He had barely taken several steps when a company employee noticed him. "Excuse me?"
The worker approached cautiously. "Can I help you?"
The masked man looked at him politely. "Oh."
"I'm here to see someone."
He casually pointed down the corridor. "There."
The employee instinctively turned to follow the direction of the finger.
"Hm?"
"I don't see—"
When he looked back, the masked stranger had vanished.
"...What?" he blinked several times.
The corridor that stretched in both directions was completely empty.
A chill quietly ran down the employee's spine.
"...Weird..." he muttered to himself before shaking his head and returning to work.
Far outside the building, concealed among the flow of pedestrians, the masked man glanced back at the towering headquarters one final time.
His eyes settled briefly on the floor where Liz worked.
Then he looked toward the distant skyline.
"Enjoy your trip, West Einstein," he voiced with an almost playful tone. "By the time you return..."
