1
Present Day
Nikita: And there I was... just standing there, staring at Ri Zhou's jet.
There was...
*Nikita sighs*
Nikita: No turning back.
Past
I'm running out of time...
I have to make a decision...
I've come this far... there's no escaping my fate now.
That must be a Triad henchman.
What am I walking into?
The pouring rain feels so purifying... but my heart feels so poisoned.
I wish I could stop time. I wish I could stand here forever... and drown in London's tears.
I'm staring into the abyss. I'm walking along a tightrope with nothing but darkness beneath me.
Normally, I'd be walking alongside my best friend...
My brother.
If I could ask for just one thing, it would be to have the strength to walk this line alone.
The hardest choices define us... I need to take this step forward.
But I... can't.
I feel stuck. What's the right path?
It's not often that we can see death on the horizon.
Checkmate.
*The henchman yells out*
Li: You're right on time.
Where's the other guy?
I guess I have to tell him...
Li: My boss isn't going to be happy...
You made a deal...
Nikita: Let me talk to the boss.
Li: Look... to be honest with you, you're better off talking to me.
Nikita: I'll make him an offer he can't refuse.
Li: You don't know who you're dealing with.
Nikita: Well, this is my only option now. So, I suppose you'll just have to kill me then.
*Li says nothing*
Death doesn't sound so bad anymore...
Li: You're playing with fire, man...
Why'd you come empty-handed?
Nikita: I had no choice. It is what it is.
Li: Here's the thing. When you walk inside empty-handed... Cheng will gut you.
And then, I will be the one cleaning up the mess.
But obviously, I can't let you go.
Nikita: Just give me one minute with the boss, that's all I ask.
Li: Yeah... well, alright.
Ri Zhou is in the back of the jet... good luck.
Nikita: Thank you.
*Li nods*
Li: By the way, my name is Li... just in case you make it out of there alive.
Shedding light on the biggest mystery.
2
*You stare at Ri Zhou*
Ri Zhou: You didn't keep your side of the bargain...
*Cheng draws her katana*
Ri Zhou: Wait, Cheng.
Cheng: But he has disrespected us!
*Ri Zhou looks at you*
Cheng: He deserves nothing! He's nothing!
Ri Zhou: Cheng, put away the blade, I won't ask you again.
Nikita: I'm sorry, my brother didn't understand. I couldn't get him to come with me.
*Ri Zhou looks at Cheng*
Ri Zhou: Nikita is extremely valuable.
Cheng: Boss, I don't understand.
Ri Zhou: He is one in 10 billion... quite literally. There's no one like him.
*You keep listening*
Ri Zhou: Jun, get us a drink, please.
3
Nikita: I know I said I'd bring my brother, but I can offer you something better.
*Ri Zhou pours the Guojiao 1573*
Ri Zhou: I'm listening.
Nikita: My brother and I will remain split up and spread your business across the world.
Ri Zhou: You don't even know what my business is.
Nikita: Drug trafficking across Chinese borders.
Ri Zhou: So you've figured a piece of it.
Nikita: Give me a chance to prove myself. You won't be disappointed.
Ri Zhou: How can I trust your brother? He seems to be... a free spirit.
Nikita: My brother doesn't take orders well, but he is just as smart as I am.
*Ri Zhou taps the glass of Guojiao 1573*
Nikita: If you think I'm one in 10 billion, I know you'll take this offer.
Ri Zhou: I'm not fond of this first impression, Nikita.
Nikita: What's better than just one mastermind?
Ri Zhou: Two masterminds. That's why I wanted both of you here.
Nikita: He will aid me and thus aid you... We won't disappoint.
Ri Zhou: I had big plans for you two, but I guess this changes things.
Nikita: What are the plans?
Ri Zhou: Let me explain why I wanted to hire you instead of kill you.
*Nikita listens carefully to Ri Zhou*
Ri Zhou: The first red flag was Victor's death.
Typically, my vanguards don't die often. But then, I uncovered my lost money in Victor's possession after his death.
One thing led to another and I knew that he was the reason I was losing money at City Grill.
Nikita: I didn't kill Victor, nor did my brother.
Ri Zhou: Yes, I know. My men killed him when they found out he was stealing from me.
After Victor's death, I thought the business would thrive.
Then, just one month later... I am notified once again that someone stole my money. But now, it's more serious.
240 million was stolen from me.
My gut reaction was to investigate the Russian mob. I was sure this had to be a competitor of mine. After all, my vanguard, Victor, was secretly associated with the mob.
My investigators found out about Katina's death and revealed to me that the mob did not steal my money.
Nikita: Investigators? You have Russian police on your payroll?
Ri Zhou: That's beside the point. Anyway, when I was told the mob wasn't the culprit...
*Ri Zhou takes a sip of his drink*
Ri Zhou: Then, I was very intrigued.
Either a huge rebellion was going to take place in the Triad, which would not be ideal. Or, a very talented individual stole from me.
The first thing my team found was Katina's abandoned car.
This told us a couple of things:
- Our culprit didn't have another vehicle or couldn't use another vehicle easily.
- The culprits likely killed Katina.
- The culprits took a plane...
Nikita: A plan because we ditched Katina's car far from the airport.
Ri Zhou: Yes, it was an attempt to divert the attention away from the airport.
Nikita: But, you knew we fled anyway because we had stolen so much money.
Ri Zhou: Right. So then I expanded my search.
Nikita: I know how you found us in London now...
Ri Zhou: Hmm, enlighten me, Nikita.
Nikita: The primary reason you found us is that we underestimated your resources. If we had more time or experience, we would have gotten away.
You even have leverage in airports... This is why you can land here on this airstrip.
I have a feeling you used your corrupt police to obtain our DNA. I know that we broke into City Grill with gloves and we were extremely careful. So that's not where you found our DNA...
The only logical connection from this investigation that would lead you to our DNA... would be Katina's car.
Within Katina's car, your men probably found identical DNA in the driver seat, front passenger seat, and backseat... but only two unique strands.
We wanted to steal more money, but it was too risky and there wasn't enough time for two trips, so your men knew only one trip was made from City Grill to Katina's home.
Inevitably, your investigators would come to the conclusion that the culprits would pack as many boxes of cash as they could. But this is where the DNA plays a role...
The key is that identical DNA was found in the backseat and the passenger seat.
Simple-minded people would think one thief loaded up the boxes in the back and then sat in the front... leaving his DNA in both places.
But upon closer inspection, it's obvious that wasn't the case. Eight boxes would have been stolen instead of six if only two bodies were in the vehicle. So there was a third body...
Three bodies, two unique DNA strands, clearly there are twins in this vehicle.
Katina doesn't have a twin, thus the other two people were twins.
The discovery of identical twins led to our downfall because it condensed your solution space immensely. You're looking for a very particular set of people...
The chance of being an identical twin is about 1 in 85. And thus, the search parameters were narrowed by this margin.
After this discovery, you told your corrupt airport officials to find flights taking off near or in St. Petersburg with twins on board.
You then further narrowed your search parameters with age and gender.
A few facts suggested the culprits were men.
- Men are significantly more likely to commit violent crimes.
- Most of the DNA in the car was male.
Age is quite obvious. You knew these men boarded an international flight, so they must have been at least 17.
I suppose age 17+ wasn't a huge help, but it was still extra information.
If I were to guess, there were probably very few flights that matched all the given criteria...
That's when you found our flight to London. That's how you uncovered our identities.
Ri Zhou: Quite impressive. So, I guess the 200 IQ man is no myth... Now that's something.
Nikita: I'm just not sure how you located us once we got to London.
Ri Zhou: The Triad is well-established in London, so that part was easy. I have eyes on the street everywhere.
Nikita: I guess we chose the wrong place to run off to.
Ri Zhou: It was just a matter of time before I found you.
But now that you know how we got here, it must be obvious why I didn't kill you.
Nikita: I suppose so.
Ri Zhou: Stealing 240 million so swiftly and only to be caught because of a traitorous female accomplice... That's not something you hear about every day.
You were never noticed while gathering the intel you needed on the City Grill locations. You weren't noticed breaking in. You didn't kill any of my men.
You left no mess. You left no evidence. You had the Russian mob as a scapegoat. You took my money when I didn't have my henchmen in St. Petersburg... The list goes on.
In all honesty, this type of heist reminds me of something you would see in the movies.
But most importantly, this type of intricate planning and trickery reminds me of myself.
And that's why I know you will be the perfect Triad henchman.
I am prepared to give you endless money and power.
But there is one condition, Nikita.
Nikita: What's the condition?
Ri Zhou: The Triad always comes first.
Nikita: Business above all. I get it.
Ri Zhou: The Triad is my heart and soul. So if you damage my business... you're damaging me in the worst way.
Nikita: My brother and I will only grow it... With your resources, we can spread your business across the entire planet. But I need to ask for one promise.
*Ri Zhou watches Nikita closely*
Ri Zhou: A promise...
Nikita: Yes, I want to know that my brother, Pavel, will always be safe. He can be... as you said, a "free spirit". But, I don't want him to be a target, ever. He is family.
Ri Zhou: I understand, you have my word.
Nikita: Thank you.
Ri Zhou: I understand your brother needs space and freedom to do his best work. But, before I can promote you to incense master and give you power within my organization, you will need to prove yourself in Hong Kong.
Nikita: Understandable.
Ri Zhou: Good, now go ahead and take a look at the files I have on your parents.
You will need to prove yourself first.
Information - Triad
- 🔍When did Ri Zhou become dragon head?
- 🔍Describe the Triad's power and growth.
- 🔍Where was the Triad primarily located in the 1970s?
- 🔍Where was the Triad primarily located in the 1980s?
- 🔍Where was the Triad primarily located in the 1990s?
- 🔍Where was the Triad primarily located in the 2000s?
Criminal Data
My Parents' Files
5
Since 2002, the Triad's business has been on the rise. The Triad's new leader, Ri Zhou, is making the Triad more powerful than ever before. The past 2 years, the Triad has seen over 25% growth.
6
- 70% of Triad business took place in China and Hong Kong.
- 20% of Triad business took place in Vietnam and Korea.
- Small amount of business took place overseas.
7
- 65% of Triad business took place in China and Hong Kong.
- 25% of Triad business took place in Vietnam and Korea.
- Small amount of business took place overseas.
8
- 74% of Triad business took place in China and Hong Kong.
- 17% of Triad business took place in Vietnam and Korea.
- Small amount of business took place overseas.
9
- 58% of Triad business took place in China and Hong Kong.
- 20% of Triad business took place in Vietnam and Korea.
- 12% of Triad business took place in the UK, France, and Spain.
- 10% of Triad business took place in Cambodia, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia.
10
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(1983) Pavel Sokolov's Report
- The briefcase has been found.
- Illegal cash has been found in the Volkov home.
- Government secrets are at risk.
- Sergei Volkov is guilty of selling government secrets for a profit.
- A cover-up will take place.
- Operation Volkov is in effect.
11
-
(1983) KGB Reports
- Sergei and Tonya Volkov have been taken care of.
- The Volkov children will be sent to a new family.
- The Volkov properties will be taken by the government.
12
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(1983) Volkov Children
- Priority Low: Remove the Volkov children from Victor's home.
- Priority Low: Trace Victor's connection to the Volkov family.
13
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(1983) Sergei Volkov:
- Born 1961, Moscow, Russia
- Crime: Illegal sales transactions
- Crime: Illegal Business
- Status: Deceased
14
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(1983) Tonya Volkov:
- Born 1962, Moscow, Russia
- Crime: N/A
- Status: Deceased
15
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(1983) Pavel Sokolov:
- KGB Field Agent
- Born 1955
- Status: N/A
-
Notable Missions:
- Cover-up operation Volkov
- Espionage Volkov
16
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(1983) Illegal Business:
- The Volkov family holds a private business entity and is making illegal sales that break commandment 18a. No sales may be made during the communist regime of the USSR. Variable punishment based on level of criminal activity.
Conclude Investigation
1. Why did Ri Zhou not kill Nikita?
- Nikita pulled off a once-in-a-lifetime heist
- Nikita gave the money back to Ri Zhou
- Nikita convinced Ri Zhou to spare him
2. Why is Ri Zhou being so generous?
- Ri Zhou is a kind-hearted person
- Ri Zhou is highly manipulative
- Ri Zhou has more money than he knows how to spend
3. Who killed the Volkov parents?
- Ri Zhou
- The Triad
- The Russian mob
- KGB Agent: Pavel Sokolov
4. How did Ri Zhou get the top-secret files?
- He had a mole in the USSR
- He used his wealth
- He used a connection in the Russian mob
- He was part of the cover-up that led to the Volkov parents' deaths
5. Why did the Triad gain power when Ri Zhou came into power?
- The Triad gained more business in Hong Kong
- The Triad was a scarier entity
- The Triad defeated competition
- The Triad spread to more parts of the world
Ri Zhou: You're probably asking what happened to Pavel Sokolov, the KGB agent that killed your parents.
*Ri Zhou scoffs*
Ri Zhou: Coincidentally, the same name as your brother... "Pavel".
Nikita: I... can't even think right now.
Ri Zhou: I am sorry for your loss, Nikita. I will do everything in my power to give you the life you never had... to give you another chance.
Nikita: Why are you so generous?
Ri Zhou: You'd be surprised how good it feels to be generous when you have the means to do so.
Nikita: All these years... and it turns out the government killed my parents. My own homeland...
Ri Zhou: Your parents weren't bad people. It was Victor, the family friend, who got them into everything.
But when I went to investigate Victor, I realized he committed suicide by jumping out of a car. It wasn't too long ago.
Nikita: Yes, I know... I was the one driving the car when he jumped out. I saw him explode in front of my eyes.
But what do you mean, Victor got my parents into all of "this"?
Ri Zhou: He was the one selling secrets... not your parents. He left his briefcase at your parents' house one night.
And that was the night the KGB investigated your parents' house. It was all just bad luck...
Nikita: Everything in life is just... so disgustingly...
Ri Zhou: Yes... I know.
Do you know what haunts me, Nikita?
Nikita: Do I even want to know?
Ri Zhou: I'm incapable of having children. My legacy will follow me to the grave.
When I found out about your life, I knew we had a special connection...
I will never have a son and I lost my wife 2 years ago. You will never see your parents. We both share a family tragedy.
*Nikita looks at Ri Zhou*
Nikita: Maybe this will blossom into a great friendship.
Ri Zhou: You remind me of my younger self.
Nikita: For the first time in my life, I feel more in control.
Ri Zhou: Xinshen. It means spirit and mind.
*Nikita stares at the melting ice in his glass*
Ri Zhou: Your alias will be: Xinshen.
Nikita: Xinshen.
Ri Zhou: Let me show you how much I've already invested in you...
*Ri Zhou pulls out a box*
Ri Zhou: I'm with you, Nikita. Together, we will build the greatest thing humanity has ever seen.
*Nikita grabs the box*
Nikita: What's this?
*Nikita looks inside*
Nikita: Oh, my... What the!?
Ri Zhou: That's the KGB agent's head... Agent Pavel Sokolov has paid in blood. I've avenged your parents, Xinshen.
*Nikita closes the box*
Nikita: ... thanks.
Ri Zhou: Ah, look ahead. On the horizon, you can see the beautiful city. Hong Kong.
The next phase of your life begins here, Xinshen. I believe in your abilities and I believe in our friendship.