"Daniel, we've got a new project coming in from Bystritsky," Pavel shared with enthusiasm.

"It's a growth strategy for the acquired company. He's interested in moving forward with it even though the acquisition hasn't been finalized yet – the legal team is still ironing out the details. I'm thinking of staffing you on this project, what do you say?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Daniel replied with hesitation. "I'd prefer to return to New York; the past month has been... quite intense."

"Take some time off and relax; we're going to have a slow couple of weeks anyway. While we're finalizing details and negotiating terms," Pavel exclaimed, pounding the table lightly. "Why not go to Kamchatka? You can explore the site of the power plant project you will be involved in. You're half-Russian and yet you've never visited Russia. Moscow is like a country within the country, vastly different from the regions. What do you think?"

"Kamchatka..." Daniel paused, his intention to push for leaving wavering. He hadn't explored much of Russia, but the prospect of visiting the potential power plant site in Kamchatka, a facility poised to be one of the world's largest and most significant, was enticing. When else would such an opportunity present itself? Pavel's suggestion was compelling; consultants often took breaks between projects to recharge batteries and reset before diving into the next project. Daniel had never taken a vacation since he began his consulting career. After the intense pace and stress, the idea of a journey to a rugged and captivating landscape, drawing inspiration from its natural splendor and possibly the power station itself...

"Why not?" he grinned.

"Great. Once you're back, let me know if you're interested in joining our project team," Pavel replied, already shifting his focus back to his laptop. "Reach out to Staffing, get your paperwork sorted, and you're good to go."

"Alright, thanks," Daniel said, surprised by the abrupt shift, rising from his seat. "Catch you later."

***

Daniel braced against the chill, flipping up his jacket collar and cinching his scarf. While spring was making its mark on Moscow, Penzhinskaya Bay felt untouched by its warmth. The towering rocky cliffs still wore a frosty mantle, slowly yielding to the sun and the biting wind. Here, nature roamed untamed, unbridled by the confines of the city – a breathtaking spectacle of raw power and beauty.

Watching the emerald waves swell, Daniel was awestruck. The tidal energy was nothing short of astounding, with the water rising nearly thirteen meters, matching the height of a five-story building, just as Google had described. Such natural force hinted at an unparalleled potential for hydrogen production. The blend of unique natural attributes and cutting-edge technology heralded a promising future for clean energy. Daniel couldn't ignore this rare opportunity to contribute to shaping that future.

A sudden gust of damp wind cut through his clothing, causing Daniel to wobble. As he treaded onto a deceptively slick rock, he flailed his arms to regain balance, his heart pounding in his chest with a mix of fear and adrenaline. A single misstep, and he could plunge into the churning waters where land met sea below. It felt like a poignant metaphor for life's choices: one misstep could lead to a lifetime submerged among those who'd aspired to change the world but had chosen poorly.

Walking back cautiously, Daniel peered against the relentless brightness of the sun, which was both blinding and inexplicably uplifting. He tugged off his ski glove with his teeth, extending his bare palm toward the sun as if absorbing his future success.

Energy. Warmth. Light. Joy.

Daniel brought pickled scallops and dried cod from Kamchatka to the office, considering adding crab to the mix but ultimately deciding against it - bringing long, pink legs to the office seemed a bit too eccentric. Instead, he headed straight to Pavel's office, knocking softly. Pavel looked up, his eyes red and weary, but his face lit up at the sight of Daniel's sun-kissed enthusiasm.

"Back in business?" he asked.

"Yes," Daniel affirmed, his smile wide. "I'm ready to start."

"I'll send over the project materials so you can get up to speed while I finalize things with Staffing," Pavel said, rubbing his tired eyes. "This time, we'll take things at a more relaxed pace."

"Thank you for this opportunity," Daniel expressed genuinely, his gratitude bubbling up. If it hadn't been for Pavel, who initially left a less-than-pleasant impression, he might have missed out on this promising chance.

"You're welcome. I've enjoyed our collaboration. Sorry, I need to wrap something up," Pavel said, briskly rubbing his fingers together before diving back into typing. "We'll catch up later."

Even a message from Alexander, received during the team dinner, couldn't dampen the happiness Daniel had brought back from Kamchatka. Reading the brief note, "Hi, Danny. Glad you stayed in Moscow. How did you like Kamchatka?", Daniel clenched his teeth, momentarily irritated by the sense of being monitored.

He looked around at his colleagues, all enjoying a lavish dinner featuring Kamchatka crabs, oysters, and scallops paired with fine German Riesling - a nod to the project's geography. It was unclear who had leaked the information, but it seemed pointless to investigate. Anyone could have done it, except perhaps Pavel.

After politely replying with a brief "Hello. Thank you. Good," he switched off his phone. He felt no obligation to maintain a conversation unrelated to work. Eventually, Alexander would understand that Daniel's interest in rekindling their relationship was nonexistent. Even the most stubborn person should pick up on it when Daniel replies with curt brevity, checks the door peephole before answering, and avoids meeting outside of work.

Soon enough, when recounting his experiences to Alice, Zack, and Peter about the exciting projects in Moscow, he'd chuckle about this peculiar episode in his life as well. Daniel grinned at the thought - now, that would be genuinely amusing.

"Is it funny?" Nikita whispered sullenly, glancing at Pavel, who was droning on with a dull joke. "Seriously, his sense of humor could bore anyone to death. For fuck's sake, just smile and nod," he muttered, forcing a polite smile that wouldn't fool anyone. Finally, Pavel finished.

"By the way, Daniel, I've been thinking," Pavel said, turning toward their corner, slightly flushed from the wine. "You don't have a hometown, do you?"

"It seems that way, yes," Daniel replied, pondering the unexpected question with some confusion - why would he ask that?

"Although... I do love Jakarta, especially the Cilandak area. I'd love to visit occasionally, but I've never had the chance - it's always been either school or work...."

"Everyone should have a place of strength," Mikhail interjected thoughtfully, "and it doesn't necessarily have to be a hometown." Pavel opened his mouth ready to continue with a long and tedious speech about the importance of having a hometown, but stopped.

"For instance, despite being a pure Russian, Aguas Calientes became my place of strength. My wife and I once visited Machu Picchu. Honestly, my expectations were low - the idea of a magical city among the clouds didn't resonate with me. But when we arrived in Aguas Calientes..." Mikhail paused, taking a deep breath and smiling softly. His colleagues were stunned - it was rare to see the usually reserved Mikhail open up.

"It felt like an electric shock. It was as if the place was always mine. It was a strange, yet incredible feeling. When my wife dragged me to see the local shaman, I didn't resist. Shaman Chun told me stories that were unbelievable, yet everything to a small detail came true. Now, I go there every year."

At this, Mikhail, noticing that he had become the center of attention, grew visibly embarrassed and stopped talking. Nikita took over for his flustered friend.

"Why, I believe in such things. Maybe there's some relic radiation there, and the shamans are seriously powerful. My place of strength is much more mundane - right here on the bank of the Yauza River. No need to travel far for power," Nikita chuckled, winking at Mikhail. "And it's a lot cheaper than your trips to Peru."

"I agree," Mikhail said, raising his glass. "Well, to our places of power!"

Daniel sipped the ice-cold Riesling with pleasure, snacking on tender crabmeat, and thought that he should indeed visit Jakarta and see Cilandak, which had likely changed beyond recognition. The condo would probably be different, more modern, and upscale, and he was unlikely to find Pak Hadi and Ibu Tri. But still, he would walk along the hot, narrow streets, eat nasi goreng, and breathe in the sweet, tropical air. Yes, that's what he should do - visit his place of strength.