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<span class="mu-r">“So…where’s the real Pele? Aren’t you supposed to be a soccer legend?”</span> you asked.
Everyone turned to look at you, and you could see that Cat was trying <span class="mu-s">very</span> hard not to burst out laughing. Araña, on the other hand, seemed to lack Felicia’s self-control, and couldn’t help but let a little snicker out. When all eyes fell on her, she tried to play it off as clearing her throat, and took another sip of her drink, trying to hide her smile.
Even Benga’s sphinx-like visage cracked a bit at that.
Pele’s eyes narrowed slightly. <span class="mu-r">“If you want to see him, you’ll have to pay Roberto a visit at his wax museum.”</span> she declared.
<span class="mu-g">“And what of the Goddess herself?”</span> Ana asked, conspicuously hiding her mouth behind her hand.
<span class="mu-r">“Sleeping in a volcano overseas, last I checked.”</span> Pele revealed without much interest.
<span class="mu-r">“Won’t she be mad about you stealing her look?”</span> you said.
<span class="mu-r">“She’d have to be awake in order to be upset.”</span> the synthezoid replied in a flat tone. <span class="mu-r">“And even if she was, I don’t see her coming all the way over here to complain.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“This is one hell of a secret to hold onto, ma’am…”</span> Koa said, looking like he needed a moment to catch his breath.
Pele gave him a halfway apologetic look, and the fire in her eyes dimmed slightly. <span class="mu-r">“It was a necessary precaution. There are people who would attempt to use me if they knew who, and what, I was.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“You mentioned the Atlas Foundation before.”</span> you added. <span class="mu-r">“Who are they supposed to be? Another secret society that I don’t know about?”</span>
Pele nodded. <span class="mu-r">“Not just that, but I’m confident that it was one of the first. Ever since the 14th century, during the time of the Mongol Empire, the Atlas Foundation has grown and thrived in secret, establishing numerous business fronts in the fields of major technological, industrial, transportation, media and financial industries. Their power and influence today is nothing short of remarkable.”</span>
Prowler sat sharply up in his chair. <span class="mu-g">“Are you telling me that every major business branch that’s a part of the Atlas, multinational conglomerate is part of some…what, ancient secret society?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“That’s right.”</span> Pele confirmed. <span class="mu-r">“Atlas Robotics, Atlas Shipping, Atlas Academy of Martial Arts. You name it, they own it.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“I was aware that they held a great deal of influence in the east, but I had no idea that their history stretched back so far.”</span> Ana said.
<span class="mu-r">“If you’re surprised by that, then you don’t even want to know what they’ve done to grow their criminal enterprises. Atlas is not an enemy that you want to make.”</span> Pele warned. <span class="mu-r">“But unfortunately, you will need to infiltrate one of their abandoned undersea bases in order to retrieve the item that I require.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Is that the job that you’ve been holding out on telling us about?”</span> Flint inquired.
(Cont.)
