C2 UNEXPECTED MISSION

LIANE'S RESTAURANT

That's the name written on the slightly rusty sign of that cheap restaurant tucked away in a rather chaotic alley near Emilio Highway. The surroundings were noisy because of the children playing in the middle of the narrow road while some women gathered in front of a small shop not far away. A typical sight in the Philippines especially in places like that.

When Cougar turned his gaze to the other side, he saw several men sitting while facing a table with hard liquor on top. They are shirtless and happily singing while some young women are busy dancing in front of the camera on the side of the road. Cougar shook his head because of what he saw.

Cougar quickly got off from the motorbike he was carrying. He also took off his helmet and carried it as he walked closer to the cafeteria. He brushed his fingers from the long hair that covered his face. He forgot to tie it earlier because he was in too much of a hurry.

Cougar had almost arrived at their house in Green Belt when his adoptive father, Andres Falcon, spoke to him. As usual, he caught him holding some papers that might be a new report by one of his agents. The steaming coffee rests on the center table in front of him.

It's been more than five years since his adoptive mother Belinda passed away and it has been so hard especially for his father. Fortunately, Falcon Surveillance is there, somehow taking his mind and attention away from his late wife and grief.

His Papa handed him the small paper that was placed next to his coffee and when he opened it, his eyebrows immediately raised from what he read but he didn't speak. He knew it already. Cougar immediately said goodbye to his father and traveled to the place written on the small paper. He put aside the plan to rest as he had just finished an assignment.

When Cougar got close to the closed door made of painted plywood, he immediately pushed it open. The shrill sound of the wind chime hanging above the door made a deafening noise that made Cougar frown slightly. He looked up and shook his head as if through that, the sound that was still left inside his ear would disappear.

"Hello, Sir, good afternoon," the woman wearing a white t-shirt that was a bit old and topped with a green apron immediately greeted him. "what do you want to eat?" he asked smiling while pointing to an empty table at the far end, next to the small one by the window.

Instead of understanding what the woman was saying, Cougar looked around for a moment as if looking for someone until his eyes landed on the table in the corner. His expression became serious when he saw the man sitting there. He was wearing a cowboy hat that almost covered his face.

Cougar blew out a breath before hurriedly stepping closer to the man.

"Good afternoon, Sir Gallego," Cougar immediately greeted him when he finally got close to the man." and I'm so sorry for being late." he apologized here.

The man looked up from the tabloid that he was reading.

"You must be Agent Cougar Falcon from Falcon Surveillance," said the man who was probably over seventy years old. "General Reynaldo Gallego, former deputy director of NBI." He introduced himself before extending his right hand.

A wide smile appeared immediately from Cougar's lips. Of course, who does not recognize the person in front of him? This man is a legend. He is the only deputy director who overthrew the rampant Black Dragon syndicate, but a year before the end of the first term of the president of the Philippines, Simon Sebastian, Reynaldo Gallego suddenly resigned as a deputy director of the NBI.

"Of course, Sir, I know you and your good works during your time." Cougar's eyes sparkled and immediately reached for the open palm of the Former Deputy Director Gallego. "It was truly an honor for me to finally meet you, Sir." he added.

An infectious smile spread from the lips of Mr. Gallego's face. He pointed to the empty seat in front of him.

"Please, have a seat, Agent Falcon. And, you can call me General Gallego." the former deputy director's straight attitude to Cougar. "I'm not going to waddle anymore. I know that you are wondering why you're here right now in front of me and why I chose this place," he continued before waving to the woman who greeted Cougar when he entered.

A few moments later, Cougar and the former deputy director were talking seriously.

"Are you familiar with Octagon?" Former Deputy Director Gallego asked Cougar seriously, who suddenly sat up from the leaning monoblock chair. The great interest that did not escape General Gallego's sharp vision appeared in his eyes as a small smile immediately appeared on his lips.

"Yeah, I heard a thing about it, General Gallego. Why?" Cougar asked the other with interest.

Well, for someone like him whose life revolved around being a secret agent for almost a decade, the name of the organization mentioned by former Deputy Director Gallego is not new to his ears. Octagon was an untouchable mafia organization here in the Philippines. Many have tried to dismantle it but none have succeeded. Drugs, smuggling, white slavery, robbery—name it and they have it. It holds almost seventy-five percent of the black market in the entire Philippines.

"What do you know about it?" he asked Cougar again who started to feel excitement.

If it is what he thinks it is, then it's gonna be a dream come true for him. This is a big case in case.

"An Italian named Señor Lion Guerrero founded it way back in the 90s and right now, what I know is that he is no longer very active because his eight children are in charge of the Octagon. It is difficult to overthrow because there is no concrete evidence that can be obtained—"

Cougar stopped speaking when his interlocutor raised his hand as if to silence him. His forehead was also wrinkled as if he remembered something not funny.

"Wrong, Agent Falcon. Lion Guerrero is still the boss," he gave Cougar a serious look. " and we can gather those evidences but the only problem is that, it always slipped away every time we are already close to getting it. Things get screwed and we would always go back to zero. The Octagon's grip is too deep and strong in the whole Philippines that it is difficult to pull out the roots so Simon and I talked—"

Cougar's eyebrows crossed because of what he heard. "You mean too say, the President?"

He was confused. What everyone knows is that he and President Sebastian argued and for some reason that was not released to the public. It was only revealed that he resigned to protect the family name. What everyone knows is that the former deputy director and the current president of the Philippines are close friends.

Cougar's face smiled again. "Yes, I am talking about his Excellency here, Agent Falcon." It answered him. "I left and resigned in my work as President Sebastian instructed. I need to move away from the tentacle eyes of the Guerreros, one reason we are here today. Our meeting has to be discreet. I've been gathering track records of the agency that you're in and I can say that it's clean so I decided to get your service because according to the information that I get, you are the most trusted agent in Falcon Surveillance plus the fact that you are the boss' son, so, yes. He gives all the serious cases to you so I chose you. I think you're fit for this job, Agent Falcon. But you don't have to give me your decision right now. I'll give you two days to decide."

"I can decide now, General Gallego," Cougar said seriously to the old man, his left eyebrow raised as he waited for what he would say next. His face shows the expectation that he will accept the new mission.

"And that is?"

"Yes, I'll take the job, General. I'm in..."

"Good! Good, Agent Falcon." General Gallego looked at Cougar happily. "But remember, no one should know that I am behind this operation especially the President." this is a reminder to the young man.

Cougar nodded to the person in front of him before extending his right hand to him. General Gallego immediately accepted and gently patted Cougar's shoulder with a smile.

"For the better Philippines!" General Gallego said with a smile.

Cougar's labs also had a shy smile from the corners of both labs.

"For the better Phillipines..." he repeated what the old man said while nodding.