The limousine glided to a halt in front of an unmarked building in the heart of Prague—a towering structure that exuded a quiet menace, its exclusivity evident in every guarded corner and shadowed alcove. Inside, the décor was lavish yet chillingly restrained, a reflection of the power simmering beneath its pristine surfaces. As Alex and Jin followed their guide down a labyrinth of corridors, they finally arrived at a private room cloaked in shadows and luxury.
Behind an imposing mahogany desk sat Nikolai "The Bishop" Veselov, a figure of stark authority. Mid-forties, with a sharp beard and glacial blue eyes, he was an apex predator assessing his next move. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk as he sized up his visitors, pausing only briefly on Jin before settling on Alex, his gaze a blend of curiosity and calculation.
"Alex Han," Veselov greeted, his voice a smooth current, edged with steel. "And, naturally, Jin Mazuka. You have my attention."
Alex didn't sit. He matched Veselov's gaze with unwavering intensity, signaling from the outset that he wouldn't be swayed by Veselov's control. Tonight, Alex was here to set the terms.
"Let's get something clear, Veselov," he said, his voice a low, unwavering threat. "Master Kenjiro has his sights on Prague. Your operations—every last inch—will fall under his control. It's not a request. It's an inevitability."
A flicker of amusement played at Veselov's mouth. He glanced at Jin, who stood immovable, then back to Alex. "Kenjiro sends bold messengers."
"It's not boldness," Alex replied, ice in his tone. "It's a warning. Align yourself with us, or prepare for a war that will bleed you dry."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension almost palpable. Veselov reclined in his chair, a calculating gleam in his eye as he studied Alex.
"And if I refuse?" he asked, amusement lacing his tone.
"Then you'll have nowhere to hide," Alex shot back, the intensity in his gaze unwavering. "Kenjiro's reach is farther than you imagine. Submit now, and you walk away. Resist, and we'll take you down, one piece at a time."
Alex's gaze was steady, his tone even. "Take all the time you need," he added, a hint of cool detachment in his voice.
But Veselov's patronizing smirk pushed Alex's control too far, and a second later, without a word of warning, his hand shot forward, stopping just short of Veselov's cheek. Veselov's calm demeanor cracked as his eyes widened in surprise.
In his AeroPods, Kofi's voice crackled to life, thick with mocking sarcasm. "If you're gonna slap him, just do it, boss." Kofi's laugh carried a biting edge. "This whole tease? It's kinda embarrassing."
Ignoring Kofi's jibe, Alex leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper, cold and resolute. "I don't think you understand, Veselov. Master Kenjiro doesn't send messengers for discussions. He sends them to deliver ultimatums."
A flicker of fear crossed Veselov's eyes, quickly masked but not unnoticed. "You think this will end well for you?"
Jin took a single step forward, his expression steady, his nod barely perceptible. "Make it quick, partner."
Alex withdrew, eyes narrowed. "This is your last chance, Veselov. Align with us—or learn just how little mercy Kenjiro has for opposition."
In his AeroPods, Kofi chuckled with satisfaction. "Now that's the Alex I'm talkin' about."
Without waiting for Veselov's response, Alex turned on his heel, Jin a silent shadow at his side. They left Veselov and his disarmed guards in tense silence, the door closing behind them with a final, resounding thud.
—---
The next day, Alex and Jin spent their hours weaving through the underground casinos, leaving chaos in their wake as they swept up winnings at every table. Each win, each raised brow from a dealer, chipped away at the delicate balance of Prague's gambling circuit—exactly the disruption Kenjiro wanted. By the time they returned to their hotel suite that evening, Alex felt the weight of prying eyes on him as much as his bulging pockets.
They sat across from each other in the suite, a shogi board between them. Jin's face was calm, but Alex could tell he was on the verge of a decisive victory. Alex, regrets not using his StockWhale app to predict Jin's moves; this game was supposed to be their one respite from the day's schemes.
As the loud knock echoed through the hotel suite, the air thickened with tension. Jin, poised and calculating, held his ground, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the board. "The game's not over," he stated, his tone cool and confident.
But Alex, feeling the urgency of the situation, pretended to fumble, knocking the shogi board over with a swift motion that sent the pieces clattering across the table. "Oops. Guess it's a draw," he joked, but the humor was short-lived.
Before he could step away from the mess, the door swung open with a loud bang. Armed men rushed into the room, their expressions cold and ruthless, weapons drawn. Alex's heart raced as adrenaline surged through him. He and Jin exchanged a quick glance—there was no time to waste.
With instinct kicking in, Alex lunged forward, his body moving on pure reflex. He ducked low, narrowly avoiding the barrel of a gun aimed at him, and pivoted to the right, slamming a fist into the midsection of the closest thug. The man doubled over, gasping, but before he could react, Alex grabbed his arm, twisting it and forcing the gun from his grip.
Jin was right behind him, a whirlwind of precision and speed. He snatched a chair from the dining area, using it as a shield against a flurry of gunfire. The bullets ricocheted off the wooden frame, and he swung the chair, catching one of the attackers off guard. The man stumbled back, crashing into a wall with a thud.
"Stay close!" Alex shouted, adrenaline fueling his voice as he ducked and weaved through the chaos. He could hear the rush of footsteps behind him—more men entering the room, their shouts filling the air.
Another thug approached from the left, swinging a heavy fist. Alex sidestepped, letting the man's momentum carry him forward. As the thug stumbled, Alex landed a powerful kick to his back, sending him crashing into his own comrades. The room erupted into chaos, men yelling as they struggled to regain their footing.
But the sheer number of attackers began to take its toll. For every one they took down, two more seemed to take their place. Jin was moving with calculated precision, disarming another thug with a swift jab to the throat before flipping the weapon into his grip.
"We need to get to the door!" he yelled, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the rising panic of the situation.
"Not yet!" Alex replied, launching himself toward a man who was trying to flank them. He grabbed the man's collar and pulled him down, his knee connecting with the thug's face. The blow sent the attacker sprawling to the floor, but as Alex turned to help Jin, he saw the grim reality of their situation: they were outnumbered.
Just then, another wave of men surged into the room, and Alex felt his heart sink. The two of them fought fiercely, but the odds were stacking up against them. Jin was now backed against the wall, his nunchaku whirling through the air as he disarmed yet another assailant, but the surrounding attackers were closing in.
"We can't hold them off much longer!" Jin grunted, barely dodging a wild swing from one of the men.
"I know!" Alex shot back, scanning the room for an escape. His mind raced, thinking of their options as he parried another blow, pushing himself to the limits of his strength. Just when the situation seemed dire, a figure entered through the doorway, moving with a deadly grace that was unmistakable.
It was Master Kenjiro, his presence commanding the attention of the room. In one fluid motion, he lunged forward, disarming two men at once, his movements as precise as they were swift. The armed men faltered, momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift in power dynamics.
With a fierce glare, Kenjiro took control of the room, his martial prowess putting Alex and Jin's efforts to shame. He dispatched the remaining attackers with ease, each movement calculated and efficient. Within seconds, the last of Veselov's men lay unconscious on the floor, the air in the suite thick with the aftermath of the confrontation.
"I'll handle the rest," Kenjiro stated, his voice calm and authoritative as he surveyed the fallen men.
Jack Connors stepped into the room alongside him, an amused expression on his face as he took in the scene. "Hey, Brick Phone guy," he called out with sarcasm, breaking the tension that hung in the air.
"Jack?" Alex exclaimed, incredulous. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Master Kenjiro intervened smoothly, his gaze shifting between them. "He's here on my behalf, Alex. Jack is our lawyer—and a former disciple."
Jack chuckled, leaning against the wall nonchalantly. "Surprised? I clean up pretty well."
As the adrenaline slowly ebbed away, Alex felt a mix of relief and frustration. They had come so close to being overwhelmed, yet Kenjiro had arrived just in time. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of their troubles in Prague.