Elias adjusted his cufflinks, which housed a high-frequency jammer. The objective was simple: intercept the drive containing the blueprints for the "Aegis" satellite system before it could be sold to the highest bidder at the private baccarat table upstairs.

Years of training had taught him to spot the "flash in the night"—the momentary lapse in a target’s disguise. For the man known as "The Alchemist," it was a nervous habit of checking a silver pocket watch every eleven minutes. 🌃 The Setup

"You're playing a dangerous hand, Mr. Thorne. Or should I call you 'Control'?"

Marcus Vane, a disgraced former intelligence officer. Location: The Salon Privé, Monte Carlo. The Signal: A single strobe flash from the rooftop team. 🎲 The Gamble

Elias sprinted, vaulting over a gold-trimmed divan. He reached Vane just as the man prepared to zip-line down to a waiting speedboat. With a sharp strike to the wrist, the watch—and the drive hidden inside—skittered across the marble. 🛥️ The Escape

He activates his thermal optics, turning the room into a world of glowing heat signatures.

Elias didn't flinch. "I’m just here for the vintage, Marcus. And the data."