Oslo, Norway
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLToNSGzKaG
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WIJ0FvpSX
The city was draped in a gray haze as Mathis sat in his car, eyes fixed on the antique shop at the end of a narrow alley. Despite hours without sleep, he remained vigilant, periodically checking his phone for updates. Cold air seeped through the car windows, carrying the faint scent of rain. The streets were empty, eerily quiet, as if the city itself held its breath.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOedrYFPsu
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgjl9r13HP
Suddenly, gunshots rang out, shattering the stillness. Mathis bolted upright, grabbing his weapon as he slipped out of the car. He moved swiftly to the corner of a nearby building, his pulse quickening. From there, he assessed the situation. Amid the chaos, he spotted a shattered store window and two people crumpled on the ground.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ60Xq1mwT
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6INAvzOWDv
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the fallen. The pavement gleamed with fresh blood. Kneeling beside them, Mathis checked for pulses—both were unresponsive. The chill of the Oslo morning clung to him, but he pushed the dread away. He had been watching this shop for days. Something was about to break, and now, it had.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfpi5BBlZj
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqGdP6aQOt
His eyes snapped back to the antique shop. Whatever had gone down, the answers were inside.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7srtlsejs
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGJS4QbctK
Bursting through the door, his voice cut through the tension, "Anyone need help?"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyF1DrjG4i
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUKiCCmb2j
Behind the counter, the man Mathis had been surveilling lay wounded but alive. His eyes, wide with pain, locked onto Mathis. "Nine days," the man rasped, barely clinging to consciousness. "Nine days..." And with that, he fell silent.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnEiQ8H50o
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FWvorGfmg
The distant wail of sirens grew louder. Mathis quickly pocketed his phone, dialing a number. "Shots fired, multiple casualties. I need immediate assistance—police are en route."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ygm9f9nel
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVtPk4qKav
The front door burst open, and a young officer entered, gun raised. "Police! Hands up!"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqFwl6zLxl
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLNXs8kuzK
Mathis slowly raised his hands, his ID in one, moving deliberately. "I'm with military intelligence," he said, his voice firm but calm. The officer relaxed slightly but remained on edge.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy1kX0YJTf
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuf5p6s1ve
"Secure the area," Mathis ordered, rising to his feet. "This is now a national security matter."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQobyUArEM
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiyUS3vywF
The officer hesitated but obeyed, stepping outside to call in reinforcements. Alone again, Mathis turned back to the shop, the old man's cryptic words echoing in his head. Nine days.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuThTQaUSf
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLQjfs1b0X
"What happens in nine days?" he muttered, rifling through shelves and drawers, searching for any clue to the man's final message. But nothing stood out.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWH8Sd8Lln
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWyXJOBARd
He paused, his mind racing. Why had this man been so important? The name Shadow Front flickered in his thoughts—a global organization tied to political upheavals and intelligence leaks. They had been quiet for months, but this felt like their work. Whatever was happening in nine days, it was bigger than a botched hit.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGamddZk4g
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tnW54FVCj
A stern voice broke the silence behind him. "Who the hell are you?"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrFcCuifIr
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADtCVjPOC3
Mathis turned to face a police chief, his expression unreadable. "This is classified," Mathis replied coolly. "Your team needs to back off. My people will handle this."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJSmKd4PiG
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILE8WcUKhj
Before the chief could argue, Mathis's phone buzzed. He answered curtly, "Yes?"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs7vglwPkk
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpCeAvNBQ6
"Briefing. Immediately at mansion 1," a voice commanded. Without another word, Mathis slipped past the stunned police chief and headed to his car. The streets of Oslo seemed darker now. Whatever was coming in nine days, it was already too close.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjMTh8aWRk
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltFcW9TgH4
After navigating through Oslo's streets, Mathis found himself just outside the city, where the urban landscape gradually gave way to countryside estates. Several houses dotted the area, but none stood out quite like the large mansion looming ahead. Its towering columns and pristine stone facade gleamed in the fading afternoon light, exuding an air of old-world grandeur. Manicured lawns stretched before it, with carefully trimmed hedges lining a cobblestone driveway, while a fountain gurgled gently in the center.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhcu3KWUNx
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCaGoWKctY
As Mathis approached the gate, a subtle sense of unease crept in. His eyes flicked over the mansion's high windows, searching for signs of movement. Who was watching from behind those glass panes? Despite the serene exterior, his instincts warned him something wasn't quite right.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNku1Y6q2zd
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpENsAoLi6f
The guard at the gate wore a stoic expression, his movements precise and deliberate as he scanned Mathis's ID. The briefest flicker of recognition passed through the guard's eyes before the gate creaked open, and he was waved through without a word.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iqHusqP7m
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1mGVpTqny
After parking the car, Mathis stepped out and made his way to the mansion's main entrance, an imposing set of double doors that swung open as he approached. Inside, the elegance of the place hit him immediately—high ceilings, gleaming marble floors, and crystal chandeliers. Before he could take in more, a man stepped forward with a polite but firm apology.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoSJjrALu3
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xHCqbh2PL
"Standard procedure, sir. I'll need to check for weapons."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdj9P8xzFM
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt0Zw5Bpn7
Mathis nodded, the professionalism familiar. He opened his jacket without protest, allowing the man to retrieve his sidearm before being led through the grand hallways.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlbm78xxMg
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxw6jvM1K5
Finally, a door was opened, revealing an elegant sitting room. Two large sofas faced a crackling fireplace, the warmth immediately enveloping the room. The scent of leather and aged wood filled the air, a subtle contrast to the chill outside. As Mathis took a seat, his eyes scanned the room—a place of wealth and power, meticulously maintained. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, and the curtains swayed gently in the faint breeze from an open window.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZkvywxFu6
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAjQEXknW5
He leaned back, his senses heightened as he waited. At that moment, a large door creaked open, and the admiral walked in. Mathis immediately stood.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr1sTYYHFt
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJYBUuugoa
"Sir, I've never been here before—nice house," Mathis said, trying to sound respectful. But the admiral's irritated expression crushed any hope of casual conversation.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88VoIG66rj
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdImcqHvrQy
"Agent 13," the admiral snapped, his tone sharp. "You need to put this private vendetta of yours to rest. It's been six months since Argentina. All leads have gone cold. Leave this alone. Is that understood?"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFDR8w1Jf0
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjqqj627ve
Mathis blinked, surprised by the sudden reprimand, but his frustration quickly rose. He clenched his fists at his sides. "With respect, sir, we still haven't found the mole. We still haven't identified the leader. The man I was monitoring said something would happen in nine days—"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53hiTPcOJj
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvdBKokYv0
"No, Agent 13." The admiral's voice was firm, unyielding. "Eva was the mole. We both know that. The case is closed, and nothing has happened since your last mission. You're chasing ghosts."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyE5u13ngD
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26Y7s2Oz4C
Mathis clenched his jaw, the urge to argue rising. Eva couldn't have been the only one. The entire operation had collapsed too cleanly—too quickly. Bram's death still weighed on him like a stone in his chest. He couldn't let this go. But before he could speak, the admiral continued.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wsgNNHJVV
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix2M5sCYfg
"Mathis, I like you. I've always respected you. But enough is enough. I have a new assignment, and it's important. Is that understood?"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm9xbshUsV
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpVDvBGEm7
Mathis swallowed his anger, nodding stiffly. "Yes, sir. What's the mission?"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAzrskW0Pt
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡle2uPa5Kxe
The admiral sat down and slid a thick folder across the table. Mathis picked it up and began to thumb through it, feeling the familiar weight of classified documents. As he scanned the pages, the admiral's voice cut through his thoughts.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz8jNswqR7
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DZBiqPlOR
"What you're looking at is a new drone developed here in Norway. It's the size of a small phone—nearly silent. Its defense mechanism is lethal: seven precise shots, and it carries a rocket capable of devastating a large area. It's been stolen. We tracked it to Sweden and Germany, but the trail has gone cold. Your mission is to follow up."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKv5UFjPAk
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ475C0QnU2o
Mathis paused, the implications sinking in. He studied the drone's sleek design in the photos, its capabilities sending a chill down his spine. This wasn't just any drone—it was a weapon of terrifying precision, one that could easily fall into the wrong hands.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoF5RG2KRz
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWrNNqg5a8
"And you believe it's still there? In Germany?" Mathis asked, his voice steady but wary.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfTphqXS7j
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNXGvCro41
"That's where we lost the trail. But new intel suggests it's on the market, possibly in Italy. If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences could be catastrophic."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUjjtbE0uA
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVKpjLdz6k
Mathis absorbed the information, but his mind kept drifting back to the man's words—nine days. Could this stolen drone be connected? Was the Shadow Front involved? It was hard to believe it was a coincidence, especially with everything at stake. But the admiral wasn't going to let him chase that lead—not now.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT2YgrmnLi
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXrRyr7L1l
"Understood, sir," Mathis said, his voice tight. He tucked the folder under his arm. But as he stood, his mind was already racing with thoughts of how to pursue both missions. The admiral might want him to bury the past, but Mathis wasn't done. Not yet. The Shadow Front, the mole—he'd finish this, one way or another.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5C5GpSdDG
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZPwjqmo5u
As the admiral dismissed him, Mathis left the room, his steps brisk. The cold air outside the mansion hit his face, sharp and bracing, but it did nothing to quell the storm in his mind.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyGLZP7Gqw
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgknWIRiSK
Nine days. He wouldn't let this slip away—not like Argentina. Not again.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxVwv0mFgZ
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYZrZWvIgJ
Back in his car, Mathis flipped open the file once more, scanning the details of the drone and the intel trail that led to Germany and possibly Italy. There were names of operatives, surveillance photos, but nothing concrete. He needed more than what the admiral had given him. The trail had gone cold—that much was true. But Mathis knew someone who might have the means to warm it up.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RRtOHDfUf
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl1jTaOuGw
She had deep contacts in Germany and Italy. She'd been working as an intelligence liaison and had a reputation for gathering information others couldn't. The last time they worked together, they had nearly been killed in a gunfight in Argentina, but she still trusted him. At least, he hoped she did.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzDnVSpfdl
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT344zzDgu7
Pulling out his phone, Mathis dialed Bree's number and listened to the steady ring.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJjnHMB6Nr
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcXzvExXHh
A cool, familiar voice answered. "I'm guessing this isn't a social call, Mathis."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg5qHNYrr8
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vgETCH9XL
"Bree, I need intel on a missing drone. Norwegian tech. Might be floating around Germany or Italy."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzatTgPZVdo
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhorA7Ugi3r
There was a pause on the other end. "You're in luck. I've been hearing whispers about some new tech on the black market. I'll dig into it, but it'll take a day or two."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROvSgXuZlZ
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFmvnWDP1r
"I don't have that much time," Mathis said urgently. "Nine days—something big is coming, and I think it's tied to this."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULwlYb7Klk
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt5nNgoWUn
"Mathis," she sighed, "I hope you're not chasing ghosts again."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3BYhGkhtG
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfOMykO3Lm
"Just get me the intel," he said, sharper than intended. "This is bigger than just a stolen drone."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQFr3oMr8c
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOqutcSwA1
He hung up, running a hand through his hair. Time was running out. His next step was clear: follow up on the truck explosion, which might provide additional clues. Bree's assistance would be invaluable, but Mathis had to move quickly.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrgQPwwbQ0
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQdx6rkg2Z
Driving back through the narrow streets of Oslo, Mathis felt the weight of his mission pressing down on him. The city's lights blurred as he navigated toward Brillo's workshop. Brillo was known for his gadgets and had previously outfitted Mathis with equipment that had saved his life more than once.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yyR1rt6Ct
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWGBDmcgUX
When Mathis arrived at the workshop, the small building was dimly lit but bustling with activity. Inside, the walls were lined with high-tech gadgets and military equipment. Brillo, a burly man with an ever-present smirk, was tinkering with a device at his workbench.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKynSs58Bx
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeFE8JWsIY
"Mathis!" Brillo greeted, wiping his hands on a rag. "What's got you running around like a madman?"
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf8ngrXuMa
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4u7gY612k
"I need some new tools," Mathis said, approaching the workbench. "Got a mission involving a stolen drone and some high-stakes tracking. And I need to follow up on an exploded truck."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSXd2mvaEF
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vhZKnktt8
Brillo's eyes gleamed with interest. "A drone, huh? Sounds like you're going to need more than just the basics."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3JQppLCxo
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsk4l4HsCn
Brillo began assembling a set of gadgets—compact surveillance devices, encrypted communication tools, and a few other high-tech items Mathis couldn't immediately identify. "These should help you with tracking and securing information. They're top of the line. If you need anything else, just let me know."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotwHehAPsJ
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPteyIGYB2T
Mathis accepted the tools with a nod of thanks. "I appreciate it. I'll need every advantage I can get. Bree's working on tracking the drone, but the truck explosion might be related. I need to piece everything together quickly."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYhfE8xXKf
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdXok7OdyN
As Mathis prepared to leave, Brillo clapped him on the back. "Be careful out there. And if you need any upgrades or repairs, you know where to find me."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94y6rqgkVX
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60lS625HBO
Mathis headed back to his car, feeling slightly more prepared but still anxious about the ticking clock. He needed to get to Germany and Italy, find the stolen drone, and uncover the connection between the explosion and the Shadow Front.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB7zJXMAZS
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMciH6rGPT
As he drove through Oslo's streets, his mind raced with the tasks ahead. The nine-day deadline loomed large, and he knew that every second counted. He had to be methodical, precise, and relentless.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuratQY1Ra
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGq9A2WCGX
Mathis's phone buzzed with a new message from Bree. She had already started digging and would update him soon. That was one piece of the puzzle falling into place. He just had to ensure the rest followed suit.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLE6sLDseu
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCqFbh2tjJ
With renewed determination, Mathis continued through the darkening streets of Oslo, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
ns3.20.232.154da2
