"Alright, I agree,"
the thief replied coldly and holstered his gun on his belt.
The plan worked. He slowly turned around as the snowstorm began to rage.
Glub unbuttoned his coat and swiftly removed it.
The hunter became the prey the moment he let his guard down. The bald man was strangled by the black coat.
This was why he wore it all the time his combat skills relied on this trick. But he didn't kill the thief.
Ethics and morals were the core principles of an officer.
The Vanadeas Criminal Investigation Office trained all new recruits in self-defense early on to prepare for emergencies.
Nicholas was considered highly skilled in combat for someone in the documentation division. But he disliked fighting people always stared at him afterward, just like now.
The train hadn't departed yet. He had predicted this; at least one more person was likely guarding the engine. But he couldn't just leave this pitiful man lying here.
He took the thief's gun and tied him up with the coat.
The sound of footsteps stomped louder than the wind. He hid behind the door.
What a mess, Nico sighed, trying to find a way to approach the enemy.
The gun in his hand was useless his aim was terribly poor.Back during his exam, he only scored 61 out of 100. Compared to his hand-to-hand combat skills.His awareness picked up the approaching sound. It was getting closer and closer.
Calm down...steady now..
Nicholas reminded himself.
This was his second real mission. He was still excited.
The thief had stopped moving.
But what he saw next made Roa's heart sink.
In the middle of the bloodstained carpeted corridor stood a passenger holding a gun too.
"Wait-!"
He dashed toward the passenger as fast as he could.
Bang!
Two gunshots rang out simultaneously.
It looked like the passenger had won the duel.The man Nicholas thought was just an ordinary worker was actually an undercover cop.The man in the khaki suit extended his hand.
"Apologies if I startled you.
I'm an undercover officer from Senaia Station."
Nicholas took his hand and slowly stood up. The man bowed, revealing a face that had aged a bit. He raised his legal badge. His name was Lloyd.
"Very brave of you. I'm guessing you're from one of the offices in Vanadeas City?"
They recognized each other quickly.
The snowstorm stopped just as the chaos ended.
The moans of the thief echoed behind them.
"Our informants heard a criminal gang planned to rob this train. It might not be the only one."
Nicholas nodded.
"Stay safe.
I'll take care of the rest."
Soon, the criminals were tied up by the police.He brushed off some cigarette ash from his coat.It smelled a bit foul.
---
The train arrived safely at Senaia Station. Officers escorted all the thieves into carriages.There were more of them, but Nicholas didn't care.Passengers began disembarking.This was Senaia City. The buildings were not well-maintained not very tall, a little grimy, but not abandoned.
Not too crowded either, but it felt nostalgic.
He stepped onto the sidewalk. Some snow hadn't melted.
A gust of wind blew a newspaper toward him.He tilted his head to dodge the gray curtain.Sunlight hit his face.Nico shielded his eyes.He didn't encounter this kind of light often, so his eyes hadn't adjusted.
On the other side of the sidewalk, a middle-aged man with his hands in his pockets sipped coffee.Nico wasn't paying attention.
He bumped into a flock of pigeons pecking at cookie crumbs.They scattered.
When they cleared, he saw a blonde woman with bangs wearing a blue dress.
"Are you Nicholas?"
The question was asked with more than half certainty.
Her face showed concern, afraid she'd mistaken him for someone else.
He began to feel familiar.
That gentle voice he had heard it before.
"Yes.."
The woman beamed with joy.
She grabbed his arm before he could react.
Now he remembered she is Eve.
"It really is you, Nico! Come on, your mom is waiting!"
Eve didn't wait for him to ask who she was.
Even after 29 years, Nico still didn't remember all his childhood friends.
Eve a courageous, kind, and natural leader.
Among the three of them, she was the head that Nico and Jacob admired.
She always showed her bravery in words, protecting Nicholas from bullies.
She was also a year older than the others.
The two walked and chatted about old times.
Nicholas had moved to Vanadeas City four years ago for work.
His mom was happy he had a job, but he never told anyone what it was.
He asked Eve about her current life and found out she was now a librarian.
It shocked him so much that he couldn't hide his reaction.
Eve? A librarian?
She laughed at his expression.
The conversation was so engaging that they didn't realize they had reached his house.
Nicholas felt a bit nervous.
Even though he'd prepared to see his mother after four years, the wooden door slowly creaked open.
A woman turned toward the door, looking at her guest.
Her eyes widened when she saw the long-lost son.
She rushed in and hugged him immediately.
------
Nicholas kept his hands on his lap the entire time he sat on the sofa.
His mother and Eve were in the kitchen.
There were sounds of clattering, as if they were arranging something.
They told him to wait there.
Heels clicked against the wooden floor at intervals.
This house hadn't changed at all.
He looked at a framed photo on the wall shelf — Nicholas and his mother at age 30, taken in front of the house.
His father took the photo.
Everyone was smiling.
Back then, there was no constant misfortune.
When did everything start to go wrong?
His mother finally came.
She carried an old wooden tray with two glasses of water and some neatly arranged small pastries.
The warm scent of baked goods mixed with the lavender smell from her apron made the atmosphere oddly comforting.
She placed the tray on the table and sat beside him.
Her eyes didn't leave his face, as if she still couldn't believe her son had returned after four years.
"Nicholas, you look thinner," she said softly, touching his cheek gently.
"Are you eating properly? I keep seeing news from Vanadeas, it doesn't look good."
Nicholas swallowed.
For a moment, he didn't know how to reply.
He didn't want to lie, but he didn't want her to worry either.
"My work's alright. Nothing to worry about, Mom."
He smiled faintly, trying to appear reassuring.
She didn't reply.
She just looked at him quietly.
Nicholas turned away slightly.
This was why he had never told her the truth about his job.
"Mom has something important to tell you."
He froze for a moment.
------