The girl looked happy as she began to speak. "So, are we going?" she asked, biting her lip.
Achim looked at her with mixed emotions. "Not this weekend…"
The girl's expression became annoyed: "Oh, c'mon, we stopped going there almost a month ago…"
"I can't go now…" Achim said.
"What about next week?" the girl asked.
The girl leaned in closer, her expression excited. "We will go, right?"
Achim sighed; he knew he couldn't say no to her anymore. "Why do you want to go there so badly?"
The girl shrugged with a mischievous smile on her face. "What do you mean, why? Everyone else is going. Besides, there is alcohol there, great music, and many people!"
Achim shook his head, a hint of disapproval in his voice. "I have alcohol in the cabinet over there if you want it…"
The girl pouted but quickly regained her composure. "Yeah, but we do not have the same freedom as there… Besides, I want to dance a little bit and just have fun," the girl said, smiling excitedly.
Erik watched their expressions closely. Achim seemed suspicious and guarded, while the girl appeared playful and mischievous. However, what was unfolding was good, as the woman was pushing Achim to go out, and that would be the right moment to strike. However, judging by Achim's expression, it was clear that he feared something or someone and that someone was probably him.
<This is getting interesting…> Erik said.
***
Achim hesitated for a moment longer but eventually nodded in agreement. Maybe she was right, and a night out was just what he needed to de-stress.
"Okay," he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Let's do it."
"You can't change your mind!" the girl said. "When will we go on Saturday?"
"Okay, but not this, the next weekend… I need to solve some problems before going out. Okay?"
"Sure, honey," the woman smiled.
"Listen," Achim said, sitting up suddenly. "I need to talk to my dad about the situation. See where we stand, you know?"
His girlfriend looked up at him; concern etched on her face. "Do you think that's a good idea? With everything that's going on?"
Achim shrugged. "I don't have a choice. We need to figure out what our next move is. And besides, I'm not afraid of a little conflict."
His girlfriend smiled weakly, knowing that he was right. Conflict was a part of life in the Mambas, and if Achim's family wanted to come out on top, they had to be willing to fight for it.
"I'll be here when you get back," she said, lying back on the couch. Achim nodded, leaning over to kiss her. "Thanks," he said before dressing up and heading out the door.
As he walked down the hallway towards the meeting room, his mind raced. He knew that the next few weeks were going to be tough, but he was determined to come out on top.
***
<This is getting more and more interesting…> Erik thought. He then made a mental calculation, if the two were going to Nathaniel's father's club next Saturday, that would be on the 29th, five days before the biological supercomputer would tell him the results of its research for a new and more efficient method to develop neural links.
If he did things well, he would put an end to this situation next week.
***
In the meantime, Achim went to his father, walking through the endless corridors of his grand villa, the sound of his footsteps echoing off the marble floors. The walls were adorned with priceless works of art, each painting and sculpture meticulously chosen to convey an air of elegance and sophistication. The grand chandelier above him glittered, casting a soft glow throughout the hallway.
As he walked, he passed by numerous rooms, each one grander than the last. One was a spacious ballroom, complete with a polished dance floor and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Another was a library lined from floor to ceiling with books, many rare and antique.
Further down the hall, he passed by a gallery displaying his father's extensive collection of antique weaponry: swords, spears, and guns, each with a story to tell and a place in history. Achim wanted to stop to admire a particularly ornate sword and its blade, etched with intricate designs and symbols and complex history behind it. Still, the urgency of the situation and his bad mood prompted him to go faster to his father.
Finally, he reached Markus's office. The door was made of heavy wood, intricately carved with designs of dragons and mythical creatures. Achim pushed it open, revealing a spacious room filled with plush armchairs and a large oak desk. The walls were lined with bookshelves, filled to the brim with leather-bound tomes.
His father, Markus Werner, sat behind the desk, his sharp eyes scanning through documents. Achim could see the worry etched on his face—stress lines creasing his forehead.
"Achim, is something wrong? You don't usually come to my office…" Markus said
"Yes, Dad. I came to you to talk about something important…"
Achim took a seat across from his father; he couldn't help but feel grateful for the grand villa that had been passed down through their family. It was a place of luxury, a sanctuary where he could retreat from the troubles of the world. But even here, he knew, the world had a way of creeping in, and they had to face the problems that lay ahead.
Erik was watching everything unfold with rapt attention, at the same time recording.
"What's on your mind, son?" Markus asked, taking off his glasses and setting them down on the desk.
"It's about the Mambas," Achim began, leaning against the desk. His father immediately understood what he wanted to talk about.
"I was thinking about what you told me a couple of days ago. Since Nathaniel's death has caused a lot of problems in the group, I'm being a little bit restless. The ongoing power struggle is weighing on my mind, and I think we need to figure out which side we're on."
Markus raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so interested in this? I'm usually the one who takes care of these things. I already know the situation is worrying, but it is my job to figure it out. I think you should calm down."
The situation in the Mambas at the moment was chaotic. Since Nathaniel's death, there have been some internal struggles within the group. Some people wanted to keep things the way they were, with Nathaniel's father as the leader, but others wanted a change in leadership.
Matthew had been the revered leader of the notorious criminal organization known as the Mambas for years. Under his ruthless and cunning leadership, the Mambas had established a formidable presence in the underworld, with lucrative operations spanning across the city.
Now, dissent and disagreements festered among the ranks, with different factions vying for control and influence. Some of the more ambitious members of the organization had grown restless and dissatisfied with Matthew's leadership in the past already, which had been exacerbated by Nathaniel's death.
Markus nodded thoughtfully. "I know that. Maxine and her group a stirred up a lot of trouble lately. Barely a week has passed since Nathaniel's death and Matthew's sudden situation, and she is already planning how to take over the group."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Achim said. "I mean, Nathaniel's father has always been good to us, and we've been loyal to him for a long time. But with everything that's been going on, I'm unsure if it's the right move to stay with him. He couldn't even solve the dispute between Maria and Ricardo."
The power struggle often spilled over into minor scuffles and skirmishes among the various internal groups. Rival factions clashed in clandestine meetings, backroom brawls, and even street fights as they jostled for control and influence.
In one incident, a group internal to the Mambas and loyal to a high-ranking lieutenant named Ricardo clashed with a rival faction led by a cunning strategist named Maria.
The dispute arose over control of a lucrative smuggling operation, and tensions quickly escalated into a heated confrontation.
Fists flew, weapons were drawn, and threats were exchanged. Other organization members eventually broke up the scuffle, but the animosity between the two groups simmered beneath the surface, fueling further distrust and tension within the Mambas.
That greatly surprised Erik. The whole conversation was a revelation, to begin with, but the fact that Achim didn't know where his loyalty should lie was a surplus.
Markus leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin. "It's a tough call, son. On the one hand, loyalty is important, but on the other, I'm aware we have to think about our own interests as well."
"Yeah," Achim agreed. "And I think we need to decide soon before things escalate even further."
Markus nodded again. "Agreed. We'll have to weigh our options carefully and see which side will be best for us. But one thing's certain: we can't afford to stay on the sidelines. However, as I said, these are things I must figure out. Don't worry."
Achim nodded in agreement, but he was also restless. "Dad, there is something I must tell you…"
"What, son?" he asked with a curious look.
"It's about Nathaniel's death. I may know something the others don't…"
Markus's face suddenly got serious. If someone learned about this, trouble would come to their family.
The man stood up and put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Tell me everything you know…" Erik was now devoting his full attention to the two men.
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