Viktor Dragunov:
The factory stood like a forgotten corpse at the edge of the city—rusted walls, shattered windows, silence wrapping around it like a warning no one listened to. But inside… it was anything but dead.
Lights flickered on across the massive interior, illuminating steel tables, crates stacked in rows, weapons laid out with precision. Men moved everywhere—checking, loading, watching. The air smelled of oil, metal… and something darker.
At the center of it all—
Viktor Dragunov stood.
Tall. Still. Unshaken.
A glass of dark liquor rested in his hand, untouched for a while now as his eyes remained fixed on the man sitting across from him.
His business partner.
Alejandro Cortez.
A man just as dangerous, but different—smooth where Viktor was brutal, charming where Viktor was feared. But both shared one thing—
Power.
And greed.
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Alejandro leaned back slightly in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked around the factory.
"…You always did have a taste for dramatic locations, Viktor."
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Viktor didn't smile.
"This place is forgotten," he said coldly. "Which makes it perfect."
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Alejandro chuckled lightly.
"Perfect for illegal business, you mean."
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A pause.
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Viktor finally took a slow sip of his drink.
"…Everything we do is illegal."
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Silence lingered for a second before Alejandro leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"Let's not waste time."
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A black case was placed on the table between them.
Alejandro tapped it lightly.
"9.6 billion."
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The number hung in the air like something unreal.
But for men like them—
It was just another transaction.
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Viktor didn't even look at the case.
Instead, he nodded slightly.
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One of his men stepped forward.
Opening another case.
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Inside—
Neatly packed.
Perfectly sealed.
Drugs.
High-grade.
Deadly.
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Alejandro's eyes glinted.
"…Impressive."
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"Of course," Viktor replied calmly. "I don't deal in anything less."
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Alejandro leaned back again, satisfied.
"This shipment alone will dominate three regions."
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Viktor's gaze sharpened slightly.
"It will kill thousands."
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Alejandro smirked.
"…And make us richer."
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Silence followed.
But there was no guilt.
No hesitation.
---
Because to them—
This wasn't destruction.
It was business.
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Viktor set his glass down.
The sound echoed softly.
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"Tomorrow," he said, his voice low but commanding.
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Every man in the room straightened slightly.
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"No mistakes."
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The words were simple.
But absolute.
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He looked around slowly.
His gaze cold enough to silence even the air.
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"This deal," he continued, "will secure everything."
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His fingers tapped once against the table.
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"After tomorrow…"
A pause.
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"No one touches us."
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His men nodded immediately.
"Yes, boss."
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Alejandro watched him with interest.
"…You sound confident."
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Viktor turned his gaze back to him.
"I am."
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A faint smirk touched Alejandro's lips.
"Even with enemies like Ethan?"
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The name lingered.
But Viktor didn't react.
Not visibly.
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"…Ethan," he repeated.
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Then—
He let out a low, humorless chuckle.
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"He's bold."
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A pause.
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"But bold men die quickly."
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Alejandro raised an eyebrow.
"You underestimate him."
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Viktor's expression hardened slightly.
"I don't underestimate anyone."
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Another pause.
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"But I don't fear them either."
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Silence filled the space again.
Heavy.
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Viktor turned slightly, gesturing toward the factory.
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"Tomorrow, this place will be locked down."
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His voice sharpened.
Precise.
Controlled.
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"Double the guards."
"Snipers on every high point."
"Rotate every five minutes."
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His men immediately began noting everything down.
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"Check every entrance," he continued. "No blind spots."
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He stepped closer to the table.
Leaning slightly forward.
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"And if anyone tries to enter—"
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His voice dropped.
Colder.
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"They don't leave."
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A chill spread across the room.
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Alejandro watched all of this with quiet interest.
"…You really think someone will try something tomorrow?"
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Viktor straightened.
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"I don't think."
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A pause.
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"I prepare."
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That confidence.
That control.
That certainty—
Was what made him dangerous.
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He turned to one of his men.
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"Perimeter?"
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"Secured."
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"Back entrance?"
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"Guarded."
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"Basement?"
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"Locked."
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Viktor nodded once.
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"Good."
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He picked up his glass again.
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"Tomorrow," he said quietly, almost to himself.
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His eyes darkened slightly.
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"Will be my day."
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And in his mind—
It already was.
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Because everything was in place.
The deal.
The money.
The power.
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He didn't know—
Couldn't know—
That somewhere else—
At that very moment—
Ethan was planning every move.
Every second.
Every kill.
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To end him.
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Not just him—
But everything he had built.
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At the same time.
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The irony sat in the air, unnoticed.
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Viktor raised his glass slightly.
A silent toast to his own victory.
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While unknowingly—
He stood on the edge of his downfall.
The men began to move faster after his final command.
Boots echoed across the concrete floor, metal clanged softly as weapons were checked again and again, radios crackled with low voices confirming positions. The entire factory, once abandoned and forgotten, now felt alive—breathing, watching, waiting.
Viktor stood unmoving in the center of it all.
Observing.
Calculating.
Owning every inch of the space like it already belonged to him.
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Alejandro rose from his seat, adjusting the cuff of his expensive suit as he walked a slow circle around the table, his gaze drifting across the stacked crates.
"You've built quite an operation here," he said casually. "Temporary… but effective."
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Viktor didn't turn.
"It doesn't need to last," he replied.
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Alejandro stopped behind him.
"…Because after tomorrow, you won't need it."
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Viktor finally glanced over his shoulder.
A faint, dangerous look in his eyes.
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"Exactly."
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A brief silence passed.
Then Alejandro chuckled under his breath.
"You know," he said, stepping closer again, "most men at your level get comfortable."
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Viktor said nothing.
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"They sit behind walls. Hide behind layers of protection," Alejandro continued. "They stop taking risks."
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Viktor turned fully now.
His expression unreadable.
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"I am not most men."
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The words were quiet.
But absolute.
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Alejandro smiled faintly.
"Yes… that's what makes you interesting."
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He walked past Viktor, stopping near the large broken window that overlooked the outer perimeter.
From there, the guards could be seen—moving, adjusting positions, scanning every shadow.
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"…Still," Alejandro added thoughtfully, "too much confidence can be dangerous."
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Viktor joined him slowly.
Standing beside him.
Looking out.
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"Confidence," Viktor said, "is earned."
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His gaze sharpened slightly.
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"And I've earned mine."
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Alejandro didn't argue.
Because deep down—
He knew it was true.
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But even so—
Something in the air felt… off.
Not enough to alarm.
But enough to notice.
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"…You ever get the feeling," Alejandro said slowly, "that something is coming?"
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Viktor's expression didn't change.
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"Something is always coming."
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A pause.
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"That's why I'm always ready."
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Behind them, one of Viktor's men approached quickly.
"Boss."
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Viktor didn't turn.
"Speak."
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"All teams are in position. Additional guards arriving within the hour."
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Viktor nodded once.
"Good."
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"And the shipment?"
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"Secured."
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"And the money?"
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Alejandro tapped the case lightly from across the room.
"Right here."
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Viktor finally turned back.
Walking toward the table again.
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His hand rested briefly on the case.
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"Tomorrow," he said quietly, almost like a promise,
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"This deal changes everything."
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His men stood straighter.
Listening.
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"No interruptions."
"No failures."
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His voice dropped slightly.
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"And no survivors if something goes wrong."
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The words sent a clear message.
There would be no second chances.
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Alejandro watched him carefully.
"…You're expecting betrayal."
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Viktor's lips curved slightly.
Not into a smile—
But something colder.
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"I expect everything."
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That was the difference.
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He didn't trust.
He didn't assume.
He didn't hope.
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He controlled.
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Viktor picked up his glass again, finishing the remaining liquor in one slow motion.
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Then set it down firmly.
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"Lock it down for the night," he ordered.
"Double checks on all entries."
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His men nodded immediately.
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"And tomorrow…"
He paused.
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"…we make history."
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The lights flickered slightly as the generator hummed in the background.
The factory stood ready.
Guarded.
Fortified.
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A fortress built for one purpose.
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To protect a king—
Who didn't know—
He was already being hunted.
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And as Viktor turned away, walking deeper into the shadows of the factory—
There was only one truth left hanging in the air.
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Tomorrow—
Would belong to someone.
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But not both.