1
Nikita: I'll show you what goes into a master plan. Let's start with the logistics.
The logistics can be a complex problem to solve.
City Grill Locations
2
- The lines represent roads that can be taken to get to a location.
- The numbers labeled on each line is the time in minutes it would take to use this road.
- Each City Grill location is labeled with a number, starting with 1 and ending with 8.
3
I want to choose a path that is most efficient for both of us. Let's start with each visiting 4 out of the 8 locations.
4
Nikita: Phase 1, we need to find all City Grill locations.
Pavel: Yep, then we need to conduct some surveillance.
Nikita: Once we understand the scheme, we can take advantage.
Pavel: To do this more quickly, we can each investigate half of the locations.
Nikita: It says there are 8 locations in St. Petersburg.
Pavel: That's quite a lot, I expected fewer.
Nikita: Yeah... we can each pick 4 locations to spy on.
Pavel: We'll need to pick optimally.
Nikita: To clean 520 million, I'd assume each location has a role in the laundering.
Pavel: The scheme may be complex, but that's why there are two of us.
Nikita: Technically, there is a third...
Pavel: Yeah, but I don't know how much I trust Katina.
Nikita: We'll think of a job for her.
Pavel: And we need to make sure she doesn't betray us.
5
Nikita: I think I've got it.
Pavel: That was quick. Alright, which locations should I visit?
Nikita: You should visit location 6, then 8, then 4, then 3.
Pavel: Sounds good, I trust your math.
Nikita: I'll take the remaining locations.
Pavel: Let's start bright and early tomorrow morning.
*You stop and look at the map again*
*Your brother looks at you*
Pavel: What's up?
Nikita: There's a better way to do this.
Pavel: Hmm, yeah, maybe I should visit 5 locations.
Nikita: You should stop at location 1 before 6.
Pavel: Right, that would cut my travel time.
Nikita: I'll take the path 2-7-5.
*Pavel thinks for a moment*
Nikita: You could visit each location by about 9:45 AM if we started at 6:00 AM.
Pavel: You'll be done much earlier, but it's still more efficient than a 4/4 split.
Nikita: Yeah, in terms of travel time, I'd be looking at 1 hour 35 minutes of downtime.
Pavel: But now, let's think about the surveillance time required.
6
Nikita: Obviously, just a rough estimate, but let's assume 2 hours at each location?
Pavel: Sure, let's start with that.
Nikita: On our next visits, we can refine our plan.
Pavel: Yep, this is just our baseline.
Nikita: Due to surveillance time, the initial 4/4 split was probably better.
Pavel: Right, otherwise, there would be at least 4 hours dealt between our finish times.
Nikita: Your route would take 12 hours.
Pavel: Perfect, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Nikita: My route will take about 10.58 hours.
Pavel: So, you'll be done around 4:35 PM.
Nikita: But we also need to drive back here after we're done.
Present Day
Jenna: So much math goes into all of this. It's crazy.
Nikita: I wouldn't say that's math, it's so basic... but anyway...
Past
Pavel: Yeah, it looks like I'll have another 145 minutes of travel time.
Nikita: I'll have an additional 100 minutes of travel time.
Pavel: So, I should be back here at the hotel at 8:25 PM, and you'll be back at 6:15 PM.
Nikita: The southern route is shorter. If you want, I can take the northern route.
Pavel: No, don't worry. It's not that bad.
Nikita: Oh, my god... I must be tired; I missed something very important.
Pavel: What did we miss?
7
Nikita: We only have one car; we cannot simultaneously investigate...
Pavel: Ah... right, we could rent a car, but...
Nikita: And there's another issue.
Pavel: Yeah, maybe we should check out the train routes.
Nikita: Our car is way too fancy to conduct surveillance in.
Pavel: I knew it would come back to haunt me... Sorry.
Nikita: It's for the better. I think using trains is a better plan.
Pavel: We could also consider buses if trains aren't convenient.
Nikita: Let's have a look at the train map.
*Pavel nods*
Pavel: It might be simpler anyway.
Train System Map
8
- Thick lines represent train paths that can be taken.
- Some trains only travel in 1 direction, these paths are indicated by golden arrows.
- Thin lines are paths that need to be taken by foot from the train station.
- Cyan train lines get extremely busy near the end of the day, which increases average travel time.
- Cyan train lines gain a certain amount of wait time per hour, starting with a 0 minute wait time.
- All numerical labels show the time taken to get from point to point in terms of minutes.
9
I want to choose a path that is most efficient for both of us.
10
Nikita: Renting a car could be risky, we need proof of identity.
Pavel: Yeah, let's see what we can do with this train system map.
Nikita: You should visit location 6 first, then 8, then 1.
Pavel: You'll take the remaining 5 locations?
Nikita: Yes, I'll visit locations 2, 5, 7, 3, and then 4.
Pavel: That's the most efficient but what about the surveillance time?
Nikita: If we spend 1 hour at each location, this could change the most efficient path.
Pavel: Yes, because some trains get very busy during the day and at night.
Nikita: Hmm, maybe a 3/5 split isn't the best option...
Pavel: A 4/4 split could be better.
Nikita: I think the best path for you is 4-1-6-8.
Pavel: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I need to get location 4 out of the way first.
Nikita: To get home, you need to pass through location 1 again. You have to pass by the same location twice...
Pavel: If we spy correctly, it shouldn't matter if they see me later in the day.
Nikita: I'll take the path 2-5-7-3.
Pavel: So, how long will all of this take?
Nikita: I'll do the calculations, one moment.
Pavel: Gotta stay sharp, Nick! I'm timing you!
*Pavel laughs*
11
Nikita: Okay, ready, start the timer!
*Pavel clicks his watch*
Pavel: Go!
Nikita: 556 minutes.
Pavel: 556? Alright, and the next one? Go! Go! Go!
Nikita: 524 minutes! Done!
*Pavel stops the timer*
Pavel: 29 seconds!
Nikita: That's okay, I guess?
Present Day
Jenna: 29 seconds!? What!?
Nikita: I'm quick with that kind of stuff.
Jenna: Clearly!
*Nikita says nothing...*
Jenna: It's very impressive.
Nikita: Thank you.
I suppose that is the difference between 195 IQ and the average 100.
But in all honesty, this is just simple arithmetic.
Jenna: I guess you could describe it that way.
💭Jenna: Wow, this guy is insane...
Nikita: How else would you describe it?
Jenna: Never mind, I didn't mean to interrupt. Sorry, keep going.
Nikita: As you wish.
Past
Pavel: I don't know, we have nothing to compare it to, haha.
*You think about the master plan*
Pavel: Time me, I'll calculate the path times.
Nikita: I just told you the numbers!
*Pavel winks*
Pavel: I suppose I'd beat your time then.
Nikita: Oh, brother, always joking around, haha.
Pavel: Well, on a more serious note. What about Katina?
Nikita: I don't know...
Katina, Katina, what could she do? I don't trust her enough to follow through with the plan...
Pavel: Right.
*Pavel puts his hands in his pockets*
Nikita: How can she help us without being suspicious to her bosses? I think she would get caught...
Pavel: Yeah, I think we should execute the plan and try to steal the money away from her in the end, too.
Nikita: She might be expecting that... if she's smart.
Pavel: Hmm, yeah, you're right. We might have to include her in the plan somehow...
Nikita: If we give her a part, then she might feel more secure in our deal.
Pavel: Okay, I have an idea. Because we don't know what to do with her, let's ask her how she can help.
Nikita: 173 million... and she probably won't even help.
Pavel: Yeah, that's pretty unfortunate, but 347 million is still a lot.
*You sigh*
Nikita: Yeah, I just... I don't trust here.
Pavel: She has leverage on us, but we also have some leverage on her.
She can reveal our identity to her criminal bosses. But we have 173 million for her.
Nikita: True, maybe she won't betray us. She'd be throwing away 173 million.
Pavel: Wait, I have a better idea. We should tell her a false plan.
Nikita: Explain.
Pavel: If we tell her the real plan, we will give her more leverage. So, we give her a fake plan instead.
Secondly, if we set this up well, we will know if and when she betrays us.
For example, we could tell her we will be stealing dirty money from a particular City Grill location. Then, when we go to spy on this location, we can observe if there is some unexpected serious security at that location.
Nikita: Ahhh, interesting.
Pavel: If the location isn't protected, then we know that we can trust Katina. If she can be trusted, we can give her the 173 million.
Nikita: Agreed. Haha, that's pretty good, brother!
Pavel: Why thank you, kind sir.
*Pavel smiles and puts his hand on your shoulder*
Pavel: Let's meet her now.
Conclude Investigation
1. What form of transportation are the brothers going to use for the plan?
- Car
- Bus
- Walk
- Train
- Bicycle
2. What will the brothers do about Katina?
- She will investigate a few locations
- She will distract the criminals
- She will introduce the brothers to the criminals
- They are unsure at this time
- They will tell her a fake plan
3. Using his final decided path, if Pavel begins at 6:00 AM, when will he return home?
- 2:06 PM
- 2:16 PM
- 2:46 PM
- 3:16 PM
- 3:26 PM
- 3:46 PM
4. Using his final decided path, if Nikita begins at 6:00 AM, when will he return home?
- 1:44 PM
- 1:54 PM
- 2:04 PM
- 2:24 PM
- 2:44 PM
- 2:54 PM
- 3:04 PM
Nikita: The next part is where the real action starts.
*Nikita sighs*
Nikita: Going after this 520 million was such a bad idea...
Jenna: That seems to be the trend, Nikita.
*Nikita gives an icy stare...*
Nikita: Hmm...
Let's stop for a moment, Jenna. Tell me how you found out about my brother...
Jenna: I promised I'd tell you after you helped me.
*Nikita's stare only grows colder*
Jenna: I will tell you, Mr. Volkov. However, the deal was that you help me understand the Triad.
Nikita: Indeed...
Jenna: I swear on my life, I will tell you every detail I know.
Nikita: You know what is so sad about this whole situation, Jenna?
Jenna: Hmm?
Nikita: I'm sure I could still use my connections to kill you if you don't honor your word... but I'm so tired of death, that I'd never kill another soul. And I think you know that.
*Jenna's eyes dilate*
Nikita: If you keep your word and tell me about Pavel, I will respect you. And if you don't, nothing will happen to you... But you should know that only a couple of people in this entire world have my respect.
After 23 years in the crime business, you start to realize that trust and respect have no place in that life. And even so, I'd respect you if you give me peace with my brother.
Jenna: I... I'm so sorry, Nikita.
I will honor my word, you can trust me...
*Nikita nods and blinks slowly*
Jenna: Trust and respect...
I'm sorry Ri Zhou couldn't be trusted... after all that time. After all you two went through. I'm sorry.
Nikita: We'll see how sorry you really are. You'll reveal your true colors at the end when you tell me how you found my brother.
Jenna: I'll tell you more than that... I'll tell you the reason I've been looking for you.
Nikita: Looking for me?
Jenna: Yes, it's extremely emotional for me. But alas, I've found you, and I'm sorry I couldn't save your brother.
Nikita: Couldn't save him?
Jenna: Oh, what the hell, I'll just tell you...
One of the hired assassins was a CI of mine. He told me about Alex.
Nikita: AND YOU DID NOTHING!? YOU KNEW HE WAS A TARGET!
Jenna: Wait! WAIT! Stop, I did have a plan to save your brother! I tried to!
*Nikita turns his back to Jenna*
Nikita: Leave, Jenna. I'm done!
Jenna: Nikita! I tried! I really did try to save him!!!
Nikita: LEAVE!