Near the mountain of Belisario, a luxurious car glided along the winding road, unmistakably conveying the wealth of its owner.
As the car entered a tunnel, visibility plummeted. Suddenly, the wheels struck spikes, sending the vehicle careening out of control. The driver slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt.
Inside the dark tunnel, hidden traps had been set.
Doomed in a sharp suit, the driver stepped out to assess the situation. His senses were assaulted by the echo of a gunshot, sending panic and shock coursing through him. Confusion clouded his features as he pondered why someone would want him dead.
Scanning his surroundings with apprehension, he was caught off guard by approaching footsteps. Whirling around, he beheld a figure cloaked in darkness, aiming a gun at him.
"Who...are...yo...? Did...I do something wrong to you?" His words trembled, his last plea for understanding, before the gunman closed in, leveling the weapon at his head.
"This is the beginning of everything," the assailant declared before pulling the trigger.
Bang!
May 5, 2025, 11:00 AM, Ventrio Headquarters
"First mission, done!" Hermes Buencamino declared with a triumphant grin.
Hermes and his team erupted in cheers, celebrating their successful first operation together. Although Hermes had personally taken the life of the target in the luxury car, the mission wouldn't have been possible without his team's crucial support. They'd strategically placed spikes in the tunnel, a blind spot for the driver, effectively stopping the car and making Hermes's action possible.
The office echoed with jubilant chatter, stories of the mission being exchanged between gulps of celebratory liquor. From his window, Hermes watched the revelry with a satisfied smile. However, the joyous moment was abruptly cut short by the shrill ring of his cellphone.
Glancing at the screen, Hermes's demeanor instantly shifted. He rose with an air of urgency and disappeared into his secret room. This secret room, meticulously concealed within his main office, was accessible only to Hermes himself.
What secrets could lie hidden within this secret room?
May 6, 2025, 4:00 PM, In the warehouse of San Jose
Robust, muscular figures hauled a box brimming with junk food onto the truck. Their careful handling suggested the contents were more valuable than mere snacks. Indeed, hidden beneath the greasy facade lay a cache of "shabu," a dangerous illegal drug prevalent in Southeast Asia. This clever disguise aimed to evade police scrutiny by masquerading the delivery as ordinary junk food.
"You're in charge of delivering this package, understand?" Simeon addressed the newcomer standing before him."Yes sir, I'll ensure it gets delivered safely," the new guy replied confidently.
"What's your name?"
"Roman Lebado. I'm new here and responsible for this delivery."
"Good. Monsi will be assisting you," Simeon confirmed.
After a while, Roman climbed into the driver's seat of the now-full truck, ready to embark on their journey. Monsi hopped in beside him, and they set off for their destination. Monsi, a wiry man with a nervous twitch in his jaw, climbed into the truck beside Roman. While his weathered face held the map of a seasoned operator, his eyes darted nervously, betraying a flicker of fear that experience hadn't quite extinguished. He knew the risks of this job all too well, the potential for violence a constant gnawing fear in the pit of his stomach.
The truck rumbled down the highway, a convoy of four inconspicuous cars trailing closely behind. These weren't ordinary vehicles; they were a lifeline, a desperate backup plan if things went south.
While driving, Monsi spotted a police checkpoint ahead. A police checkpoint loomed ahead, an inspection on Juan Marina Road. Panic flooded Monsi. He knew all too well what would happen if the police caught them delivering illegal drugs or 'shabu'.
"Damn it all," he muttered, his voice a strained rasp. "They're checking every damn car."
Roman, however, remained unfazed. "Relax, Monsi. I got this," he said with a steely glint in his eyes.
And look who's the newbie here, he thought.
Upon arriving at the checkpoint, the truck pulled to a stop. A uniformed officer approached, rapping sharply on the window. "May I see your identification and cargo manifest?" the officer requested politely.
Roman produced the documents with a practiced ease.
"Sir, can I ask you to open the cargo inside?"
Roman smiled at the police, went to the back of the truck and open the door. What can be seen inside is many boxes. The officer followed, peering into the container filled with a seemingly innocuous jumble of boxes. He selected one and carried it out for further inspection.
"Mind opening it, sir?" he asked politely.
Roman flashed a disarming smile and complied. The box revealed a chaotic landscape of junk food packets. Relief washed over Monsi, momentarily erasing the knot of tension in his stomach.
The officer, however, remained suspicious. "We've had reports of concealed illegal drugs within cargo shipments. Would you mind if we take a closer look at the contents of these snacks?"
Before Roman could respond, Monsi interjected, his voice laced with desperation
"Wait, wait, wait. Why are you opening that? We are responsible for delivering these. We're responsible for these goods. We have an exact count, and the company wouldn't tolerate any discrepancy."
Suddenly, a sickening crunch echoed through the air. Monsi stumbled back, a hand flying to his bloodied nose. Monsi went limp and confuse why Roman punched him.
Chaos erupted. The men in the following cars, alerted by the commotion, ripped open their doors, assault rifles glinting under the harsh glare of the checkpoint lights. They opened fire on the unsuspecting police officers. The air crackled with gunfire as Roman, now revealed as an undercover cop, joined the fray.
Unfortunately, the people in the following cars was ambushed when bullets rained down from the surrounding fields, their source unseen in the midnight darkness. In a brutal ballet of violence, all the men were cut down
But, is it really the police that attack them?
"Excellent work, both of you," a voice boomed from the shadows. Hermes emerged, his face grim but proud. "Ventrio prevails again."
Severino, his face devoid of emotion, simply nodded. "We did what needed to be done."
Roman, a steely glint in his eyes, echoed the sentiment. "A necessary step towards our goal. A paradise for all, built from the ashes of this corrupted world."