
...A few days before....
Ethan knows he has to trust every member of The Eagle because trust is the strongest foundation in a relationship. However, he also knew that the potential for betrayal would always exist. And usually, traitors come from the closest person, and know best the internal conflicts in a relationship itself.
Therefore, Ethan oversees several important people in the members of The Eagle, one of whom is Erik. Ethan is not surprised to find Erik meeting someone and plotting a betrayal.
However, Ethan did not tell Peter or Jose. He kept the secret to himself, even though he still insisted on freeing all members of The Eagle from all their duties even though Peter was angry and disagreed.
"I'm sure Erik will betray, I've smelled that foul scent by now" Peter assures Ethan. "I saw him go into the kitchen and like checking cctv, don't you believe me?"
Simon looks at Ethan, but the man is busy looking at the photo of the altar where he married Louisa.
"Ethan Mayer!" peter was upset.
"Maybe he's just checking if some cctv is broken or not" Ethan casually said. "And for now please don't talk about it, I'm missing Lou."
"If something happens, I won't save you" Peter snapped, upset that Ethan didn't believe his words.
"There's nothing going on, we're going to have a party next year" Ethan replies calmly. "From you dizzying things that are uncertain, you should prepare everything we need for the new year's night. The Eagle's children must be happy and content."
Simon and Peter stare at each other, unable to believe Ethan underestimates the enemy. However, it looks like Simon can smell something else from Ethan.
"What's your plan?" ask Simon.
"Having a great wedding party with Louisiana," said Ethan still casually which made Simon cluck up.
Yeah, Ethan didn't want to tell Peter and Simon the plan. Not because he does not believe in his adoptive father, Ethan only minimizes his plans smelled by the enemy in his blanket.
If Ethan talks about his plans with Peter and Simon, then the three of them will often spend time together to talk about many things. And it must have provoked Erik's curiosity, what they were talking about, what they were planning and so on.
Therefore, Erik did not suspect anything because Peter was busy himself watching Headquarters, as well as Simon who was busy taking care of the goods that came and were sent.
However, Ethan is actually working with Dante. Use the man's status as a former member of the military to seek help.
...Two days before the attack....
Ethan and Dante meet some people they can work with.
"What are you going to give us?" ask a friend of Dante who currently works as a security guard at an International Bank.
Although he was a former member of the military and now has retired money for daily living expenses. However, he needed a lot of money to pay the debt of his son who lost gambling and is now being held at the police station. His wife was also sickly so he needed more money to see the Doctor every month.
"Whatever you want" said Ethan. "A house on the outskirts of Moscow, near the lake. And a mini-market venture there."
"We have to accept the mini market and its contents without anything less" said the man. In other words, he doesn't want to capitalize on his own.
"Well, as you wish" said Ethan. Buying a home and providing capital for such a venture is by no means a big thing. "But once again I remind you, your life could be floating away."
The man smiled then said, "I've been risking my life for the country for years, and I've only had one chance to risk my life for my wife."
Ethan was moved by the answer, making him think of Louise.
"But I hope you don't want to die, if you die then my position can be weak against the enemy. And I'm sure your wife wants to spend the rest of her life with you, in your dream home, instead of being alone and lamenting that she's a widow."
The man smiled and nodded.
After a deal with one person, Ethan and Dante rush to meet someone else. The person Ethan chooses is the one who needs something but cannot fulfill it, then Ethan will come, willing to give their dreams but for a very expensive fee.
Before meeting them, Ethan must find out who they are, their background, their shortcomings and advantages.
Ethan chooses twenty people, maybe that's a little bit but Ethan is not worried. There are a variety of compelling reasons why people want to join Ethan, some need money, some need strong protection and some need support in something. They will all fight as hard as they can for themselves or their loved ones.
"Just twenty people" said a worried-looking Dante. "23 including me, you and Simon."
"24 with Peter" Ethan quickly errs. Dante didn't read Peter, because he thought he was paralyzed, only able to move his finger.
"Remain still, we are like a small army of ants who will face thousands of elephants" said Dante, who could not help his anxiety.
Ethan had already told roughly how many people would attack them, of course 20-50 people would really be like dust.
"I was in the military once," Ethan said. "I don't think they ever teach us the fear of the number of enemies, are we always taught to believe in our strength?"
"I was just thinking logically" circus Dante.
"In a war, more important than muscles is the brain."
Dante fell silent, he glanced at the young man by his side. "I have to live, for my daughter's sake. What's your motivation?" ask Dante who is starting to be curious about Ethan's life.
"Someone is waiting for me" replied Ethan. They passed a church, Ethan stopped in front of it making Dante look confused.
"Are you going to pray?" Dante asked as if in disbelief seeing a gangster would pray.
"Someone asked me not to commit a crime." Ethan said as he remembered Louia when he asked her not to do evil, so that God would not be angry. "Say the Lord will be angry and I will go to hell, but now we are doing it in self-defense. So I'm gonna pray, ask for his protection."