Amsterdam, Netherlands

  7:00 am

  The sound of the alarm fills the tiny, but cozy hotel room with it's noise, almost loud enough to wake up the neighbors. Nicola opened his eyes to meet the first sun rays through the windows and realised he forgot to close the curtains. He woke up to a beautiful morning and a clear sky and took in the sight of the city below him. After putting on some clothes, his thrusty hoodie and his backpack, he made his way to the breakfast hall near the lobby to start his day right - some juice, sausages and eggs and a toast.

  As much as he enjoyed the atmosphere of the hotel he couldn't stay for much longer, so he headed to check out. After all he had places to be and people to meet!

  - Good morning mister Cooper, I hope you are enjoyed your stay with us! - greeted him the receptionist just as he was handing in his keys.

  Nicola looked at the young lady before him and with the wide smile on her face and couldn't help but smile in return.

  -Oh yes, it's a lovely hotel you guys have here. I'll be sure to come back some day. Oh here is a little something as a thank you for your hospitality. - he said as he passed her a hundred euro bill and a small hand crafted chocolate he bought from a nearby market. - And before you said anything, I left one for the house keeping maids too!

  -Oh wow thank you! We hope to seeing you again soon!

  He waved for goodbye and exited the hotel, finding himself on the street. The time was a bit past 9 so he assumed the place he was supposed to go was open. Or at least it was gonna be by the time he walked there. As he walked around the streets of Amsterdam he enjoyed the small bridges and the flowing river, the boats in the water and the people just enjoying the sunshine and their lives. After what seemed like a decent walk he found himself in a small antique shop. He entered inside and looked around him as if looking for something beyond the collectibles on the shelves. He made a brief eye contact with what seemed like the owner, walked up to him and said:

  -Good morning, I'd like to get a coffee please.

  The man behind the counter, an old guy with barely any hair left and vintage reading glasses, while still reading his magazine replied:

  -This isn't a coffee shop.

  -I can see that, but I bet you have a machine, no? - said Nicola.

  -We are out of beans. - replied the owner.

  -That's okay, I brought my own.

  The merchant looked up to meet the young man's eyes and got up from his chair. He turned the "open" sign, looked at the young man and his attire and simply said:

  -Follow me!

  After walking in the back they entered through a door and walked into a room with two more workers in it. A man who seemed to be middle aged, but fit and with a solid presence and an elderly woman who was sorting some envelopes. Nicola assumed it was a family business.

  - Coffee? - asked the old man while holding a mug.

  - No thank you, I actually prefer tea. - replied the young man.

  - Suit yourself. - said the old man while shrugging shoulders. - So, you are a collector? I heard you might be coming, but just so you know what you're looking for isn't cheap.

  -How do you know what I'm looking for?

  - We got word you might be visiting. I hope from a friend of yours. - the old man sized Nicola from head to toe, but wasn't really expecting an answer.

  - Well either way, I'm here. I'm looking for a small ring made of gems with family engravings. Ring any bells? - said Nicola while taking off his backpack and opening it.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  - It does. The ring that belonged to Cassie Cooper. A relative of yours. I have to say it Is a beautiful ring. Here you have it. - the elderly man said while the younger one passed his a small wooden box, from what seemed like an exotic type of wood. On top the engravings C. C. could be seen.

  - Thank you, mister Wilco. - Nicola nodded in gratitude and passed two envelopes to the old merchant. - And these are your payments. In one you have 20 000 euros, and in the other a letter from a friend of mine in Poland. He will make sure your family is protected and your business untouched.

  The family looked at the young man with awe and gratitude. They had never expected someone to respond to the distress signal they send, after they shop was broken into a few months back.

  - Thank you, young man. Before you go we have something for you. An anonymous third party left this for you. We checked, it is not a bomb. - mister Wilco passed a metal sliding box with an engraved serpent on the top.

  Upon opening the gift, Nicola's eyes were filled with happiness, his smile revealed his white teeth and he even giggled. In the box was a deck of cards with the same serpent engravings on the back as the one on the box. The deck of cards itself wasn't something important, but it looked great and the cards were a special request by the previous owner. After picking up the deck to examine it he saw a folded piece of paper. He opened it to read the content, expecting a small letter from the third party. But all the letter said was "For your assistance in Peru. I.". He thanked the family and said his goodbyes, making his way out the entrance when his phone rang. On the other side he heard a voice.

  -Hey man, it's me. I need to talk to you. In private please.

  Nicola recognized the voice.

  - Hey. Good to hear you man. I'm on my way.

  With those words he hung up and called a taxi passing by. It was time to go catch a flight.

  California

  USA

  Delta strike company HQ

  -SEVENTEEN DEAD! - yelled out the man behind the desk. - SEVENTEEN OF MY MEN GONE, AND YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO ME?

  -I don't have to tell you anything. Your men were hired to do a job and they failed. Their families should still be thankful for being compensated for the loss. - replied the man in the suit.

  -Compensated? - the PMC leader could not hide the anger in his voice. - Seventeen families left without fathers and husband's and you speak of monetary compensation? - he spitted out while hitting his desk.

  The man sitting in his desk was named Gerard Collins. An ex-steal turned private military contractor. Even though he was passing 50 years old he was still in top shape, with well trimmed beard and sharp, grey eyes. Unfortunately for him his ire was pointed towards a US senator by the name of Gregory Manwell. The senator had hired Collins' men to protect a high-value prison site in Germany. And none of Gerards men made it.

  - I lost some of my best in that mission. And they were slaughtered like they were on the same level as civilians. - Gerard said in a low tone, reflecting his grief and his regret he didnt do better.

  - Yes you did. - replied the senator. - But their sacrifice will not be in vain.

  At the sound of these words Gerard could barely stay in his seat.

  -Sacrifice? You mean you knew? You knew my boys were about to face the Black Hoods and you did NOTHING? What the hell were you trying to accomplish? - the mercenary used all of his self control not to jump over the desk and strangle the senator with his bare hands. Regardless of the fact that the senator's two bodyguards where ready to draw their weapons on a moments notice.

  - I wanted to see the level of preparadness of the Black Hoods, but I hoped they would send a general. Not just a captain. Even so that speak volumes about how underwhelming your men' s performance was.

  The senator's unfazed look pierced through Gerard's mind and just for a split second the old Navy seal felt unease. And maybe a little bit of fear.

  - Do you have any reports or news I could use? - continued the senator - Or are you going to waste any more of my time?

  - They had armor improvements. - said Gerard reluctantly. - Their new grade armor protects them even from close range assault rifles. An M4 didn't as much as slow them down. And whoever that captain was, he wasn't just an ordinary one. He had skill and knowledge. My guess is he is either awaiting promotion or he is very well connected and informed. I can only imagine what a general would be capable of.

  - What do you mean? - asked senator Manwell.

  - Didn't you know? Usually a general is given even higher grade equipment and are even more deadly. There have been speculations, but none of my men, or from other groups I am in contact with ever managed to confirm. And our spies were killed long before they could extract anything useful.

  -Interesting. Well this meeting surely had its good sides. I'll be in touch in case we need your help in the future. - said the senator as he was getting off his seat.

  -Go screw yourself. - Gerard hissed at him.

  - Excuse me?

  - I said go screw yourself. You treated me and my men as disposable and second rate humans. We did your dirty work for almost 3 years and you still only came here to demand information rather than show some basic courtesy. And worst of all. You betrayed the trust me and my men had in you. Screw you. I'm out. - the ex-seal said while he leaned on his desk, standing up.

  - Shame. - said the senator with yet another emotionless expression.

  Just as he finished his word, both of his bodyguards took out their silenced pistols and shot the PMC leader. One to the heart. One to the head. Gerard Collins fell down on his chair and his well maintained uniform was now stained with his own blood. And with the sting of betrayal.