Mountain Side
In the dimly lit room atop the mountainside, the atmosphere crackled with grim satisfaction. The men seated around the large wooden table exchanged pleased glances, raising glasses in a dark toast to their latest act of chaos. The woman in the wide-brimmed hat, their leader, sat at the head of the table, a sinister smile tugging at her lips as she watched the men revel in their victory. The rogue attack had been a devastating success, leaving many lives shattered in its wake. And, just as she intended, it had caused turmoil in Magnus's kingdom.
"To our first strike," one of the men declared, lifting his glass higher. "The damage has been done, and soon, his rule will crumble."
Another man laughed, nodding in agreement. "Magnus has no idea what he's dealing with. This was only the beginning."
The woman in the hat chuckled, a glint of malice in her eyes. She savored the fear and confusion their actions had sown. Each piece of their plan was falling into place, and with this leverage, they could slowly tighten their grip, pushing Magnus closer to the edge.
As the men continued to toast and celebrate, her phone rang, cutting through the chilling laughter. The woman’s eyes narrowed as she glanced at the screen—a call from one of her inside men, the informant she’d stationed within the rogue network to feed her every detail of Magnus's movements. Without a word to the others, she stepped away from the table, accepting the call.
“What is it?” she demanded, her voice sharp.
Her informant’s tone was equally tense. “Magnus is closing in. He’s managed to track down Marcus, and it’s only a matter of time before he exposes our involvement.”