"So... regarding the contract." Nein stated as he seated with Ruffen inside his office.
Nathan came and hand the new contract to Ruffen as he lay it down on the table between them.
Nein grab it and give it a quick scan before nodding.
"This will do." He grins while taking out a pen.
"Wait." Ruffen hold him from signing it.
"It's fine, if boss can make new contract without my permission, then I can do the same. Besides it's not entirely a new contract, it's an update of the old one." Nein stated casually as he signed the contract before handing it to Ruffen.
"...Very well then, now. I think its time to tell you the truth." With him saying that, Nathan immediately leave the room for both of them.
"I'm listening."
"The reason why I'm here is not because business, but to uncover the one behind my daughter kidnapping attempt. My Intel told me the culprit were hiding in Fanis." He pause, looking at Nein and making sure he's listening.
"But I cannot just get into action without enough proof. Hence why I use this business trip as an excuse until I found their trace. But..."
"They've heard about it and decided to hide?" Nein stated calmly.
"Correct. That's why I decided to stop and return to my territory to try another method." He pause, putting back the polite smile.
"But now, I have you, your reputation stated that you're capable of finding them for me. Right?" His tone challenging.
Nein catching the way Ruffen talks and smirks.
"Let's get in the details then."
Later, in the same night, Nein's taking a walk on the dark streets of Fanis. Already pursuing the mission with a pace of a man enjoying the night air.
"The golden silks trading company..." He mumbles the name of the target, already searching across the town with the smoke.
The walk there was quiet and uneventful, or at least for now.
"...Nein." F1end spoke as it sense a presence nearby.
"I know, let's wait for now." He whispered as he continue walking with five people following him.
As he enters an empty corner, he vanished into the shadows, leaving the stalker shocked and terrified as they searching the surrounding.
"Looking for me?" He said as he standing upside down in the air above them.
He drop down to confront them, the thugs pulled out their weapon and circling around him.
"Graah!!!" One man shouted and charge toward him from his left.
He catch the incoming strikes, gripping the man's wrist before launching a point-blank punch to his abdomen and sweep his legs before using his elbow to send the man flying.
Their fighting style are crude and amateur. It's like handling a baby with a knife. That's why he decided to go easy on them.
"Gang him!" The leader shouts before the rest attacking at the same time.
Nein crouch down to dodge and focused on the one in front. He sent a series of small strikes to distract the man before landing a clean strikes to his chin, knocking him down instantly.
"Hah!!" A man with machete swings behind him.
Nein took a step backward, just enough to avoid the trajectory as he grab the man's arm and strike his face with his elbow, he spin, knock the man's knee before sending another hit on the head and put him unconscious.
He turns and saw the leader standing there alone as the last one already running away. He looked at the terrified man with a wide smirks.
"So...do you want to talk now?."
Nein continue his track after the commotion draws nearby guard attention. The information he got from the thug that they're paid to deal with him. And the one giving them the order is no other than the owner of golden silks trading company, Richard Webber.
"Seems they know about me. Time to change my approach." He leap to the roof and jumping from one after another.
The dark streets filled with patrolling guards and some people either walking from or toward the pub.
"Hm?" He spot something in front of him and stopping by to check on it.
"Figured. He's indeed know I'm coming for him." He whispered, seeing the guard surrounding Richard's manor.
He reroute and found a perfect angle nearby. He's perching on the roof, calculating his entrance and speculating how long it takes for him to infiltrate.
"Mhm... Let's hope they don't have something similar to laser trap. Alright, time to move." He form a black mask from his smoke, securing his identity. His coat disappear and turning into something suitable for stealth that cling on his body like a second skin.
He use the air route, weaving the smoke on his fingertips until it forming a solid rope, he prepare himself, using the smoke to latch on a nearby chimney forming a slingshot.
He launch himself to the air and reach the top of the manor in no time. He enters through the chimney and reaching Richard's study with not much effort.
He split his body into five mirage and start searching for a clue.
"... Supply route... supply crates...this month income...taxes..."he mumbles while rummaging through the documents.
"Respice post te." F1end spoke as Nein's mirage found something under the bed.
He went to check and found a half burnt letter tucked away in a rushed fashion.
"Seems someone interrupted him before he could erase all the evidence." He mumbles as he found more to it and collected four pieces of paper with letters on it.
He give it a quick scan before smiling with satisfaction.
"Bingo." He stuffed the paper into his pocket and stood up.
Click.
The door suddenly open as Richard entered the room. He's highly anxious somehow after hearing the news there'll be someone coming for him.
He travel through the dimly lit room and sitting at his desk, unaware of a presence under his bed where Nein's hiding.
"Haa...that bastard told me there'll be someone coming, he's better be right or I'll make him pay for it." Richard talk to himself, hair voice got that rough and restless edge to it.
"I see, looks like there's a spy in Winterbell, that explains the quick response." Nein think as he wait for a good time to escape.
As Richard turn in his chair, Nein crawls back to the chimney toward the roof and goes back to Ruffen to report his findings.
"Let's hope he's still awake in this hour...or maybe I could stop for a few glass." He decided to stop by a nearby pub, already changing to his usual clothes. Planning on reporting later after he's sure Ruffen is awake.
Meanwhile, Ruffen's indeed waiting for his arrival, sitting at his desk with both hands clasps together on the table in the middle of the night.