LONDON – A tense and violent confrontation on a rain-soaked rooftop in Prague has resulted in the critical wounding of former MI6 operative, Alec Blane, known professionally as “The November Man.” The incident, which unfolded shortly after 10:00 PM local time, has triggered a full-scale investigation by Czech authorities and is already sending ripples through international intelligence circles.

According to eyewitness accounts, Blane and his adversary, Dimitri Rostov, a known mercenary with ties to organized crime, engaged in a protracted exchange of gunfire atop the Hotel Augustine. Initial reports indicate that Blane, acting alone and seemingly without backup, initiated the exchange by firing upon Rostov. Rostov sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is currently in critical but stable condition at a local hospital.

“It was brutal,” stated Jan Volkov, a security guard at the hotel who witnessed the event. “The rain was coming down hard, and the shots… they just echoed off the buildings. I’ve seen a lot of things in this city, but that was something else entirely. Blane just… he just pulled the trigger.”

The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting remain murky. Intelligence sources suggest that Blane was attempting to terminate Rostov as part of a delicate operation aimed at dismantling a major international arms smuggling ring. However, the operation reportedly went sideways, leading to the deadly exchange.

“He said it was a necessary evil,” a source within MI6, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters. “He’s a man who’s seen too much. He’s operating on his own terms now, and those terms often involve a level of… expediency that’s uncomfortable for those of us who have to report to a higher authority.”

Adding to the complexity, there are indications that Rostov’s involvement extends far beyond a simple mercenary contract. Investigators are exploring the possibility that he is acting on behalf of a shadowy figure within the Czech government, potentially connected to a long-standing, deeply buried intelligence operation.

The immediate aftermath saw a swift and coordinated response from Czech police, who secured the rooftop and the surrounding area. Blane is currently in police custody, and a formal investigation has been launched. The ramifications of this incident could significantly alter the landscape of European intelligence and could have lasting consequences for the future of both Blane and Rostov.