Chapter 2

“We’re here because Mister Oblique tells us to be here and we don’t want to be transferred to Mister Obscure’s team like Bai and Lam because we decided to ignore him.”

Mister Mo shrugged and offered his friend a playful smile.

“Obscure’s not that bad, little bud.”

The bartender placed a fresh glass down in front of Ayesha and she reached into her back pocket, pulling open her wallet, and placed down two crisp notes of five hundred roubles each, not expecting much in the way of change.

A tourist trap, Aimi had called it when they had first arrived. Yet who in their right mind would want to come to a place like this, she wondered? Who would be interested in traipsing all the way out this far from civilisation in order to stay in such an ornate and antique hotel?

Something didn’t add up.

She smiled grimly, remembering that UKXD would not be picking up the tab. With slow movements, she lifted the glass to her lips and paused momentarily.