Eager to draw first blood, Syl took a confident step forward, dagger gleaming in his hand. But before he could advance, Jargen planted himself firmly in his path, shoving him back with a scowl.

  Jargen (hushed): "Hell do you think you're gonna do?!"

  Syl grinned, unshaken, twirling the dagger between his fingers.

  Syl: "Heh... No witnesses, Jargen. Remember?"

  Jargen's jaw tightened, teeth bared in frustration. His fists clenched at Syl's reckless eagerness.

  Jargen: "Can't you convince him to leave? Fill in for him or something, just get him away from the door for a while... You're known around here, aren't you? So find a goddamn way to do this without bloodshed... Don't make this more difficult for us than it needs to be."

  Syl paused, rubbing his chin with the tip of his dagger thoughtfully. Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, he sheathed the blade and snapped his fingers.

  Syl: "My my Jargen, that's not a bad plan at all! Look at ya go, turns out there's somethin' inside that hollow head of yours after all. Stay put, I got just the perfect idea..."

  Stowing his knife away with a cocky wink, Syl rounded the corner, his swagger loud enough to echo down the hall. The guard stationed at the office door immediately perked up, hand drifting toward his weapon.

  Guard: "Who the --"

  Before he could finish, Syl cut him off with that familiar, oily charm.

  Syl: "BUV! Damn, it's been too long, old friend! Heard I'd find you up here!"

  The guard's eyes widened, recognition dawning. His hand dropped from his weapon as a grin spread across his face.

  Buv (Guard): "Syl?! You crazy bastard! What're you doin' here? And you didn't even bring me a drink? Get the fuck outta here!"

  Syl laughed, arms open wide as he strode forward, embracing Buv like a long-lost brother.

  Syl: "Hah! That's exactly why I'm here -- came to drag you down for a drink. C'mon, no need to be guarding doors all night."

  Buv clapped Syl on the back with a hearty thud but didn't step away from his post.

  Buv: "I dunno, Syl... Dmitri was real clear. The office stays guarded. Said the whole house could burn down for all he cares, but no one touches the office. I ain't about to piss him off."

  Syl waved him off with a chuckle.

  Syl: "Ah, to hell with that creepy bastard. What's he gonna do, turn you into one of his test tubes?"

  But Buv didn't laugh. His grin faded, his expression darkening.

  Buv: "Too soon, Syl... way too soon."

  Syl's smirk faltered.

  Syl: "Huh? I-I'm not sure I get ya..."

  Buv's gaze dropped to the floor, his voice low.

  Buv: "That's exactly what he did. Last guy who crossed him? Locked the poor fella in that laboratory with him... Dunno what Dmitri did to him, but we heard the screams. For hours. Then... nothing. Now we don't hear a damn thing anymore."

  Behind the corner, Jargen stiffened. His mind raced, thinking of Punjo, Tyssa, and Rel facing down the sadistic scientist.

  Jargen (hushed): "Shit... hope you're all right, guys."

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  Syl clenched his jaw, his usual bravado dimmed by the grim revelation.

  Syl: "Damn. I didn't know, Buv. That's rough."

  Buv shook his head, eyes distant.

  Buv: "Yeah... 'Twas pretty bad. Dmitri doesn't ask a lot of us, but what he does we gotta follow. Sorry, Syl. Can't leave this post."

  Syl patted Buv's back, his voice soft, almost conspiratorial.

  Syl: "'Ight. Say no more, Buv -- I gotcha covered. Go downstairs, grab a drink, bite to eat, hang with the boys a bit, whatever have ya, then come back. I'll keep an eye on the place, give ya a little time to kick back and relax. No one deserves to be here alone all night long..."

  Buv: "No can do Syl, I really can't screw this up... But thanks, buddy."

  But Syl wasn't done. He leaned in, voice low and persuasive.

  Syl: "C'mon, ya said it yourself... Dmitri wants the office guarded at all times. Now, does it *really* matter who's guarding it? I'm not lettin' anyone in there Buv, you got my word."

  Buv's gaze softened, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

  Buv: "I'unno Syl... Best if I don't take no gambles..."

  Syl crossed his arms, feigning offense.

  Syl: "Now you're hurting my damn feelings... Have I ever let ya down?"

  Buv sighed, shaking his head reluctantly.

  Buv: "No... you haven't."

  Syl clapped him on the shoulder, sealing the deal.

  Syl: "Exactly! So trust me... If anything goes sideways, I'll take the fall. You've earned a break, Buv. Go on, I got this."

  Buv's shoulders slumped in relief. For the first time that night, he allowed himself to relax.

  Buv: "You'd really do that for me...?"

  Syl: "For any of us. We're in this together, right? Gotta look out for each other in this shitshow of a world. I know you'd do the same for me...!"

  Buv hesitated, but Syl's words hit home. He finally nodded, a grin creeping back onto his face.

  Buv: "Goddamn, Syl... You're a real one. I'll remember this!"

  Syl waved Buv off with an easy grin.

  Syl: "Think nothin' of it! Go on, get yourself a break..."

  Buv clapped him twice on the arm, his grin wide as he turned down the corridor.

  Buv: "I'll grab somethin' for ya too, don'tcha worry. Be back soon -- thanks, man!"

  Syl nodded, holding the smile just long enough for Buv to turn his back. The moment the guard's footsteps faded, Syl's expression went cold.

  Syl (muttered): "Of course, Buv..."

  In a single fluid motion, Syl stepped forward, his hand clamping over Buv's mouth. Before the man could even gasp, Syl's dagger flashed. The blade sliced clean across Buv's throat, and blood gushed out in thick spurts. Buv's eyes bulged in shock and betrayal as he crumpled to the floor, clutching at his throat, his body convulsing violently.

  Buv (gurgling): "S-Syl... W-why...?"

  Syl crouched beside him, casually wiping the blood from his blade onto Buv's twitching form.

  Syl: "... Sorry, Buv. Guess some harm was comin' your way after all. No hard feelings, eh?"

  Buv's body gave one final shudder before going still. Syl sheathed his dagger with a satisfied sigh -- just as Jargen rounded the corner.

  Jargen: "What the fuck, Syl?!"

  Jargen stormed toward him, fury blazing in his eyes. But Syl didn't flinch. He stood there, calm as ever, watching Jargen's heavy steps draw closer.

  Syl: "What, Jargen? You think I'm stupid? It's my ass on the line too. You wanna leave witnesses? Let 'em come hunt me down like a pack of wolves?!"

  Jargen stopped inches from Syl, his chest heaving with restrained rage.

  Jargen: "You didn't have to kill him...!"

  Syl: "Wrong -- guy had to die. It is what it is... You know I'm right."

  Jargen shoved past him, grabbing Buv's lifeless arms and dragging the corpse toward the office door.

  Jargen (gritted teeth): "You're a hypocritical son of a bitch, you know that?"

  Syl swung the office door open, leaning against the frame as Jargen hauled the body inside.

  Syl: "Spare me your moral bullshit. We're talkin' about the fortune of a lifetime here. Buv'd understand."

  Jargen dropped the corpse with a sickening thud against an ornate wooden desk, the lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Syl closed the door behind them with a soft click.

  Syl: "And it's not like I killed' him 'cause of some sudden change of heart -- like you. My heart's always been in the same damn place: looking out for me. This? This is just collateral..."

  Jargen turned to him, fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white.

  Jargen: "Justify your sins however you want, you selfish fuck... You know what you've done."

  Turning to face Syl, Jargen's bitterness toward him seemed to grow with each passing moment.

  Syl shrugged, an amused glint in his eye.

  Syl: "Sins...? What are you now, some kinda priest? Save it."

  Jargen stepped forward, his towering frame casting a long shadow over Syl.

  Jargen: "We better drop this talk before I break your face."

  Syl chuckled, unfazed.

  Syl: "Easy, Jargen. We're here, ain't we? Let's not blow this now."

  He gestured grandly to the office around them. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, crammed with dusty tomes and leather-bound ledgers. The furniture gleamed—polished mahogany, gold inlays, silk cushions. It was a stark contrast to the blood drying on the floor beneath their feet.

  Syl: "This is it! This is what we came for..."

  Jargen's eyes swept over the opulence, his disgust for Syl momentarily set aside as the weight of their mission settled in.

  Syl (grinning): "Now, let's get to searchin'!"