The guard post building didn’t stand out too much on the floor except for a sign with a guard’s symbol, a five-pointed star. But it couldn’t be said the same for the inside. The lobby was massive with six windowed receptions. Around each column were benches with people sitting and waiting for meetings or to file a report. In the corners near the reception were desks with pens. One man eagerly wrote his complaint, his own sweat almost vaporizing, heated by his anger. Even with that, the place seemed welcoming and pleasant as there were paintings of the guards in action and many pots with green plants.
Devin went straight toward the double doors placed between the reception. The workers quickly realized who that was and greeted the president. Behind the doors, there was a long corridor with stairs leading up and down at the end of it. Each door had a number on it, and occasionally a name or what kind of office it was.
“We’ll be going down. To the training room. The man we are looking for will most likely be down there.” Explained Devin as he moved forward, greeting all the guards along the way with a smile.
“Everyone sure likes you.” Pointed out Navia.
“I am here for the people, so I have to bring smiles to them.” Proudly answered Devin, telling one of his most important virtues as a president.
Barely halfway down, Devin already knew that he was down there training. It sounded like someone was fighting down there, and it was an intense one. Once Devin opened the door for Navia, she saw a room with dark steel walls and a dark stone floor. The place was well lit by the lanterns placed behind the glass. Another invention of Liberin City, lamps placed inside a special glass contraption that made them light the room evenly.
Four people were sparring at the center, but it was a fight, one against three. The single fighter was only wearing his pants, while the three men surrounding him had full guards’ uniforms with armor.
The man at the center was constantly moving his legs, wiggling to the sides as he took steps back and forth. His arms were moving almost the same way, changing the side that was well protected. The first armored man to rush in was easily avoided with a single side step. Right when he passed the dancer, a leg flew toward his back. That quick attack would have thrown him to the ground if not for the other guard who jumped in to properly block the attack.
“Good! Cooperate. You always have a squad member protecting your back!” The shirtless man gladly announced.
As he finished telling the tips, the third guard jumped in with a punch that would sink into the shirtless man’s ribs, but he was quick to react and lowered his stance. Supporting his body with two hands and one leg, he kicked the fist away and instantly followed with a spin kick to the man’s shoulder. Before he even realized it, he was pushed into his squadmates, making all three of them fall on eachother.
“Even with the rest of your squad backing you, don’t do anything recklessly because they might not help you in time…” The man noticed the President and Navia standing by the doors. “That would be enough sparring for the day. Once you rest, make a run around the floor.” While he explained to the guards their next tasks, he helped them stand back up.
Once he finished, he walked to the side of the room where his bag was, quickly wiping off the sweat and putting on a grey tank top shirt. He ran up to the two of them and saluted to Devin. “Mister President.” His gaze moved toward Navia with concern, but it vanished as he noticed that there was not a single scratch on her. “Glad to see you in one piece.”
Navia frowned her brows, she tried to remember who that man was, but she wasn’t certain if she had ever met him. “This is Aguero Senival, an elite guard who brought you to the hospital, possibly saving your life.”
“Yes. That would be me. I thought your wounds were serious, but maybe they just looked that way because you seem fine to me.” Aguero scratched his chin as he once again evaluated Navia’s condition.
“It might be because of my gate… It makes my recovery quicker. Works well with my other gate.” Navia quickly but unsurely came up with a lie, but it seemed to work out as the two men simply nodded, but then Aguero’s eyes opened wide.
“You have two gates?” He asked, surprised and almost in disbelief. It was unusual for one person to hold many gates, even one gate made an individual special.
“Might have three if I solve the puzzle. Thought I broke it, but in the end it didn’t work.” Navia was disappointed in herself, not only because she didn’t open the newly found gate, but also because she lost her previous ones in the resurrection.
Aguero turned to the president for approval of what she said. “She is speaking the truth. She recovered from heavy wounds in no time, and she showed the other gate previously.”
“Outstanding…” Aguare cleaned his throat as he realized his amazement leaked out too much out of him. “So.. Ekhm… What brings you here, mister president?” He straightened his back and adjusted his shoulders to pose like a soldier ready for deployment.
“This is Lady Navia from the Order of Tomorrow. She has to rescue someone from the Red Zone, and I need you to assist her.” Devin introduced the woman beside him; his tone was official, but Aguero noticed an uncertainty in his eyes.
“So we are infiltrating the Red Zone to save a person? Got it.” Aguero was glad to have a mission since it was unusual for an elite guard to do something, since the city is well protected and maintained. “What approach are we going with?” He asked as he began to jump in place, warming up for the mission.
“A silent one, at least on the outside. First, we need to find a man named Belver Markiz.” As Navia was thinking how to gather information, Aguero was mid-kick and slipped at the mention of the baron.
He massaged his head as he lay on the ground. “Did I hear you right? You said Belver Markiz?” Grunted out Aguero, slowly standing back up.
“Yes. Do you know him?” Navia was surprised that a city guard would know a man like that.
“Belver Markiz, one of the barons controlling the Red Zone, known for human trafficking… Beside him, we know only one other baron. The rest are a mystery. If you’re going after Markiz, it’s the same as going against the whole Red Zone.” Worryingly pointed out Aguero. The Red Zone was poor in goods, but he couldn’t ignore the fact of how many people lived there and how many were associated with the barons.
“So be it. If they stand in my way, I’ll fight them.” The conviction was written all over Navia, in her voice, her eyes, and her pose. They knew she wasn’t lying.
Aguero looked at Devin for confirmation. He wasn’t sure about this mission anymore; it seemed chaotic. The president nodded stiffly; he wasn’t glad about the plan, but he agreed.
“Okay. If the president says so, then I am ready.” Aguero clasped his fists, and flames came out between them.
Navia was the first to leave the room, and Aguero was about to follow her, but the president stopped him, whispering to his ear without looking back. “Approach this mission with caution. Have an eye on her the whole time.”
Aguero was taken aback by the secrecy of those words, but he simply nodded and ran after Navia. Before he could say anything, Navia spoke out, “He doesn’t trust me?”
“How did you…” Surprise after surprise, Aguero didn’t know how many more of them he would get.
“I may have a lot on my head at the moment, but I am a sharp observer.” Navia stopped for a moment to look into Aguero’s eyes as she evaluated his character. Even though they met a moment ago, she understood what kind of person he is. Young follower of justice wanting to be a hero. “Don’t worry. I don’t want any trouble either. I just want to save her as soon as possible.”
Aguero understood the urgency of this mission very well. “Let me change my clothes and we’ll gather some information… Let me warn you. It won’t be a pleasant place.”
“Whatever is needed, I’ll do it.” Stated Navia, ready for anything that will be thrown at her.