The battle in the jungle was slowly fading.
Smoke drifted through the trees where gunfire had erupted only minutes earlier. Bodies of narcos and soldiers lay scattered across the clearing.
Armored vehicles surrounded the ancient ruins.
American soldiers.
Chinese soldiers.
Russian soldiers.
Three commanders stood together near the center of the military line.
Their eyes were fixed on the entrance of the ruins.
Because someone was walking toward them.
Albert.
He stepped out calmly from the jungle path, dust brushing against his coat as if he had simply arrived at a business meeting.
Mark walked a few steps behind him.
The American commander raised his weapon slightly.
"Stop right there!"
Albert stopped.
Then he raised both hands slowly.
"I am not your enemy."
He spoke clearly in English.
"I am only a businessman."
The Chinese commander stepped forward and asked sharply in Mandarin.
"你在这里做什么?"
(What are you doing here?)
Albert answered calmly.
"生意."
(Business.)
The Russian commander narrowed his eyes.
"Что за бизнес?"
(What kind of business?)
Albert smiled faintly.
"Very profitable business."
The three commanders exchanged looks.
The American commander stepped closer.
"What exactly is happening here?"
Albert glanced briefly at the battlefield behind them.
"Unfortunately," he said calmly, "a misunderstanding."
The Chinese commander spoke again.
"Explain."
Albert nodded slowly.
"I will."
Then he asked something unexpected.
"What is your salary?"
The commanders stared at him.
The American commander frowned.
"What?"
Albert repeated calmly.
"How much does each of you earn per year?"
The Russian commander scoffed.
"Что ты имеешь в виду?"
(What do you mean?)
Albert's voice remained calm.
"I will give you four times that amount."
The jungle went silent.
The American commander looked furious.
"You think you can bribe us?"
Albert shook his head slowly.
"No."
"I think I can solve a problem."
He continued speaking clearly.
"My condition is simple."
"You forget what you saw here."
"You report to your governments that this place was controlled by narcos."
He gestured toward the battlefield.
"You encountered Pablo Escobar."
"His men opened fire."
"You returned fire."
"The situation is resolved."
The Chinese commander narrowed his eyes.
"You expect us to lie to our governments?"
Albert looked directly at him.
"I expect you to protect global stability."
The Russian commander folded his arms.
"And why would we agree?"
Albert answered simply.
"Because I am offering you something better than a report."
The American commander glanced at the others.
Then back at Albert.
"And what exactly are you hiding in those ruins?"
Albert smiled slightly.
"Nothing that concerns your governments."
The jungle wind moved through the clearing.
The three commanders looked at each other again.
For several seconds—
no one spoke.
Then suddenly—
a soldier shouted from the ruins.
"Sir!"
The ground beneath the ancient structure began shaking again.
The commanders turned toward the entrance.
Because whatever Albert was trying to hide…
was about to reveal itself.