Meanwhile, at the safe house, Bernard and Beta Gilbert waited under tight security. Armed guards were posted all around the building as they anticipated the arrival of their summoned allies.
The first to arrive was Sandro.
"Sandro," Beta Gilbert greeted warmly, standing up to embrace the older warrior. "Thank you for coming."
"It’s been too long," Sandro said with a nod, clasping Bernard’s hand firmly.
One by one, the others followed until all the called-for reinforcements were present. It was time to plan.
"Thank you all for honoring my call," Beta Gilbert began. "Your presence means a lot."
The men nodded respectfully.
Bernard stepped forward and unfurled a large map across the table. "This attack must be in three waves. That’s our only chance."
"What do you mean three waves?" Sandro asked, stepping closer.
"The last attempt failed because someone betrayed us. Our strategy was exposed before we even made a move. We won’t repeat that mistake."
Bernard pointed to marked locations on the map. "We’ll split into three units. My father and I will lead the first. We’ll be the bait. The Shadow will think we’re alone and unprepared."
"That’s too risky," one of the soldiers said. "You’ll be walking into their hands."
"We know," Bernard said firmly. "But we’re ready. They don’t know what we’ve planned this time. If all goes well, we might end this sooner than expected."
Sandro raised an eyebrow. "End it sooner? How?"
"With wisdom, mostly," Bernard replied with a faint smile. "Eighty percent wisdom, twenty percent weapons. We’ll prepare for anything... and let them think we’re desperate. That’s when we strike."
The room fell quiet as everyone absorbed the weight of the plan. The war had already begun—now, it was time to fight smart...
***
Bernard continued to lay out the war strategy to the assembled warriors, showing them every detail on the map.
Despite his confidence, some of the specialists known as the mercenaries, remained skeptical.
"We came here to protect you and your family," one of them spoke up. "Why should you and your father be the first to walk into a war zone?"
Bernard didn’t flinch. His voice rang with clarity and strength. "You’re not here to protect us. You’re here to help us win. That’s the reason you were called. This battle isn’t just ours anymore."
He turned back to the map. "Here’s the plan: my father and I will go in first. He’ll talk to The Shadow—not to negotiate, but to distract him. That moment of confusion is our opportunity."
He pointed to two flanking routes on the map.
"Then the remaining two groups will move in from both the right and left sides of their hideout with full force. You’ll be heavily armed with weapons and grenades. The key is to create chaos from outside once we signal. Our goal is to lure The Shadow out. Once he steps out—he’s finished."
As the plan unfolded, doubt began to fade from their expressions. They moved closer to study the map, finally beginning to see the logic in Bernard’s layout.
"There’s one more thing," Bernard added. "We’ll launch this attack in broad daylight, in just two days."
Gasps echoed around the room.
"Attacking during the day? That’s suicide!" one of the men blurted. "They’ll be waiting for us."
Before Bernard could respond, Sandro stepped forward. "That’s exactly why this plan will work. They expect us at night, like the last time. They fight better in the dark. But daylight? They won’t see it coming."
Bernard nodded in agreement. "We hit them when they’re weakest. He knows we’ll come—but not when. Timing is everything."
One by one, the warriors began to nod. With the plan now clear and confidence rising, the room shifted from tension to anticipation.
As the meeting wrapped up, the warriors dispersed, heading back to their hotels to prepare. Only Beta Gilbert, Bernard, and a few trusted guards remained.
Beta Gilbert placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. Pride filled his eyes. "That was brilliant. How did you come up with all that so quickly?"
"I was up all night working it out," Bernard admitted with a confident smile. "I believe it’ll succeed."
"It will," his father replied. "Especially with this." He handed Bernard a small, polished mirror.
"This mirror is your real weapon. If The Shadow sees his own reflection in it—he’ll be destroyed."
Bernard’s eyes widened as he carefully took the mirror.
"One condition," Beta Gilbert added. "Keep it out of sunlight. If sunlight touches it, it loses its power."