Location: Over the Mediterranean Sea — 08:42 Hours229Please respect copyright.PENANA3vjOY3ofVR
Mission Team: 10 Shadows · 5 Orders · 5 Force229Please respect copyright.PENANAJhFPL3fEAB
Target: Matteo “Il Lupo” Braganza — International Mafia Lord
The military transport hummed under their boots, its engines a steady growl. Inside, the twenty operatives sat in two long rows, gear strapped, rifles secured, faces lit by the dim red cabin lights.
Veer leaned back with a smirk, legs stretched like he owned the aircraft.229Please respect copyright.PENANA7TAJFxktUy
“Enjoy, my dear friends. This is exactly what me and Ishaan have suffered through all these months. Now, my heartfelt congratulations — you two officially join the cursed club.”
Across from him, Dev looked up from adjusting Saira’s harness. “Cursed club?”
“Yeah,” Veer said, waving a hand between the two of them. “Then ‘Why are you two always so damn lovey-dovey on missions’ club.”
Avni groaned. “Seriously? That’s your problem today?”
Erik, grinning, chimed in. “No, Avni. His problem is that he misses Ishaan. Don’t you, Veer?”
One of the Shadows — a lean, cocky guy with a buzzcut — grinned. “I smell gay, bro.”
Veer nearly choked. “WHAT?!” He pointed at him. “Ishaan and me? No way. We’re Indian. We can’t be gay. Otherwise—” He made a dramatic slap gesture. “Chappals. From our moms. Multiple pairs. At light speed.”
The Force soldiers burst out laughing. Even Saira hid a smile behind her gloved hand.
Avni shook her head. “You need therapy.”
“Already have Ishaan for that,” Veer shot back.
Dev started, "I never thought sylus would call just to separate us for missions".
Veer added, "Ishaan probably crying so hard, that he is not going".
Avni said, "This 303rd time you talked about ishaan bro".
Everyone looked at him.
Mission Briefing:
Gianluca’s voice came over the cabin speaker from the cockpit.229Please respect copyright.PENANAGUNlw0j4ps
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, listen up. Our target is Matteo Braganza, age fifty-three, aliases: Il Lupo, Nero Falco, and sometimes just ‘Sir.’ Controls arms trade from Naples to Marseille. His strength? A private army with ex-special forces training. Weakness? Paranoia. He rarely leaves his estate outside Naples and kills anyone who even smells suspicious.”
Erik flipped through the dossier. “Two meters tall? That’s a big bastard.”
Avni scanned the map. “Outer perimeter: twelve guards minimum, plus dogs. Inner: four guards, two locked doors, biometric security. His bedroom is reinforced — panic room in the north corner.”
Veer looked unimpressed. “So… we walk in, knock, and ask if he’s free to die?”
Saira rolled her eyes. “We infiltrate quietly, disable security, breach the panic room, and execute. Orders are clear: Matteo does not leave alive.”
Naples, Italy — 11:17 Hours
Rain slicked the cobblestones as the team split into two groups, weaving through the narrow streets toward the Braganza estate.
But the first sign something was wrong came before they even reached the gates.
A Shadow on point froze, raising a fist. “Guards down.”
They moved closer — all twelve perimeter guards lay in pools of blood, throats slashed with surgical precision. Even the dogs were gone.
Inside, the smell hit them first — iron and rot. Matteo Braganza lay slumped in his reinforced chair, head tilted at an unnatural angle. His chest was open like a butchered animal. On the wall above him, scorched into the plaster, was the unmistakable mark of COMA.
Avni’s blood ran cold. Only COMA operatives knew that insignia.
Saira stepped closer to her and whispered, “Viktor Reznov. Valgrave professor. Kaia. Now this.”
Veer glanced at Erik, voice low. “What the fuck, bro? That’s our own symbol. What are we gonna do?”
Before Erik could answer —
BOOM!
The world turned white. The estate shook. An explosion ripped through the east wing.
Static hissed in their comms.
One… Two… Three… Silence.
Valgrave — Training Hall — Same Time
Ishaan slammed his textbook shut. “WHY am I not in that mission?!”
Luce didn’t even look up. “If you blabber one more time, I’ll make sure you have no mouth to blabber with.”
Ishaan slowly shut his mouth. Lev and Raiden were laughing; Sayaka just shook her head.
Then Luce’s watch buzzed — one coded vibration, the kind you never ignore.229Please respect copyright.PENANAPnCn8qLgv1
He glanced at the holo-screen, read the sender’s ID, and his expression hardened instantly.229Please respect copyright.PENANAK90wxCU3yS
“Elda. Basement chamber. Now.”
He didn’t wait for questions, just walked out. The others followed, boots echoing down the corridor. The training professor called after them —229Please respect copyright.PENANAKf6jmvD9uJ
“Where the hell do you think you’re—”229Please respect copyright.PENANA6BBPGMgWHu
But they were already gone.
Basement Chamber — COMA Secure Room
The reinforced door sealed shut behind them, isolating the chamber from the rest of Valgrave. The air felt heavy here, like the walls themselves carried secrets.
Elda Kurogane stood in the center, her black-gloved hands gripping the edge of a holographic table. Beside her, Gianluca’s projection flickered — his face pale, jaw tight.
“Our twenty-member joint task force in Naples has gone dark,” Elda said without preamble. “Last transmission ended mid-combat. No comms. No locator beacons. Nothing.”
Lev frowned. “That’s our team.”
Everyone Panicked.
Gianluca’s voice was clipped. “Last sighting — the Braganza estate. Explosion. Unknown hostiles.”
Raiden crossed his arms. “Rokuro?”
“Or Yuriko,” Sayaka muttered.
Elda shook her head. “This doesn’t match their signature. But there’s… something else.” She tapped the table and a still image appeared — the COMA insignia scorched into a wall above Braganza’s corpse.
Ishaan stared. “That’s our insignia. Why the hell is it there?”
“That,” Elda said, “is why this becomes an Inner Circle matter. You are not to interfere.”
Luce stepped forward, voice calm but carrying weight. “You know who I am. You know my authority. I’m going to Italy.”
Elda’s gaze sharpened. “This isn’t your decision, Luce.”
“It’s not yours to stop me,” he replied.
There was a long silence. Then Elda exhaled. “Fine. But you move under COMA command. No exceptions.”
20 Minutes Later — Valgrave Airstrip
The hangar roared with activity as a sleek black VTOL transport prepared for takeoff. Ravenfall’s five members strode up the ramp, Ishaan practically vibrating with anticipation.
Lev glanced at him. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
“Bro,” Ishaan grinned, “I’ve been born ready.”
Sayaka muttered, “Born annoying, maybe.”
The hatch sealed shut. The engines screamed to life. As the transport lifted off into the stormy night, Luce sat back in his seat, eyes cold, mind already in Naples.
Somewhere out there, twenty of their own were missing.229Please respect copyright.PENANAX6792EvkEf
And someone was daring enough to wear the mark of COMA.


