Chapter 24 Geneva, 46° 12′ 23″ N, 6° 05′ 38″ E, Towards the Final Puzzle

The transit process in Amsterdam went very quickly as Andalas requested. They had to hurry to Geneva tonight, because in the morning they would go to the SNB office to solve Doctor Aslan's final puzzle.

Cecilia had told Andalas about Sefu. They still have a long way to go besides Gobi. A grueling journey through the river Zaire into the interior of the Congo Basin in search of Sefu.

The task of tracing Sefu was even more difficult than searching for the secretive Gobi Facility.

As soon as the Gulfstream landed at Geneva airport, according to the instructions from the ATC Tower, Andalas taxied the plane to the special apron for chartered and private aircraft. The hangar at Cointrin Airport was full. So they parked in the apron area.

Still the service from Luigi was outstanding. After the plane came to a stop and the engine was turned off and the four of them descended the stairs, a Mercedes limousine pulled over and stopped in front of them.

The door opened automatically. Cecilia and company stepped into the car. Andalas was flabbergasted. In the car, Luigi sat quietly waiting for them. He poured champagne into several glasses and handed it to each person.

As he sipped his drink, Andalas looked at Luigi inquiringly.

"Thank you for picking us up. But how did you suddenly get here Luigi? Didn't you say you couldn't leave Milan?"

"Of course, Mr. Andalas. Milan is a post that should not be left behind. Just like Darko Ivankov who couldn't leave Novosibirsk and Park Jung Soo in Seoul. But I got an important message to accompany you through all the affairs in Geneva." Luigi explained calmly.

Darko Ivankov? Park Jung Soo? Hmm, so besides Luigi, Doctor Aslan also trusted them. He met Darko Ivankov who had saved him from Interpol in Moscow. This Park Jung Soo may be the personal assistant of Doctor Aslan who was mentioned by Darko Ivankov.

All of them. At least two of them were senior people who seemed weak but actually had advantages that other people didn't have. Luigi with systematic organizational skills and good planning. Darko Ivankov who somehow managed to bail him out of the hospital in Moscow under Interpol tight security. As to Park Jung Soo, Andalas believed that Doctor Aslan's personal assistant also had special skills.

Doctor Aslan was surrounded by highly capable assistants. But why didn't he try to escape from Geneva house arrest with their help?

As if he knew what was in Andalas's mind, as he knocked on the window separating the driver, Luigi said.

"Doctor Aslan never asked us to free him from the UN custody. If he wanted, he could have ordered his confidants to storm the detention house in Geneva. He needed to go through the whole thing so he would be able to monitor your movements. If he is released by force, you will become fugitives all over the world. Doctor Aslan supports and takes care of you in his own way."

Luigi smiled at Andalas.

"Besides, Doctor Aslan is much safer in UN custody than outside considering his background and his position."

Andalas suspected that Luigi was a psychic who could guess his thoughts. But he was surprised to hear Luigi's statement. Hasn't Doctor Aslan's position as Director General of WHO been vacant? Even Andalas heard that there was already a replacement. Andalas wanted to ask what Luigi meant.

"What you will get in the last deposit box is the greatest support from Doctor Aslan for your mission to be successful. You will get the Alamo fort." Luigi's subsequent explanations were full of riddles.

Andalas couldn't contain his curiosity.

"What do you mean by Doctor Aslan's choice to remain in custody because of his position and background that would put him in danger, Luigi?"

Luigi smiled again. This time it was thin and contained a very big secret.

"You'll find out later. Now is not the time. Right now, the most important thing is the success of your mission. The human race is on the brink of collapse. You can't fail."

Akiko, Cecilia, and Lian Xi had only been listening to the question and answer between Andalas and Luigi without making the slightest comment. Everyone was trying to figure out who Doctor Aslan really was, what was meant by Alamo, and why did it seem that the former WHO Director General have extraordinary resources in terms of financial and human capacity?

The limo arrived at a magnificent hotel in the center of the city. Not far from SNB Geneva office. Luigi let everyone down and said that the room had been reserved in his name. Luigi handed Cecilia the key to the suite. They stayed in the same room.

"The suite I ordered has 3 separate rooms. Andalas is used to sleeping on the sofa. Don't worry about him."

The four exhausted friends entered the hotel lobby and were heading to the elevator when a loud explosion was heard outside. Andalas immediately ran while shouting at Akiko to protect Cecilia.

The limousine caught fire. Andalas was glued to the veranda of the hotel lobby. Luigi…..

Andalas felt a vibration in his trouser pocket. There was an incoming call.

"Don't hang around! They must think that you all die in the explosion!"

Andalas was astonished. That was Luigi's voice.