Six hours later, the plane landed smoothly at the Independent State's airport. As the cabin doors opened, the group descended the stairs in a steady, composed manner.
The Independent State, surrounded on three sides by the sea, was picturesque. However, it was the height of summer, and the moment they stepped out of the plane, they were greeted by a wave of humid, scorching heat that brought an immediate sense of restlessness.
Not far away, a line of Rolls-Royces stood in perfect formation, like a row of silent guards awaiting their commands. Beside the stairs stood the reception personnel. One of them, dressed in a blue suit, with slicked-back hair and frameless glasses perched on his nose, had an air of someone polished on the surface but sinister beneath.