what is the present?
Sean concluded that there are three major elements of pretense.
To effectively pretend to be something you're not, such as a confident figure, you must carefully choose the audience you wish to impress. Pretending to be aggressive in front of people whose status is significantly lower than yours won't bring you satisfaction; rather, it could lead to a sense of discontent. If you find yourself in that situation, it only highlights one issue: your own level of maturity.
The first element of effective pretense involves projecting confidence in the presence of individuals who have a similar status or higher than yours.
"Who are you?" Polly Chad inquired, bowing slightly as he stood beside Sean, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"Just a moment," Sean replied coolly. "I need to contact Chief Wells at the police station."
He picked up the phone and dialed. "Director Wells."
"Sean, I hope you have good news," Wells answered eagerly.
"Of course! Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to call you at this hour. After the incident, the great Director Wells personally formed a special task force and, in just 30 hours, led them to solve the case. You wiped out all the robbers, didn't you?" Sean joked, crossing his legs.
"Hahaha, I knew you wouldn't let me down!" Wells exclaimed, excitement coursing through him. "I'll be right there!"
"Don't worry, I'll handle everything. Let's go there together—I guarantee they'll all be taken care of," Sean replied with a smile.
"By the way, I arranged for cameras to follow up on the situation. This time, I want to make sure those media outlets swallow their words after all the nonsense they've spread."
"Absolutely! I hope it's still relevant; otherwise, they might not take it seriously," Wells chuckled.
After hanging up, Sean looked at Polly. "As I always say, let the professionals handle the specialized tasks. Banks should focus on expanding their business, while security should be left to a dedicated security company."
"It won't cost much. You don't need a large security force at every bank; just enough at key locations during critical times. Having excessive security can be wasteful, while insufficient security creates risks. Instead of worrying about betrayal, why not hire a more professional security company? My security firm is made up entirely of retired soldiers—top-tier professionals who can mobilize several times the security force when necessary. We can ensure the safety of your assets."
"Whether it's protecting the vault or providing armed escorts, if my security company had been in place, those robbers would have never made it inside," Sean stated confidently. "I'd like to invite Polly Chad, the manager of the Newark branch of Kelsey Bank, to observe our operations firsthand. What do you think?"
"Sounds good!" Polly replied, eager to witness the action.
After the call, Polly couldn't wait to ask, "Have you caught those robbers?"
"I've located them, but our security personnel have already engaged them. I assure you, they won't escape," Sean confirmed. "Are you interested in joining me to see justice served?"
"It would be an honor!" Polly said with a laugh.
They all headed downstairs and got into the car. As they drove, Sean communicated with the security company, and Polly's anticipation grew.
Two kilometers from the abandoned textile factory, they met Wells.
...
Meanwhile, inside the factory, a figure known as Big Sparrow wore a necklace that housed a silver pendant—a popular item that could open to reveal a hidden picture. Suddenly, the pendant began to vibrate rhythmically.
Big Sparrow frowned, covering the necklace with his hand. "I've reached the designated location; we need to retreat immediately."
The pendant was a covert radio device sending Morse code through vibrations. The message repeated three times.
Jeff, another gang member, took a deep breath and stood up to leave.
"Big Sparrow, where are you going?" someone called from behind.
"Mind your business!" Jeff shot back, without looking.
Not wanting to attract attention, he slipped away to a corner, ensuring no one could see him. Time was running out; if he didn't escape before the police arrived, he would be in serious trouble.
A security company employee, lying in wait with binoculars, chuckled to his partner. "Look at his running style! It's hilarious!"
"Imagine if we shot him in the back right now—wouldn't that be something?" his colleague joked.
"Great idea! I'll let Jeff know when he gets back," the first one laughed, neither taking the robbers seriously.
...
"Are they still surrounded?" Wells asked impatiently upon seeing Sean.
"Don't worry; I've positioned five snipers. They won't get far," Sean assured him, patting his chest. "Then let's move!" Wells exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable as he envisioned the headlines praising him the next day.
Sean shook his head with a smile as they all boarded the car again. This time, they didn't turn on the sirens but headed directly toward the factory.
A few minutes later, a convoy of over a dozen vehicles arrived at the abandoned textile factory, completely surrounding the location. As the doors opened, sixty to seventy individuals poured out, most of them police officers. Sean decided only to send fifteen of his own personnel to the scene, but their presence alone was enough to intimidate.
"Is that an M60?" Polly pointed to a large machine gun mounted on the roof of a pickup truck, manned by a burly man.
"Yes, two M60s, to be precise. Not even a few dozen robbers could withstand that kind of firepower!" Sean replied confidently, gesturing toward the other side where another machine gun was set up. "With my security team here, you don't need to worry!"
Three photographers positioned their cameras at different angles, capturing the unfolding scene. Wells approached Sean and whispered, "Why aren't your people wearing auxiliary police uniforms?"
"Why would they need to?" Sean replied, momentarily confused. "That's just a name."
Wells clenched his teeth, frustrated. "The police are handling the case, remember?"
Sean gave him a bemused look. "It's fine. Let the photographers capture the police in action; I'll edit myself into the footage later."
"Well, I guess that's the only option we have now," Wells conceded, albeit reluctantly.
Internally, Sean couldn't help but think how ridiculous it was that Wells was more concerned about his own reputation than the operation at hand.
With everything in place, the atmosphere was electric. Sean, Polly, and the others stood ready as they awaited the signal to move in. The tension in the air was palpable, and the stakes were high.
"Remember, we're here to neutralize the threat and ensure everyone's safety," Sean reminded his team, his tone serious. "Stay sharp and follow my lead."
As they prepared to breach the factory, Sean couldn't shake off the feeling that this operation would not only determine the fate of the robbers but also showcase the efficiency of his security company. He was ready to prove that professionalism and preparedness could triumph in any situation.