I will not go into details about how we robbed each casino in the area. Of course, Ash told me that we should only win a couple of times in each one so as not to draw too much attention. The plan became so effective that he made me wear a wig to hide my striking hair color. At one point, I feared that everything was a dream or that I had invented an imaginary world to escape reality, but no, it was all real, especially the number I saw in my bank account: twenty-three million six hundred twenty-five thousand Mons, the result of half, since Ash owned the other part.

  Despite the fact that it was thanks to my power that we managed to carry out this hit, bargaining with Ash for a larger share, which I am sure I deserve, seemed more sensible to accept dividing it in half. I mean, basically, if he got angry he could make a mess or, worse, reveal my secret, not to Agnar nor to my family and friends, but to the people at the casino. I am sure that if they knew, they would find a way to kill me.

  In my place, anyone would have gone partying with their friends to spend a large part of the earnings in one night, but that was not my case. Just a few hours before midnight, after having entered my house, eaten some leftovers and taken a shower, I went to sleep. Lying in bed, I just stared at the ceiling. If someone saw me, they would say that I am planning what to use my money on, but no, I was simply still processing the new situation that now I am rich, until I fell asleep.

  In the morning, after going through my routine, I noticed something different. I am rich, although I know that nothing is certain, that the next day will not be as one thinks. That concern was not hitting my head, I should not even have to take into account my monthly financial management, well, unless I lose my head spending it all.

  My day had no plans, I suppose at most I would have to meet with Agnar. I decided to go out for an early walk and, if I felt like it, spoil myself with an impulsive purchase. However, upon leaving the house, a few moments before closing the doors, I heard a “good morning, neighbor.”

  I looked to my left and there, sitting on a patio chair with a folding camping table, which had a mountain of hamburgers in their aluminum wrappers, was Ash eating them.

  —What… the hell… is… going… on? —I asked, unable to handle the surprise.

  —What? This? It’s my lunch, do you want one? —he told me while eating.

  I approached, took one and asked him: —What are you doing in front of my neighbor’s house?

  —Well, I think it’s obvious, I’m your neighbor.

  —You bought my neighbor’s house!? And on the same day you got rich!?

  —Well, technically I’ve had a large capital for years, I just don’t have access to it at the moment, and… I had already spoken with your neighbor before going to the casino, and with the other one.

  —What do you mean with the other one?

  —I also bought the house of your neighbor on the right.

  —Why!? —I tell him with all the uncertainty in the world.

  —Because (he takes a bite of his third hamburger), your expression is priceless and it’s fun to bother you, you’re fun.

  —You bought two houses just to bother me?

  —No, I bought six houses, two of them are to bother you.

  With effort, the word “What!?” came out of my mouth in a distorted sound —you’re crazy.

  —No, I’m rich, and so are you. Today we’ll go use some of the money, we’ll buy food, good clothes for you, a decent haircut and a good car, and then you’ll go and show your best “self” to Nair —Ash told me.

  Za, I did not expect the madman to drop that bomb of a plan on me, besides with everything I went through just this morning, thousands of conspiracies against me passed through my head. I know that Ash knows that I have my eyes on Nair; what unsettles me is that this war psychopath wants to help me have something with her.

  —What are you plotting? —I asked him.

  —Nothing, I just want to enjoy the nice story of a happy couple who love each other, I am a man who enjoys the romance of others, you know?

  —What are you plotting? —I asked him again.

  —Alright, what do you think I am plotting? Use that brain that was on vacation for a good while and see if you discover it. In any case, you will not waste the opportunity —he told me, and no matter how much I distrusted him, he is right.

  I felt more confident, optimistic, successful. I do not know what could stop me now, so, seeing how he ate his last hamburger, I prepared to leave.

  After getting everything, except a car, I went to show my new image at the base. Fortunately, Ash had stayed behind on the way; after entering a street with many restaurants and not resisting gluttony, he stayed back, traumatizing all the cooks because of the massive quantities of food they would see being absorbed by a human black hole.

  My new elegant and expensive clothes were a high-quality black suit and a white shirt, with good shoes as the finishing touch, or at least that is what the tailor told me because I know nothing about those things. However, I added my personal touch by buying myself some nice black glasses, and I fulfilled my old fantasy of looking like a tough guy from old action movies.

  Upon entering the base, I drew a little less attention than I thought I would, but well, people had already seen several visits from important individuals, so I was nothing new. However, the receptionist at the entrance, Miriam, knew me, and she was indeed surprised when she saw me. In my opinion, I felt that I had arrogant body language at that moment, which I think was the influence of the suit and my new social status beyond being the grandson of Abel Akyane.

  I presented myself before Agnar, who was working with his files in his office. He looked at me and asked:

  —Who are you? —in an exaggerated manner I took off my glasses, and with an arrogant look I answered—: Who do you think?

  —Are you a mafioso now? —said Agnar, surprised.

  —What? —I exclaimed.

  —Damn, this is my fault —Agnar was saying while he brought his hand to his forehead and lamented at his desk— This is my fault, I thought that by cooperating with Ash I would give you a push toward a better life, but it ended up doing the opposite. What have I done? —he continued lamenting.

  —Stop, stop, it’s nothing like that —I corrected him immediately— It’s just that I went to the casino and won the jackpot.

  Agnar took a moment and then brought his hand to his chest and said:

  —Oh, thank goodness, your mother would have killed me otherwise. And how much did you win?

  —Twenty.

  Agnar, calm, says:

  —Thousand? Ah, well, it’s a moderate gain…

  —Million —I interrupted him.

  —What? —said Agnar, dismayed.

  —Don’t tell anyone, but I won a little more than twenty million.

  —Oh, and… what will you do now?

  Agnar, paying me a lot of attention and waiting for an answer that I did not have clear, I told him:

  —Well, I was thinking of improving my lifestyle a bit, and then try my luck with a little matter, but if what you most want to know is about the operation, I haven’t decided anything yet (especially because the reason I entered this situation is because of the Ash matter and my secret).

  —Well, good for you, this turned out better than I expected. If I’m honest, I hope you continue with us, I mean, I consider you a very important piece of the team. I have always believed in you, and I have never given up. I’m happy to see that those efforts bore fruit (small hints of tears can be noticed).

  Expressing skepticism and one eyebrow raised, I ask him:

  —How much do you need?

  —Do you think you could make a donation of one million? —he says to me directly.

  The truth is, I won the money by cheating, and all orchestrated by a monster of the war, so it would not be bad to contribute to the country, so I respond:

  — yea.

  Elsewhere, on the street where Ash gave himself over to his cravings. A desolate landscape can be seen, a plastic bag rolls across the street, no soul is to be found in sight except one. Leaning his hand against a wall while walking, Ash is in bad condition, with his other hand resting over where his bloated stomach would be. Fatigued, he murmurs:

  —Uff, I’m going to have to buy a mansion just to ruin the entire big garden that will come with it.

  And with difficulty he keeps walking.

  However, at a safe distance, inside a parked car, two people observe Ash. The watchers are Aghat and Berke. Aghat, in the passenger seat, eats a tray of roasted lamb bought from a fast-food chain, while Berke, being the driver, drinks a soda.

  They see how Ash falls face down to the ground, and then turns over to lie on the sidewalk on his back. Berke says to Aghat:

  —I find it hard to believe he is the same guy who kicked all our asses on training day.

  Aghat asks him:

  —Do you think we could kill him now?

  Berke says:

  —It’s tempting, but if it were that easy, we would have already done it.

  Aghat comments:

  —I’m worried.

  —Him? He has surely done terrible things in his life.

  —Not him, but the team that will face the fourth. Nair, Lorelai, Ivaanjav, Nina and Baltasar. Do you think they can handle their target?

  —I’m sure they can, however, most likely Agnar will send Ash and Dante first.

  —Even so, I’m worried about Dante. If something happens to him, Nair will be devastated.

  —For being his best friend, you have little faith in him. After seeing how he fought against the second, I have no more doubts about him. I mean, I’ve never seen anyone move so well, in his place I would have died.

  —Yes, I was as surprised as you. I truly believed I knew him very well, but in the end it seems you never fully get to know someone.

  —You know what scares me? That that madman (he refers to Ash) managed to involve Dante in all this. Not even Agnar made any progress.

  —Do you think he controlled him somehow?

  —Dante? Impossible, Murat already told me that his mind is a wall of steel. I think he threatened him.

  —I find it hard to believe there is something with which you can threaten Dante and that he cannot do anything about it. Whatever method he used, what intrigues me more is why he involved him.

  —And why don’t you ask him?

  —If that were going to work, I would already know everything that is happening. Do you know how difficult it is for him to say anything about himself or his family?

  Berke asks:

  —Aren’t you supposed to be his bestfriend?

  —Yes, closest… just imagine that I am a few meters closer than the others. I mean, to support each other or talk about some topic that is not one of the previous ones, there is no problem, but not even Aisha has been able to have an important conversation with him.

  —Za, fine. I prefer not to get involved in those things. Now, about the job. How will we proceed with the fifth?

  —Don’t you think you are going too far? First we have to survive all the others.

  —You know what I mean.

  —And you already know the plan.

  —But now Dante and Ash are here.

  —You don’t want to fight, do you?

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  —I want to live, to be exact.

  —I understand that one can be afraid, but try not to sound so cowardly.

  —I am not a coward, I am pragmatic. I know that one day I am going to die, however, I prefer it to be in the place and under the terms of my choosing.

  Sighing, Aghat says:

  —Well, I think that… if you put it that way, we all are.

  In the middle of the conversation, someone knocks on the window on Berke’s side, and both of them get startled. It is Ash. He tells them, sounding short of breath, to roll down the window. After doing so, he says:

  —Take me to Agnar.

  Berke asks him:

  —Why don’t you go flying as always?

  And Ash only replies:

  —I like riding in a car.

  A few minutes later, already on the way to their destination, Berke asks:

  —When did you realize we were watching you?

  Ash, leaning on the window with the glass down and observing the surroundings, answers:

  —Since I saw you when I left the house.

  —We are terrible spies —says Aghat, disappointed in themselves— By the way, who has to go after the third?

  —No one —replies Berke— The Zhong guones do not want help. I do not know if it is because of pride or because a guy from eighty years ago reminds them that we were at war at that time.

  —Well, technically I was against them, so maybe they will accept my help —says Ash.

  —What’s with that? Are you going to offer your services to another country now? —says Aghat, showing himself a bit offended.

  —Not exactly, it is more of a personal matter, and I would like to take care of it myself in fact —answers Ash.

  —Is it an old enemy? The third?

  —Yes and no. He was one of my companions a little before the middle of the war.

  Aghat said:

  —Oh, I understand now, you want to add him to your team.

  —No, I want to be the one who finishes him.

  Berke says:

  —I wonder what he must have done to you for you to reach that extreme. Do you hate him that much?

  —Not at all, and I could not. The truth is he did nothing bad to me, I simply never agreed with his philosophy, and I want to teach him a lesson —said Ash.

  Berke says:

  —Well, whatever the matter is, you will have to discuss it with Agnar, since we have arrived.

  Inside the establishment, Dante and Agnar arrange the transfer of capital, and in the middle of the procedure Dante asks:

  —And why do you need money? Can’t you ask for more from some politician, noble or the Khan?

  —I will be honest with you: to kill anyone who bothers or threatens the country, gold will rain. But when it comes to research and development, the guys in charge are more reluctant. They do not see a solid investment in developing “new weapons or equipment”, but they do assign a decent budget to improve the ones we already have. It is like placing the chips on red or black, you already know.

  —I am sure that in other countries military research is strongly promoted —mentions Dante.

  —Yes, but we are not another country —explains Agnar— We are the country of Abel, the man who brought peace to the world. If they saw us preparing advanced weapons for war, everything would go to hell. That is why it has to be done in secret.

  Ahh, now I have realized: every budget that the government gives to anything is recorded somewhere. It is a fact that the world is infested with spies, so seeing a cent destined for a certain place is a big clue.

  —So I will not transfer the money to your account or something personal or work-related, right? —I deduced.

  Then Agnar asked:

  —Exactly. Why do you think I asked you to “donate”?

  Without warning, Ash enters the office and interrupts them:

  —Wow, who is the new one, Agnar?

  —I said something similar —commented Agnar. Then he said—: You are the living proof that the only thing people need to change is “time.”

  —Hahaha —Ash chuckled subtly— Then I suppose you are already aware —Ash affirmed to Agnar.

  —Yes, that makes me wonder if I will have to pay you.

  —Oh, yes, in fact: do it.

  —Za, I will give you a check when you leave.

  —I wanted to let you know that in two days I will travel to Zhong guo.

  —What?! Wait, two days? You do not have to fight against the third.

  —But I want to.

  —That is Zhong guo’s matter.

  —All right, I will go and wait for them to fail.

  —It is not that easy. If you go without permission you could even cause a war… wait a moment, do you want to cause a war?

  —What? Me? No no no no… No…? —answers Ash, seasoning that last “no” with doubt.

  —That last “no” is very unsettling, so I will be clear: do something that screws the world and you are dead.

  If one already knows that one should not make Pul angry, any intelligent being will have enough common sense to know that one should not even imagine Agnar furious.

  —Oh, how scary! —says Ash, standing on one foot and acting as if he were about to be run over by a train— All right, all right, calm down, I got the message. I just thought that my method would be the most effective against Tu.

  Agnar, slightly tilting his head to one side, keeps looking at Ash and asks:

  —Why do you call him by his name?

  —It is simple, it is because he is an old acquaintance.

  —Forget about recruiting him if that is what you are thinking —warned Agnar.

  —No, it is not that. I truly want to finish him. Besides, you know that most likely they will not be able to imprison him.

  That was when a doubt arose in my mind, and I asked:

  —Imprison him?? Wouldn’t we have to kill him?

  —Yes, we would have to do that, if he were not immortal.

  —Shāng Tu is a moderately old Zhong guonese warrior. We worked together until the middle of the war. Then, because of differences of opinion, I expelled him from the group.

  —You? You expelled someone immortal? Is that a joke? —Dante comments.

  —Believe me, he is not a very… trustworthy guy.

  —I am not interested in the details, although I must say that, if it were me, I would not abuse someone’s curse of immortality. I mean, making him suffer again, without rest, without being able to know peace, sending him to die again and again like cheap cannon fodder… One would have to be a terrible and soulless person, already with a place in hell reserved for such… —said Agnar.

  While Agnar was babbling all that, I restlessly observed Ash. He, insolent, looked at Agnar without expressing any emotion. Standing there, with dead fish eyes, he simply waited for Agnar to finish his criticisms, which fit him perfectly.

  And I asked:

  —So this guy… has the curse of immortality? If that is the case, how do you plan to defeat him?

  —That is a secret. Besides, if I revealed it, most likely Agnar would try to kill me the instant I said it.

  —Za, now I really want to know the details. What can you do that the Zhong guones cannot do?

  —Oh, it is not something that only I can do, I think several people in the world can do it… but it has not occurred to them, and they would not even dare. Besides, even it took me time to come to think of that solution.

  —Have you been thinking about how to kill him all this time? —asked Dante.

  —Well, no. I reached the conclusion of how to incapacitate him about five years after expelling him. I found out that he was still working as an independent mercenary, so I assumed it was possible that I might run into him on the enemy side.

  Agnar asks:

  —And will you tell me that solution?

  —No —said Ash, in a mocking manner— I will just wait for them to fail in his capture, and then I will offer to take care of the matter.

  —You are not very optimistic, are you? What if they do not fail? —I asked.

  —Quite the opposite. My optimism is at its peak, because if they manage to capture him, I only have to wait for him to escape.

  Agnar said:

  —For someone you do not like, I would say you hold him in high regard. What makes you think he will manage to escape?

  Ash said:

  —Very simple, Agnar. It is that, just like the Akyane, his best weapon is time. No matter how effective a prison is: time always opens your cell. And that I am here in front of you is proof of that.

  As much as I want to respond to that, I cannot argue anything against that truth. It is true, the guy is immortal. Even if the world were to cease to exist one day, he would. However, I still had a doubt, and I asked:

  —But besides immortality, what makes this guy so dangerous?

  —I do not know what he did to become a target of your grandfather, but what I do know is that he has absurd strength. I literally once saw him throwing one of those rhomboid-shaped tanks. And then there is his handling of magic. He uses something like the reaction of actions. To be more precise, it seems that he can interpret physics with his mana.

  —Can he use temporal or spatial magic, or give math lessons? —Dante asks sarcastically.

  Ash responds with a warning:

  —Oh, that he knows mathematics, I can assure you of that. And that makes it much easier for him to create reactions with his magic. I will give you an example: he can do this at a distance (he hits Dante in the stomach), but without having to perform the action of the punch.

  I fall to my knees on the floor because of the blow he gave me, and Agnar does not even flinch, but he does ask:

  —Isn’t that telekinesis?

  —No, it is very different. While telekinetic abilities or spells act as an extension of the mind, and with that carry out any action without physical contact, Shāng can skip the actions that would lead to any reaction. Although he does have the eyes of a telekinetic… sometimes that is how one’s magic mutates.

  —So, if he wanted to make a hole in your head, would he just do it?

  —Yes, if you remain still.

  —Well, that is all for today. Go home, and I will see you tomorrow —said Agnar.

  After getting up, I ask:

  —Really? You do not need anything?

  —No, but now that I know more about the next target, I will inform the Zhong guones, so I will be busy the rest of the afternoon. Let Pul know when you leave.

  —You go and wait for me outside —Ash tells me— Since you are going to make a call, I might as well take the opportunity —he told Agnar.

  Upon leaving, knowing that I am rich and will have a couple of weeks without having to go kill anyone —at least I hope so— I asked Ash:

  —Are we going to the casino again?

  —What? Nooo! I value my health. The truth is that we cheated, so if we keep cheating, they will discover us and make us pay… and not with money.

  —Well, you are not wrong. But I thought someone who goes to the casino like you would dare more.

  —Not at all. The truth is that it was the third time in my life that I went to a casino, and it was the first in which I played. The first time was out of curiosity and the second for work. Besides, casinos are relatively strange to me. I come from a time when clairvoyance still existed.

  —Really? I think that makes sense. Besides, I thought you were one of those types who chase women, drink alcohol and lose all their earnings gambling.

  —Except for the women part, you are wrong about everything. I am not a gambler, I am an investor. And about the alcohol, I cannot drink: it is poisonous to me. Anyway, I will go for a walk and see what I can buy. You go and try to get with Nair or I will do it myself.

  Ash flies off, and leaves me thinking:

  —It was a joke… right? It was? —No matter how much I tried to lie to myself, he had said that he is a womanizer. Nevertheless, I was not going to despair over that.

  After finishing the call to the other country, Agnar calls Pul. Upon entering, he says:

  —We will have to prepare more countermeasures against Ash.

  —Why? —asks Pul.

  —The guy became a millionaire in one day.

  —Do you feel envy?

  Agnar, with wounded pride, says:

  —Yes! But that is not it. He is a subject from another era, and in “nothing” he has adapted to the present. Besides, today he dropped the bomb on me that the third is more dangerous than we anticipated.

  —First of all, I do not understand what that has to do with taking more precautions against him. And second, did Abel not leave a very poor record about the targets?

  —The truth is, yes. But it is not that he explored much of his enemies’ abilities. I mean… he was not a monster like Ash. In fact, he told me that he stalked him for two days to get an opportunity, because the bastard carbonized anyone he saw nearby. He crawled hundreds of meters through mud and shit, and always at a safe distance. Thanks to that, he never came to know that the subject had a mixed mana core.

  —Well, it is normal that in that era one avoided showing all one’s cards to just anyone, from what I learned from history. But if the third is more dangerous than we knew… how did he manage to seal him? And also the second, who honestly seemed more lethal than Ash to me.

  —He sealed the second with help, and the third was the easiest of the entire list.

  —How is that?

  —Apparently he is an arrogant man who revels in his immortality, so he always let his opponent deliver the first blow. You can imagine the rest.

  —And about Ash?

  —He is manipulating Dante. I do not think I need to give you proof. I do not know what he is plotting, but I am beginning to think that it was a mistake to let him associate with him.

  —Yes, I think so too. I already saw something strange at the restaurant.

  —What happened there? —asked Agnar with deep interest.

  —I tried to place a microphone, but it did not work. After retrieving it, I noticed that it was fried.

  —An E.M.P.

  —Yes, it seems that he is quite talented with spells. But, from what I could see, it seemed as if he told him something that frightened him a lot. I do not know what it could be.

  —It is a mystery. Even I have trouble remembering moments where I have seen Dante terrified. That is precisely why we must be more careful: Ash is getting comfortable, because he knows how to do it. Take care of looking for people who can handle him. I will take care of the rest.

  —What would happen if Dante interferes?

  —I will take care of that.

  As for Dante, he is looking for his friends, who are practicing at the shooting range.

  Passing through reception and then going to the door that leads to the range, he stops two steps before it. Dante looks at a portrait that was hanging next to a wall. He approaches it and, using the reflection of the glass, slightly fixes his hairstyle.

  Upon entering the rest area, I greet everyone cheerfully. The guys turn around, and among them are Nair, Lorelai, Ivaanjav, Baltasar and Nina. Nina is the one shooting, and with how focused she is, she ends up ignoring me. However, the others just look at me and ask in unison:

  —Who are you?

  Losing all the confidence and motivation I had at that moment, I ask indifferently:

  —Seriously? You too?

  Staring at me fixedly and with half-closed eyes, the first to speak out is Nair, exclaiming:

  —It’s Dante! Is it Dante? —She looks at the group and asks—: Is it Dante? Are we all seeing the same thing?

  Baltasar, who is the oldest in age and rank, says:

  —Yeees, I don’t believe it, he must be an impostor. Lorelai, shoot him.

  —At your command —she answers, and then draws her weapon and gives me a precise shot to the head.

  After dodging it in my new life, I shout at them:

  —Are you crazy?!

  —Pff —Baltasar makes— Don’t exaggerate, if you had been an impostor, you wouldn’t have dodged it.

  —Yes, and I even took my time to draw and aim, you know? —adds Lorelai, intoning arrogantly.

  A thousand ways of kicking the asses of those two potential criminals crossed my mind.

  —And if I hadn’t dodged it? —I ironically asked them.

  Lorelai said:

  —Well, I don’t think you would have complained.

  —Go to hell —I replied.

  Then Nair asked me:

  —Did finishing off a madman, or surviving him, go to your head?

  Dante answered:

  —No, but lately I’ve had a lot of luck, and I wanted to come show off my new image. Besides, having been so close to dying makes one want to experience new things (a complete lie).

  Nina finishes her round and says to me:

  —You went partying with Agnar’s payment, didn’t you?

  Everyone, who were looking at Nina listening to what she was saying, when she finishes, with surprise carved into their faces, look at me and exclaim:

  —What?

  Nina continues speaking and informs:

  —Jaina told me. Agnar pays Dante and Ash thirty grand per head.

  I could not hide the look of surprise I had upon hearing that information, which led Nair to say:

  —It seems you didn’t want us to know, right?

  I don’t know where affirming that would have led me, but I did not want to reveal to everyone present that now I could give thirty thousand to each of them and, even so, I could buy myself a house. Showing off your wealth leads to nothing good, from what I learned from my uncle Gier. So I just excused myself with:

  —No, I just used my savings to treat myself while I could still stay alive.

  Ivaanjav approached me and, with a few pats on the back, said:

  —Good for you, the truth is I was already getting tired of that emo side of yours that always disgusted me to see.

  —Thanks? —Doubtfully I could only answer— I suppose I’m on the right path now.

  —Meh —Lorelai let out, standing with her arms crossed and with an expression that I had ruined the fun.

  Driven by my curiosity, I ask her:

  —What bothers you?

  Reluctantly she tells me:

  —Does that mean that you and the old man will keep doing our job?

  The only thing I had done in my head about that was to write it down on a piece of paper and stick it on the fridge of my brain, but with this short reaction time, I reflected. I was dragged into this by Ash, I had no choice because he blackmailed me. Somehow we managed to get past the first target. Now I am rich, I see a better future in my life, and the truth is I would not like to keep dying.

  Although, on the other hand, it is not as if it depended on me. For now Ash has the last word, but I think he will be more flexible, since thanks to me he is rich. And I think I could make a deal with him, so that he keeps my secret and, in exchange, I lend him my help for any other trick he comes up with.

  —For the moment I don’t know, but I think I will aim for a calmer and more satisfying life —I answered.

  Afterwards, Nina offered me to take some shots with her sniper rifle, and I accepted, since no one gets bored of firing a few shots at something. And so that I would give my best effort, Nair had the brilliant idea that they stick a picture of Ash on the three-hundred-meter target.

  At the end of the round of shots, I will only say that I missed them all. My pulse is horrible and I lack the skill to place my finger correctly on the trigger. However, I managed to give my friends and their companions a moment of fun and grace during their work schedule.

  At the moment of finishing the activity, each one went their own way, some in the company of others, but I left with Nair.

  Throughout the entire way, neither of us said a word. Simply walking the quiet path was entertaining. However, I wanted to tell her about my large bank account. So, without prior warning, I said to her:

  —I am a millionaire.

  At the same time, we stopped, looking ahead without a specific target. Suddenly, she turned in my direction and asked:

  —What?

  Without any emotion, and with a calm and serene expression, I spoke to her:

  —I have around twenty-two million Mons.

  Nair, without making any reaction or comment, just kept looking at me. She seemed to have doubt or disbelief, and then she says:

  —Who are you?