The sound of Rubina Khan's voice echoed in Pathan's ears as he crossed the threshold of the grand embassy hall. The events of the night still weighed heavily on him-the close encounter with Tiger, the tension of the chase through the cold streets of Minsk, and most of all, the emotional standoff that had left him questioning everything he thought he knew about his former friend.

But there was no time to dwell on those thoughts now. He had a mission to complete, and that mission was to protect Rubina Khan at all costs. The ISI agent had become a key target in Tiger's deadly game, and Pathan knew that time was running out to uncover why she was so important to his plans.

As Pathan approached Rubina's office, the heavy oak door opened, revealing the woman herself. Rubina Khan was as striking as she was formidable. Her sharp eyes, framed by a delicate face, gave nothing away as she greeted Pathan with a curt nod. She was dressed impeccably, her appearance polished and professional, but there was an underlying tension in her demeanor, a wariness that spoke of a woman who had learned to trust no one.

"Pathan," Rubina said, her voice cool and measured. "I understand you've gone to great lengths to speak with me. I hope it's worth my time."

Pathan nodded, his expression serious. "It is, Rubina. There's something you need to know, something that could save your life."

Rubina arched an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "I've heard a lot of things in my line of work, Pathan. What makes this any different?"

Without a word, Pathan handed her a file, one that contained everything they knew about Tiger's plans. Rubina took it, her eyes scanning the contents quickly. As she read, her expression changed, the confidence giving way to concern.

When she finally looked up, there was a new urgency in her eyes. "You're telling me that Tiger is here, in Minsk, and that he's planning to kill me?"

Pathan met her gaze evenly. "Yes. And if we don't act fast, he'll succeed."

Rubina's office was as meticulously organized as the woman herself, with papers neatly stacked and everything in its place. As they took seats across from each other, Pathan could feel the weight of the conversation ahead. He knew that Rubina was no stranger to danger, but the threat from Tiger was unlike anything she had faced before.

"We've been tracking Tiger for weeks," Pathan began, his tone urgent. "We've intercepted communications, uncovered his movements, and followed the trail here. But until now, we didn't know why he was targeting you."

Rubina listened intently, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of the file. "And now you do?"

Pathan hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "It's not just about you, Rubina. It's about what you know-information that could destabilize the entire region if it fell into the wrong hands."

Rubina's eyes narrowed. "I've worked in intelligence for most of my life, Pathan. I know how to keep secrets."

"Sometimes, secrets have a way of catching up with you," Pathan replied, his voice softening. "Whatever it is that Tiger wants, he's willing to kill for it. We need to know what you're protecting, so we can help you."

For a moment, Rubina said nothing, her eyes locked on Pathan's. There was a brief flicker of hesitation in her gaze, a flash of something deeper that she quickly suppressed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rubina finally said, her voice firm. "I'm just a diplomat, here on official business. If Tiger wants to kill me, it's likely because of my position in ISI, nothing more."

Pathan leaned forward, his eyes searching hers for any sign of deceit. He had been in the game long enough to recognize when someone was holding back, and Rubina was definitely holding back.

"Don't play games with me, Rubina," Pathan said, his voice carrying a note of warning. "You know this isn't just about your position. If we're going to protect you, we need to know the full story."

Rubina's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Pathan thought she might refuse to answer. But then, something in her seemed to shift, and she let out a slow breath.

"There are things I can't tell you, Pathan," Rubina said quietly. "But I will say this: there are forces at work here that go far beyond any one country. Tiger is a pawn in a much larger game, and if he succeeds in his mission, the consequences could be catastrophic."

Pathan's mind raced as he processed her words. "What kind of forces? Who's pulling the strings?"

Rubina shook her head. "I can't say more. Not yet. But you have to trust me-if Tiger gets to me, it's not just my life that's at risk. There's something bigger at stake."

Before Pathan could press her further, a loud crack echoed through the room, the sound of glass shattering as a bullet tore through the window. Instinctively, Pathan lunged forward, grabbing Rubina and pulling her to the ground as a second shot rang out.

"Stay down!" Pathan ordered, his voice urgent as he scanned the room for the source of the attack.

Rubina's eyes were wide with shock, but she nodded, staying low as Pathan moved quickly to shield her from further harm. The office was now a chaotic mess, with shards of glass littering the floor and the air thick with tension.

Pathan's mind went into overdrive as he assessed the situation. The shots had come from a distance, likely from a rooftop or a nearby building with a clear line of sight into the office. It was a professional hit-clean, precise, and designed to kill.

But something didn't add up. Tiger was a lot of things, but he wasn't a sniper. If he wanted Rubina dead, he would have done it up close and personal, ensuring that she knew who was pulling the trigger. This attack didn't fit his style.

Pathan quickly reached for his earpiece, connecting with Leila and Kabir. "We've got a sniper. Rubina's been targeted. I'm going after the shooter."

Leila's voice crackled through the line, tense but focused. "Understood. We'll cover you. Kabir's already pulling up the building schematics."

"Keep Rubina safe," Pathan ordered as he crouched low, moving towards the door. "I'll handle the shooter."

As he slipped out of the office and into the hallway, Pathan's heart pounded in his chest. The embassy was on high alert now, security personnel scrambling to respond to the attack. But Pathan knew that by the time they mobilized, the sniper could be long gone.

He moved quickly, navigating the embassy's corridors with the precision of a man who had spent years in the field. His instincts guided him as he made his way to the nearest exit, the cold night air hitting him like a slap as he emerged onto the street.

"Where's the shooter?" Pathan asked into his earpiece, his eyes scanning the surrounding buildings.

Kabir's voice came through, calm and analytical. "I've narrowed it down to three possible locations, all with clear lines of sight into the office. But if the shooter's any good, they'll be on the move by now."

"I'll start with the closest one," Pathan replied, already heading towards a nearby rooftop. "Leila, keep an eye on the embassy. Make sure Rubina stays out of sight."

"Will do," Leila confirmed.

Pathan's mind was laser-focused as he made his way up the fire escape, his feet moving silently on the metal rungs. Every sense was heightened, every nerve on edge as he prepared to confront the shooter.

When he reached the rooftop, he found it empty-no sign of the sniper or any indication of where they had gone. Pathan's frustration mounted as he realized that the shooter had likely already moved on, slipping away into the night.

But he wasn't ready to give up just yet. Moving to the edge of the rooftop, Pathan surveyed the surrounding area, his eyes narrowing as he spotted movement in an alleyway below.

"There!" Pathan muttered to himself as he began his descent, his pulse quickening. The chase was on.

The narrow alleyways of Minsk were a maze of shadows and echoes, the perfect environment for someone to disappear. But Pathan was relentless, his determination driving him forward as he pursued the figure ahead.

He moved with the agility of a man who had spent his life in pursuit, his senses attuned to every sound, every flicker of movement. The shooter was fast, but Pathan was faster, closing the distance with each step.

As he rounded a corner, Pathan caught a glimpse of the shooter-a figure dressed in black, their face obscured by a mask. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Pathan felt a jolt of recognition, though he couldn't place where he had seen those eyes before.

But there was no time to dwell on it. The shooter was already moving again, weaving through the narrow passageways with the grace of someone who knew the city well.

"Stop!" Pathan shouted, his voice echoing off the brick walls.

The shooter didn't slow down, didn't even acknowledge his command. Pathan cursed under his breath, pushing himself to move faster. He had to catch them-had to find out if this was Tiger or someone else entirely.

As the chase continued, Pathan's frustration grew. The shooter was skilled, using every twist and turn of the alleyways to their advantage. But Pathan was determined, refusing to let them escape.

Finally, the alley opened up into a small courtyard, the sound of footsteps reverberating off the walls. Pathan was close now, just a few strides behind the shooter as they reached the far side of the courtyard.

But before Pathan could close the gap, the shooter made a sudden, desperate move-leaping onto a low wall and vaulting over it with practiced ease. Pathan followed without hesitation, his muscles burning as he pushed himself to the limit.

He landed on the other side, rolling to absorb the impact, and sprang to his feet-only to find the courtyard empty. The shooter had vanished, leaving no trace behind.

Panting, Pathan scanned the area, his mind racing. How had they disappeared so quickly? It was as if they had melted into the shadows, leaving him with nothing but questions.

He reached for his earpiece, frustration evident in his voice. "I lost them. The shooter got away."Kabir's response was immediate. "We'll keep searching, Pathan. They couldn't have gone far."

Pathan nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. Something about the shooter had felt familiar-too familiar. But who could it have been, if not Tiger?

As he made his way back to the embassy, Pathan's mind raced with possibilities. The attack had been too well-coordinated to be a random act of violence. Whoever was behind it had known exactly where to strike and when.

But what troubled Pathan most was the thought that Tiger might not be working alone. If there were others involved, if there was a larger conspiracy at play, then the situation was even more dangerous than he had imagined.

Back at the embassy, the atmosphere was tense. Security was on high alert, and the once orderly halls were now filled with armed guards and concerned staff. Pathan made his way to Rubina's office, where he found her being treated by a team of medics. The sniper's bullet had grazed her shoulder, drawing blood but not inflicting any serious injury.

Rubina looked up as Pathan entered, her expression a mix of relief and anger. "You didn't get them, did you?"

Pathan shook his head, his frustration clear. "No. They were too fast."

Rubina winced as the medic applied a bandage to her shoulder. "That was no ordinary sniper. Whoever they were, they knew exactly what they were doing."

Pathan nodded, his mind still racing. "It wasn't Tiger-at least, I don't think it was. But whoever it was, they were good. Too good."

Rubina's eyes narrowed. "Then we're dealing with professionals. This isn't just about Tiger anymore, is it?"

Pathan met her gaze, his voice grim. "No, it's not. There's something bigger at play here-something we need to figure out before it's too late."

Rubina's expression hardened. "Then we don't have time to waste. If Tiger is involved, we need to find out what he knows and who he's working with."

Pathan nodded, already thinking ahead. "We'll start by analyzing the attack, see if we can trace the shooter. And we need to tighten security around you. This isn't over yet."

As the medics finished their work, Rubina stood, her posture stiff but determined. "I'm not going to hide, Pathan. If Tiger wants to come after me, let him. But I'm not going to sit around and wait for him to make the next move."

Pathan admired her resolve, but he also knew that the situation was far more dangerous than Rubina realized. Whoever was behind the sniper attack had resources, skill, and a clear objective-and they wouldn't stop until they achieved it.

As Pathan left the office, his mind was already turning to the next steps. The chase in Minsk had revealed just how high the stakes were, and Pathan knew that the path ahead would be filled with more challenges, more danger.

But he was more determined than ever to see this mission through. He had promised to protect Rubina, to stop Tiger, and to uncover the truth behind the conspiracy that was threatening to tear the region apart.

And he wouldn't rest until that promise was fulfilled.