Chapter 49

We entered the bustling bar, its dimly lit interior filled with the hum of conversation and clinking glasses. Talisca and Lorenzo took a seat at the counter, and I joined them, my senses heightened by the weight of our discussion.

Talisca leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Lorenzo, my friend, Rodriguez here has quite the ambition. He aims to purchase weapons worth over $400 million.”

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow, his expression revealing a hint of skepticism. “Impressive, but money alone doesn’t pique my interest. I need to see a spark in those eyes, a hunger for power that matches mine.”

I took a sip of my drink, maintaining a calm demeanor. “Lorenzo, my friend, rest assured, I am driven by a fire that burns within. Money is merely a means to an end, a tool to shape the world as we desire.”

Lorenzo studied me intently, his gaze unyielding. “You speak with conviction, Rodriguez, but words are cheap. Actions are what truly define a man.”

I leaned