The Forbidden Tribe

Chapter 16: The Lead

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"You failed."
     
   
Dala ng kahihiyan, napayuko kaming lima sa sinabi ni Sir Kai. Alam ko namang hindi talaga siya matutuwa dahil hindi namin nagawa ng successful ang mission, pero hindi ko inakalang magagalit siya.
    
    
"You didn't follow your plan, you interfered with the senshins, you blew your cover, two guys were badly hurt and one of you is injured."
    
   
Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkadismaya sa nangyari. Making him disappointed is one of the things we should always consider not doing. Because every time we fail, he also sees himself as a failure. And since we cannot change that perception of his, we try our very best to achieve every challenges.

Pero atleast nahuli namin ang culprit at hindi nasaktan ang pamilya ni Patrick.

Bumuntong-hininga muna siya bago umalis at naiwan kaming lima dito sa loob ng main quarters . . .tahimik at wala munang umiimik.

Nakakapanibago lang kasi minsan lang kami pumalpak sa isang mission at doon pa talaga sa isang simpleng misyon lang na kahit Stage 2 Vitanturs ay kayang gawin.
   
   
"That didn't end well." biglang sambit ni Shiro at tumawa ng maikli.

"He'll get over it." tugon naman ni Naori.
   
   
"Let's just head back to the quarters to relax a bit," suhestyon ko sa kanila. "Sunday pa naman ngayon at baka may mission na naman na ibibigay mamaya."

Biglang natawa si Shiro sa sinabi ko. "Sa nangyari kanina, siguradong wala munang ibibigay sa atin na mission si Sir ngayon," napatingin siya sa amin dahil wala kaming reaksyon sa sinabi niya. "Biro lang! Kayo naman, sobrang seryoso niyo. Tara na nga't magpahinga muna tayo."
    
   
Somehow, Shiro being his goofy self made us all smile, a bit. Good thing he always tries to lighten up the mood and atmosphere. Kanina pa ako na-a-awkward sa katahimikan na nakapalibot sa buong room.
 
  
Nilagyan ko ulit ng ointment ang kaliwang pisngi ko dahil sa natamo kong bruise mula kanina. Medyo namamaga kasi ito at may mga small cuts dahil sa suot na singsing at sa sobrang lakas na suntok ni Alfred.
   
   
Tsaka ko naalala ang nangyari kanina. Para kasing maraming plot holes and insidente. Such as Sir Kai knowing that the next victims are vitanturs, Patrick's family being so lucky enough that they are immune with the poison planned to be used, and even the incident itself. It was a slow-paced crime with seemingly obvious clues but the humdrum police force didn't solved it until the third murde--

"Escuse me,"
    
   
Agad kaming napahinto sa paglalakad at napatingin sa likod namin. If I remember her name right, it's Mayumi. What is she doing here?
    
    
"Sir Kazu, you have been called by Mr. Hikaru for an urgent matter."
   
    
***
   
   
Tahimik lang akong naglalakad habang papunta sa Great Hall. Why am I getting so nervous? I don't recall doing something wrong. O baka naman tungkol 'to sa pagiging future leader ko ng tribe? Nope. Masyado naman sigurong maaga para pag-usapan ang matter na 'yon. Maybe he just wants to see me? Or have a talk? But I highly doubt that. He never talks to me. Pero paano nga kung kailangan niyang makipagkita at makipag-usap sa akin ngayon? If so, it must be really important. Idagdag pa na 'urgent' daw.
    
   
"Okay ka lang ba? You're breathing heavily." tanong sa akin ni Mayumi.

Sinamahan niya ako papunta sa Great Hall kahit alam ko naman kung saan ito papunta. Napansin ko rin na may dala-dala siyang envelope but I didn't bother asking what it is for.

"U-Uh. Oo, okay lang." sagot ko at tumingin ng diretso sa dinadaanan ko.
   
    
From what I remembered, she is so bubbly and cheerful but this time, she's almost as if she's a different person for starting small talks and less jolly. Which is weird. Pero siguro nga ay dahil hindi na kami muling nag-usap o magkita man lang pagkatapos noong hinahanap namin si Fellabe.
    
    
Talagang sinamahan niya pa ako paakyat sa second floor ng building. Pakiramdam ko dahan-dahang bumigat ang bawat hakbang ko habang papunta na kami sa room na 'yon.
     
Nang nakarating kami sa patutunguhan namin ay agad kumatok si Mayumi sa pinto na may nakaukit na "MR. HIKARU - Tribe Co-leader". Ilang segundo lang ay automatic na nagbukas ang sliding door ng office. Una siyang pumasok at sumunod naman ako.
  
   
The interior layout of the Tribe Co-leader's office is entirely different from the other rooms here in the Great Hall. It also has a wide space with warm environment. Photos of the previous co-leaders were also hung on the walls with compelling designs. And at the rear part is another door--probably leading to the Tribe Leader's office.

Nabaling ang aking atensyon sa isang matangkad na lalake sa harap namin na may matikas na pangangatawan. He's obviously in his late forties but everyone could still feel his enormous strength just by looking at him. Nakatayo siya malapit sa bintana habang tinatanaw ang view sa labas at nang humarap siya sa amin ay agad akong umiwas ng tingin sa mga mata niya.
  
  
He's wearing a dark green longsleeves that compliments his intense green eyes. And his rolled up sleeves showed the long thick scar on his right arm, which reminded me of a certain horrifying memory.
    
    

"Umm. . .Good morning Mr. Hikaru. Nandito na po si Kazu," sambit niya at agad lumapit sa table ni Dad. "Nandito na rin ang mga papers na pinadala ng taga Owls." Nilapag niya sa mesa ang dala-dala niyang envelope. Lumapit naman si Dad nito upang tingnan.
    
     
Normal talaga na intimidating ang presence ni Dad and let's not mention how our leader is even more scary. Kahit composed ang sarili ni Mayumi ay alam kong may halong kaba pa rin siyang nararamdaman habang kaharap niya ang co-leader ng aming tribe. Who wouldn't be intimidated facing a tall fierce-looking man like him? Mabuti na lang hindi ako nagmana. Ayoko namang walang gustong lumapit sa'kin.
    
    
Nagpasalamat si Dad kay Mayumi na agad ding nagpaalam. I'm still wondering why Mayumi's here with that envelope coming from the Owls, considering that she's still a hunter trainee and the file is probably confidential.
   
    
"She was sent by Nol--Mr. Shinji's son and Head of the Owls, to deliver these files."

Napatingin naman agad ako kay Dad nang sinabi niya 'yon. He must've read my confused expression. Nol son of Sir Shinji. . .never heard that name before. At hindi ko rin alam kung sino ang mga anak ni Sir Shinji. May koneksyon ba si Mayumi sa kanya o sa Owls?
   
     
"Take a seat, Lynus." he gestured to the couch. Umupo agad ako at umupo naman siya sa katapat na couch.

It's been forever since I heard someone call me by my real name. Ni minsan ay hindi ako tinatawag ni Dad gamit ang second name ko because he prefers to call me Lynus. Well, he's the one who gave me that name after all.
    
    
"As soon as I received an important information from Nol, I immediately summoned you." napatingin naman ako sa envelope na nilapag niya sa mesa na nasa gitna namin.

Medyo na-disappoint ako sa pamungad niyang topic. See? Hindi man lang niya ako kinamusta. Kung maayos lang ba ang kalagayan ko o hindi at hindi man lang din niya pinansin ang mga sugat ko sa mukha kahit halatang-halata ito.
    
    
"At 'yun ay dahil?"

"We have a lead to where your Mom is. Buhay pa nga si Hana."
   
   
Napakurap ako ng ilang beses at bigla akong napasandal sa upuan. Tama ba ang narinig ko? May lead na sila kung saan mahahanap si Mom?
   
    
"These photos were taken during Nol's mission three days ago," pinakita niya sa akin ang tatlong litrato ng isang babae na mahaba ang buhok, medyo matangkad at may suot na lab gown. Judging from how the photos were taken, tumatakbo ang babae at halatang pilit kino-conceal ang kanyang mukha gamit ang buhok niya. Kung ikukumpara ang mukha niya sa litrato at sa profile niya dito sa tribe ay medyo tumanda at ibang-iba na ang itsura niya. Pero kitang-kita pa rin ang resemblance nito.
  

The three photos were shot with the same angle but the distances varied. May naka-close up shot at may isa na naka-zoom out at makikita na may kasama siyang grupo ng mga teenagers.

"Nol took these photos while he was spying a certain activity of the senshins. Senshins ang mga kasama niya at mukhang sa base ng mga senshin na siya nakatira."
    
    
How is that possible? Senshins are known for their advanced technology and being preeminent detectives so they must've already determined that she's not a senshin nor any of the three other types of erityians.

"However, she was no longer found beyond the premises of the senshin's base after the following days. She probably never goes out from the Institute unless it's very important. Though, I'm still not completely sure if she really is Hana. Iimbistigahan ko pa ito hanggang sa ma-confirm ko kung siya nga ba ito o hindi."

I can feel his urge in finding out about this woman. Maski ako ay gusto ko rin malaman. Niligpit na niya ang mga litrato at nilagay ulit sa envelope. Alam kong tapos na ang pag-uusap namin.
   
    
"D-Dad, kung si Mom nga ito, naniniwala akong makakasama pa natin siya." wika ko. Napangiti lang siya ng maiksi at tumango.
    
    
"Keep this matter confidential for now. I'll inform you if there are further information. Thank you for coming Lynus. You can go back to your quarters now." tugon niya at tumango lang ako. Tumayo na siya at pumunta na sa kanyang table.
    
    
Tumayo na rin ako at tumungo na sa pintuan. Pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makalabas ay muli siyang nagsalita.

    
    
"Lynus, I will be needing your help in finding her."
    
    

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