"What now? The crown prince is here?" asked the one with long hair.
"So do you think that last time's trick would work again?" asked the one with a scar on his face.
"Well, why not? We won't know until we try," said the one with long hair.
"No, you fool, it's already too late for that to work," answered the only one with a brain.
"Darn it!"
"Now what? We need to hurry up. The target is leaving."
"Who is the target again?"
"Uh, you can't even remember this much. It's the crown prince," whispered the one with the scar.
"Oh, I see."
"Yes, don't ask again."
"So now, does anyone have any ideas for kidnapping the target?"
"Oh, I do."
"He does." [This went around till everyone got their turn.]
Everyone looked at the person. "Ahhhh, Your Highness the crown prince," uttered all three in sync, trembling.
"Yes," answered Flavian with a smug smile on his face.
The sudden turn of events left them stunned and disoriented, like a school of fish reacting to the sudden appearance of a predator. In perfect unison, they swivelled their gazes from each other to Flavian, their faces engraved with the same nervous, wide-eyed expression. Three of them exchanged quick, uncertain glances, a silent communication of shared bewilderment. It was as if their carefully directed plans had unravelled in the blink of an eye. Caught completely off guard, they found themselves in a state of frozen hesitation, exactly as Flavian had predicted.
Their voices faltered, words escaping them like sand slipping through their fingers. At that moment, they were not the cunning and calculated individuals they had thought themselves to be. Instead, they were merely participants in Flavian's masterful scheme, and their helplessness highlighted his control of the situation.
"Yes, it's I, your target you were supposed to kidnap."
"What are you doing here?" asked the one with long hair.
"Well, I was on my way and saw you three behaving suspiciously."
"Who are you calling suspicious when you are the one who is acting like it!"
"Alright, so let's get down to business. Tell me who you guys work for."
"We work for nobody, we are strong enough to work individually," said the man with a scar arrogantly.
"If you are that strong, why haven't I heard about you?"
"We are a secret organisation."
"Ok, so what are you known as?"
"Morbbish," answered the one with long hair, smirkingly.
"Mussel," roared the one with a scar on his face proudly.
"Norrier," mumbled the only one with a brain, slowly.
"Not your names, what are you called as a team?"
"Morbbish, Mussel and Norrier. MMN for short, Your Highness," said Norrier.
"What is with this sequence?"
"It is according to our power," shouted Morbbish.
"No, you fool it is as per our hair length," roared Mussel.
"It is in ascending order of our brain level," whispered Norrier in Flavian's ears as the other two were busy fighting between themselves.
"I see. Then, whose order was it for you to go after me?"
"We are not telling you," Groaned Mussel.
"Hmm, do you think you are in any position to decline my request?"
"Huh, are you threatening us? You forgot how scary we are, and yet you came here alone. Thanks for making our jobs easy."
"Sit down, Mussel. I wouldn't attack right now if I were you," said Flavian, smiling gently. "I suggest you consider carefully before deciding on my request."
There was something different about Flavian at the moment. Mussel noticed Flavian was calm and collected, just like he had been, but there was something about the way he was sitting in a relaxed posture with his hands crossed over his chest and speaking. He radiated such a dark and intimidating aura that it felt like he had full control of the situation. Mussel slowly backed away, watching Flavian carefully. Flavian's face betrayed nothing, but Mussel had a feeling that something was not right.
Norrier sighed in relief and thought that even muscle brains have strong intuition. "Your Highness, we were hired by a merchant group named Hell Bulls. We didn't receive any extra details but just a letter stating to take up the work and a huge sum of money to kidnap you and contact them after the deed was done."
"That's it? And you all agreed to do the work without knowing what would happen to you after doing the work."
"Your Highness, we have worked in this field since we were just kids. We know how to deal with anything that may come across, and this is not the first time we have received a request like this."
"So then, how do they make sure you did the work and are not just lying?"
"We do have our working ethics. What do you take us for, huh?" declared Mussel.
"Ya ya, what do you take us for, huh?" repeated Morbbish.
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say."
"Now that Your Highness is done with his question-and-answer game, would you please go back?"
"No, who said I was done?"
"There is more, then?"
"Hmm, you guys are never going to succeed in that plan of yours."
"How are you so sure?"
"Just take my word for it."
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
"I have a plan; I want you guys to work on it. I will pay you double the amount you received for kidnapping me."
Norrier stared at Flavian, "Why would you pay us to kidnap you, Your Highness?"
"Let's just say I want to play a trick on someone. So how about it? Are you guys ready to accept my offer?"
The weight of Flavian's words hung heavily in the air. The three individuals shifted their gazes among each other, each carefully analysing the other two as they listened intently. The atmosphere was tense as they awaited the next move.
Finally, Norrier broke the silence. "We agree to work for you, Your Highness. So, what is it that you are planning?"
"Great, so here is the plan."