Chapter 38 - Lam

Jack calmly left the brothel, rubbed his painfully aching left shoulder and looked around for a taxi.

It was not difficult to find a car, there were several taxi drivers waiting for customers right next to Ishtar.

Approaching one of them, he said – Before "Hotel Moscow" how much?

– Three bucks. – a low Thai man answered him with satisfaction, flashing his teeth yellow from smoking

- OK. – Jack nodded and simultaneously with the owner of the car, climbed inside the car

At first, Jack wanted to go straight to Coco, but then he realized that it was worth stopping by the Balalaika and find out if they found something yesterday or not. Besides, it would be worth asking her opinion about his initiative to help the Lagoon.

...

Arriving, Jack got out of the car and handing the money to the taxi driver said – If you want, you can wait for me. I'll be out soon and I'll need a taxi again.

Having finished, he closed the car door and adjusted the backpack on his shoulder, walked with a firm, quick step to the Balalaika.

...

Three thuds came from the door.

Balalaika was distracted from the documents in front of her, calmly looked up and looked at the door – Come in.

A second later, the door opened and Jack walked in. He looked around the office with a slight smile and realizing that they were alone, said – Good morning, Balalaika.

The woman smiled, taking a more comfortable position for conversation – Good morning, Jack. Have you come for news about your kidnappers?

- Yes. – the guy nodded, coming up – But not only.

"Okay, I'll tell you about the kidnappers first, and then I'll listen. – she nodded slightly - And so, the guys proceeded to the place you indicated and found eight corpses there. As you said, seven of them belonged to the kidnappers and one... one belonged to our comrade.

– I'm sorry... Jack immediately said, feeling a little guilty about it, because he had a chance to save him

– You have nothing to apologize for. In your situation, even a prepared person would have tried to get out of here as quickly as possible. You're certainly not prepared, but you not only managed to escape, but also to get important information, kill seven of them, and then bring this information to me. Believe me, you have accomplished a real feat. If you managed to kill all the kidnappers and save Stepan, then we would all wonder if you are a Rambo by the hour. – Balalaika finished speaking with a half - smile

– I see. – relieved breathed Jack – So you found out who is behind all this?

– Definitely not, but I have three suspects and as soon as I manage to establish who these people from this trio belonged to, we will immediately begin to act. – with a cold gleam in her eyes, she said, while a wide grin shone on her face, bordering on the grin of a soul-hungry hellhound

Jack's back was sweating from this smile–"How dear are her subordinates?.. It feels like they killed not a member of her mafia gang, but her brother... Although this is not far from the truth, if you remember what they all went through together."

– That's all for now. – Balalaika sighed – Now I'm ready to listen to you.

Jack nodded and took a deep breath–I made an agreement with Revie, a member of the Laguna company, that I would help them in the mission that you gave them. Well, the mission with Asahi Industries. After I was kidnapped, I decided not only to train harder, but also thought that I needed to add such sorties to these trainings, where I could gain experience. So, it seems to me, I will become useful to the Moscow Hotel faster. But before that, I decided to ask you what you think about it. Still, even though this is a mission from you, there may be various nuances, because of which my presence may be extremely undesirable...

Jack said all this almost in one breath, watching the emotions on Balalaika's face, but the only thing he saw on her face was thoughtfulness.

He knew that it was stupid to negotiate with Revi without Balalaika's permission, but what was to be done? He didn't have time to go to his boss first, and then go to Revi and only then think about what to do and how to save the Lagoon. In general, he was a little nervous.

– Hmm. Such zeal is commendable, but you just got shot.

Jack smiled gently–The wound is not serious and is no longer bleeding, and with the pills that the doctor gave me, there is almost no pain... I understand that my haste looks stupidly strange, but I realized that Ruanapur lives his own life and he will not wait for me to become stronger to send me a test.

Balalaika raised her eyebrows in surprise and smiled good–naturedly - What sensible thoughts. It's nice to know that you have such subordinates... I can't help but say that I was a little upset that you first agreed with Revie, and then came to me, but we'll put it down to your little experience. – she finished with a squint

Jack nodded and mentally wiped off the sweat, realizing that it seemed to have passed.

Balalaika crossed her legs and relaxed leaned back in her chair – And so, I don't mind that you will fulfill this order with them, but from now on, warn me in advance about this, okay?

Jack quickly nodded twice

– Well done. If that's all, you can be free. – Balalaika said with a smile, thoughtfully looking at his face

Before turning around and leaving, Jack decided to find out a little more about his boss.

Sofia Irinovskaya (Balalaika)

Strength - 21

Agility - 24

Survivability - 6

Perception - 25

Mind - 11

Volya - 19

Libido - 11

Quick reference: (show)

– "Also strong..." – Jack thought, comparing her with Revie

Then he mentally gave the command to show a brief reference.

Quick reference: At the moment Sofia Irinovskaya is very interested in the user. Her desire, which had been dormant for years, was awakened by the user's caresses, and she began to find him coveted for herself. This surprises her, because she has already begun to think that no one and nothing will be able to make her "light up'' by someone. And even though she finds it embarrassing to want a teenager half

her age, she can't do anything about it.

Superficial desire: Wants to repeat the user's massage. He wants to avenge the deceased subordinate. Wants to have sex with a user.

At the moment, she is thinking about an excuse to have a massage session again.

Jack almost stumbled when he read all this. He did not even suspect about the desires of the Balalaika, because unlike Revi, she completely hid her secret desires.

If it was hard to believe that Revi was interested in him, but it was possible, then the situation with the Balalaika was extremely strange. Such a strong-willed mature statuesque woman suddenly becomes interested in him? It sounds like nonsense, but it is.

Of course, he immediately realized that his Devil's Body was mostly to blame for this, which at the level of physiology and biochemistry was ideally suited to all girls, and therefore even the bodies of women were against them, in opposition to him...

With a wooden step, he quickly left the Balalaika's office under her narrowed gaze.

Quickly descending, he got into the same taxi and went to Coco.

...

Jack paid the taxi driver and got out of the car.

After looking around, he went towards the hostel where Coco lived and already on the way he saw a member of her team, someone who was close to her, like Valmet.

This person also saw him and smiled kindly, which smoothed out some of his age wrinkles - Oh, you must be Jack. Coco and Valmet have been talking about you.

Jack looked at him in surprise. It was a man in his fifties who was only slightly shorter than him. Half-gray hair and eyebrows, careless stubble, gray eyes. He was dressed in berets, khaki pants and a simple plain black T-shirt that clung to his muscular figure. On the man's hands were various old scars from bullet and knife wounds.

– Yes, I'm Jack. – he nodded and smiled – And you must be Lam. Coco and Valmet also talked about you once.

Lam raised an eyebrow in surprise, smiled and pulled a cigarette out of his mouth–I didn't think they would tell you about me, although I'm already beginning to understand why they did it. And yes, let's go for you. Well, his officer stuff, and I'm not seventy yet.

With these words, he held out his hand for a handshake, and Jack happily shook the palm of this real veteran – Good. On you, so on you. They should be expecting me, even though I'm a little late already...

– That's why I'm here. They've already started, and I was sent here to meet you. – Lam spoke good-naturedly, gesturing to follow him

– I'm sorry that I had to hang around here because of me. – Jack scratched his head awkwardly

The man waved his hand – Don't worry. At least he smoked normally without lamenting Valmet.

As they approached the usual place of their training, Jack finally decided to find out the strength of Lam.

Lam

Strength - 26

Agility - 17

Survivability - 6

Perception - 26

Mind - 11

Volya - 18

Libido - 8

Quick reference: (show)

Jack decided not to call for a brief reference, since he did not see the point in it. They were hardly acquainted, so the man hardly thinks anything about him.

Lam opened the door and said with a smile, "Your training partner has arrived ladies.

Valmet and Coco, who were doing squats at that moment, turned sharply in their direction.

Jack nodded to Lam, went inside and the man closed the door behind him.

After briefly examining the sweaty bodies of Coco and Valmet, Jack mentally groaned – "With my libido, I'm waiting for another hellish workout..."