achilles leaned closer, his words detailed and calculative. “If you do that now, the cartel will put the pieces together. They’ll realize I was the one who saved you and that would give them an edge over us.”

The Prime Minister inhaled sharply. “Then what should we do?”

Achilles responded wearing a cold scoff, “For now, we fight from the shadows. You keep playing your role as if nothing has changed while l do my part.”

After a long pause, the Prime Minister nodded firmly. “You have my support. Whatever you need, I'll provide.”

Achilles put back his mask. “As far as we're concerned. This conversation never happened. Kindly, wipe off all clues and please keep our tracks clean.”

“The cartel had already declared war the second they had the Minister of Defense murdered— had my father framed for it and hanged, and now orchestrated your assassination.”

Achilles turned without another word and vanished into the night.