Look Me in the Eyes (and tell me that it's me) [Zhongchili]

Chapter 30 - A Letter From a Friend

"Good evening, Tartaglia." Pierro sits behind his desk, fingers steepled atop it. "You are two minutes later than requested." It's a statement heavy with the expectation of an explanation, and despite himself, standing in front of that desk with one eye as mesmeric as the void staring at him, Ajax feels compelled to give one.

"Sorry, maintenance was working on the elevator. Had to take the stairs."

Pierro grunts and clicks his tongue. "Prepare better next time. I have a mission of great importance for you." He slides a map across the desk and taps a group of buildings located just outside of Snezhnaya City. "A group of six rogue agents. They were supposed to be seizing a shipment of illicit substances from a criminal organisation, but they themselves have unfortunately decided to walk the wrong path. We've received a tip off that they've been offered a small sum to deliver the substances to the original buyer, while making it appear as though they were lost in a freak accident. These warehouses are where we believe they, and the goods, are currently stationed. We need you to retrieve the goods."

An interception run. This isn't so bad.

Ajax tries to stop himself from looking too pleased. This is a cakewalk compared to the last round—by the look of the map, his targets are stationed at a spot far from where any witnesses should be present, and there's no victim he has to look out for. He'll grab the drugs, bring those rogue agents in, and be back before lunchtime.

"Yes, sir," he says. "Where would you like them moved once I'm done?"

"The substances can be left as they are. The bodies, too. Operations will clean up the area once you've given word of your success."

"The bodies?"

"Yes, boy, of the ex-agents you are going to dispose of."

"Then you want them dead?"

"Yes. You did so well last time. I'm sure it isn't too much for a mighty warrior such as yourself to take out a few disobedient agents?"

This isn't right. With the last group, the killings were unpleasant, but necessary to protect those wandering Snezhnaya's streets at night. This group poses no such threat to the populace at large—not directly, anyway—and they could easily be set back upon the right path with the correct steering.

"But don't they receive a trial or something?" Ajax protests. "They aren't hurting anyone, they're just smuggling some drugs."

"Her Majesty has no patience for traitors." Pierro's voice rings through the room like an executioner's bell. "They cannot be treated lightly, lest other people—" he gives an insinuating pause "—become infected with similar thoughts."

Ajax swallows, painting saliva on his sticky, dry throat. Orders are orders. It's not his place to question, to pick yes or no as he pleases. He is a soldier. Soldiers follow orders. That's how this works.

He bows his head an inch. "Yes, I shall see it done."

"Good. We expect a report by mid week."

Ajax trudges back across the grounds to his quarters, map in hand. Once again, the burden of the slaughter falls to him. He will be the one to see the life drain from those agents' eyes, their hearts stilled by his hand while Pierro sits in his office pushing papers and drinking coffee, content to send Ajax to do his dirty work for him again.

At least this time it's not civilians. And if the order came from The Tsaritsa herself... Well, she's been doing this for at least a thousand years by now, she must have an understanding of how these things work out.

He should place his own sensibilities aside and get on with carrying out his orders.

It's dark when he arrives back at his suite. He opens the door and picks his way across the room towards the light of the bedroom, taking care to avoid—