Ava hurriedly walked towards the elevators and, upon reaching them, was joined by an executive from the Tower, who followed her with quick steps.
"Rod Sugg is already waiting for you in the presidential office," the executive informed her.
"Okay," she replied with a quick nod.
She entered the presidential office alone, where she found Rod Sugg, the president of the Brazilian Tower. He was sitting in his luxurious leather chair behind an imposing desk, with a high-end notebook in front of him.
"Did you know about this?" Ava asked directly, pulling the military report from her pocket and showing it to Rod.
Rod raised an eyebrow, finding the situation odd. He looked at the paper for a few seconds before responding, his expression slightly confused.
"What's on this paper?"
In a more intimidating tone, Ava continued, "This is a military report from a defenseless and defeated brigade in the city of Cuiabá. The brigade has been fighting for 10 days against a group of operatives called the Conclave. Why didn't this reach me?"
Rod remained silent for a few seconds, analyzing the situation.
"How did you find out about this?"
"That's not important. What I want to know is why I wasn't informed about this case."
Rod sighed, his impatience evident despite his otherwise expressionless face.
"Ava, you didn't need to know. The case with Dynami and the Foundation caused disastrous consequences. We need to stay focused on a single major threat, and the Conclave does not represent the same level of danger."
Ava frowned, clearly displeased.
"I am the commander of dozens of specialized agents trained solely for combat with operatives. I am one of the most respected and influential figures in the Brazilian Tower. I should know everything that involves practical cases, territorial issues, and confrontations."
"I don't regret appointing you as the general commander of this department. But understand, Ava, if I, as your superior, didn't notify you about this case, it's because there is indeed a reason for it. Please, do not overstep the boundaries I've set to know the reason. Understood?"
Ava took a deep breath, controlling her irritation. She softened her shoulders and asked, "So, is this how it's going to be? No direct communication, no transparency, and no trust?"
"Between us, there is trust. As for the other issues you mentioned, I will use them when it is truly necessary. Until then, take care of Koji and Saik and work on convincing Tahiko to cooperate with us. I hope you understand. Now, please, leave."
Koji and Saik, now washed and dressed in casual clothes, walked through the hallway of the Training Center's gym. As they approached the barrels, they found two newcomers, as Ava had mentioned, holding large bags of ice.
"Are they the rookies?" Saik asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the two young men.
Koji squinted, trying to recognize someone.
"Look, we've seen the guy on the right before." He discreetly pointed with his head.
"Yeah, I recognize him now," Saik agreed with a small nod.
Cole Fuller, a young man with a nervous and somewhat awkward appearance, smiled a bit forcedly as he saw the two approaching. Next to him was Nicolas, a young man with a keen look and more confident posture, who had already had a brief interaction with Ava about the military report.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Nicolas greeted, trying to sound professional but with a touch of nervousness in his voice. "Ava asked us to prepare everything for the punishment."
"Ah, the infamous punishment," Koji said with an exaggerated sigh. "Can't wait."
Saik let out a short laugh.
"Yeah, let's get this over with then." He looked at the barrels full of ice with a resigned expression.
Cole and Nicolas began opening the ice bags and pouring them into the barrels. The sound of ice cubes falling into the cold water echoed through the hallway, intensifying the sensation of cold. Koji crossed his arms and watched the scene, shaking his head with an ironic smile.
"So, we just get in and stay there for an hour?" Koji asked, confirming the details as he looked at the newcomers.
"That's right. We have to make sure you complete the entire time," Nicolas responded, adjusting his glasses with a serious expression.
As they prepared to enter the barrels, Cole looked at them and asked, "Have you ever done something like this before?" clearly trying to break the ice, both literally and figuratively.
"We've faced worse things," Koji replied, making a face as he felt the cold start to invade his bare feet.
The two climbed into the barrels, and a chill ran through their bodies. The icy water enveloped them, and both grimaced in discomfort, trying to get used to the temperature.
"This is one of the worst parts of the training, for sure," Saik murmured, his teeth already starting to chatter.
"Yes, but at least it's something we can survive," Koji responded, trying to use humor to mask the discomfort.
The newcomers, now more relaxed, decided to monitor the punishment from a distance, giving the two agents some space. They stepped back, leaving Koji and Saik to face the intense cold alone.
Koji and Saik, now submerged up to their shoulders in the icy water, felt their bodies shaking uncontrollably. Their teeth chattered, and their arms were tightly crossed over their chests, trying to conserve as much warmth as possible.
Koji looked at Saik and said, "I heard something... about that private interview with Ava." Koji spoke slowly, the trembling making it hard to articulate his words. "You didn't want... to talk about your... health to her, right?"
Saik raised his eyes, meeting Koji's gaze. He knew Koji wasn't just curious, but also concerned.
"When I was a child... I was born with a time limit." Saik paused, feeling the cold intensify with each word. "Heart failure... and a series of incessant ailments. Medicine couldn't cure me. So... the doctors, desperate, suggested a risky option to my parents. And my mother agreed."
"The doctors, illegally and inhumanely... used a ritual to save me. As a sacrifice, a kidnapped woman was used in the ritual, but she didn't survive. During the negotiation, I asked the dark being from the ritual... to take away all her pain in her death so she would die painlessly."
Saik paused again, as if he needed strength to continue.
"But the demon made a counteroffer. For that, I had to receive all the pain and human ruin the woman had in life. As a punishment, I survived... and was reborn as an operative. But with a deficient pact that doesn't give me external energy. And, on top of that, a non-human disease that gradually destroys my body from the inside out... every passing month."
Silence fell between them for a moment, interrupted only by the sound of the ice and their labored breaths.
"Man... I didn't know it was that serious." Koji said to Saik, with a slightly worried look. "I'm sorry for asking."
"Now you owe me your story," Saik joked.
"Tsk. If I even know my own story…" Koji replied.