C517 The Assassination Order

At the border, we were still discussing our next steps when Cipher's phone received another message. She picked it up and read the message silently. At first, she said nothing. Then, a smile slowly appeared on her face. "This is interesting," she muttered with a short laugh. I looked at her, wondering what could have amused her. "What is it, Cipher?" She raised her eyes from the phone and looked towards Pixel before answering. "Trojan Horse Two has just delivered some exciting news. Apparently, the decision to kill me has already been made." Everyone immediately turned towards her. "What?" Bighead asked. Cipher glanced at her phone again. "According to Trojan Horse Two, the assassination is scheduled for tonight. They've managed to get close to their leader, Tim, and have gathered information about the operation." She paused. "More importantly, Trojan Horse Two believes the order came from the Gupta family." The atmosphere changed instantly. Pixel rose to her feet, her face filled with shock. "What?" she exclaimed. "Cipher, this is all my fault. I'm sorry." Cipher looked at her without saying anything for a moment.

Pixel lowered her head. "If I hadn't killed your grandfather, none of this might have happened. I never wanted to put your life in danger. I thought I was doing what was necessary, but now you're facing the consequences of my actions." "Pixel," Cipher interrupted, "sit down." "But..." "Sit down, Pixel." Pixel slowly returned to her seat, although the guilt remained written across her face. Cipher placed her phone on the table. "We don't know the full story yet. We don't know who gave the order, what their real intentions are, or whether the entire Gupta family is involved. Trojan Horse Two suspects the order came from them, but until we have more information, we shouldn't jump to conclusions." Silver leaned forward. "Cipher, what do you intend to do?" Before Cipher could answer, I shook my head. "This is exactly what I warned you about. Taking responsibility for that decision was always going to have consequences. Now we've potentially created another enemy, and we don't even know how far this situation goes." I looked around the table. "We don't know whether Samson's army is planning to retaliate. We don't know if other members of the Gupta family are involved, or whether this assassination order is part of something much bigger. We're operating in the dark, and now our lives are in danger." Nobody immediately responded. Chipmunk exchanged a worried glance with Bighead before speaking. "So, what do we do now?"

Cipher leaned back in her chair, thinking carefully. For several seconds, she remained silent. I knew that expression. She was weighing our options, considering the risks, and trying to find a solution that would keep the team safe without abandoning our responsibilities. Finally, she spoke. "The wall has been completed, and we've also finished installing the traps. The soldiers are now working on a small observation tower so that someone can monitor the surrounding area from above." She paused before continuing. "However, I don't want any of you to assume that completing the wall means the border is secure. Hammer has already warned us that no defensive structure is completely invulnerable. If our enemies bring C4 explosives, RPGs, or other powerful weapons, they could damage the wall and attempt to break through." I nodded in agreement. "Cipher is right. The wall is a strong defensive measure, but we cannot depend on it alone. We need proper surveillance, backup positions, and a clear response plan in case the enemy finds a way through." Cipher nodded. "Exactly. That's why I need to think this through properly. We cannot afford to make careless decisions, especially when we don't know who our next enemy will be." She looked around the table, making sure everyone was listening. "And that brings me to my decision." We waited. "We're all returning home." Bighead immediately jumped to his feet. "Wait! We're going home?" His reaction almost made me laugh. "Yes, Bighead," Cipher replied. "We're going home."

He looked around the room as if he expected someone to tell him this was a joke. "After everything we've done here, we're actually leaving?" "Temporarily," Cipher clarified. "We're not abandoning the border, and we're not abandoning our responsibilities. There's still work to be done, but we need to approach the situation differently." Survivor folded her arms. "Cipher, if we leave, what happens to your position as the leader here? You've been responsible for the operation from the beginning. What will the soldiers think when you suddenly leave?" Cipher smiled. "Don't worry. We'll come back." She leaned forward and rested her hands on the table. "We've built the wall, installed the traps, and given the soldiers a stronger defensive position. The observation tower is also being constructed. For now, the team here can continue working while we handle matters that require our attention elsewhere." She paused, then looked directly at me. "Cracker also needs to investigate that boat. We still don't know who owns the boat." I nodded. "That's right. We've been tracking its movements, but following a boat only tells us part of the story. We need to identify the people behind it and discover what they're transporting. If it is connected to the Harris Cartel, it could help us understand how Charlie and Hanna are working together." "Exactly," Cipher replied. She then turned back towards the rest of the team. "Meanwhile, I'll work on the border's long-term defence plan. I want us to prepare for the possibility of a larger attack, not just another attempt to cross the wall. We need to consider what happens if the enemy uses explosives, attacks our observation positions, or finds another way around our defences."

Bighead nodded approvingly. "That's the right approach. A wall can slow an enemy down, but a good strategy must account for what happens after the enemy finds a weakness." "Which is why I need time to plan," Cipher said. Silver looked thoughtful. "And what about the assassination attempt? We can't simply ignore the fact that someone intends to kill you tonight." "We won't," Cipher replied. "I've already informed Trojan Horse One and Trojan Horse Two that they must remain here and continue gathering information. I want to know everything they can discover about Tim, the people working with him, and whoever issued the order." She picked up her phone again. "As for the people planning to assassinate me, I'll make sure we don't leave without preparing for that possibility." I studied her face. "You're planning to leave something behind for them, aren't you?" Cipher looked at me and smiled. "Of course, Husband." I shook my head. "I knew there was something behind that smile." Bighead laughed. "At least now we know why she isn't worried." "Don't get too comfortable," Cipher warned him. "We're going home to plan, not to take a holiday." His smile disappeared. "Right. Of course." Chipmunk chuckled, while Survivor shook her head at him. Despite the brief laughter, I knew the situation was serious. Someone had ordered Cipher's assassination, and we had no clear picture of the people behind it. The Gupta family was now a possible threat, the border still required our attention, and the mysterious boat had led us towards another investigation. We had too many unanswered questions.

Cipher stood up, bringing the discussion to an end. "Get ready. We'll arrange our return and make sure everything here is left in capable hands. Trojan Horse One and Trojan Horse Two will continue sending us updates. If anything changes, We will know immediately." Everyone began preparing to leave. As I gathered my things, I glanced at Cipher. She appeared calm, but I knew her well enough to understand that her mind was already working on several plans at once..We were returning home, but our problems weren't staying behind. Someone within the Gupta family wanted her dead. And if Cipher was right about what awaited us next, our return might be only the beginning of another dangerous chapter.