C493 The Border

At the border, Cipher looked at all of us. “Lions, today we have a long day ahead of us.” She paused, making sure everyone was listening. “We have to plan something that will unite everyone here while we bring in our new recruits. We must also create enough chaos so their arrival won't be noticed.” I looked at her. “The first thing we need to work on is the defence.” I pointed toward the border. “We can't claim that we're protecting a border when we don't even control it.” Cipher frowned. “You plan on using your technical stuff?” I nodded. “I can install something that will alert us whenever the enemy approaches.” Cipher nodded slowly. Then she stood up. We all looked at her. She waved toward the entrance. “Let's go.” She started walking. “I want to patrol our border. I want to see exactly what we're protecting.” We followed her. The first people we went to were the coaches. Cipher approached Hammer. “Hammer, can you show us the border we're actually responsible for protecting?” She looked toward the distance. “We need to know exactly how much ground we're covering.” The coaches nodded. We followed them for several minutes. The further we walked, the more I realized how exposed the area really was.

Eventually, Hammer stopped. He pointed toward the distant hills. “This is the Anglo-Scottish border.” He looked at us. “The entire border is roughly 154 kilometres long.” He paused. “That is what we're responsible for protecting.” I slowly looked across the landscape. There was no wall. No fence. Nothing that looked like a serious defensive position. Just open land stretching into the distance. I frowned. Hammer continued. “Our intelligence suggests that enemy forces are operating approximately ten kilometres from the border in several areas.” Cipher slowly turned toward him. “Ten kilometres?” Hammer nodded. “Yes.” I looked across the empty landscape again. “And what exactly is stopping them from crossing?” Hammer didn't answer. Cipher looked at him. “Hammer?” He lowered his head slightly. “Nothing.” Silence fell over us. I looked at Cipher. She stared across the border for several seconds. “Nothing?” Hammer shook his head. “We have patrols and a few observation points.” He paused. “But if they cross, they are exposed so we attack.” He looked toward the hills. “After the last internal fight, they broke through this area. Around ten thousand soldiers, made up of different underground forces, attacked us.” Chipmunk frowned. “You mean all those enemies are from England?” Hammer shook his head. “No.” Chipmunk looked confused. “But the people we interrogated said they were from the Rome Underground Forces.” Kiddo nodded. “Yes. I remember that too.”

Hammer sighed. “I don't know exactly how they ended up becoming part of the forces operating here.” He looked at all of us. “But yes, they are different underground forces, and they are extremely dangerous.” His expression became serious. “They have military training. They have survived many battles. They know how to fight.” He looked directly at Cipher. “That is why the Gupta family asked us to train you all.” He paused. “Especially you, Madam.” Cipher didn't respond. Hammer continued. “Now you will understand the value that comes with owning the Gold and Diamond Dagger.” Cipher looked across the enormous stretch of land. “So we're responsible for defending 154 kilometres…” She slowly shook her head. “…but we don't actually control any of the events that happen here.” Her expression hardened. “I don't like this.” She turned toward all of us. “Guys, we have a problem.” I smiled faintly. “Nothing beats the Lions.” Everyone looked at me. I shrugged. “At least now we have a starting point.” Cipher stared at me for a moment. Then she smiled slightly. “Cracker, are you confident about this?” I pointed toward the empty border. “We'll start by building our defence.” Bighead laughed. “Brother, don't let us down.” I laughed. “Not me.” I looked toward Cipher. “Cipher will do the planning.” Everyone laughed. Cipher shook her head. “Very funny.”

Despite the joke, we all knew what was waiting for us. We had been given responsibility for a border that stretched for kilometres, with enemies hiding somewhere beyond it. And now we had to find a way to make it defensible. We returned to the camp. When we arrived back at our tent, Cipher turned toward Pixel. “Pixel, you and Silver must go and fetch the recruits.” She handed them the burner phones Cracker had prepared. “Cracker prepared these phones. There is only one number saved on each of them. The contact is named Trojan Horse.” Pixel looked at the phone. “Trojan Horse?” Cipher nodded. “That is the name of their mission. The number belongs to me. Inform them that their mission is officially called Trojan Horse.” She looked at both of them. “They are not supposed to rush anything. They will observe, gather information, and report their findings directly to me.” Silver nodded. “Understood.” She then looked around. “Everyone here is wearing black military clothes. What are the recruits going to wear?” Cipher rubbed her forehead. “About that…” She suddenly stood up. “Wait here.”

Without wasting any time, she rushed toward the coaches' tent. When she arrived, she found Hammer and the other coaches together. “Hammer, I need eight black military uniforms.” Hammer looked at her. “Eight?” “Yes. They must be a mixture of the First Family's uniforms and ours. I need them now. Do you have them?” Beast immediately pointed toward a large box. “There. Take whatever you need.” Cipher walked toward the box. Before she could reach it, Sniper asked, “Madam, do you need them for your group?” Sniper looked confused. “But why do you need the First Family's uniforms as well?” Cipher smiled. “No, Sniper. These aren't for our group.” She looked at the uniforms. “They are for my eight recruits.” The coaches exchanged curious looks. Cipher continued. “Don't be surprised if you see some familiar faces around the camps. I plan to place them in both camps.” She turned toward Hammer. “As for our uniforms, please send someone to deliver them to our tent.” Hammer nodded. “Understood.” Cipher picked up the eight uniforms and left. For several seconds, the coaches remained silent. Hunter eventually smiled. “Our Madam is very smart.” Sniper nodded. “She is already thinking several steps ahead.”

Cipher soon returned to our tent carrying the eight uniforms. She handed them to Silver. “There.” Silver took the uniforms. Pixel helped her organize them. “Let's go.” The two of them left the tent, carrying the uniforms and burner phones. The Trojan Horse operation had officially begun. Back in the city, it was already late. At the Wood family residence, Tracy looked at the clock. “Ben should be on his way back, right?” Kelvin nodded. “Since yesterday, you've been asking questions that I don't understand.” Tracy laughed. “Don't worry about it.” She stood up. “I'll be leaving. I have somewhere to go.” Kelvin frowned. “Where are you going?” “Have you forgotten that the girls told us not to go out in public alone?” Tracy laughed. “Don't worry, husband.” She picked up her bag. “I have friends to accompany me.” Kelvin stared at her. “What friends?” But Tracy was already walking toward the door. “Tracy?” She simply smiled. “See you later.” Then she left. Kelvin froze. “What is going on?” Tracy rushed next door to the Chambers residence. Inside, Valeria was playing with Tristan. The moment Tracy entered, she walked straight toward her. “Valeria, get dressed.” Valeria looked up. “What?” “We're going for a women's outing.” Valeria stared at her. “Now?” Tracy nodded. “Yes. Now.”

Valeria looked down at Tristan. “But what about Tristan?” Tracy laughed. “His grandfather will babysit him.” David, who had been nearby, suddenly looked up. “Me?” Tracy smiled. “Yes, you.” Valeria hurried upstairs to change. A few minutes later, she returned and handed Tristan to David. David shook his head. “You two are impossible.” The two women laughed and left. David carried Tristan back to the Wood family residence. Kelvin looked at him and laughed. “Let me guess.” He looked toward the baby. “Mrs. Chambers left you behind as well?” David laughed. “Yes.” Kelvin shook his head. “What is going on?” David shrugged. “I have absolutely no idea.” Monica, however, was delighted to see Tristan. The moment she saw him, she rushed toward him. “Tristan!” She happily approached the little boy. Tracy's car eventually entered the Mooney family villa. Inside, everyone looked toward the entrance. A moment later, there was a knock on the door. Mark opened it. He was surprised to find Tracy and Valeria standing outside with huge smiles on their faces. “Tracy?” She smiled. “Mark, how are you?” Before Mark could even properly respond, the two women walked straight past him. Mark stared after them. “What…” He slowly closed the door.

Everyone in the living room was already watching them nervously. Mary looked at Valeria. “Is something wrong?” Tracy laughed. “Mary, Georgia, we need you to get dressed right now.” Georgia frowned. “Why?” “We're going on a women's outing.” Georgia stared at her. “A women's outing?” She pointed at herself. “An old granny like me?” Tracy laughed. “You're coming with us.” Georgia looked toward Peter. Peter immediately raised both hands. “No comment.” Georgia stared at him. “You're not helping.” Mary didn't even argue. She simply stood up and hurried upstairs. Valeria smiled at Georgia. “Come on. You can't let us go alone.” Georgia sighed. She looked at Peter again. Peter shook his head. “Don't look at me. I'm staying out of this.” Georgia laughed and finally walked upstairs. Within a few minutes, the women had changed and gathered downstairs. They said their goodbyes and left together. Quinton watched them disappear through the door. He turned toward Mark. “Where are they going?” Mark laughed. “Women's outing.” Quinton stared at him. “With everything that's happening?” Mark shrugged. “Apparently, yes.” Peter smiled. “Maybe they need a break from all of us.” Everyone laughed.