The old villa sat on a hill just outside the capital. One could see weather-worn stone walls and overgrown hedges. There was no guards in sight and also no caras—at least not visible ones.
The whole place was just filled with silence and a sense of seclusion.
Silvanus arrived alone.
Tyler had wanted to send him transport but he didn’t trust cars provided by strangers. And he doesn’t have a car, so he rode his own battered black motorcycle.
He parked it a full block away, scanned the rooftops, then approached the compound on foot.
His Glock 17 sat tucked inside his waistband. He wore a nondescript green shirt and tan tactical pants, boots muddy from the walk.
He has no idea what awaits him inside the villa and being cautious, he made sure he ca prepared. He rembered that so of his mbers had been captured and killed the sa way too. He can’t risk walking into a trap.
Walking forward, his left eye twitched slightly, as it always did when he sensed danger.
He didn’t know who he was eting. All he got was just a ssage. A vague and bold one and it was offering help, resources and backing.
These were things his movent desperately needed. But also things he’d spent a decade refusing.
Silvanus stood by the iron gate for a second, looking at the building. The windows dark and the front door open just slightly, looking very inviting.
He clenched his jaw. "Don’t be stupid," he muttered to himself and stepped inside.
He expected to see soone wearing a suit, maybe surrounded by bodyguards. But instead, it was a single man seated at a wide wooden table in the villa’s main hall.
Silvanus noticed that he had seen his face before, briefly. He rembered him to be a quiet person, the owner of a NGO that has been helping people.
But the fact that he has dealings with the current regi was sothing Silvanus didn’t like one bit.
David saw Silvanus approaching, stood and extended his hand.
"Silvanus. Thank you for coming."
Silvanus didn’t take his hand. His eyes narrowed as he studied David.
"You’re the one who contacted ?"
"No," David said, without blinking. "But I’m the one here to speak on their behalf."
Silvanus studied him carefully, then stepped forward and shook the hand. He made sure it was brief and firm.
After exchanging pleasantries, they both took their seat.
"I won’t waste your ti," David began, his tone calm. "I represent a partner who wishes to remain unnad for now. Soone with considerable resources. Soone who doesn’t care for politics, power, or legacy. All he wants is a quiet, stable, and sovereign place where he can build."
Silvanus kept his arms crossed. "Build what?"
"Technology. Infrastructure. Sothing revolutionary."
"Why can’t they build in their ho country? Why co here? What’s so special about Gumua that they want here? Or are they just looking for more direct way to take over the country as it didn’t work indirectly?" Silvanus shot a barrage of questions at David.
"The person would had loved to build in his ho country but he would have to watch his back, so that other companies doesn’t attack him and take what he’s building. And honestly, we want nothing but just that, a stable place to build without fear." David replied calmly.
There was a long silence settled between them.
"You say your partner wants nothing in return?" Silvanus finally asked.
"Correct. No control, no seat in governnt, no titles. Just the space and protection to work."
Silvanus scoffed. "And I’m just supposed to believe that?"
David didn’t blink. "You don’t have to believe it now. That’s why we’re having this eting."
Silvanus leaned forward slightly, and his tone turned sharp.
"Let tell you sothing, Mr. David. I’ve fought this regi for ten years. I’ve buried brothers, lost friends, watched people get kidnapped, tortured, and vanish for daring to speak the truth. My own mother died waiting for a hospital that never opened. My village has had power once a week for the past three years."
David said nothing.
"I’ve watched these bastards sell our ports, our water, our airwaves, our land. Everything. Sold to foreigners who ca with fake smiles and left with gold."
He pointed a finger.
"So forgive if I find it hard to believe that soone who’s not even here in person wants to help."
David nodded. "That’s fair."
Silvanus tilted his head. "Then why should I trust you?"
David exhaled lightly.
"Because I’m not asking for your trust. I’m offering proof," he said, and slid the folder in front of him to Silvanus.
Silvanus looked at the folder and slowly reached out to grab it. He opened it and started going through it, and he saw bank transfers and contract docunts.
"What is this?"
"My dealings with the current regi. As you already suspected, I’ve worked with them before."
Silvanus stiffened.
"But not in politics," David continued. "The only direct dealing I have with them is the tech we used to replace the country’s SWIFT system. Everything else you see in there are the things done by our NGO."
He reached out and flipped the files to another.
"These are the original docunts. I’ve kept every single receipt. The only reason I still have access to governnt circles is because I made myself useful to both sides. That’s how I’m able to offer you sothing no one else can."
"Which is?" Silvanus asked, watching him.
"Leverage," David said simply. "And access."
The silence stretched again, but it was longer this ti.
Silvanus stood up and paced around. His boots thudded softly on the tile. He stopped near a cracked window, staring out.
The sun was climbing slowly, casting long shadows through the broken glass.
"Let’s say I accept," he said finally. "Let’s say I believe you. What happens next?"
"We support you," David said, standing as well. "Funding, equipnt, logistics and supplies."
"And in return, you want us to give what exactly?"
"Anything we want."
Silvanus frowned deeply, and glared at David.
"This was completely different from the nothing but land you said before. Now, you’re saying anything you want? Does that an that if you ask for Gumua, I should give it to you?" He asked with a venomous tone.
"Can you take it for yourself without our help?" David asked calmly.
Silvanus was quiet for a while before sighing, and taking his seat.
"I’ve seen people try to ’operate quietly’ before. Mining companies. Oil giants. Arican defense contractors. They ca, they built, and they destroyed everything in sight."
David’s voice was firr now. "This isn’t like them."
"Why not?"
"Because we’re not here to extract anything. We’re here to create. What he’s building has the potential to give your people real independence—economic, technological, and infrastructural. He’s not building bombs or pipelines. And all he wants is a place to do it in peace."
Silvanus stared at him, long and hard.
"I want a free Gumua," he said. "Not just new masters in quiet shadows."
"You’ll get a free Gumua," David said. "That’s the difference. You’ll still make the rules. We’ll just build in the space you allow."
"Yeah right. But you can still make change the rules." Silvanus said, but he got no reply from David.
Seeing the silence he was receiving, he clenched and unclenched his fists.
The truth was—he wanted to believe him. He wanted to believe that soone, sowhere, had co not to loot but to build. But his instincts scread caution. Too many tis, he’d seen beautiful promises rot into blood.
And yet... what choice did he have?
His n were tired. His funds were almost gone. The last donor had been arrested last week. His communications were getting harder to maintain. Foreign help was shrinking. And the governnt was beginning to crack down harder. Soon, they’d fall apart.
He turned to David.
"One eting doesn’t an agreent. But..."
He walked back to the table and held out his hand.
"...it ans we talk again."
David took it. "Then we’ll talk again."
Reviews
All reviews (0)