"You are responsible for this new mission. This is not something a normal bank employee would do... but what can I say? We are in a dangerous situation. That gold belongs to government facilities... and you know the state of things these days."
David gave the man in front of him a calm smile, though it betrayed a hint of worry. "I do understand the situation completely, sir. My problem is, I've only been working here for a few months. I'm not that trustworthy for such an important task... maybe it's better to leave this for someone with more experience."
"Humble as always, I see. Unlike your father." The man gave David a thin smile. "I think I've told you before, but I knew him. We shared lessons at university... quite a good man. Now he struggles with fame and money, but of course, I hold nothing against your dear father. In fact, he is the reason I'm trusting you with this mission."
David knew he had no choice. The man in front of him, his employer, was determined. It wouldn't matter how much he argued; the man wouldn't change his mind about sending David on this task.
He had been ordered to take the train to the coastal areas of the city and assist the police in charge of the stolen gold case. The gold was an important resource for the government. David didn't understand why his boss was so frightened over a few stolen pieces of metal. David wasn't stupid,he knew those were more than just gold bars, but he wasn't going to let himself think about it. He had his own problems to deal with.
David's task was simple: board the train, reach the assigned destination where the police were waiting, and follow the case. He suspected the officers would be the ones from this morning; at least they seemed nice. It would make it easier to tell them that someone had been stalking him ever since he was assigned this mission. He didn't know who, and he wouldn't dare look back, but he could feel the heavy gaze on him,the unmistakable sensation of a pair of human eyes boring into his back. He took his seat on the train, certain the stalker had entered right behind him.
David nodded. To the other passengers, it seemed like a simple, absent-minded gesture, as if he were reminding himself of something.
"Name is Feodore Gaordy. 18 years old. As you heard, he belongs to the Gaordy clan. Such a drag. But don't worry, from what I can tell, he doesn't have bad intentions."
David nodded again, a silent act of thanks to the thing standing beside him. Feodore Gaordy, he had heard that name only half an hour ago. According to his employer, this man was sent by the police to escort and protect him. But when Feodore hadn't shown up at the office, David had simply left on his own. So why was the man following him now? Did the police suspect the bank? Was his employer involved in something shady? David's mind began to spin countless scenarios.
"Don't worry. I ain't stalking you or anything. Well... by definition, I was... but I was assigned to escort you... and make sure you're trustworthy. You know... the police think there might be a spy. I'm not sure a spy for who or what، I'm not actually part of the police, well not technically...but for slme reasons...they trusted me with some easy stuff..because of..yeah..but I M doing my task. Making sure you're a good guy. So... no hard feelings?"
David stared at the man for a few seconds. He looked like a dangerous criminal. Being the simple man he was, David judged him by his cover. "I guess it's okay," David said carefully, but the man wasn't even listening.
The stranger had long, dark hair. The eyeliner around his eyes made his light blue irises seem even darker, almost piercing. His clothes were entirely black, making the silver chains attached to his trousers glint under the flickering train lights. It was definitely not the style one would expect from a member of the proud Gaordy clan.
Feodore leaned back in the cramped train seat, resting his boots on the edge of the opposite bench with a casualness that bordered on disrespect. He pulled a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, then paused, looking at the "No Smoking" sign with a smirk before tucking them away.
"The world is a stage, Dave," Feodore muttered, his voice dropping into a low, rhythmic tone that felt strangely out of place in a public carriage. "And right now, you're the lead actor in a very boring play about a very expensive mystery. Me? I'm just the stagehand making sure the curtains don't fall on your head."
David gripped his briefcase tighter. The thing next to him, invisible to everyone other than him, remained silent, but the weight of the air in the cabin felt different now, heavy, like the atmosphere before a storm in a world where the laws of physics were merely suggestions. The train screeched as it rounded a bend, the sound of metal on metal echoing like the scream of a dying beast.
"We're here," Feodore said, standing up before the train had even come to a full stop. "Try to look useful. The police aren't known for their patience, especially when 'government gold' is involved."
As the doors hissed open, the salty tang of the coast hit David's senses, mixed with the acrid smell of coal smoke. Standing on the platform, illuminated by the dim, flickering amber lamps of the station, were two familiar figures.
The male police stood with his arms crossed, his coat billowing slightly in the sea breeze. His expression was a mask of professional exhaustion, the kind of look a man gets when he's seen too many 'impossible' things in one day. Beside him, the female police was checking the chamber of her sidearm, her eyes scanning the crowd with a sharp, predatory focus.
"You're late," one of the polices he had met earlier bakred to Feodore as David stepped onto the platform, his voice cutting through the sound of the crashing waves nearby.
The female police officer looked up, her gaze softening only slightly when it landed on Feodore before hardening again as it shifted to David. "Nice to meet you, David. Me amd my college Aiden are the ones who will cooperate with you in this mission."
Feodore whistled, a sharp, annoying sound.
David felt the familiar prickle of anxiety at the back of his neck. He looked at the police, then at the eccentric Gaordy beside him. He was just a bank employee. This was definitely not in his job description.
"Nice to meet you, David," Aiden sighed, rubbing his temples. "The Mayor is breathing down my neck and the magic level in this area are acting... volatile. David, come with us. We need you to identify the vault seals. And Feodore... if you cause one problem, I'll have Jason put you in a cell that doesn't exist on the map."
The four of them began to walk toward the dark silhouette of the coastal facility, their shadows stretching long and distorted across the wet stone of the pier.