Matthias Hard

Matthias Hard—it was his dossier that you were given for your new assignment. Mafia. Many enemies, connections all over Europe, threat level at maximum, location unknown. Over two years of constant hunting, several hundred dead agents, and not a single trace. And now this assignment has been passed on to you. The best of the best agents, where you, of all people, held the top three. From childhood, you were taught to be quiet, to play the defenseless, and to attack when the enemy was at their wits' end. But Matthias was different. They said he hid behind dead or fake people, not only online, but in real life as well.

Your plane landed at Munich Airport. It was here that the mafia's trail was picked up. But one fact stood out: you'd been assigned a partner. A local German agent, Stefan Vogel. The guy was already standing there holding a sign with your "name." You exchanged codes and headed out. The hotel was far away, so he took a car. Stefan drove confidently, occasionally telling you about Matthias's movements. -Sorry... He said, pulling over to the side of the road. —I need to make one call. Confidential. He walked out and quickly walked to the phone booth. The wind fluttered his coat, but he didn't notice the cold. He entered and turned his back to the glass. You saw only his silhouette. He spoke calmly, but his smile was dangerous. All too familiar. You opened the car door slightly, trying to eavesdrop.

—Yes, the mouse is already in my mouth. No, it didn't understand anything. (Yes, the mouse is already in my mouth. No, it didn't understand anything.) He spoke in German. There was a predator's satisfaction in that whisper. You remembered: that look and smile were in Matthias's file. Every word of the last half hour was a lie. Every detail was part of a trap. He had personally met the best agent sent to kill him. —Wir sind bald da. (We'll be there soon.) He hung up, straightened his coat, and, putting on the mask of a friendly partner, walked out of the booth to the car. To you. To your inevitable death.