In a professional tone, Warren began to explain. "Phase one involves attacking the economic power of the Trio Encanto. It is said that Dasha Vienna controls the finances of warehouses and schools, Leandra Oikonomou dominates the music industry, and Katrina Erlenbaugh oversees science and technology. In this first phase, we'll focus on the weakest of the three: Dasha Vienna."
Luna nodded, clearly pleased with Warren's explanation.
Now that I think about it, that must've been the reason Lara attacked the mall. No wonder Dasha Vienna looked so worried.
I noticed Lara muttering "Dasha Vienna," her lips trembling with overwhelming anger.
"That's phase one, yes," Luna said abruptly. "But our problem was figuring out what to do afterward. We know Dasha Vienna's weakness, but what happens after that? Both Leandra and Katrina remain mysteries to us. How could we move forward with our plan?"
Luna turned to me with a smile, pointing directly at me. "That's where you come in, Mila Velerth! You are the key to everything!"
"Me?"
"Exactly! For phase two, you, Mila Velerth, will go on a date with Katrina Erlenbaugh!"
"W-What?!?!?"
Going on a date with Katrina? That's ridiculous! I thought, but looking at Chief Luna, I didn't see a shred of doubt on her petite face.
"Mila Velerth, think of all those famous stories. There's always some kind of romance involved in the conflict; in other cases, it's that romance the root of the conflict. That's how it was in Troy, with Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and so on. This is what we needed... This is vital to our plan," Boss Luna said with a big smile.
Yes, she was definitely not joking. But going on a date with Katrina? The same Katrina who tried to kill me? How in the world is that possible?
I instinctively stood up from the sofa, completely confused. "B-But going on a date with Katrina? She'll kill me!"
"That's a possibility, yes," Boss Luna replied as she nodded at my words. Surprisingly, she agreed with my statement and didn't try to contradict me; however...
"Even so, I think you have a great chance to succeed, Mila Velerth. As I mentioned before, Katrina divides her victims into two groups: those who are confined in the old building and the other remaining group, which is systematically eliminated. Those latter are considered a serious threat to Katrina, Mila; the chance of escaping from her is zero; however, you are the only one who has survived."
Boss Luna took a sip of orange juice before continuing: "Katrina shows no mercy to her victims; she doesn't hesitate. The only thing she cares about is securing her position, and for that she will do anything. But... " Boss Luna looked me straight in the eyes with a sharp gaze. "Don't you think there's a reason why she didn't kill you that day, Mila Velerth?"
"Well, that..."
"This thought has crossed your mind too, hasn't it, Mila Velerth? 'If you were truly a threat, why didn't she just finish you off?"
I hate to admit it, but Boss Luna was right. That question has been nagging at me ever since that day. That afternoon, I was completely terrified. I thought I would die, but at the last moment Katrina hesitated. Thanks to Warren's sudden intervention, I was able to escape. However, that wasn't all. The image of Katrina walking out of that room was sealed in my mind.
She looked lost and distressed, like a helpless child, as if deep down she didn't want to do that—or perhaps as if she had been forced to do it. Why Katrina? Why are you so mysterious? And why is there so much enigma surrounding you?
As I struggled with those thoughts, Boss Luna continued speaking: "Besides, there's something that sets you apart from us," she said with a smile, revealing her small, pointed teeth. "Katrina believes that you're not a sorceress. Warren convinced her, didn't he, Mila Velerth?"
"Y-yes, that's right..."
"This is just a theory of mine, but I think Katrina won't hurt you and won't mind going on a date with you, as long as she's convinced that you're not a sorceress."
"B-but Boss Luna, it's just a theory! There's still a chance that she'll kill me!"
"That's true, but I have faith that you can do it," Boss Luna said as her eyes shone with a beautiful light.
"W-what? Really?"
"Of course!" She nodded firmly.
"W-Why are you so sure?"
"I can see it in your eyes, Mila Velerth. You have an amazing conviction. I can tell that you are not like the others; there is something about you that makes you stand out. I'm sure Katrina must have noticed that as well."
"!"
Boss Luna stood up from the couch and approached me. She stood right in front of me and spoke, but this time with a calmer tone, as if she was begging me, "Please, Mila Velerth. Only you can do this. If you go on a date with Katrina, I'm sure you will become very close to her and discover the secrets she's been hiding."
"B-Boss Luna, I..." The pressure was overwhelming; my mind was in complete chaos. What should I do?
"Mila Velerth, we can't use normal strategies against Trio Encanto. If we do that, we're all going to die. You personally saw what Lara did at the mall, right? Well, let me tell you something... I'm sure that any one of the Trio Encanto members has the strength to destroy an entire city. We know Dasha Vienna's weakness, but the other two remain a mystery to us."
A city? Unbelievable!
"If you cooperate with us, I'm sure things will become easier. Katrina must be hiding something...I definitely know there must be something!" Boss Luna's small fist trembled in frustration as she gritted her teeth.
The room fell completely silent, until Lara, who had been silent this entire moment, spoke.
"Nonsense... The only person you need is me, Boss Luna." She jumped off the wooden box and, with firm steps, headed for the exit.
"Lara, where are you going?"
"I'm going to execute the second phase of my plan, Boss Luna. I've already chosen my next target; besides, I'm tired of hearing all this nonsense... With your permission, I'm leaving." Without waiting for an answer, Lara left the room.
"That girl..." Boss Luna sighed.
Once again the room fell completely silent, but my thoughts kept bombarding me. What should I do? What is the right thing to do? Is Boss Luna right? I didn't know.
Boss Luna knelt in front of me, tilting down her face, and with a pleading voice, she said, "Please, Mila Velerth, you are our only hope."
Gosh! What do I do? Do I accept? Do I refuse? I felt sweat running down my face as I tried to think of the right decision. Then I thought, "This is not right!" This is a cowardly strategy; this is not how I am. Plus, if I use a tactic like this, how would I be different from the Trio Encanto? Wouldn't I be just like them? You can't fight evil with more evil. And I didn't want to be like them.
"I'm sorry, Boss Luna... I... I can't do this."
Warren, who had been silent all this time, smirked and lowered his face. Boss Luna, however, stood up and brushed off her dress as she muttered, "I see."
I couldn't see her expression, but I noticed something strange. There was a strange aura around her and she seemed more dangerous.
"Well, I tried," she said, but this time with a mocking smile. "I tried to be nice, but you leave me no choice, Mila Velerth."
"Boss Luna?"
"We'll settle this with a duel. If I win, you'll go on a date with Katrina Erlenbaugh. But if you win, I won't force you to." Her cold, sarcastic smile revealed her sharp teeth.
"However, if you refuse to duel with me, I'll call the authorities and expose you as a yellow-eyed sorceress!"
"What? But that's risky for all of you, too!"
"It is, yes. But unlike you. I'm willing to take risks. Think about it! If I hand you over to Katrina, I'll probably gain her trust; she might even reward me with something. All I care about is results, Mila Velerth. And if you don't give them to me, then you're nothing but trash to me."
S-She... She can't be serious, can she? But to my horror, Boss Luna pulled a phone out of her pocket, dialed a number, and put it on speaker. [Police. How can we help you?
She's insane!
With a bold smile, she looked me in the eyes. "Well? What will you do, Mila Velerth?"
As the situation grew darker, I realized she wasn't pretending. She was completely serious.