Meet the source
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZA0ACByXR
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW7ey8dgJR
As Mathis navigated the bustling city streets, a nagging sense of irritation gnawed at him, fueled by the whirlwind of events from the past few days. While there had been fleeting moments of peace, the looming shadow of pursuit had never lifted. It was becoming increasingly clear to Mathis that contacting the source was crucial to unravel the mystery behind the relentless chase by unknown adversaries.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhqyOGpDBQ
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IrwpodC7P
Mathis felt a sense of relief as he carefully loaded all of Bram's files into the car. He knew the criminals were likely staking out the hotel by now, so returning there was pointless. As he drove back into town, he found a parking space and finally felt he could take a moment to breathe.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPjub7Xs4B
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVca3zdX9K8
The city was waking up, its vibrant energy starkly contrasting with the weight Mathis carried. As the sun rose higher in the sky, its soft blue hues brought a sense of joy to the people. Shops were opening, and a stream of pedestrians began to flow in. Mathis navigated through the bustling crowd, eventually finding himself in a quaint little park. At the center stood a magnificent statue of a knight. Mathis kept a keen eye on the people around him as he approached the statue, but no one appeared suspicious. Before moving on, he discreetly inscribed a symbol on the statue's base. Mathis's thoughts were sharp and clear. "I believe the source is still in town; they're probably just trying to understand what happened."
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLMs3KBRyQ
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4yjPAzCcR
Mathis stumbled upon a charming open-air café and settled into a comfortable chair at a sleek metal table. A large parasol shielded him from the sun's radiant warmth, casting a soft, dappled light over the area.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOM0bRiuAD
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDirv2xRId
The breeze brushed gently against him as several people strolled by, some breaking into a run while others cycled past. Time seemed to slip away as the conversations around him buzzed, and the glasses on the table slowly filled with condensation. Just as Mathis was about to take a bite of his sandwich, a message popped up.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHkFtC6rHt
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoqY80uccG
"A monkey and a turtle went to a party; the monkey asked the turtle..." was the message.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DARt2L53J
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kWXDebO5M
The sender consistently sent cryptic messages, making it impossible to respond without prior context. Mathis decided to play along, responding, "Why were the rabbits unable to join?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiEI4pyS2w
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuO1FW1W18
"Good to hear from you again, old friend. What happened to Bram?" came the reply.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsOOUyhoFf
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSPY0GNXOc
"Unfortunately, Bram is no longer with us. What information did you have that was so important?" Mathis waited impatiently for the answer.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVzbGDX1lD
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpChuVMpmQB
"I see. Meet me at the old tower house in an hour. You know where." read the message.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMVYMv8Xav
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AErATt0Ql
They had often exchanged messages, though they had never met in person. After finishing his meal, Mathis returned to his car and left the city behind. He soon arrived at a weathered old church. Exiting the car, he surveyed his surroundings carefully, scanning for potential threats before entering the dilapidated building. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he proceeded cautiously into the abandoned sanctuary.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDGXAFUc7E
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC00khKk2Y
The scene was eerie: overturned benches, broken chandeliers, and a thick layer of dust coating everything. With a growing sense of foreboding, Mathis drew his gun from its holster and cautiously ascended a creaky staircase leading to the church tower. Despite the quiet, an unsettling stillness hung in the air, broken only by the groan of the old stairs underfoot. At the top of the tower, a weathered church bell dangled, and remnants of decaying wood framed the perimeter. As Mathis peered over the edge, a voice spoke from behind.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGfc9yX7Mi
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf0M9By6sB
"Hello, old friend. Nice to finally meet you, Mathis."
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXGfIQHqR4
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtskkYKYtRr
Mathis's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his gun as he moved cautiously forward. Skeptical but calm, he greeted the man with a measured tone. "Good to meet you too. What's the name of the rabbit's friend?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsiHEdxGm4
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EJLh8NIOf
The man turned and smiled, breaking the silence. "The Monkey and the Turtle."
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ827qvFdtBz
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf9o249fcU
Mathis slowly holstered his gun, feeling its weight settle at his hip. He stood beside the tall, slender man, who had a smooth, round head with only a few strands of hair. The man's eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, and his black jacket obscured his appearance. Despite the disguise, Mathis estimated him to be in his mid-fifties. This moment held significance for Mathis; the man had been a valuable source of information for many years. A rare mix of emotions stirred within him as he stood face-to-face with the man for the first time. "So, why did you call this meeting? What's so important?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDJY4k4wuT
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF826AQDzZs
The man looked down briefly before meeting Mathis's gaze. "There exists a substantial criminal organization known as the Shadow Front. This group is dedicated to destabilizing global peace for their own profit. Their operations span far beyond your home country of Norway. Their latest plan threatens countless lives and could cause global devastation," the man warned.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIJPBTbqpS
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEl2Hg39N6
Mathis's eyes narrowed again as a sense of dread washed over him. Could they be planning a major assassination? What dark event lay ahead? These questions raced through his mind as he spoke. "What's going to happen? Is this about an assassination? There have been plenty of people who've tried and failed to conquer the world," he asked, his voice tinged with both concern and doubt.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhgFgXopwo
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzU4SILRx9
"It's much bigger than that, my friend. They've developed a computer program capable of hacking into any system worldwide. Once activated, it can plant viruses, compromise networks, and crash critical systems. Think of the chaos they could cause, or the leverage they could gain. Imagine a country wanting to ruin another—North Korea, for instance."
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsECfMrfmBm
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUgudRonnW
Mathis felt skeptical—it all seemed far-fetched. Hacking into computers once seemed impossible, but not anymore. Despite his doubts, he couldn't ignore the threat. "How can you be sure this is true?" he asked, watching the man closely.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX6gDK1w5V
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDe5XKhT9V
"I have confirmation and extensive information about the organization. An assassination is not in the works, but if they manage to hack into the world's computer systems, the global impact will be catastrophic. This organization has infiltrated several governments and intelligence agencies, including your own," the man said.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot0b6HXfCO
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZMqvVsuy0
This was a lot for Mathis to process—global domination through computer hacking. Everything the man said felt like something straight out of a spy novel. "Who is this organization? Who is the mole?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSyWGwQQav
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2VkKDyMG6
"The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II. As the war was ending, a group of individuals took it upon themselves to recover treasures looted by the Nazis. A submarine was assigned a top-secret mission to transport valuables, including crucial documents detailing the locations of hidden assets like gold. The submarine also carried numerous chests filled with treasures that had been stored in Norway during the war," the man explained.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuhdX0rZ6t
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SGHwpTNeH
Mathis considered this carefully. "Are you saying a German submarine crew founded this organization after the war?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3manZz6yGu
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJz1RkYkrq
"Unfortunately, I have no information about the submarine's fate. But I do know the person who established the group. I can also provide details about the current leadership within the organization," the man disclosed.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF3RyI3i04
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0qqPcIQRN
Mathis's mind raced. "Who is this person with so much influence? When will this worldwide upheaval take place?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr1McbJaOL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1qGMnOWek
"I'm not certain of the exact timeline, but the mission could be completed within the next week. If you can arrange for me to leave the country with a new identity, I'll reveal the rest of the information," the man offered.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtegCmO1Wy
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfNK4Jw0ll
Mathis was determined to learn more before agreeing to help. "Can you at least tell me who currently leads the organization?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1FoJgXJ24
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv5WiwDS8P
As he spoke, a sudden, sharp crack split the air—a gunshot. The man staggered backward, a cry escaping him as he crumpled to the ground. More shots followed, the sounds fading as Mathis dropped to the ground. He saw blood seeping from the man's chest, but he was still alive. "Who runs the organization? What's the rest of the information?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF7FbYAckS
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcfcomlJ8n
"Go to Berlin. Once there, head to the Westin Grand Berlin Hotel. Look for Bree Schneider—she can help you," the man said weakly.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRqxtGU9Qz
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI6CA6sCcm
Mathis found a handkerchief in the man's jacket and pressed it to the gunshot wound, trying to stop the bleeding. "Who's the leader?" he asked urgently.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbzs5AyiDm
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Fa8fRRWAC
"I'm not entirely sure. There's an elderly man who has led the group for some time, but there's uncertainty about his role now. There's also a figurehead, a man who smokes cigars—a very old-fashioned sort. But the real leader is a woman, connected to the submarine mission," the man explained, his voice growing weaker.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TFXC2p9Sj
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMAaxX3XtU
The pain worsened, and the man began to cough up blood. "She's extremely dangerous, manipulative. I don't know much about her, but I've heard rumors that her father was involved with the Norwegian government after the war. She's ruthless—she killed the father of her child when he opposed her involvement in the organization. I don't know her real name, but within the group, they call her 'E,'" the man whispered, his eyes dimming with every word.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZc75Frctl
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFC81Urmve
Mathis's heart pounded. A woman with a daughter—could it be?
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFBctUYV8M
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIohWBr78N
"I've heard she murdered the child's father to protect her role in the organization. She'll stop at nothing. I don't know her real name, but she's only referred to as 'E,'" the man added, his voice barely audible.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5hhUnCHyg
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc51UQ80CC
Mathis's thoughts raced, the puzzle pieces falling into place. But he needed more information. "How do you know so much about this organization?" he demanded, tightening his grip on the man's shoulder, trying desperately to stop the bleeding.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn2jNM7kBf
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOBhJUZlSv
"I was part of it... the mole is..." the man gasped.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDlq97Hc38
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6wgyi91DC
Mathis pressed harder on the wound, desperation in his voice. "What's your name? Who's the mole?"
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOfjeOlwBd
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuQRon3cCW
The man's breathing became shallow, his eyes glazed with pain. "My name is Nicolay Pavlova... The mole's name is..." His voice trailed off into a faint whisper.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUIyxJQkvX
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39PV2UKDUy
Mathis leaned in, straining to hear, but Nicolay's eyes fluttered shut, his body going limp. Checking his pulse, Mathis realized it was too late—Nicolay was gone. A wave of disbelief and frustration washed over him as he stood over his fallen informant.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkGtKARFJ5
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FEaKKBe35
"E? No, it can't be... Eva?" Mathis muttered, the name echoing in his mind. The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He recalled the time he had saved Eva and her daughter, a situation that now seemed laced with dark undertones. She had once ordered a woman out of her daughter's room—an encounter that now took on a far more sinister meaning.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9uRhlafw6
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawT9aJOJNl
Mathis's heart raced as he absorbed the revelation. If Eva was indeed the "E" Nicolay had spoken of, it meant she was deeply involved with the Shadow Front. Worse, Eva's daughter could be in grave danger. He had to confirm Eva's true identity, uncover her motives, and protect her child, if necessary.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OsJUtNje9
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFwBODpSKR
Steeling himself for what lay ahead, Mathis began planning his next move. Every detail mattered; every second counted. To unravel this conspiracy, he would need all his skills, resourcefulness, and resolve.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyx8nynrqI
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUtP6DWd9Z
As he prepared to embark on this dangerous new mission, the weight of Nicolay's death and the urgency of the situation pushed him forward. The stakes had never been higher, and Mathis knew that revealing the truth behind Eva's involvement with the Shadow Front was now his most critical task.
ns216.73.216.176da2
