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The venue was as grand as ever; small wonder too. The building was huge, with 2 floors for the party while the top floor was reserved as a private space for the host. It’s well into the night when the party is in full swing, the crowd expected to stay in for some time.
Though lots of people flood the area, it isn’t a complete mess of people in the main floor of the area; this speaks on how huge the entire venue is. From the gates where the party starts all the way to the decorative pool at the far end of the building, people could even be seen using electric cars to traverse the place end to end.
But perhaps, such a lavish and large place would suit our heroine best indeed.
And for one, Rita Rossweisse is not going to complain.
The maid/assassin valkyrie stood with a glass of champagne in hand, watching from near the front of the venue as guests poured left and right, all wanting to get in and enjoy the expensive treats waiting for them inside.
Expensive; too expensive.
Rita scanned her surroundings again. Gold plating on tthe statues and ornaments, silver and bronze coating many surfaces, expensive and detailed carvings on the walls and statues, and gems left and right. Rita could tell they’re genuine gems, not some half-assed copy whatnot. This is a serious amount of money.
One that Rita finds to be too much of an expenditure for her liking, and also too much for what the host is supposed to be in for.
Something isn’t right, and they were assigned to find out.
They?
A person had made himself known to the maid, standing beside her.
She didn’t shoo him away. She knew who he was after all.
“Anything, captain?”
“Nothing. The front of the place is clean. Too clean.”
Rita nodded, taking a peek at the well-dressed man beside her. She had to admit, the dress suit she put up for him to wear with his tie and shoes made the captain of the hyperion a devilishly good looking man.
Not that she herself was far off; the dark red strapless gown she wore is working wonders to show off her curves while still managing to look all the more elegant; the captain admitted before that it goes well with her eyes and hair after all.
“How about the target?” She asked, taking a sip of her drink.
“Still in the area; he has yet to vacate towards the privacy of his exclusive suite upstairs.” The captain replied, taking a sip of red wine as he looked towards the main hall of the party.
“Red wine, captain?” Rita asked, giggling a bit.
“A classic, of course. Who wouldn’t?” He asked back.
“Hehe, well said. Though I admit, their champagne is fantastic as well.” Rita noted, taking a look at her glass.
“I expect no less from a party this grand, don’t you think?” He replied back, looking around.
“Indeed.” Rita paused, looking at her watch as the tracker moved. “He’s moving to the dining hall, possibly to get dinner. Shall we join him on the side for some food?”
“I half thought you were going to spy on the kitchen first.” He retorted with a chuckle.
Rita giggled a bit. “As much as I want to, I can’t afford to be selfish now. Maybe next time.” She added, before putting her arm around his as she finished his glass of liquor. “Shall we be off, dear?”
The captain cleared his throat, still not 100% used to having Rita pining him like this. “Yes, we shall.”
Her giggle only attenuated that her initiative is not one to be easily beat after all.
—----------------------------------------
The pair sat by on a small table as they ate, the people around them going about chatting as they ate while the sounds of eating utensils clicking against plates filled the air. The air smelled wonderful too, with plenty of food to go around left and right.
Rita silently but into the mashed potato she had spooned up, humming in delight at the flavor.
“Light, flaky, and wonderful with the gravy. I say, the chefs know how to get things done.” She commented as the captain across her sliced a piece of steak, plopping it into his mouth as he ate with her.
“Always the food critic.” He commented a bit later.
Rita chuckled, taking another bite out of her meal. “One has to always strive to ensure mastery over her arts, captain.”
“And that would be cooking for you, wouldn't it?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes. One of them at least, amongst many, though not my favorite.” She commented.
“Oh? Then what art is your favorite?” He asked, curious.
Rita’s smug grin returned as she leaned down towards him, the dress’s low cut top now providing him with a generous view.
“Perhaps, keeping your eyes on me?” She replied smugly.
Poor captain went red as he tried to keep his eyes on hers, and not go down below into the rabbit hole. “E-ehm, I can tell.”
Another giggle of his defeat.
She fixed her posture again after a moment. “Hehe, keeping this relationship going stronger is my favorite of course.”
“Well, two can play that game, no?” He asked back, composing himself as well.
“It’s already a 2-player game to begin with.” She commented.
“Heh, true to the last letter.” He replied with a small chuckle, before taking a look behind him. “Has he made any attempts to get into his private suite?”
“Not yet. He’s still on his dining table with some guests; they’re making quite a bit of a racket for a party of this type, and I can see he’s had a few glasses as well.” Rita replies, taking a look behind her while a small holographic display appears over one eye.
“Well if he gets drunk, it works to our advantage. He might lead us to the very files we need without even realizing it.” He commented with a smile.
“My dearest captain. He will lead us to the files, whether he is drunk or sober. Don’t worry about it.” She reassures him, patting his hand on the table. “I’ll be able to make do with the situation as we go, so don’t worry about it.”
“Hehe, right. I often need to remember you are Schicksal’s greatest assassin in the line up.” He says.
Rita chuckles. “Nothing but a mere title, captain. To me, titles are less important than performing the jobs associated with such titles.” RIta replied, earning a look from the captain.
“Yet you are a woman of many titles.” He retorts with a chuckle.
“Ironic, isn’t it? I prefer to say it’s my abilities that define my titles, as opposed to my titles defining what abilities I need to master.” Rita replied with a smirk.
“As always, Rita.” He commented back.
After a while, Rita noticed a small commotion where their target is; or now, was.
“Captain. Target is making a move for the main party area. It looks like it’s the main ball area of the gala.” Rita noted.
The captain opened his own holographic eye display, noting the movement. “Confirm. Are we done here? Let’s follow them.”
“Right behind you.”
With that, he got up, gently giving Rita his arm. She smiled, more softly this time, taking his arm in hers as she got up elegantly, walking beside him before the pair made their way towards the large ballroom in the center of the venue.
—---------------------------------------
The captain and his partner stood by the side of the main area, watching their target carefully as he seemed to be talking to some guests in a VIP lounge sofa by the main area. Guards were present and watching their surroundings, ensuring their safety.
“Does he look drunk to you?” The captain asked.
Rita’s sole visible eye squinted slightly. “Yes, but not fully drunk. I’d say he’s just slightly past tipsy.”
“Well, it seems he will be here for a bit to sober up.” He commented.
“Indeed. We have a bit of time to wait.” Rita said, before she looked at their surroundings. A slow jazzy song was being played, and several people could be seen slow dancing in the center.
In fact, the guards seem to be paying less attention to the ones dancing.out in the middle compared to all the people watching at the sides.
Rita turned to the captain. He was also watching the people dancing, his voice humming along to the song as he seemed to be enjoying it.
Rita nudged him slightly.
“Hmm? Yes?” He asked, looking at her.
She said nothing, simply looking at him, looking at the waltz area, before looking at him again with a small smile.
He connected the dots.
His cheeks colored a little pink, but he pushed it down quickly before Rita took advantage of it. He lifted one of his hands up in front of her, the palm open up towards her as her expectant eyes looked up to him with slight amusement in them.
“May I have this dance then?” He asked politely.
“Oh, a gentleman.” Rita replied with light amusement, before she took on a more elegant aura, taking his hand with hers. “I’d be glad to.”
With that, the pair waltzed over to the center area.
As he clung to her starting the dance, their arms intertwined and bodies moving in sync step by step, he found her usual playful and regal aura to have vanished instantly; replaced by a lovelier aura, her feelings laid out on the floor for him as the pair danced.
Such amazing was her ability to hide her feelings, it still amazes him when he got to see Rita in full; her own emotions, usually sealed away, laid out in plain sight for him to see. One step, another step, a twirl and a twist. They’ve done this many times now, yet every time they waltzed, it’s as if they’ve done it for the first time.
They have to remember they are on a mission here. However, be that as it may, right now, they want nothing to do with it and are all about one another, just him and her, the rest of the world a blur, despite the moment being a spur.
It’s wonderful; a form of art.
At the end, they pause. RIta flicks her head a bit such that her hair parts away from her face slightly, allowing him the exclusive sight of both her eyes looking back at him, equal with joy and affection, veiled under her elegant gaze.
And without warning, he dove down to kiss her directly on the lips.
A fleeting moment, but one that caught her off guard that left Rita redder than she had remembered. Her composure cracked for a moment, her emotions getting ahold of her before she could tone it down a little while later.
He closed his eyes, prompting her to do the same as they savored the moment, before they got up and separated, still arm in arm in the middle of the dance floor.
“I would tell you to just let me see your two eyes, but knowing it’s an exclusive thing makes me want you to keep that hairstyle.” He commented.
She giggled in response, her composure returning but a little off; not that he could tell. “A sight for only you, my dearest.”
The pair walked slowly over to the side as the others resumed dancing to the next song, the pair quickly taking a short breather by the side of the main area before they heard the sound of footsteps from the lounge area.
“Target is moving. Looks like he is heading for the side area.” He commented.
“He’s going to his private room shortly. Take the stairs to the second level and monitor from up there, I’ll tail him directly.” Rita said.
The captain nodded, the pair separating after a long time together and heading towards their respective areas.
He got up to the second floor, overlooking the main area of the first floor as he watched the crowd below him. Cap locked his eyes into the back of their target as the group made their way towards one of the side doors, potentially leading up to the private suite.
“Rita. Target is moving to the 3rd door, by the bar. Do you have it in sight.”
“Acquired, captain. I will be following.”
Looking down, he found her form wading through the crowd, her eyes locked onto her target as she made her way towards the door where the target was going through.
“I’ll be waiting for your code for exfil. Main lobby, don’t call me too late.” He said.
“Will do, dear. I won’t take too long, don’t worry about me at all.” Rita replied.
“Oh, and Rita.”
“Yes?”
“I think I haven’t said this, but you look really good in that dress.”
She smiled, pausing her step to look up at her partner for the night, leaning on a pole at the second floor looking down at her.
“Thank you, love. You look as charming as ever as well.”
They smiled, before Rita turned away as she walked through the doors. He sighed, keeping his holographic display up as he tracked the target as well as Rita’s signature.
—--------------------------------------------------
He waited.
His watch lit up. Instantly, he kicked the ignition up. The 5.2L Twin Turbo V12 in front of him lit up with a loud roar, and with skill he maneuvered the car out of the parking spot and into the road towards the main lobby.
Quick yet appearing calm; the silver Aston Martin V12 Vantage would certainly fall under that category. The party is still in full swing and the guards still have no idea that they’ve been hit anyways, so now is a better time than ever to leave; especially before the exits are packed as the other party-goers leave as well.
He stopped at the lobby calmly.
As he turns his head, there she stands in front of the entrance.
Spotting his car, she walked over towards him, still in her party dress, opening the door with a small smile and getting in. He returned the smile, the car taking off for the exits as they left the buzz of the party behind.
“Done?” He asked as they took the exit towards the main road.
“Done.” Rita replied, bringing a USB up. “All the files are here; we were right. His corruption allowed him the luxuries we had just witnessed.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing we enjoyed it while it lasted, no?” He commented with a snarky tone.
“Indeed. Make the best out of any given situation.” RIta replied, storing the USB away.
A short silence befell them.
“You still want to do something tonight?” He asked her.
RIta giggled.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
As the Aston Martin speeds down the highway, its exhaust roaring along the night, their target would be left in a state of distress, but he could do nothing to them, for they were no longer within reach.
For Rita and her captain however, it’s another mission done, and another good night to look forward to.