**CHAPTER 1: THE PLAN**

The fluorescent lights of the cramped, dingy café flickered overhead, casting an eerie glow on the eclectic gathering of individuals seated around a worn, wooden table. The air reeked of stale coffee and desperation. At the center of the group, a charismatic figure with an unruly mane of curly hair and piercing green eyes held court. This was Salvador "El Profesor" Ramos, the mastermind behind the audacious heist that had brought them all together. "Alright, let's review the plan one last time," El Profesor announced, his voice low and measured, as he surveyed the room. To his right sat Agustín Ramos, his brother and trusted ally, a lanky, soft-spoken man with a talent for forgery. Next to Agustín, the quiet, reserved Tokyo – whose real name was not known to anyone in the room – scribbled notes on a crumpled pad of paper. Across from El Profesor, the fiery and seductive Palermo – whose flaming red hair seemed to blaze with an inner fire – listened intently, her eyes burning with a fierce determination. She was a seasoned thief, with a reputation for being untouchable. Beside her, the hulking figure of Bogota – a former soldier, rumored to have a talent for safe-cracking – nodded thoughtfully, his rugged features set in a stern expression. The plan, code-named "La Casa de Papel" (The House of Paper), was to infiltrate the Royal Mint of Spain, located in the heart of Madrid, and make off with a small fortune in freshly minted bills. The target was €2.4 million, a sum that would set them all up for life. "Here's how it will go down," El Profesor began, unfolding a large, detailed blueprint of the mint's layout. "We'll enter through the ventilation system on the roof. Tokyo will take care of the alarms, while Bogotá works on cracking the safe. Agustín will create the necessary documents, and Palermo will... well, Palermo will handle any 'diplomatic' issues that may arise." The group chuckled, and El Profesor smiled wryly. "Once we're inside, we'll have 108 minutes – the time it takes for the police to respond to a reported robbery – to get in, get the cash, and get out. Any questions?" The room fell silent, as each member mentally rehearsed their role in the daring heist. El Profesor's eyes roamed the table, searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt. But all he saw were determined faces, set on a shared goal. "Alright then," he said finally, his voice filled with conviction. "Tomorrow, we put our plan into action. Are you all ready to make history?" The response was unanimous: a resounding, if somewhat nervous, "Sí." As the meeting concluded, and the group began to disperse, a single, unspoken question hung in the air: what could possibly go wrong?