Albert peered out of the small window in the corner of the ship as a cold wind slid in, carrying the salty scent of the sea. He gazed long at the gray horizon, watching the strands of land gradually emerge through the thick fog, as if the island were slowly rising from the depths of the dark sea. The scene was reflected in his sharp eyes before he turned to Lloyd and the rest of the crew, saying in a quiet but firm voice, "We're approaching the island… Prepare to disembark as soon as we get close."
Silence fell over the ship for a few moments, broken only by the intermittent crash of waves against the wooden hull, as each man silently and intently checked his gear, knowing that what lay ahead was no ordinary mission.
After two hours of sailing through the cold waters, Albert and the crew finally reached a deserted beach on Almawada Island. A light fog hung like a mysterious veil, obscuring the view and giving the island a haunting, unsettling appearance. The damp sand stretched beneath their feet, while the sound of the waves mingled with the distant cries of seabirds, adding to the tense and eerie atmosphere.
Albert carefully extracted the map from inside his long coat, then slowly unfolded it before the team, revealing a complex array of markings and lines that crisscrossed the island. He scanned them all before saying in a serious tone, "Each of you must memorize your position on the island. Remember… you didn't come here for nothing."
He pointed to several specific points on the map and continued, "You will be deployed to your designated positions to track the target. And according to reports… the person who gave me this map assured me unequivocally that each of your positions is the closest to the target."
He paused for a few seconds, then raised his head and looked at them with cold eyes. "That means capturing him won't be an impossible task."
He took out a cigarette and lit it calmly, the red tip glowing in the mist, before exhaling a thick puff that mingled with the island's cool air. His features hardened as he added in a low but sharp voice, "Any careless action… any mistake, no matter how small… could cause the entire mission to fail."
Then his voice dropped slightly, as if warning them of a hidden danger: "And there's one crucial point you mustn't forget… this man's followers are everywhere on the island. They might be among the trees, or behind the walls, or even watching us right now without our knowledge."
He took a final drag on his cigarette before saying with heavy seriousness, "Therefore… each and every one of you must remain on the highest alert."
The team split up quickly, each disappearing into the depths of the dense trees that stretched like a dark labyrinth along the road leading to Almoda. The tangled branches blocked most of the sky, the ground felt damp and muddy beneath their feet, and the rustling of leaves in the light breeze filled the air with an unsettling tension, as if the forest itself were silently watching their every move.
Lloyd trotted nimbly through the trees, dodging massive trunks and the scattered shadows around him, his mind preoccupied with a single question that had haunted him since the mission began. He frowned and said aloud, his voice echoing through the forest, "Who is this person, anyway? And why is he so important that we have to follow him in such secrecy?"
His words reverberated among the trees, but they weren't just his own question… they reflected the thoughts of everyone on the team. Every member harbored the same suspicion, as if Albert, despite all his instructions and warnings, had been withholding a significant part of the truth. The objective wasn't fully explained, nor was the true reason behind this dangerous mission revealed, which only heightened the tension with every step they took on the mysterious island.
Meanwhile, Caprio and Makoto reached their designated positions after a cautious trek through the jungle. They hid among the rocks and towering trees, silently and watchfully, their eyes constantly scanning for any suspicious movement. The only sounds were the cold wind and the rustling of dry leaves, but even that silence was enough to keep their nerves on edge.
Lloyd and Sia, on the other hand, were gradually approaching their assigned positions with extreme caution. Their steps slowed, their breathing became more measured, and their eyes scanned the area meticulously, wary of any sudden ambush. As they ventured deeper into the jungle, the eerie feeling that pervaded the island grew heavier—a feeling that something was watching them from the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to emerge.