The plane took off without any incident. Leaving mainland India under them gleamed by the lights that lit up the city. No one was going after them. There was nothing in the way either. Maybe the Organization or OWC lost track. Or was this a deliberate act to keep them off guard.
At the cruising altitude, Andalas activated the auto pilot and took Lian Xi to the back cabin where Cecilia and Akiko were waiting impatiently for the contents of the deposit box stored at the New Delhi station.
Andalas opened the box and took out its contents. Again, a small key but this time no second key. The second item was a piece of skin that looked like goat skin. The tanned leather appeared to have holes here and there, and on its non-perforated surface there were some inscriptions and arrows and numbers.
Akiko was on the verge of swearing and cursing but stopped her instantly. Cecilia took the map fragments found at New York's Met Breuer and placed one in each of the correct holes. Akiko gaped, Lian Xi gave a short whistle, and Cecilia smiled widely. While Andalas remained on his cold expression.
The puzzle had come together as a complete map with clues on the skin. Coordinates, legends, and detailed descriptions were clearly visible.
Cecilia read slowly but excitedly.
This map is directions and paths to the Gobi Facility. The first coordinate is the entrance. The second coordinate is the Gobi Facility. And the third coordinate is the exit. Burn this skin so that the map blends in perfectly.
Akiko hurriedly took the lighter from the pantry. Once touched by the fire, the torn canvas instantly fused and stuck to the skin so the map was now completely intact and complete!
"This map is complete so we can enter the Gobi Facility. But why do we still have to go to Geneva? Wouldn't it be quicker if we headed straight to Ulaanbataar from here?" Lian Xi asked quietly as if asking herself.
Akiko gave a short snort. There was a hint of annoyance in his tone of voice.
"It has been proven that Doctor Adli's riddles are very useful and solve every problem. Why do we have to skip one more step? Who knows the answer to the final riddle is our equipment or supplies to get to the Gobi Facility?"
Lian Xi was astonished by Akiko's rudeness. After being together for some time, the hostility slowly began to melt away. But now it comes again with a tough attitude that invites a fight.
The two people immediately acted when they saw Lian Xi about to stand up while raising her eyebrows.
Cecilia grabbed Lian Xi's arm and pulled her back to sit down while handing her a cup of coffee. While Andalas held Akiko's hand and stroked it like she was about to put a baby to sleep. Akiko, who was still annoyed, couldn't bear to pull Andalas' hand away. Moreover, the gentle caress made her chest flutter strangely. Akiko felt a sense of calm and happiness.
Everyone settled down. Cecilia once again studied the map diligently. Andalas went to the cockpit, but Akiko's words stopped him.
"Can I sit in the copilot's seat? I want to learn airplane instruments and see the view." Andalas nodded and let the sweetly smiling Akiko lead him into the cockpit.
The completely astonished Lian Xi was about to interrupt, but Cecilia took her hand and whispered softly.
"Just leave it. After all, Andalas doesn't need a co-pilot to fly this plane, right? It is an administrative requirement from the airport authority for this aircraft to fly."
Lian Xi took a deep breath and sat down with Cecilia again. Learn the instruments? Does she think those panels are piano keys? The view in front of the plane? What's so interesting about the inexhaustible clumps of clouds? Uh, you what a flirt!
Cecilia smiled at Lian Xi's expression. This was bad. They were now transformed like tigress ready to fight at any moment for love. Poor Andalas. He must be weary right now. Hahaha, the assassin who trembled from being chased by love.
In the cockpit, Andalas checked the flight itinerary. He had to stop in Amsterdam to refuel. There were still 8 hours to go but he had to call Luigi immediately. Andalas was about to pick up the X-One lying beside him. His eyes met with Akiko's sparkling eyes who were also looking at him. Andalas felt awkward.
Akiko was smiling sweetly savoring the opportunity to be alone in the cockpit without that annoying Lian Xi near them.
Andalas became increasingly clumsy and just held the X-One and forgot what he was going to do. Akiko stretched her hand to grab the X-One from Andalas's hand.
"What can I do with this?"
Of course Akiko would happily do anything if she could stay in the cockpit with Andalas. After all, the instruments on the plane's panel and the view in front were monotonous and boring.
"Uhm..oh..okay. Call Luigi and tell him that in 8 hours we will be transiting at Schiphol refueling then continuing to Geneva."
Akiko happily did what Andalas told her. While Andalas took a deep breath as if he felt freed from the siege of ten assassins who were after his life. Somehow. Being close to this woman made him tremble.
----
Somewhere in a luxurious mansion overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the Chairman looked at each member of the Organization with wild eyes. Not like usual.
The 11 people who sat around the beautiful wooden table were silent. Waiting for orders or grumbling from the Chairman.
"They are getting closer to the Gobi Facility. We must either prevent them or seize any clues they hold to get there. This is dangerous!"
The Chairman looked furiously at the Black Death painting on the wall. The pandemic he had hoped for at this time had not yet matched the death ratio during the Black Death.
"Use all the resources available! Keep an eye on every corner of the Mongolian border leading to the Gobi Desert. They must be passing through Ulaanbataar to enter the Gobi Facility."
No one objected. One of them, whose accent sounded very British, answered slowly.
"I will contact the Executor."
The Chairman nodded. His eyes returned to the Black Death painting.
-----
Elsewhere in a large room of an old building in Zurich, a middle-aged woman sat surrounded by six people of various races. There was a Caucasian guy. A Chinese woman. Arab man. A Latino man. A tough-looking man who seemed to be from Africa. And a man with Central Asian or Turkish looks.
The middle-aged woman who clearly from the southern United States said curtly.
"This pandemic can't stop! Doctor Aslan's team could mess up all plans! Chaos won't happen all over the world if they manage to find the serum for the Ice Virus and Tropical Bacteria!"
The Arab man raised his hand.
"Stepmother is right. But I think let the Organization do it. Aren't their goals the same as ours?"
The woman called Stepmother shook her head.
"The organization failed time and time again to prevent them. We must act from now on. Muster our people around Mongolia! Soon they would appear there to breach the Gobi Facility. OWC must be ahead of the Organization!"