A somber scene in Moscow following the shooting of GRU Deputy Head Vladimir Alexeyev.
A somber scene in Moscow following the shooting of GRU Deputy Head Vladimir Alexeyev.

A Contract Most Foul

Another day another monster. Though this one prefers tailored suits to scales. News reached my attentive ears even here on the Continent a high ranking GRU officer named Vladimir Alexeyev found himself on the receiving end of a few too many lead potions in Moscow. Shot they say. Not exactly a Basilisk fang but effective nonetheless. As I often say "Evil is evil Stregobor. Lesser greater middling… Makes no difference."

The Usual Suspects

Accusations flew faster than a Noonwraith in daylight. Sergei Lavrov Russia's foreign voice pointed a finger dripping with suspicion squarely at Ukraine. Sabotage of peace talks he declared. Ukraine naturally denied any involvement. As with any messy business in this world discerning the truth is like trying to find a dryad in Novigrad's brothels. Speaking of which Nikkei Smokes Records After Takaichi's Victory. Reminds me of my old pal Dandelion.

Dubai Delivers

Enter one Lyubomir Korba. Apprehended in Dubai extradited to Russia. Convenient isn't it? Whether he's the actual shooter a patsy or just had the misfortune of being in the wrong desert at the wrong time remains to be seen. I smell a setup as foul as a Fleder's lair but such is the world of spies and secrets. Reminds me of a saying an old druid once taught me "When you see a fork in the road take the one that smells least like horseshit."

Peace in Our Time?

The timing is as subtle as a charging Bruxa. Alexeyev's boss Admiral Igor Kostyukov is leading peace talks with Ukraine. An assassination attempt on his deputy certainly adds a unique flavor to the negotiations. One might call it a hostile aperitif. My own experiences with peace talks usually involve more screaming and less stabbing but what do I know. "Sometimes," as I've often said "the best thing to do is just walk away."

A Witcher's Conclusion

So here we are again. Another tale of political intrigue violence and enough double crossing to make a Doppler blush. The truth as always is buried under layers of lies and agendas. It's a witcher's lot to wade through such muck though usually I'm dealing with something less… diplomatic. Still one must persevere. As I often say before a particularly nasty fight: "Let's see what this is all about."

Lingering Shadows

The GRU shooting casts a long shadow muddying the already murky waters of international relations. Peace talks hang in the balance trust is eroded and another monster gets away with it. This is not the world of happy endings but one of constant struggle and moral ambiguity. Makes one wonder if a good Gwent game wouldn't be a better solution.


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