The Deal and the Plan

Victor leaned back in his chair, a deep frown etched on his face as he studied Kazimír. The room was dimly lit, the faint hum of electronic equipment filling the silence. Kazimír, however, seemed perfectly at ease, his tailored suit unwrinkled and his posture confident. He carried himself like a man accustomed to commanding attention and respect--and, perhaps, fear.

“So, let me get this straight,” Victor began, his voice steady but laced with skepticism. “You want us to smuggle you across one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world, and in return, you’re offering… money?”

Kazimír’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Not just money. Enough funding to make your little operation untouchable for years to come.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed. He’d dealt with men like Kazimír before, charming, persuasive, and dangerous. He hated every second of it.

“And what exactly is it that makes you worth this kind of risk?” Victor asked.

Kazimír chuckled softly, the sound unsettling in its calmness. “Let’s just say I’m a man with valuable knowledge. Knowledge that certain factions would kill to protect… or to silence. Crossing the border alive ensures that knowledge remains useful. And believe me, the people hunting me would pay even more to see me dead.”

Victor’s gaze didn’t waver. “So, you’re dangerous, a target, and arrogant enough to think we’d trust you? Sounds like a liability.”

“Perhaps,” Kazimír admitted, leaning forward slightly. “But liabilities are relative, Victor. Consider the reward. Imagine what you could accomplish with the resources I’m offering. Isn’t it worth the gamble?”

Victor’s fingers drummed against the table, his mind racing. He didn’t trust Kazimír, not even slightly. But the offer, the sheer potential of that much funding, was too tempting to dismiss outright.

Finally, he spoke. “If I agree to this, it’s on my terms. You do exactly as I say, no questions, no deviations.”

Kazimír’s smile widened. “Agreed.”

Before Victor could say more, Kazimír raised a hand. “One condition.”

Victor’s jaw tightened. “You’re not in a position to negotiate.”

“Perhaps not,” Kazimír said, his tone light but unyielding. “But I’ll say it anyway. I want the same team who retrieved the relic to escort me. They’ve proven themselves, and in my line of work, proven competence is invaluable.”

Victor leaned forward, his voice cold. “You don’t get to pick and choose who’s on my team. I trust all of Twilight.”

Kazimír met his gaze evenly. “I’m sure you do. But trust isn’t the issue here. It’s efficiency. Those who succeed once are more likely to succeed again. Surely, you can see the logic.”

Victor glared at him, the tension in the room thick enough to cut. After a long moment, he relented. “Fine. But if they’re going, so am I.”

Kazimír raised an eyebrow, his composure unbroken. “I’m not sure that’s--”

“Non-negotiable,” Victor interrupted, his voice a low growl. “You don’t have my trust, Kazimír. I’ll be there to make sure you don’t screw us over.”

Kazimír nodded slowly, as though conceding a minor point. “As you wish.”

The door to the room burst open, and 1MIN strode in, his expression dark. “What the hell is going on here?”

Victor straightened, his tone firm. “A job. One I’m assigning to Twilight.”

1MIN’s eyes narrowed. “Then I’m leading it.”

“Not this time,” Victor said, his voice brooking no argument. “This isn’t about leadership. It’s about precision. The team that recovered the relic is already familiar with Kazimír’s kind of mess. They’re the best fit for this.”

“And what about me?” 1MIN demanded. “You think I can’t handle it?”

Victor stepped closer, his tone dropping to a near growl. “I think you need to trust my judgment. Stay here. If something happens to us, you’ll take control. That’s an order.”

1MIN’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. His gaze flicked to Kazimír, then back to Victor. For a moment, it looked like he might argue further, but then he spun on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Victor exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. “Let’s move on. We have a plan to make.”

The team gathered in the dimly lit war room, the table in the center displaying a glowing holographic map of the border region. Spectral worked the interface, his fingers dancing over the controls as he overlaid data streams and patrol schedules onto the map.

“We’ll move under the cover of night,” Victor began, his voice steady and authoritative. “Kazimír’s intel suggests there’s a gap in the patrol schedule here.” He pointed to a narrow pass flanked by dense forests.

Axon leaned forward, her brow furrowed. “That area’s crawling with automated turrets and drone patrols. Getting through without triggering an alert will be tricky.”

Spectral nodded, already analyzing the data. “I can handle the drones. If we time it right, I can spoof their sensors and create a false trail leading them away from us.”

“And the turrets?” Karl asked.

“That’s where Panzer comes in,” Victor said, his gaze shifting to the heavy weapons expert. “You’ll carry an EMP launcher. It won’t disable them permanently, but it’ll give us a window to slip through.”

Panzer grinned, cracking his knuckles. “Finally, something worth carrying.”

“What about ground patrols?” Axon asked.

“We avoid them,” Victor replied. “But if it comes to a fight, we move fast and hit harder. No drawn-out engagements.”

Kazimír, who had been silent until now, gave a satisfied nod. “Efficient. I like it.”

Victor turned to him, his expression cold. “Good. But make no mistake: if you do anything to compromise this mission, you’ll regret it.”

Kazimír smirked faintly. “Understood.”

The team spent the next several hours refining the plan, poring over every detail and contingency. By the time they were finished, the tension in the room had settled into a determined silence. Victor looked around at the faces of his team, his expression grim but resolute.

“This isn’t just about the money,” he said. “It’s about proving that we can do the impossible. Let’s show them what Twilight is made of.”