I arrived at my home and was surprised to see an elderly man standing in front of my door.
"A customer..."
I approached.
Good afternoon sir, I bowed in respect.
Forgive my lateness. I was attending to important matters.
The man smiled at my apology. "No worries, young man. I was just approaching".
The man took a card off his shoulder and handed it to me.
My name is Gerald Levert.
"Lewert...?" I paused.
*Where have I heard that name before.*
*Ah! How can I forget, their one of those wealthy noble families. I think their business deals with concrete production.*
"Please..." I gestured for him to come in.
"You might've heard of us one way or the other".
I walked ahead of him to my kitchen to brew some tea.
Now that I think of it, an assistant would be really nice. Oh I Have thought of it.
I walked out of the kitchen hold a tray of biscuits a kettle of hot water and a couple of earl grey leafs on the table, the old man watched me sit carefully on the couch next to him and sighed.
" My apologies, I was quick to judge a man of your caliber, I thought you were an illiterate " the old man bowed his head.
"No worries sir, I get that a lot"
People are quick to judge me because of my hair and skin colour but I purposely brought Earl grey tea to him.
Typical rich noble families drink Darjeeling tea which was good, delicate, floral and lightly fruity but as people grow older, taste deteriorate, so most elderly men turn to Earl grey tea, Black tea scented with bergamot oil. Considered elegant and fashionable in upper-class circles.
The gentleman opened the top lid of the hot kettle and dropped a few clovers in.
"I came here to assign you a bodyguard mission."
My ears perked up.
"Bodyguard..."
He paused, fiddling his teacup
"You may not know this but my granddaughters birthday is is coming up this summer and her father is planning to throw a birthday banquet."
"So.. wouldn't it be a much better idea to consult a security company?" I raised a brow.
The old man took the kettle by the handle and gracefully poured out a dark liquid.
"Yes, I typically would, but she insists she's not a child and she could handle things on her own."
I shrugged. "Typical teenagers.. always full of energy.."
The old man chuckled in response, and sipped the tea.
"Sugar?"
"Noo, I prefer it plain" the old man refused.
*Huh, so he likes his tea without sugar..* I noted.
So you want to higher me to at least keep an eye on her even if she said it's okay.
"Yes, exactly..."
"Which means you want me to be discreet" I speculated.
"You're quite the smart lad". He dropped the cup. And glaced at me
I thought for a moment even if I wasn't actually thinking.
"Ok sir I've heard your request"
"So how much do you charge.?"
I grinned internally,
My former job as a police investigator paid me 10 kronen a week. Given the fact this is a private job which costs more, I'll also put in the fact that this family was loaded.
"100 kronen" I raised a finger.
The old man looked at me with contemplation.
*Did I do too much?*
"Sure thing" he stood up, and I stood up with him. We both shook hands.
"My chauffeur will pay you a visit then" he bowed and I escorted him to the roadside where his servant led him inside an automobile.
*Rich people...* I sighed
"I wonder what it's like to own one of those" I watched as the vechle wheeled away.
Automobiles were the cutting edge of electrical and mechanical engineering, only owned by the wealthiest of nobles, even horse drawn carriages are only found in rural areas now. They say it even cures depression.
"Welp, one of those things start around about a 1,000 kronen, I can't even imagine how someone can take money enough to buy a very comfortable house to purchase an automobile.
I walked back into my apartment to prepare.
Once I spend my remaining savings, I'll have nothing left on me, but I had to.
Evening quickly set in and the sunset cast a beautiful orange glow over Saint-Willams street.
I came out of my home wearing a stiff black shirt with a high detachable collar, a waistcoat, checkered brown trowsers, and black lace-up shoes.
I put on my cloth cap and headed to my destination.
When you've lived in the streets long enough, you kinda know places you shouldn't.
I walked into the market, noisy as ever, traders scrambled to make sales.
I walked into a watch stall, an old man stationed at the counter.
"Hello, what can I get for you" he kept wiping dust off his vintage pieces not giving me a second thought.
"Long time no see Mr Leon" I waved at him.
He looked up at me with confusion, squintung his eyes.
"What a minute, Zach?."
"Yep..."
"Whoa, you've actually grown." He laughed
*What's that supposed to mean?.*
"No I haven't," I pressed my lips in a smile.
Old man Leon had sort of a foggy memory when it comes to rememberig people.
But when it comes to remember watches, he's a pro.
"What brings you here today"
He sat on his work chair.
"I came for iron."
"Huh?..." he looked at me.
"Aren't you working for the police department?." He asked with a raised brow.
"Not anymore" I shrugged.
He stood up and gestured for me to follow him.
I've known this guy since I was 16 still trying to survive in these streets and worked at his stall for a short while. So I know he runs an illegal firearm market just underneath all this.
When I started working with the police he genuinely thought I would tell on him but honestly, I'm not the kind of person to sabotage someone when I have absolutely nothing to gain from it, as a matter of fact I would rather use that info to my advantage.
We arrived in the little room where he pointed at the collection of firearms.
"What are your preferences."
This gun wasn't only for Mr Gerald granddaughters birthday banquet.
Last I remember, this was extremely effective against miss bayfong. It didn't kill her, but it gave her a hard time, in a typical fight that could buy me a couple secounds which could be the difference between life and death.
"I want something I can easily conceal, something light but has insane power behind it "
Old man thought for a moment and walked towards a nearby shelf, he pulled out a box.
He opened it to reveal a beautiful hand gun.
It's the Maucer C96, new stock that just came in this morning, the stand off between the Brittan empire and the Germaan colonies keep getting worse so customers have been numerous these past few weeks."
I held the cold metal with care. It was the smallest I've seen. 7.1 inches, just an inch shorter than a standard academic ruler. Its height was only 3.3 inches, capable of disappearing underneath a coat. And that was enough.
It was as heavy as a bar of iron soap. I picked up the set of bullets by the side, a standard 9mm round.
"So how much would this actually cost."
The old man grinned making me gulp internally.
"It would usually be 60 kronen, but for you my friend, I'll give it to you for 50." He smirked.
*Classic manipulation*
"The prices of these type of things is usually 50 kronen but then seller says they're going to give it for lesser than a price they just made up, convincing the buyers that they're actually getting a good deal, when in reality this was just to prevent haggling.
I know about all this because I worked here and have employed the same tactics on other people
After a sort of intense back and forth we managed to settle on 43 kronen.
I left the store with the box, feeling like I've been cheated of some sort.
As I walked a strange feeling washed over me.
[ £€€§¶√ππ∆]
[ √√ΠΩ춧∆¥;:! ]
[ -Π√§§×¶¶£¥€£¢ ]
A bunch of floating words morphed into my vision.
What this again?.
A white-haired man wearing a long coat past by me sending cold chills past my spine, I turned back at him" but he kept walking.
Made me ask myself. "Do I know him?"