To the curiosity of few, the oldest coffee lounge in the city is located on the most prosperous commercial street downtown. It's the favorite spot for many white-collar workers who prefer not to be found by others.
At 10:30 PM, in the lobby on the second floor of the café—which has thrived thanks to long-time customers—Dante, appearing as a middle-aged man, rested his chin in his hand while looking over documents containing national-level secrets.
One turn, two turns, three turns…
It's unclear how much time passed before the equally middle-aged man sitting across from him—someone named Walter, who was deeply interested in what SAMCRO could do for him and the country—finally broke the silence.
"What do you think of the terms?"
"They amuse me." Dante's response didn't sit well with the man in front of him.
Days after the incident, Dante had been busy resolving other problems that had been bothering him.
Only after receiving confirmation of a meeting with the FBI Director did Dante agree to meet under his own terms.
He no longer feared anyone, for the power he held in his hands was intimidating even to the government of this country.
"You still don't see the benefits?" Walter looked at Dante with a cold expression. Dealing with mobsters like the man in front of him was truly a headache.
If he didn't urgently need help from a group of elite mercenaries capable of infiltrating a country without being recognized, he would've never turned to SAMCRO so desperately.
But now that he was face to face with him, Dante had only one option: obey or be imprisoned for the rest of his life.
Walter was curious to see what choice Dante would make in such a situation.
Suddenly, Dante set the documents aside and looked at Walter. His dark eye bags and half-closed eyelids made him look as if he was about to fall asleep.
The coffee shop, now empty, felt even quieter.
After a while, Dante suddenly sighed, reached up to touch the top of his head, and said with a wry smile, "You're basically asking me to die for the country without getting anything in return. You and your gang of clowns better take a different approach if you want us to do what you ask."
"Don't play games with me, you old fool. I could make you and your band of idiots disappear," Walter snapped. He knew he was offering far too little to get the attention of a man who probably had an absurd amount of money.
Dante, now calm, replied, "We're just chatting…"
"Then give me an answer." Walter needed SAMCRO to deal with problems that could trigger a war.
"Full immunity for me and every SAMCRO member. I want us to be untouchable in this country, as long as we follow the rules and live like regular citizens." Dante was seeking a deal that perhaps the FBI Director himself couldn't grant.
"Done."
"You don't have that authority…"
Walter frowned and said, "But it's something we can make happen."
"Fine. In return, to get the President's approval, we'll give the country a commission on the drug sales. Every arms sale we make will be a reason to keep supporting the all-too-ordinary people."
Thinking about his words, Dante added, "Also, I promise to reduce the drug distribution on the streets."
"Drugs are under DEA jurisdiction…"
"But not the weapons your country wants us to distribute around the world—especially to Mexico and Colombia, right?" Dante let a faint smile cross his lips.
Walter sighed. In the end, he was dealing with a truly fearsome and powerful man.
"We have a deal…"
"Wait. If you don't deliver, another country will. And trust me, more and more soldiers have little love for the country that abandoned them."
"Getting sentimental now?" Walter didn't fall for Dante's dirty games, so he continued, "We want you to eliminate Russian targets who are leaking confidential information about our undercover agents in different countries."
"Understood. Send everything through this system. We'll receive the instructions and take out the targets." Dante left a USB on the table before getting up and leaving.
When Dante exited the building, he disappeared into a crowd that had suddenly gathered in the street.
"Do you want us to follow him?"
Walter shook his head and said, "It's unnecessary. He's already gone."