Re: Life – Business & Technology - Chapter 86

(Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 200!)

(New video out on YouTube!)

In mid-July of 2013, roughly a week after Brendan Greene officially joined Future Studios, a Caucasian man in his mid-30s was scrolling through his phone’s contact list.

Enigma was sitting in a different office furnished as lavishly as ones at other Anarchy bases, enjoying a glass of Macallan whiskey.

His aid, a man wearing a dark combat suit and balaclava, entered the office to notify Enigma about his current mission.

“Hades, what do you have for me?” Enigma asked as he placed his phone on the desk.

“My strike team is supplied and ready to meet up with the unmarked Russian operatives for our contract in the Caribbean. Forced extraction is par for the course for our men. Still, the other mission involving the assassination of the Anarchy defectors won’t be easy considering they work for Future Security now.” Hades replied in detail.

“That’s fine. As I said, Anarchy will have to lay low for the time being. However, nothing is stopping us from availing this kind of service from the true assassination professionals.” Enigma stated in a calm tone.

“You mean The Guild? I understand they’re the best with that sort of operation, but I doubt they’ll do better than our in-house hitmen.” Hades replied skeptically.

“I know you’ve had run-ins and bad experiences with members of The Guild, but we’ve had a decent relationship with them for decades now, and I trust they will hold the end of their bargain. So you’re clear to depart for the extraction mission. Here are the contact details of our Russian intermediary.” Enigma stated before dismissing his right-hand man.

Then Enigma found the contact number he was looking for on his mobile phone and called it.

The call request passed through Digital Anarchy’s private communication network. Finally, it reached a woman enjoying red wine and the cool breeze of the Mediterranean.

A respectable amount of security surrounded the villa itself. Still, every inch of the area was under video surveillance, courtesy of one of Anarchy’s many legitimate companies scattered throughout the world.

A beautiful brunette Italian woman in her late 30s was sunbathing outside her Malta villa. However, her bliss was soon interrupted by a phone call from a prominent man amongst her particular business circle.

“Well, well, well. I’m not surprised to be hearing from you, old friend. I assume you need help cleaning up after the mess in East Asia. Has your organization fallen into hard times having to hire The Guild?” the woman said jokingly.

“Madame Francesca, you wound me with your harsh words. I thought you’d miss our times together instead of my recent headaches. It has been quite a while.” Enigma replied in banter.

“The Guild’s centuries’ worth of professional experience is available to you, of course. In truth, the toys your organization has sold to us these past decades have made the assassination business rather easy. Unfortunately, though, we still have our limits, Enigma.” Francesca stated honestly.

“Don’t worry. I’m not asking for The Guild to assassinate Future Tech executives. We both know we’re a year too late for that sort of thing to be probable, but I do have fresh intel about the two South Korean defectors who will be at the receiving end of our deal.” Engima replied reassuringly.

“Good. For more than a thousand years, The Guild hadn’t shied away from a problematic mark; we’ve assassinated presidents, prime ministers, and royalty. But these tech giants like Future Tech are a different story now. But I accept the contract, for old times’ sake.” Francesca stated.

“Our agents around Future Tech noted two new but very talented Asian hackers who recently finished training at Kandahar being reassigned to support Future Security operations in Mogadishu. I’ll send you the full report after the call. Francesca, I expect you to send your best hitman for this job. Failure will put both our organizations back for a long time if Future Tech finds out. I’ll pay $50 million now and another $100 million when the job is done.” Enigma explained.

“Rather generous of you, Enigma. Do you hate the two hackers that much?” Francesca asked curiously.

“You of all people should know that traitors must die. It’s a given in our business circle.” Enigma replied.

“Quite right. When will you be in Europe? I’ve missed the nights we’ve spent together.” Francesca asked.

“I’m rather busy at the moment, but I am required in Europe next month. We can arrange dinner and time alone, then. I appreciate The Guild’s cooperation with my recent headache. I’m lucky to be closely acquainted with the boss herself.” Enigma replied.

“Very lucky indeed,” Francesca said seductively before ending the call.

Francesca returned to her room and chose one of the many Future Couture outfits she bought while shopping in Monaco a week earlier.

[Beautiful and elegant as always.] She pondered while looking at her mirror.

After changing clothes, she headed towards a control room only accessible to her, hidden behind an original painting by Sandro Botticelli. Francesca remotely powered on all the video displays that showed the updated locations of the numerous professional assassins employed by The Guild.

Instead of choosing one already in East Africa, Francesca looked for her ace assassin, codenamed Eleven.

[It looks like he’s in Dubai right now. So that isn’t too far from the targets, fortunately.] So Francesca thought while requesting a secure communication link using the computer console.

An ethnically ambiguous man in his mid-20s was unpacking a set of bartender clothing that looked exactly like what the staff used at the Burj Al Arab.

[Perfect. I’ll blend in at the Skyview Bar for just enough time with this disguise.] Eleven thought.

While planning out his mission for later in the afternoon, he received a call from the top dog of The Guild.

“Eleven, how is your current mission going? An important client requested our best man for a job in Somalia.” Francesca inquired.

“All of my preparations are in place. Based on my scouting report, I only have to perform the hit in a few hours, and I’ll be off to my next target.” Eleven replied unemotionally.

“Alright. I’ll arrange transportation for you later today.” Francesca stated before closing the comlink channel.

A few hours later, Eleven entered the hotel via one of many employee passages. Thick doors and RFID readers secured each entry, and Eleven had just the right tools for a silent infiltration.

The Guild has procured various tools and services such as RFID spoofers and legitimate-looking credentials from their good friends at Anarchy. However, none of the assassins truly knew where these cutting-edge devices came from.

As Eleven predicted, his mark, an influential black market weapons dealer who loved day drinking, arrived at the lobby.

[The incoming civil war in Yemen has been quite lucrative. I should treat myself to some expensive cocktails as a reward.] the mark pondered as he rode an elevator towards the Skyview Bar.

His numerous bodyguards followed in tow, which narrowed down the assassination methods that Eleven could utilize.

Eleven systemically traversed through the employee passages while avoiding direct contact with other staff members and CCTV cameras.

He arrived at the bar and found two bartenders attending to their affluent clientele.

[At least one of them will notice I’m not a real bartender. I need a low-key distraction.] Eleven pondered.

He observed that the younger bartender seemed worried and unaccustomed to the environment.

[The young one is new and won’t notice my presence, but the senior bartender will have to go.] Eleven thought.

Eleven passed the bar once and saw the bartender using his phone for a quick second before a customer asked for a drink.

He placed his phone down on the counter to free his hands to mix the customer’s order.

Eleven smoothly swiped the phone and walked out of the bar, searching for a random employee.

“Excuse me. I found this phone in the men’s restroom. Do you mind taking it to the main lobby in case the guest goes looking for it?” Eleven asked the staff member politely.

“I appreciate you turning this in, sir. I’m glad to be of assistance.” the Burj employee said before heading towards the reception area.

Hotel management notified the bartender a few minutes later that his phone was currently in the main lobby.

Eleven took this chance and immediately changed into his bartender disguise. He then headed towards the bar to mix the mark’s favorite cocktail, a Manhattan, with an added dose of a boutique slow-acting poison.

He mixed a Cosmopolitan and asked the newbie bartender to serve it to a fine-looking woman seated a few tables away from his target, courtesy of his mark.

The young man did not question his authoritative command and did what Eleven told him dutifully.

Eleven walked up to his target with a smile while holding on to a tray.

“The young lady over there noticed your love of Manhattans and asked me to serve you one on her tab,” Eleven said as he looked over his shoulder towards the woman being told the same thing by the young bartender.

The two customers smiled at each other, and his mark happily drank the Manhattan.

Ten minutes later. After the target finished the drink, the mark was about to approach the lovely woman to express his gratitude and flirt a little. But then, he suddenly had an ache in his chest and died on the spot.

Eleven was long gone from the scene and the hotel, already in a town car heading back to his safe house.

[Mission Complete. On to the next one.] Eleven pondered while reading up on the South Korean targets.

Stats last time checked:

Future Tech current valuation – $300 billion

15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)

$16 Billion cash in Future Tech

105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)

20,000+ operators under Future Security

Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn

Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)

Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)