At the entrance to the conference room, Viktor and Stepan had to pass through a metal detector. Only after confirming that they were completely unarmed were they allowed into the venue to meet their employer.
"I didn't expect this guy to be so cautious," Stepan said with a slight smile after stepping through the metal detector. With security measures like these, even if he and Viktor worked together, it would be difficult to break through.
"In our line of work, it's better to be cautious," Viktor replied, glancing at the black-clad bodyguards stationed at the door.
Based on his decade of combat experience, Viktor could tell that the bodyguards in this building were far from amateurs. That meant their employer was no ordinary person either.
As Viktor was thinking this, two men in dark overcoats with short hair appeared at the corner of the hallway. Their height and facial features were similar to Viktor and Stepan—ordinary, forgettable faces that would blend into any crowd.
Viktor and Stepan simultaneously turned their heads to size up the two newcomers. From their appearance, they didn't seem to be Russian—they looked American.
Elite operatives have an invisible aura about them. Ordinary people might not notice it, but those in the field could recognize it instantly. After all, they were the same kind of people.
As they reached the corner, the two American men slowed their pace slightly, carefully observing Viktor and Stepan.
"Let's go," Viktor signaled to Stepan to enter the conference room first. He had a feeling this meeting wouldn't be simple.
However, the moment Viktor pushed open the door, he was met with an unexpected scene. Inside the spacious conference room, four other teams were already seated. And judging by their presence alone, none of them were to be underestimated.
Even more surprising, among the group were two men that Viktor and Stepan recognized—they were former operatives of the Signal Flag Special Forces, Russia's elite unit that rivaled the Alpha Group!
In terms of overall combat effectiveness, Signal Flag and Alpha were evenly matched. However, when it came to international recognition and influence, Signal Flag held the upper hand. That was because Signal Flag specialized in overseas counterterrorism operations, whereas Alpha focused on domestic missions.
Seeing familiar faces, Viktor and Stepan were both secretly taken aback. They hadn't expected their employer to have such grand ambitions—hiring even retired Signal Flag operatives. What kind of security company was this man trying to build?
But this very same question was on the minds of everyone present, including the two American newcomers.
Among the assembled teams, there were not only former Signal Flag operatives but also ex-members of Delta Force, the SAS, the Marine Corps, the Secret Service, and even Navy SEALs.
These internationally renowned special forces veterans had been invited to a training base in Russia for an assessment. They were being paid handsomely, but none of them knew exactly what this test would entail.
As the six teams—a total of twelve elite operatives—gathered in the conference room, the wall-mounted television suddenly flickered to life. On the screen appeared a Russian man seated in a high-backed chair. It was Mavi, their employer.
"Thank you all for participating in the security assessment for my company, WeiHe Security," Mavi said succinctly. "In two hours, our staff will escort you to the assessment site. Your performance will be recorded, so take this seriously."
Many of the elite operatives in the room, including Stepan, weren't overly concerned about this so-called assessment. After all, they had served in Alpha Group, Delta Force, and other top-tier units—what challenges hadn't they faced before? They assumed this test would be a walk in the park.
But just as Stepan was thinking this, Mavi casually added, "This assessment will be conducted in two-man teams. The team that wins will receive $1.2 million."
The moment those words left Mavi's lips, all twelve elite operatives reacted with a hint of surprise.
"$1.2 million for winning the test?" Stepan thought to himself.
Their previously relaxed expressions quickly turned serious. A prize of $1.2 million was a huge incentive—even among this group of seasoned professionals. Some of them would be willing to take assassination contracts for less than that.
"Mr. Mavi, I have a question," Viktor spoke up, keeping his composure. "You mentioned an assessment—how exactly will this be conducted? A $1.2 million reward suggests it won't be easy. Could you give us some details?"
Mavi smiled slightly and replied, "The test will be a live combat simulation. Your safety will not be at risk. Our staff will explain the rules shortly."
With that, Mavi clapped his hands, and the camera feed switched to a close-up of a black briefcase. As the case was opened, stacks of crisp U.S. dollars were revealed—exactly $1.2 million in cash.
The twelve operatives couldn't help but focus their gaze on the pile of money.
Mavi keenly observed their reactions.
This assessment was inspired by the real-life version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).
The six teams would be deployed to different locations within the training grounds, where weapons and ammunition would be scattered throughout. They would need to rely on adaptability and teamwork to "eliminate" the other five teams and emerge as the final victors.
Of course, all ammunition used in the exercise would be blanks, minimizing the risk of serious injury. Staff would repeatedly emphasize the safety measures, and every participant would have to sign an agreement to abide by the assessment rules.
Mavi would be monitoring the battlefield in real-time through dozens of surveillance cameras. Assisting him were a behavioral psychologist, a tactical trainer, and other experts.
By the end of three rounds of simulations, Mavi would have a clear understanding of each participant's personality, tactical thinking, and combat experience.
After all, these men would soon become his inner circle. And when building a private security force, selecting the right people was crucial.