John had everything: a good income, status, and a life of extravagance. A celebrated pharmacist turned businessman, he lived in a world where nothing came cheap. He scoffed at meals below $20, considering them an insult to his refined palate.

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One night, to celebrate securing a new contract, John and his business partner, Hans, resolved to find a truly fitting restaurant — one that could satisfy John’s uncompromising standards. But his sophisticated palates and exacting demands soon turned the quest into a prolonged ordeal, dragging them across the city. At one point, Hans muttered, “You’re not choosing a wife, John. It’s only dinner.” John ignored him, busy inspecting every menu he came across.

After three relentless hours of scrutinizing menus and dismissing venues, they finally settled on a lavish establishment that seemed worthy of their standards. Inside the restaurant, everyone was talking and eating happily. Seeing those happy faces made John confident he had chosen the right place.

Once the menu was studied, John launched into his order: "The steak must be tender, yet not too raw—firm, but not chewy. It should taste like a young calf, but not too young, and not too old. Season it just enough to be tasty, but not so much that I notice the salt. Cook it evenly, but leave a hint of fire, without smoke, without char. The potatoes must be golden but not too golden, earthy but not too earthy, ...."

The waiter scribbled furiously, his eyebrow twitching. Several ornate dishes were ordered, but the triumph was short‑lived. One bite into the first plate and John’s face soured; he launched into complaints before the manager, demanding to leave. The manager, unmoved, insisted on payment. John paid for all the dishes ordered—grudgingly—and stormed out.

Undeterred, the hunt resumed. Another hour of wandering through glittering streets brought them to yet another first-class restaurant near Saint Stephen's Cathedral, one that promised refinement beyond reproach. With aged whiskey poured and expensive cigars lit, John and Hans prepared to celebrate triumphantly. Yet scarcely 19 minutes had passed when a waiter approached with blunt finality: the restaurant was closing. Their indulgence ended not in satisfaction, but in dismissal, as they were ushered out into the night.

"Why kick us out?" John stared at the waiter in disbelief.

"We are closing---it's 1 o'clock already!" The waiter replied.

They staggered out into the city streets, their judgment clouded by the alcohol and disappointment. They didn’t notice the black van parked nearby until it was too late.

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The van screeched forward, headlights blinding. Before John could react, rough hands yanked him back. A hood was shoved over his head, muffling Hans’s protests as they struggled. Their kidnappers moved swiftly, bundling John into the van while leaving Hans behind. John’s world blurred into darkness.

John’s new reality began in a dim room in the beautiful rural town of Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt. His two kidnappers' goal was to demand a ransom of 2 million.

The two kidnappers were Robert and Rune—known to their friends as Rob and Run. They sat slouched in the dim room, their cigarettes dangling lazily from their fingers....