That shot would have painted the tavern’s bottles with Dante’s brains. But he was very fast: before Ash pulled the trigger, Dante quickly moved his head to his left side and jumped from his seat to roll across the floor. He stopped and, in a running stance, positioned himself in front of Ash. Ash quickly corrected the direction of his weapon and fired a second shot. Dante jumped backward and grabbed one of the wooden stools that were at the bar; with great force he threw it at Ash. Although the attack struck and the seat shattered into pieces, Ash did not even flinch.

  But when he managed to have a clear field of vision, he saw Dante lunging at him. Dante grabbed him firmly by the torso. In response, Ash drew his dagger and was about to stab him in the back, but Dante, using all his strength, lifted him over himself and slammed his head against the floor, completing a suplex. Ash remained with his head buried in the wooden floor.

  Dante, in his moment of advantage, went for his bottle of divinifrus and broke it against the bar. He went straight to stab Ash with it, but Ash had already freed himself from his disadvantageous position. Seeing Dante approaching with the broken bottle in his hand, he struck him in the stomach and began to laugh in amusement. With Dante paralyzed by pain on the floor, Ash, with a calm attitude, began brushing off the dirt he had gathered during their small fight.

  — Jajaja, this was fun. I must say, you gave the impression of being a normal guy, but in reality you are quite fierce. Nothing like the man from before.

  — What? Who? What the hell are you talking about? — he asks in pain.

  — Ah... so you are not involved. And here I thought you were that subject’s backup plan.

  — But what do you mean? What plan? What subject?

  — I thought you knew why the city had been evacuated. Didn’t anyone tell you?

  Dante had already imagined it. That man was tonight’s target: one of the monsters that had terrorized the world eighty years ago.

  — How are you here? What happened to Agnar and his men?

  — Uhh... so you are involved after all. So Agnar, huh? That’s what that man is called. Don’t worry, they are all alive. I just escaped... although I could also say I chose not to kill them. Not yet.

  — And why are you trying to kill me?

  Confused and furious, Dante looks at him.

  — I thought you would be capable of locking me up again, but seeing that you had the chance... it seems you are not capable.

  At that moment noises are heard outside; apparently vehicles and people moving. Ash grabs Dante and, using him as a human shield, with the dagger at his neck, they head toward the bar’s door. Outside, a barricade of soldiers and vehicles points their weapons at them. Agnar stands in the middle of the formation and, with a megaphone, shouts at Ash:

  — You already lost. Let the boy go and surrender — he demands with determination in his voice.

  Ash looks at him and, in a mocking tone, replies:

  — Nooo.

  — You know, it seems this boy is someone you know. Isn’t that right, Agnar?

  Agnar remains silent and puts on a very serious expression.

  In the middle of it, Dante shouts at Agnar:

  — Shoot! I’ll be fine.

  Ash, in response, presses his dagger tighter against Dante’s neck. Agnar lowers the megaphone and orders everyone to lower their weapons. Then, unarmed, he approaches Ash and Dante, and asks:

  — What do you want?

  — Better if we go inside and… talk — Ash tells him while pointing with a movement of his head.

  Agnar signals to his men. Then the three of them enter the bar. Ash, keeping some distance, tells Agnar to take a seat on one of the benches beside the wall facing the bar counter. After Agnar does so, Ash and Dante do the same.

  Ash takes out his shotgun, points it at Dante and then puts away the dagger. He says to Agnar:

  — Before you think anything, this time I’m using ammunition. So don’t ruin it.

  — Just tell me what your demands are.

  — Good, straight to the point. You see, for you eighty years have passed, but to me it doesn’t feel like even two hours have gone by. However, I know everything has completely changed: the world is at peace, there are technological advances and there are no longer madmen killing people around. Nevertheless, that doesn’t leave you in a good position. If I had to bet, I would say you should have been able to kill me today without any problem… but that wasn’t the case. I wonder: what did you plan for the next one hundred twenty prisoners? Many of them are stronger… and worse people than me.

  — And why would that matter to you? — Agnar replied.

  — Well, Agnar, that’s the trick. You can make it matter to me.

  Agnar begins to show an expression of curiosity, although he keeps looking at him with slight resentment.

  — As you should know, for me only a couple of hours ago I was working for your enemies, who asked me to destroy your defensive lines. That way, Zhong Guo’s troops would have a free path to invade your country. Buuuut... that was already a long time ago. And although I completed the objective, they did not pay me, and I don’t think they will pay me now. You, on your side, started with the wrong foot the campaign you have to eliminate all these dangerous individuals. And seeing that your gorilla was not a rival for me, it is clear that you need better troops… besides better information about your targets. And conveniently, I am a mercenary from eighty years ago with a lot of experience who is available. What do you think about the situation?

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  — You expect me to pay you so you fight against the other prisoners?

  — Why not? The other individuals will not be as kind as me. If I had wanted to kill them, I would have already done it.

  — And why didn’t you do it?

  — Because there was no need. They did not represent a danger… and besides, I needed to interrogate someone.

  — Is that why you captured one of my men?

  — Calm down. He is safe and sound… only a little drugged. I will tell you later where I left him.

  — Agnar, I know maybe I ruined it, but you have to know this son of a bitch tried to kill me! — Dante exclaimed.

  Agnar puts a furious look on Ash.

  — Reeelax. Look, he is alive, so nothing happens. Besides, you tried to kill me first. Still, I must add that the reason the boy is still alive is because he is quite good fighting. Relatively, he was tougher than you. By the way, what is your name?

  — Dante — the young man said with hostility.

  Agnar takes a look around the bar and sees the signs of the fight that happened before he arrived.

  — Look, hire me. If I die, you won’t have to pay me anything. But if I win, you will take all the credit and no one will know that you failed in your mission from the beginning. Even if it may not seem like it, I am quite a professional. I have never broken an agreement and I always fulfill the objectives I am given. No one else will make you this offer in the future. And with this you will greatly reduce the casualties. Think about it: fire against fire. You know I am not a maniac.

  Agnar looks at him with contempt and distrust.

  — Why did you try to kill Dante?

  — Because I thought he could lock me up. But now that I realized it, it doesn’t seem that anyone else can replicate what happened eighty years ago… or you would have resorted to that person, right?

  — Alright. Say your price — Agnar sighed, waiting for his answer.

  — What?! Are you really going to do it?

  — I have no choice. Today it was proven that we don’t have enough to control the situation. Besides, in one week the next prisoner will be released, and if I use my men, most likely there will be heavy casualties. However, if I send this man, things will be different, without a doubt.

  — How do you know he won’t betray you? — Dante confronted him.

  — You know I’m still here, right? — Ash said, looking at him with indifference.

  — He won’t. He’s a mercenary, that’s what he does.

  — Perfect! That’s how I like it! Good, we will discuss the terms and make a contract. While we are on the way, let’s talk about the conditions and the payment.

  Agnar went to the door and called one of his men. He gave him the necessary orders and soon returned to the group. Most of the team left, and only one of the vehicles remained with a small escort. Agnar returned to the table. Ash had already put away his weapons and Dante’s life was no longer in danger, so Agnar ordered Dante to return home, accompanied by the men who had stayed behind. After that, they began to discuss the terms.

  — Za, start with the payment.

  — Yes, give me a second, I’ll look it up a bit — Ash said, taking out Feng’s cellphone.

  — Is that a cellphone?

  — Yes… the soldier I kidnapped lent it to me. You can return it to him later. Well, from what I see here, you use the Mon, whose value per gram of gold is 30 units. I accept payments in international currencies or precious metals. Now that I will be living here for quite some time, I will accept your local currency or... I will take the payment in gold or platinum. That is your choice.

  The next thing: since this is a special case — since this is not a single mission but a long-term operation — I will charge you for each objective neutralized. Since I do not know all the details and I do not plan to spend the precious time we have searching for information, I will set the price at ninety thousand Mons per head.

  — Three kilos of gold... you can already imagine that we set up an entire project to receive the guests, so our budget ended up significantly short. I can offer you asylum, food, essential services… and give you about fifteen thousand per head.

  — See... I don’t think all those weapons and soldiers were cheap. However, you can ask for more. Mongol is a world power and has good savings stored away, I know it. It’s here, in the phone.

  — The first one didn’t need to be asked, but… why the second?

  — Well, you know I had an association. Now it’s gone. So I plan to start again.

  — Don’t think that once the job is finished you will be able to return to the days from eighty years ago.

  — Oh, no no no. But I don’t swallow that lie that the world is completely at peace either. And you know that even if it were like that, no peace lasts forever. I am only a merchant who satisfies people’s needs. So, until there is real demand… you can stay calm.

  — That comment does not reassure me at all.

  — Even if that were the case, neither you nor I know if we will survive by the end of all this. So deal with one matter at a time.

  — This is not the apocalypse nor the end of the world. Don’t think you are the final solution. If you or I die or fail, there will always be someone who succeeds.

  — Yes, surely. After enormous massacres, genocides, senseless tragedies and possibly years of chaos… surely someone will solve it. Or they will kill each other when there is no one else left.

  Thoughtful for a moment, Agnar keeps looking at Ash and asks:

  — Do you already have someone in mind?

  — Dante.

  Agnar remains stunned for a few moments, and lets out a loud laugh:

  — JAJAJAJAJAJA!

  He continues for several seconds in that state, leaning over the table and striking it with his fist while completely out of control from laughter.

  Ash looks at him in astonishment, watching how the man who moments ago appeared so serious turns into someone completely ordinary.

  — Well… what did I miss?

  Agnar recovers from his fit of laughter and looks at Ash:

  — For years I’ve been insisting that he join my team, and you come… and think you can recruit him just like that?

  — Challenge me.

  He looks at him in silence for a moment.

  — Alright. If you can convince him within one week, I will accept your offer with all your conditions. But if you can’t, you will accept my first offer.

  — Agreed. It’s a deal.

  Ash extends his hand toward Agnar to seal it, and he responds by doing the same.

  With everything said and done, both stand up from the table. As they were heading toward the door, Alfred appears. The old man looks at the two men in surprise, then glances around his bar and is left speechless.

  Ash and Agnar look at each other, then at Alfred, and exchange glances trying to decide who will explain the situation. Finally, Ash puts his hand into the inner pocket of his coat, takes out two small gold ingots and hands them to Alfred, taking his hand and placing them in it while saying:

  — Excuse me, sir. I am the one responsible for this disaster, so I believe this is more than enough to repair the damages and the lost merchandise. Besides, I would like to spend the rest of the night in your bar.

  Alfred, moving his hand up and down as he measures the weight of the gold, puts it away and replies:

  — Yessss! Of course! Please, have a seat here, sir. What would you like to drink?

  Ash, as he sits down and watches Agnar leave through the door, replies:

  — Water, please.