C429 One Last IntenseTraining

At the Military Base, When Cipher and I returned, everyone had already started training. The sound of boots striking the ground echoed across the training field. Hammer noticed us approaching and walked toward us. “Did anyone see you?” I shook my head. “No. It was still dark when we left, and we returned before the city became busy.” Hammer nodded. “Good. So, how did it go?” I smiled. “Better than expected.” We entered the building, and I immediately walked toward the computer. The others followed behind us. Bighead leaned against the table. “So? Did you find anything?” “Give me a second.” I sat down and connected the cloned phone to the system. Several lines of information appeared on the screen. I entered a few commands and waited. Then the location appeared. I clapped my hands. “There.” Everyone gathered around the computer. I pointed toward the screen. “Charlie went straight to an estate near the beach. She never left.” Cipher leaned closer. “Are you certain?”

I nodded. “Yes. The phone remained at the estate after she arrived. Unless she left it behind intentionally, she is still there.” Bighead looked at the map. “So Willy is there?” I smiled. “Most likely.” Cipher's expression became serious. “How heavily guarded?” I studied the surrounding area. “I cannot tell yet. But considering who owns the estate, I would expect heavy security.” Hammer smiled. “You all are more than ready now.” Cipher turned toward him. “What do you mean?” Hammer looked at the entire group. “This will be your last day of formal training.” The room immediately became quiet. Cipher froze. “But you told us that yesterday.” Hammer nodded. “I did.” “Then why are you leaving so suddenly?” Hammer folded his arms. “Because our fight is at the border. The government cannot find out that we were involved in training you or preparing you for this operation. We have been trusted to protect the border, and we must return to our responsibilities.” He looked at each of us. “As I said before, from tomorrow onward, you are on your own.” Cipher nodded slowly. “I understand.”

Hammer continued. “Which is why you must only go after Willy when you are ready. We will not be there to save you if something goes wrong.” The words were difficult to hear, but nobody argued. We had known this day would come. The coaches had taught us how to fight, shoot, survive, and work together. Now they were telling us that the next step belonged to us. Cipher looked down for a moment. Then she smiled. “Tell Grandpa not to worry.” Hammer raised an eyebrow. “About what?” “If I die, Gold and Diamond should be handed to Hanna.” Viper immediately choked. “Madam, you cannot allow the First Family to lead us!” Cipher laughed softly. “Then my husband will lead you all.” Beast grinned. “He will have to stop being a nerd first.” Everyone laughed. Cipher looked at me. “Don't worry. My death will probably make him stop all that technical stuff.” I shook my head. “Wife, even if you die, I will still use technology.” The coaches laughed with us.

For a few minutes, the seriousness of the situation disappeared. Then Hammer's expression became firm again. “Enough joking. You still have work to do.” We returned to training. The coaches did not make things easy. From the beginning, the exercises were more demanding than usual. We fought for hours. Every movement had to be precise. Every mistake was punished. Every hesitation gave the opponent an opportunity. By midday, everyone was exhausted. But nobody was allowed to stop. Eventually, Hammer gathered us together. “Today, we are changing the exercise.” Bighead wiped sweat from his face. “Please tell me it involves food.” “It does not.” Bighead sighed. Hammer pointed toward the equipment. “We will be divided into two groups.” The coaches stood together on one side. The Lions stood on the other. Hammer continued. “Lions against coaches.”

Everyone immediately became more alert. “We will be using blank bullets,” Hammer explained. “You will have weapons, but remember that the objective is not to cause unnecessary injury.” He looked directly at us. “One simple instruction.” The room became silent. “Protect your team and eliminate the opponent.” The exercise began. We spread across the training grounds, using the buildings, trees, and surrounding structures for cover. The coaches moved quickly. They had years of experience, and every movement was calculated. We knew that. That was why we had to rely on teamwork. Cipher directed us from the front. “Pixel, take the left side.” Pixel nodded and moved into position. “Silver, stay with Kiddo.” “Got it,” Silver replied. “Survivor, cover Bighead.” Survivor moved immediately. Chipmunk crouched behind a wall and watched the movement of the coaches. “Cracker, two targets moving toward the east side.” “I see them.” I raised my weapon and waited.

The exercise continued for nearly an hour. By the end, half of the Lions had been eliminated. The remaining members were exhausted but still standing. Hammer finally raised his hand. “Stop!” Everyone lowered their weapons. The coaches gathered together, smiling. Ghost laughed. “See? Hammer was right when he said you are ready now.” Sniper nodded. “Madam, your leadership has improved significantly. You will make a great leader.” Cipher smiled. “Thank you.” Viper looked toward the others. “And the rest of you have learned to trust each other. That is what will keep you alive.” Bighead wiped his forehead. “I would like to point out that I survived longer than expected.” Chipmunk looked at him. “You hid behind a wall for twenty minutes.” “I survived.” “Technically.” Everyone laughed. Hammer smiled. “You are ready enough to continue without us.” The words were not meant as praise alone. They were also a warning. From tomorrow, mistakes would have real consequences.

That evening, we gathered around the fire. The coaches sat with us for the last time. The flames moved gently in the darkness while the smell of food filled the air. Nobody spoke much at first. The thought of Hammer and the others leaving had finally become real. After dinner, the coaches gradually stood up and began preparing to leave. Hammer looked at us one final time. “Do not waste what you have learned.” “We won't,” Cipher replied. One by one, the coaches said their goodbyes. Then they left. We watched the vehicles disappear into the darkness. They left two Vehicles for us. For a while, nobody moved. Finally, Cipher turned toward us. “We need to discuss the plan.” Bighead looked at her. “Cipher, are you sure this is the right time?” She nodded. “Yes.” Survivor folded her arms. “We know where Willy is. That changes everything.” Cipher looked at me. I opened my laptop and connected it to the larger screen.

The layout of Willy's estate appeared before us. I had already gathered information about the surrounding roads, neighbouring houses, possible entrances, and security positions. Bighead leaned forward. “How much do we know?” “Not enough,” I replied. “But we know where to begin.” Cipher looked around the fire. “Before we plan anything, there is something we need to settle.” Everyone waited. “My father wants Willy arrested.” The atmosphere immediately became serious. Cipher continued. “But I do not believe arresting him will solve the problem.” Chipmunk looked concerned. “Why?” “Because he could survive.” Survivor nodded slowly. “And if he survives, he will come after us.” Cipher looked at the fire. “I know my father believes in the law. I respect that. But Willy has already proven that he does not care about the law.” She looked at each of us. “He has attacked families, ordered killings, and threatened innocent people. If he is arrested and later released, he will not suddenly become a different man.” Bighead sighed. “So what are you suggesting?”

Cipher answered quietly. “I want us to plan the execution instead of the arrest.” Nobody spoke. The word hung heavily in the air. I understood exactly what she meant. We had trained for this moment. We had spent months preparing ourselves to face enemies who would not hesitate to kill us. But there was a difference between defending ourselves and deliberately deciding to end someone's life. Pixel looked uncomfortable. “Cipher, are you certain?” Cipher nodded. “I have never been more certain.” Silver looked toward me. “What do you think, Cracker?” I did not answer. Instead, I opened the estate layout fully. The screen displayed the main building, the surrounding roads, and the neighbouring properties. Then I smiled. Cipher noticed. “Why are you smiling?” I looked at her. “Wife, I think I have a plan.” Everyone immediately turned toward me. Bighead leaned closer. “What kind of plan?” I looked back at the estate on the screen. “A plan that may allow us to reach Willy without giving him time to prepare.” Cipher's eyes narrowed with interest. “Then explain.” I leaned forward and began pointing toward the map. “This is where we start.”