Their faces became serious, the ladies looked at each other, then smiles appeared. Ruthra continued, noticing this:

– What did you think, you were offered that much money out of the blue? Surely there's something important behind it.

– Strange, why us? – Andrian asked.

– Yes, amazing," Catherine maintained her interest.

Iulia looked at Ruthra questioningly. Their gazes crossed involuntarily. Ruthra felt a spark. Iulia was unaware of his ability (with Irene's help) to read minds. She used a secret language that Ruthra called the "poke method," and many called it enchantments. Where the origins of the word are unknown. It's like the concept of god: anything that is intuitively perceived as reasonable but rationally inexplicable. Few people think about why we determine a lot of things by looking, what the expressions "to read the eyes", "to strike with a look" mean. This language was to be finally understood by mankind in the era of the reign of artificial intelligence …

Ruthra could easily read her intentions and goals, and it was clear. An unmarried woman with a child, good-looking (both externally and internally); of course she wanted to marry, and to marry a worthy man. This did not interfere with the plans. It even accompanied them. Ruthra decided to play along. Of course, Catherine and YatSan also desired attention. Many men don't understand why women try to be so attractive: it's a kind of sport. They, having received attention, can forget about the admirer at all. The main thing – to satisfy their desire, and no matter how then a man would not try – interest and love for himself may not deserve. This is the nature of women. They need a lot of "tits in the hands". They need a guarantee just in case. Just like men, but on the contrary, pokoketnichal, put noodles on ears – and maybe there will be a continuation, maybe it will be easy to plunge into the "labyrinths of nirvana".

It was a card to be played, of course, even though Ruthra was betting on YatSan, but again he intuitively sensed her peculiar irresponsibility, which was itself unconsciously manifest. It was just that the girl, if she could be called that, had not yet found herself in situations where everything depended solely on her, on her thoughtful actions.

– Can we make it?

– Let's get serious.

Rutra was surprised to hear it from YatSan. She was clearly intrigued and interested in the proposal and the experiment.

– Listen carefully. This is very serious. First, do you accept the condition of secrecy?

– Accept," IuLia said, smiling, while glancing at YatSan, indicating a lack of understanding of the seriousness of the offer.

Ruthra, looking at the situation "from the outside", was able to realize: they were not yet a good idea of the danger if they broke their promises. He decided to explain everything again in a different environment and in a different place.

– Let's do it this way, if you're interested in what I've suggested – tomorrow we'll meet at that building, and then in the appropriate office I'll tell you everything in detail.

Rutra pointed them to a building not far from the café where everyone was sitting. It was the local FSB office.

– Just no questions, no doubts, no pomp and circumstance, no disclosure. Consider our agreement already made. The sum I offered you is not offered for a case that does not involve great responsibility and risk. I'll ask you to take that into account, too.

– That's what makes me doubt," Andrian retorted.

– Do you accept the treaty? – Ruthra asked sternly.

– I think so," Andrian answered first and as if for everyone, looking at his friends.

– I'll see you tomorrow, then. I'll meet you there.

Ruthra pointed at the building again. There was a look of disbelief on their faces. Ruthra got up from the table and said goodbye, making one last remark:

– But I tell you right away: if you don't believe me, if you are not serious, if you say one word, then immediately, even if I ask you to do so, refuse. This is an extremely important matter. I'm not joking. Honestly… I can read what is behind your smiles.

– No smiles. I really believe it, but it's unusual," Iulia justified herself.

– You'll understand tomorrow. Goodbye.

The next day, as agreed, they met at the appointed place. Accordingly, a command was given "from above" and an indication was given of where Rutra had decided to perform the rite of enlistment. By and large, he was not even surprised by the arrival of all of them: he had confidence in the boys. In addition, the fact of the reward played a significant role. People do not know whether the promise of paradise is true or false, but the probability that it is true is so important that they try to fulfill the conditions to hypothetically be there, especially these conditions are not so difficult. And here coming to a meeting is too simple a requirement to fail to fulfill and deprive oneself of the possibility of getting a weighty sum of money.

Rutra made sure that the people were met and escorted to a secret windowless room in the underground floor. He wanted to create an aura of mysterious importance, which he succeeded in doing: the arrivals were no longer the jokers they had been before, their faces were serious. Rutra did not "cheapen" the plot with such a conversation starter: "Well, now do you realize who you're talking to?" No, as was his custom, he behaved in a simple manner and got straight to the point.

– Good morning, gang. It's come to fruition. We are all together in the process. Although we're not yet in parallel worlds, they're not far away. Just a few thousand kilometers away is the laboratory. There we have the equipment that will transport you to other dimensions. Yes, yes. There's also an observation and training room. How's that working out for you? Let me tell you about something that is purely scientific in style and scientific in itself. The first and foremost thing you have to accept is that you're in the system, and there's no easy way out. In fact, there is no way out of there at all. If you think my inviting you and welcoming you into this organization is too cool, it's not really. This is just a normal government organization. I could have received you elsewhere, but receiving you here gives you a certain sense of importance and seriousness. It's really very serious. Honestly, absolutely no kidding. If you take it lightly, if you're going to change your mind, much less demonstrate any sort of whimsy, then leave right away. And if you stay, then know that if you violate the terms you have accepted – no friendship. Nothing will save you. I'm dead serious. Think of me as a stranger. If you enter the system, you're there forever.

The faces of his new friends were serious and at the same time incomprehensible. Of course, everyone was wondering why me and what it all meant. Ruthra didn't make them worry about those questions.

– I understand you're thinking, if this is so serious, why did they pick me? What do you have to do with something so important? Well, you have to accept the first condition first, and then the whole deal. I repeat: you are entering a system from which there is no way out. Do you understand?

Rutra somewhat famously began pointing his index finger at each, and people took turns nodding their heads and saying "yes."

– Now that's it, the jokes are over, as well as some of your past life, you have a new secret stage to begin. Now I'll explain further. Only first I have to turn on this little thing that blocks our conversations even from these friends.