"What do you mean? Comrade in arms? Grandet and I said in unison, and we looked at Paul together.

Paul pointed at Berezov and said, "I don't think we need to introduce it." You all want to ask him why he became a comrade-in-arms with us, and I can tell you that he is a man of the Seventeenth Bureau, who is responsible for working directly with us. ”

"Why him? Can't you send someone else? I looked at Paul, "The man who was fighting for life and death a year ago suddenly became a comrade-in-arms?" I can't accept it. ”

"Yes. I can't accept it either. Grandet shook the hand that had lost his finger.

Milk didn't speak, just sat quietly and watched us, Sasha didn't speak but looked at Paul, and everyone was watching what Paul said.

Paul sighed, turned to Berezov and said, "How is it?" I said it. ”

Berezov smiled and said, "Then I'll tell it myself." As he spoke, he looked at us, "Guys." I know we have a feud between us. But I don't think it's a personal vendetta. I am a Russian soldier, and you were fighting for the Chechen rebels, so you certainly didn't go there to enjoy the mountains and rivers, and I didn't go there for a vacation. I think it's normal for everyone to have a bloody battle. Moreover, you paid a heavy price, your comrades were killed, and this one, who lost his finger in that encounter in Grozny, what about me? Am I not having what I have lost? I don't think I need to say anything to you about the battle for Chechnya, especially the battle for Grozny, because you are right there. The Chechen rebels did everything they could in that damn city, with cold guns and dark mines everywhere, and there were always people hiding in the hollow walls of the tunnels to shoot cold shots at the passing Russian troops, and even threw bombs, and the most exaggerated thing was to use mortars to shoot the heads of the killed Russian soldiers back to the places we controlled. So I thought I'd say something that even a fool wouldn't want to fight that war, I don't think you would object to it. You were all once soldiers, and if you were me, what would you do? I think it's me who is more opposed to cooperation, not you. ”

Berezov was right, it was a hell, and the memories of that place flashed through my mind were the artillery fire, the overcast sky, the cold weather, the dilapidated city, the dim underground passages, the horrific casualties that littered many places with corpses, and the numb expressions on everyone's faces as if they had lost their lives.

Milk, who was sitting there, spoke first, "Okay. It's been a long time since I've done anything for my country. In fact, I have to forget where I am from. But this guy said it. It can't be said that it doesn't make sense. ”

"Sasha, what do you say?" Paul asked, looking at Sasha.

Sasha looked at Grandet and me, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I used to want to join the GRU too. ”

"Good. What about Valery? Paul knew Sasha had agreed.

Valery didn't speak, just looked at me and Grandet as if waiting for me and Grandet to say something. Paul then looked at me, "Gypsy, what do you think of what Berezov said?" I want to say that we did suffer a lot of losses that time, but you can't say that Berezov caused or planned it, right? ”

"If I had that ability, I wouldn't have let myself go." Berezov spoke.

I looked at Paul and Berezov, "If Grandet agrees, I'll be fine." But I wonder if it's a collaboration or if we're at his disposal. ”

"Cooperation, of course. Bureau 17 has officially hired us to serve them. Paul replied.

Grandet glanced at me, "I'm disabled, and I can't do your kind of work anymore." At most, it's okay to beat up the thugs on the street. ”

"So you agreed? Or at least no objection? Paul asked.

Grandet snorted and glared at Berezov. Berezov spoke: "You don't have to stare at me. You and this gypsy killed at least three or four of my men there, and if you have a grudge, it should be me. There are also seventeen rounds that will be of great benefit to business, as you should know. ”

"But what I don't know is that you're there. Well, I'm in business, so I don't have to see you often, right? Grandet said.

Paul looked at me, "Gypsy. How are you? ”

I glared at Grandet disapprovingly and whispered, "You know the damn business." After scolding him, I looked at Paul, "Since it's a hire, how do you get paid?" ”

Paul held out two fingers, "Two hundred thousand per year." In US dollars. In case of death and disability, five times the pension. ”

"What about the holidays? I won't do it around the Chinese New Year. You know that. I said.

Paul raised his hand and smiled and said, "We'll talk about this slowly, and now I think you've all agreed, right?" ”

"Pretty much." We each looked at each other, and Valery, who had not said anything, spoke.

"Okay." Paul sat down, "So should we come up with a name for our team?" ”

"Before you come up with a name, shouldn't you discuss the expansion of the team? There are no 10 of you in total now. Paul, don't count those little brothers of yours. What we will do in the future is not something that those children can imagine, I or we need to have experience, preferably experienced people. Berezov said.

Paul nodded, "Okay." I'll recruit as soon as possible. But you know that in Chechnya I lost a lot. ”

Berezov pointed at us, "What about them?" They don't know anyone, people who are willing to do it. ”

Paul looked at us and asked, "Is there one?" ”

I looked around at everyone, and there was not much reaction from anyone, and suddenly I rang out Pinto, and I said, "I have a person." ”

Paul looked at me and said, "It can't be those Yankees, right?" ”

"Of course not. The Yankees don't want to look for a job with you. I said.

Paul spread his hands and said, "Okay then." Who's that? ”

"A Colombian. I met the guerrillas while they were there. The marksmanship was very good, and it was used as a sniper at that time. I said.

"Experience? And would he be willing to come? Berezov asked.

I looked at him and said, "Experience, he has participated from beginning to end in almost all the operations against the guerrillas in which I have participated. As for willingness, he has told me more than once that he wants to come out and fight for money. ”

"Smack." Paul clapped his hands and said, "This can be counted as one." And it doesn't sound bad. ”

"But there's still a lot to come. We need about 10 more people to be able to go on a long-term mission. Berezov said.

Paul waved his hand, "There will be." Isn't this just the beginning? Bread, milk. Potatoes will be there. Let's decide on a name first. ”

"Survivors." I blurted out.

"Survivors?" Paul and the others read it in unison.

"Why is that name?" Paul asked.

I sighed and said, "We are all people who escaped from the ghost gate, and we are all survivors. And I hope that we can all be survivors and survive in the future. ”