The Mysterious Man
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As Mathis slowly awoke to the sound of cars driving by outside, he realized that Eva was no longer beside him. He scanned the room with bleary eyes until he heard her voice coming from the bathroom. It sounded like she was on the phone. Mathis held his breath, pretending to be asleep, not wanting to interrupt her conversation.
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"No, he's still asleep. I haven't found anything yet. No, he doesn't suspect a thing. I'll go ahead and see. Agree to our deal, or there will be consequences. Please don't send any more gorillas after us; I didn't appreciate that. Okay, I'll be there," Eva whispered.
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Something felt off. It was clear she wasn't speaking to her boss. Mathis continued to feign sleep as he heard her grab her bag and leave the room. Quickly, he dressed and grabbed the room key. In the lobby, he spotted her and kept a safe distance. Her distinctive dress made it easy to follow her through the busy city streets.
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Eva made her way into a dimly lit building, its air heavy with the scent of mildew and age. The second floor was eerily quiet, save for the occasional creak of the rotting floorboards. Mathis, watching from his vantage point on the roof of the adjacent building, noticed the open door leading to the dilapidated structure next door. With a sense of urgency, he ascended the stairs to the rooftop, his footsteps muffled by thick, dust-laden carpets. Finding a concealed spot, he prepared his watch for surveillance.
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As he adjusted the watch's camera and inserted the earplug, Mathis focused on the building Eva had entered. Through the lens, he saw Eva stepping into an old office, its neglected state starkly contrasted by the sparse evidence of recent upkeep. The room was filled with dust-covered furniture and stacks of yellowing papers. In the center of the room, an old chair held a man whose back was shrouded in a dense veil of cigar smoke, obscuring his features.
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The man's voice was low and resonant, carrying an ominous weight. "So you have contacted Kristensen?"
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Eva, standing before him with measured composure, responded, "Yes, I've made contact. I followed him to the hotel as we agreed. There's something about Kristensen that makes him difficult to read."
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The man's voice took on a more authoritative tone. "Indeed, Eva. Mathis Kristensen is a formidable opponent. Born in 1976, he joined the military at the age of 18, and since then, his identity has been meticulously guarded. He operates under Section K of the Norwegian Defense Forces' military intelligence branch."
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Mathis, listening intently, was troubled by the man's detailed knowledge. He wondered who within the intelligence command could be leaking such sensitive information.
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Eva's curiosity was evident, her eyes narrowing slightly. "But what exactly does K-section stand for?"
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The man leaned forward, though his face remained hidden behind the swirling smoke. His voice grew darker, imbued with an unsettling calm. "Kill Section. Kristensen commands some of the most lethal operatives and has undergone extensive training with the US SEALs and other elite military units. He's one of the select few involved in a clandestine joint project focused on advanced military tactics and strategies."
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Mathis felt a shiver run down his spine. The man's extensive knowledge about his background indicated a sophisticated and far-reaching intelligence network. The implications were deeply unsettling.
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Eva's demeanor was resolute, her gaze unwavering. "I was tasked with assessing the validity of this source. Allow me to do my job without further interference. Stop sending those brutish enforcers; let me handle Kristensen in my own way."
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The man's voice took on a chillingly authoritative tone. "Eva, you're young and promising, but this operation is of critical importance to us. If you fail to meet our expectations, you know the consequences."
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Eva's expression remained stoic as she nodded in agreement. "Understood. I'll keep a close watch on him."
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As Eva exited the room, Mathis's mind raced with questions about the extent of this mysterious figure's knowledge and the true nature of Eva's role.
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Moments later, another door creaked open. A tall, broad-shouldered man with a light beard and piercing dark eyes entered the office. His round face, set in a serious expression, added to the atmosphere of menace that seemed to pervade the room.
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"What's the point of continuing to use her? I think she'll bring trouble. Shall I eliminate her and Kristensen, Sir?" the broad-shouldered man asked.
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The man in the chair remained silent for a moment before responding, the smoke from his cigar curling in the air. "Kristensen is as dangerous as a cobra. After his team died in a helicopter crash, he completed a mission alone against guerrilla leaders. We can't underestimate him. He has no family to use as leverage, so be cautious."
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The broad-shouldered man nodded. "And Eva?"
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"Eva may be difficult, but she's valuable. If anything happens to her, it could jeopardize everything. Keep an eye on her, but if Kristensen gets too close, eliminate him. Keep me updated," the man said.
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Mathis tried to photograph the man, but a car arrived just as Eva was leaving. He trailed her to the car park but was too slow to follow directly.
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Determined to find out more, Mathis approached the driver of the dark sedan Eva had exited. He brandished his gun and demanded, "Tell me where you dropped off the woman."
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The driver's eyes widened with fear, and he started to reach for the gun. Mathis slammed his hand into the driver's stomach, causing him to gasp in pain. "Tell me where you drove her."
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The driver, in pain and struggling to breathe, managed to show Mathis an address on his phone before passing out from a blow to the jaw.
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Mathis retrieved the information and quickly left the parking garage, his mind already planning his next move.
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