The sound of iron wheels against rails shattered the silence of the afternoon. The roar of the train engine sounded steady, like the incessant ticking of time. Inside one of the carriages, a young man with jet-black hair sat by the window, gazing out at the scenery outside. Rain fell gently, dripping down the glass and forming clear streaks that followed the train's movement. He was Kyne Acorn, a young traveler with a sharp gaze and a cold, emotionless face.
"Sandburg…" he murmured softly, looking out the window. "A town that supposedly has plenty of jobs, but not many people stay there."
Kyne took a deep breath. He didn't know what awaited him in that town, but he was certain of one thing—he wouldn't stop until he found a place to start over.
A few moments later, his stomach growled loudly, signaling an unyielding hunger. Reluctantly, he stood up, straightened his shabby brown jacket, and walked toward the carriage exit. On the way, he saw an old, white-haired man sitting alone, staring at the floor.
"Excuse me, Old Man," Kyne said politely. "Do you know where the cafeteria is?"
The old man turned slowly, his eyes drooping and his voice trembling. "The cafeteria... is in... carriage... number... nineteen."
Kyne glanced at the carriage number on the nearest door—07.
That meant he had to walk past twelve more carriages.
Without complaining, he began walking, catching his balance every time the train shook. The journey to the cafeteria was quiet; most of the passengers were asleep. Only the sound of the wheels and the rain outside accompanied his steps.
After six minutes of walking, he finally arrived at the cafeteria carriage. Unlike the other carriages, this one was bustling. The aroma of hot coffee and toast filled the air. Other passengers were sitting on chairs, enjoying their food or simply chatting quietly.
Kyne walked to the cashier and ordered snacks and hot drinks to take to the carriage. However, the line was long—he stood waiting for his turn for almost an hour.
When he finally reached the cashier, he breathed a sigh of relief, paid, and received his food. But as he was about to return to the carriage, a man came running toward the cafeteria. His shoulder brushed Kyne hard, nearly spilling his drink.
Kyne paused. His gaze was sharp, but he said nothing.
He simply sighed softly and continued walking.
"Hungry people often forget their manners," he muttered coldly.
He returned to his carriage, sat down in a window seat, and began to enjoy his meal. The rain outside grew heavier, and the train picked up speed. With his stomach full, drowsiness overtook him. He leaned his head against the window and fell asleep peacefully.
Several hours passed. When he opened his eyes, the train had stopped. Kyne stared out the window and saw a large wooden sign that read: "Welcome to Sandburg City."
He smiled faintly. "Finally, I've here."
Getting off the train, he set foot on Sandburg land for the first time. The air in the city felt cold, chilling to the bone. Even stranger, the town seemed deserted. There was none of the hustle and bustle of an industrial city—just empty streets, old buildings, and a few wooden planks creaking in the wind.
Kyne walked down the main street. His eyes scanned every corner of the town, searching for signs of life. But all he found was the sound of the wind and tightly closed shop doors.
Finally, he stopped in a small alley where two men were playing cards on the sidewalk.
The two men sat facing each other on the dusty sidewalk, a small wooden table between them. Dozens of cards lay scattered on it. Their faces were tense, their foreheads sweating, and their eyes locked warily.
Kyne stopped nearby, staring at the game for a moment. He tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and leaned his shoulders against the wooden pillar behind him, watching every move.
"Seven of diamonds," the first man said, dropping a card onto the table.
The second man snickered, "You're baiting me."
He drew a card from the draw pile, but his face grew even more tense.
Kyne smiled faintly. He knew the game—a game of strategy, not just luck.
Every blink of an eye, every breath, could be a signal that determined the outcome.
Just as the second man was about to give up, Kyne finally stepped forward.
"May I see the remaining cards?" he asked quietly.
Both men stared at Kyne, hesitant.
"Who are you?" the first man asked sarcastically.
"Just someone bored of watching a stupid, aimless game," Kyne replied flatly.
His tone silenced both of them.
Kyne knelt down, quickly scanning the cards in the second man's hand. Within three seconds, his eyes had read the pattern, calculated the opponent's possible cards, and guessed the final card in the deck. He then took a card from the draw pile and flipped it over with his fingertips—the Ace of Diamonds.
"Use this," he said, handing it to the man who was about to lose.
The man stared in confusion. "Are you sure? This card doesn't match."
Kyne just stared at him blankly. "Trust me, don't waste your turn. Play now."
The man, with trembling hands, placed the Ace of Diamonds on the table.
His opponent immediately burst out laughing. "You idiot! That—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Kyne slipped a card from his pocket and flicked it quickly onto the table—the clown card.
The card landed right on top of the pile, changing order, and automatically switching the turn.
Everyone's eyes widened.
The man's opponent remained silent.
"Now," Kyne said calmly, "the next card is the eight of hearts. Play."
The man immediately complied. He laid down the eight of hearts, and... the game was over.
Their opponent still held three cards in his hand, and their turn was over.
Kyne stood up, straightening his gloves.
"Game over," he said quietly. "Simple strategy, but you put too much emphasis on luck."
The defeated opponent hissed in annoyance. "You cheated! There's no way you could have known the order of the cards!"
Kyne stared at him coldly. "Cheated?" he said quietly, bowing his head slightly. "Cheated is a term used by fools to cover up their inability to read the game."
He patted the man on the shoulder, then added in a low, sharp voice,
"If you can't read your opponent's hand, at least study their face."
The man couldn't answer. His breath hitched, while the bystanders remained silent, not daring to make a sound.
Kyne turned, preparing to walk away, while the man he had helped stared at him in awe.
"Thank you," he said. "Who are you, really?"
Kyne stared at the man for a moment before answering.
"My name is Kyne. Kyne Acorn. I just arrived from Astorn, and I've come to Sandburg looking for work."
A deep voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
"Are you looking for work?"
Kyne turned. A man dressed in black and wearing a wide-brimmed hat stood not far from him. His face was mature, his eyes sharp, and he had a small sheriff's badge on his chest.
"I have an opening," the man continued, slowly approaching. "I saw how you played cards—and more than that, I saw how you spoke. The coldness in your voice suggests something…"
Kyne raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
The man smiled faintly. "You know how to control a situation."
He stopped right in front of Kyne and stared deeply at him.
"My name is Pieter Smit, the chief sheriff of Sandburg. I intend to recruit you as a new member of the Sandburg Sheriff's Office. How about it, young man? Are you interested?"
Kyne stared at the man for a long moment. "A sheriff?" he murmured.
But before he could answer, a loud noise echoed from down the street—followed by shouts from the residents.
"Bank break-in!"
The two men playing cards immediately panicked. A thin plume of smoke began to appear from the large building on the right side of the street—a small bank next to the cafe where Pieter had been sitting.
Pieter immediately turned to Kyne. His gaze was sharp, but a small smile played at the corner of his lips. He removed a pistol from the leather holster at his waist and tossed it toward Kyne.
"Young man," he said, brushing the dust off his jacket, "Catch this pistol and help me thwart a crime!"