Ahmed left the room, his mind in turmoil, his hands trembling, and his chest heaving violently. He started mumbling to himself:
"What did I say?! My future wife?! Did they actually believe that?"
He suddenly turned to his father and shouted:
"Wait! I didn't agree to the marriage! Father... why didn't you tell me you're a gang leader?!"
But Muhammad, his father, did not respond seriously. Instead, he burst out laughing with Fawzia and Haruki. Ahmed's anger flared, and he said:
"Why are you laughing?! This isn't funny!"
His father approached him, put his hand on his shoulder, and said with a mysterious smile:
"My son... you knew that when you were ten years old."
Ahmed froze in his place, then whispered hesitantly:
"I remember... yes... you trained me yourself, and you taught me Japanese and English... but you didn't tell me you were a gang leader!"
Muhammad laughed again and said:
"I did tell you, Ahmed. And my gang members all know you."
Ahmed raised his head defiantly:
"Then... if you're telling the truth, let me see them!"
At that moment, Fawzia's voice suddenly rose as she yelled:
"Everyone, quiet down!"
Silence fell in the room. Even Haruki, the Japanese gang leader, shrank a little in his seat in respect for her voice. Everyone sat with their heads bowed, while the mother said with the strictness of a mother no one dares to oppose:
"Ahmed... have you ever loved a woman before?"
Ahmed lowered his head, his voice as faint as a whisper:
"No..."
Fawzia smiled lightly and said:
"Then you will get to know Misaki... and you will marry her."
Ahmed tried to object, but his words died in his throat. He could not defy his mother, whom he loved and respected.
The mother said in a decisive tone:
"Then you will go to Japan. There, you will meet Misaki, and you will complete your first mission: hitting the corrupt police department that sells drugs."
Ahmed raised his hands in protest:
"But..."
The mother interrupted him sharply, placing a small box in front of him:
"Quiet... and go. Don't cause trouble."
Ahmed opened the box, and inside was a gleaming sniper rifle, a small camera, and a memory card. His mother looked him directly in the eyes and said:
"Take this sniper rifle... kill the corrupt head of the department with it. And burn all the drugs you find. And film a video exposing them selling the drugs."
A heavy silence reigned. Ahmed's heart was pounding violently, and his brain was about to explode from the multiple shocks. He raised his head toward his parents and Haruki, and to his mother specifically... but he couldn't say "no."
He held the sniper rifle with a trembling, professional hand and said in a low voice:
"...Okay."