Elio Novan has it all-wealth, power, and the success of YUI, the world's leading tech giant. But beneath the surface, his life is anything but perfect. Haunted by a tragic past and a betrayal that left him shattered, Elio has built walls around his...
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"So... what's the plan for today, Alex?" Derix's voice broke the morning silence, bubbling with enthusiasm. He looked at me with that boyish grin that never seemed to fade, no matter the situation.
I glanced up from the map I'd been studying. "We're heading to ENA's headquarters in Romania. We're going in as regular office workers, blending in, and trying to gather as much information as we can."
"Wait... IT'S IN ROMANIA?! Do you know how farrrrr that is?" His voice trailed off in exaggerated disbelief, his eyes wide with mock horror.
"It's not even that far, Derix. Stop being so dramatic," I replied, shaking my head with a faint smile. He always knew how to lighten the mood, even when things were about to get serious.
"Ughh..." he groaned, throwing himself back onto the bed in our cramped hotel room, acting like I'd just told him we were trekking across a desert. But underneath his theatrics, I knew he was as committed as I was. We both knew the stakes.
Tracking down the source of those cryptic messages had been like chasing shadows. But after days of sleepless nights and endless leads, we finally pinned it down to ENA-a rising organization claiming they'd discovered a new power source called Ashium. The world didn't know much about them, but from what we could gather, they were serious trouble. Now, it was our job to find out just how deep their roots went.
One plane ride, countless taxis, and too many bus transfers later, we arrived in Romania. The moment we stepped out of the airport, I could feel the difference in the air, a mix of uncertainty and excitement. Romania was a far cry from Japan,America,Russia or Germany, and we were strangers in a strange land.
Speaking with the locals was a challenge. Neither of us spoke much Romanian, and every conversation felt like walking on a tightrope. But we fumbled through it, picking up bits and pieces of the language as we went. Every new word felt like a small victory, a step closer to fitting in.
Unlike the time when we went after Milan, where time had been our enemy, here we had a little breathing room. We weren't under the gun, and Derix, always the one to find silver linings, suggested we take some time to "learn to be more Romanian" before diving into ENA's world.
At first, I was reluctant. We were here for a mission, and I didn't want to waste time. But as the days passed, I realized he was right. Blending in wasn't just about language; it was about understanding the rhythm of life here, about becoming a part of the fabric of the place. So, we slowed down.
After we bought a hotel room we decided on what to do then derix imediatly spoke up his excitement contagious. "Great, I know the perfect place to go! Let's hit up a strip club!
I stared at him, deadpan. "Forget it. We're going to ENA right now."
He pouted, throwing his hands up in mock despair. "Hey, aren't we supposed to be learning Romanian? Isn't that what you agreed to?"
