A group of people, 20 people in all, began to approach from one side. Slowly and without any sudden movements. It was as if someone wanted to come over to say hello. And after a few minutes, Gora recognized one of them as Cobra. Yeah, looks like they really were just coming to say hello. You just don't walk around with news like that.

— What people… Mr. Prefect himself decided to make sure everything was running smoothly," Cobra said, smiling. Before, he'd seemed a bit of a show-off, pontificating left and right without meaning to. But now the message didn't seem pretentious at all. This message in reality, apparently, was supposed to relieve the tension, quite expected in his interlocutor. We are tough guys here, of course, but we are mortals too, and we can't dodge bullets either. And we also know how to appreciate other people's interests. At that moment, Gora thought about the fact that for all that, Cobra had never once crossed the boundaries of the prefect's interests, but sought to negotiate. And on terms that would be favorable to both of them, and that both of them would want to abide by.

In the couple weeks that the Kiwis had been using the miners' underground infrastructure, Cobra had never once called himself to request an emergency corridor for his units. And the volumes he'd specified had been followed exactly every time. And by the looks of it, that had already paid off for him. Otherwise he would have asked if it was critical to ship more or not on time. No. He was fine with it. And it was obvious that he wanted to keep it for the future.

— One's own eye always sees sharper. — replied the prefect.

— You bet. You bet…" Cobra glanced toward the road leading away from the mine. — Our great friend Metropolitan is out there somewhere… He said he'll show up tomorrow. But no one in the Korsa sector knows anything about his arrival. He's a slow learner.

Cobra was hinting at something very important — worth being on guard for. Samoh's ultimate target is here. And he'll be here today, tomorrow, or whenever. No matter how much he gets in the way. And we'll have to decide how far we can go.

— They tried to go down into the mines of the Korsa sector," Cobra continued. — And they didn't succeed… You know, you really excite me, Prefect. You've got strong hands. You can't let me go if you want to. Isn't that right?

— So…" Hora nodded, and then moved a little closer, so that no one standing nearby could hear, and said. — Would you let him in if you were in my place?

— You know, I'll be honest with you… I wouldn't have gotten that far. Not to the point of not letting you in. No. That's the obvious action. Very much so. But only when you have the means to do it. And you had the means to do it. I wouldn't have… I wouldn't have thought of it beforehand like you did… Guards, barriers, yes. But training people to blow themselves up at the right moment… I don't have the skill you have. And I haven't seen such a thing… We'd be glad to train everyone like that — blow themselves up as we order. But it doesn't work. Even in a last resort, when there's nothing left to lose, not everyone explodes to avoid being captured. Even though we use the two grenades thing. And this despite the fact that our guys know what awaits them in this captivity… But yours just explode on order… When I heard it, I didn't believe it was like that. The others don't believe it now. They think you put some kind of detonators to blow things up remotely… But I saw it in your eyes right away. How you can control people… And that you specially selected someone who wouldn't blink an eye before pulling the pin off a grenade when ordered… You're a real puppeteer… A goddamn puppeteer….

Mercenary

Cobra noticed that these words somehow encouraged his companion. It was as if someone had finally recognized him in her. Then he's got it right. That's what the Mountain wants most of all — to control and subjugate. People and territory. And he's obviously clever for hiding it all so secretly. On the surface, he's a simple functionary — better to do as he's told. But in reality, he's a real leader with big plans.

— Damn, because I'm sitting underground? — asked the Mountain in reply.

— Because that's the devil's behavior… I'm not a chiwi to say that, of course. We're devils ourselves… But you seem ready to outdo us… You know… I don't mind… You can be bigger and stronger. Just don't break our agreements. Okay?

— Our agreements are fine with me… Did your people complain to you about anything?

— No. — Cobra smiled. — They say there are such tunnels, they've never seen anything like it in their lives. They say you look like you've got a lot of resources. They say you can withstand a much larger volume without question… But you see, I didn't demand more from you….

Gora looked at him directly and expectantly.

— And I'm not going to demand it. — continued Cobra. — The paths are yours. And the mines are yours. I have no claim to them…..

— I wonder how it is that you've moved over time from "we" in the sense of all hivy but "I don't claim" when it comes to your own interests… I, as you realize, don't particularly care, but I wouldn't want to you know in a month or two negotiate with someone of yours in a new way….

Cobra made a little face, as if he had eaten something sour, and replied:

— Yeah… You wouldn't like it… Not everyone here is like me… Forward thinking. Some want everything now and don't really care