One month had passed since the life-changing PILAR Tournament Season 1 for the five friends.
In a mine located on the outskirts of Maykarta City, near the border between Maykarta and Rankel District, Duvent City, the day felt ordinary for the miners.
Morning sunlight filtered through cracks in the rocks, while the rumble of heavy machinery echoed in the distance. One miner, a middle-aged man, suddenly felt his pickaxe hit something hard. He paused, wiped the sweat from his brow, and dug deeper. What he found made his eyes widen. A strange, blackish-orange mineral he had never seen before. It glinted faintly under the sunlight, as if holding an undiscovered secret. The miner immediately called his colleagues, and news of the discovery quickly spread throughout the mining area.
---
That night, as usual, Radhif, Dzoavha, Ryn, and Nadhyfa gathered at Dhoost's house for their eagerly awaited Saturday night get-together to unwind after a full week of school activities.
The living room of Dhoost's house felt warm with dim lamplight, and the aroma of light snacks hung in the air. They sat relaxed on the sofas while Dzoavha busily tinkered with his laptop.
"Here, let's watch TV from here," said Dzoavha, typing quickly.
He successfully connected his laptop to a streaming network and quickly switched to the iDNews channel. The laptop screen now showed the serious face of a news anchor, with a background of current news graphics.
The news anchor, a formally dressed woman, read the news in a firm voice.
"Breaking news from Maykarta City. Miners on the city's outskirts have discovered an extraordinary new mineral. Maykarta scientists who immediately researched this find state that the mineral can be used as an alternative energy source. With just 10 grams, this mineral can last for an exceptionally long time, potentially revolutionizing our energy industry. Scientists have named it Neotrixite."
Nadhyfa immediately reacted, her eyes sparkling as she pointed at the screen.
"This Neotrixite could become a target for criminals worldwide! Imagine, such long-lasting energy, many would want to steal it. Wow, maybe PILAR will give us our first mission after a month of rest!"
Unlike the enthusiastic Nadhyfa, the other four friends didn't look thrilled at the prospect of PILAR actually needing them.
Dhoost sighed softly, his gaze on the screen but his mind elsewhere.
"I hope the agents from PILAR Asia will be assigned instead.We don't seem ready yet, Nad."
Radhif nodded in agreement, leaning back on the sofa. "Yeah, better let them handle it. We still need a lot more training."
Meanwhile, Dzoavha shook his head while adjusting the laptop volume.
"I hope nothing bad happens. This could be a huge problem if it falls into the wrong hands."
Ryn, as usual aloof, just nodded slowly while staring out the window.
"Yeah, hopefully everything stays safe."
Nadhyfa was a bit annoyed and angry with them, her face reddening.
"What's wrong with you guys? This is a great opportunity for us! How can none of you be excited at all?" Her voice rose, and the atmosphere grew tense.
Dhoost quickly diverted attention by inviting Nadhyfa to play the farming game she usually played.
"Hey, Nad, let's play your farming game. There are new seeds in stock, they say these are rare seeds." He smiled faintly, trying to defuse the situation.
Dhoost successfully calmed Nadhyfa's anger and avoided a small argument among them. Nadhyfa sighed, then took her phone.
"Okay, but if PILAR really calls us, you all have to join!" They all chuckled softly, and the atmosphere warmed again.
The news they were watching continued. Now it was Mayor Angeliano Dharma's turn to address the media. He stood at a podium with the city flag behind him, his voice firm and confident.
"We will immediately implement 'additional security measures' at this mining location. The security of Neotrixite is our top priority, and we will not let any threat disrupt this great potential for Maykarta City."
After hearing that, their feelings became mixed. Besides deploying the military and police, the "additional security measures" surely meant assigning PILAR agents. The room fell silent for a moment. They exchanged glances, knowing that night might be the start of a new, unexpected adventure.
They continued watching the news intently, all eyes fixed on Dzoavha's laptop screen glowing dimly in the middle of the living room. Mayor Angeliano Dharma's speech had just ended, his words about securing the mine still echoing in their ears.
However, their focus suddenly broke when the news broadcast switched to a bright, colorful syrup commercial. A cheerful jingle about a refreshing drink starkly contrasted with the earlier tension. Everyone immediately looked away from Dzoavha's laptop, as if the commercial had appeared at the most inappropriate time, making them all sigh simultaneously.
Ryn muttered softly, his voice full of displeasure as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"I don't like it when the Mayor mentioned 'additional security measures.' It feels like a signal that he's going to deploy PILAR agents there." His eyes narrowed, as if recalling past bad experiences.
Dhoost tried to reassure him that everything would be fine, smiling faintly while leaning back on the sofa to appear more relaxed.
"Take it easy, Ryn. The government must have a solid plan. Besides, if there's trouble, there's the military and police. We don't need to worry excessively."
Suddenly, Dzoavha's PILAR watch beeped, its subtle yet urgent vibration breaking the room's silence like an unexpected alarm. The sound was PILAR's distinctive tone, a digital ring they hadn't heard in a long time.
Since the tournament ended, only Dzoavha had consistently worn his PILAR watch, as their watches hadn't made a sound for a long time, as if the agency was giving them an extended break after last month's tournament.
Dzoavha immediately looked at the small screen on his wrist, his face turning serious, his brow furrowing as he read the notification.
Dzoavha quickly answered the PILAR call from his watch. Agent Khai Senator's voice came through, firm and straight to the point, his voice slightly echoing.
"Hello, runners-up of PILAR Tournament Season 1, this is Agent Khai. Long time no see. Please proceed to PILAR headquarters immediately. There's an important mission that cannot be delayed. Don't waste time."
The faces of the other four looked reluctant, exchanging glances with clear expressions of unwillingness.
Radhif shook his head slowly, Ryn let out a long sigh while staring at the ceiling, Dhoost scratched his neck as if tired, while the enthusiastic Nadhyfa, her eyes shining like a child receiving an unexpected gift, immediately sat up straight and grinned widely.
"Finally! This must be about Neotrixite, right? I told you this was our chance!" she said softly, but enthusiastically.
Agent Khai gave no time for protests, his voice continuing quickly.
"New coordinates have been sent to your respective watches. Come immediately and, as usual, don't bring anyone except your team. This is top secret."
Then, he ended the call without waiting for further response.
The four of them then prepared, albeit with heavy steps and soft grumbles. Radhif stood up first, grabbing his jacket from the wall rack while muttering,
"A Saturday night like this, and we have to go to headquarters. This is supposed to be our relaxing time."
Ryn just remained silently aloof but stood up and put his hands in his pockets. Dzoavha quickly shut down his laptop, while Nadhyfa had already jumped off the sofa,
"Come on, come on! Don't be late!"
They checked the coordinates, which turned out to be located in a hidden corner of Maykarta's city square, after Dzoavha briefly checked them on his watch.
Dhoost went to say goodbye to his parents in the family room, his voice calm but slightly rushed.
"Mom... Dad... I'm going to the square with the others."
His parents nodded, accustomed to their child gathering late at night, though his mother reminded him,
"Be careful, don't come home too late." After that, Dhoost took his motorcycle out of the garage, the soft sound of the electric engine starting to resonate in the yard.
The four of them then headed to Maykarta's city square to find the PILAR headquarters entrance and answer PILAR's summons. The distance between Dhoost's house and the square was quite close, so they arrived in just a few minutes, with Dzoavha leading the way carrying Nadhyfa on the back, while the others followed behind. The night air felt cool, the wind sweeping their faces as they rode through the increasingly quiet neighborhood streets.
Upon arriving at the square, Nadhyfa inhaled the fresh, slightly humid night air, the gentle breeze greeting her face as she looked around enthusiastically. The tall trees illuminated by streetlights, the empty benches, and the faint sound of distant traffic.
Her gaze suddenly fell upon the limestone hill visible vaguely from the square, its silhouette dark under the starry sky. At the hill's peak, a faint light flickered. Nadhyfa ignored it, thinking it was just a star in the sky, maybe a shooting star or a passing airplane's light.
"The night sky is so beautiful tonight," she murmured softly, before refocusing on their mission.
However, unbeknownst to them, at the peak of the limestone hill located in Rankel District, a sturdy-built man observed the Maykarta mine surrounded by police and military through his binoculars, his sharp eyes scanning every detail below. The bright spotlights, patrolling armored vehicles, and temporary tents set up.
He was accompanied by a slender woman with neatly braided long hair, both standing still in the dark night, the hill wind sweeping their dark jackets.
The woman then pulled out a communication device from her jacket pocket, a small radio-like digital device, and began speaking, her voice soft.
"Report from the observation post. Current conditions still don't allow for infiltration into the mine. Surveillance is too tight, military and police everywhere, plus spotlights are also there."
A mysterious voice answered from the communication device, his voice cold and calm, slightly echoing through the small speaker,
"Understood. Be patient. Wait for the right moment; don't be rash."
The man lowered his binoculars for a moment, inviting the woman to go down the hill and rest at their base, his voice rough but authoritative.
"Hana, that's enough for tonight. Let's head down and rest. We'll monitor again later."
Hana initially refused, her eyes still fixed downhill, wanting to wait until everyone was off guard. She shook her head in refusal.
"Wait a moment, Dul. I'm sure if we wait a little longer, they'll get careless."
Dul responded again. "Better we wait for orders from our superiors, Hana. If we're rash, everything could fail."
Dul then went down alone, his steps firm as he descended the steep, rocky slope, leaving faint traces on the damp ground. Hana reluctantly followed, though with a still-anxious heart, following Dul's shadow in the darkness, while the faint light on the hilltop slowly disappeared from view.
TO BE CONTINUED...