"But before you dive into these plans, I need you to meet some key players," Arthur continued, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Just then, the massive metallic door slid open with a soft hiss.
Seven figures clad in matte-black tactical armor entered silently, their faces hidden behind tinted visors.
They moved like a well-oiled machine, fanning out to form a protective semicircle around Ethan.
The lead operative removed his helmet to reveal a scarred face and piercing gray eyes.
"Ethan," Arthur said smoothly, "meet Commander Gunnar of Aegis-7."
Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise and turned back to Arthur. "Boss, since when do we have our own private military company?"
"Since we decided to rebuild a war-torn nation," Arthur replied nonchalantly while pouring aged red wine into two delicate crystal glass from an ornate cabinet.
"A thousand elite operators at our disposal, full aerial reconnaissance capabilities and mobile surgical units."
