Chapter 12: Private Investigator

  "Make yourself comfortable," Rodrick said lazily, gesturing around him.

  'Easy for you to say.'

  Nicholas glanced around at the liquor bottles and scattered belongings everywhere.

  'Where exactly am I supposed to sit?'

  There wasn't a single spot in the room that even remotely met the definition of a ‘seat.’ Ultimately, Nicholas had no choice but to head toward a small table opposite the sofa. He swept away the dust, cigarette butts, and various clutter scattered across the surface before finally lowering himself down.

  "A—Ahem."

  Noticing Rodrick was about to doze off again, Nicholas cleared his throat to draw the man's attention, making him startled slightly before sitting up and stretching lazily in a cross-legged position.

  Rodrick pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it with a lighter, and drew in a deep lungful. He leaned back against the cushion, releasing smoke toward the ceiling.

  Despite his unprofessional demeanor, the moment he turned his gaze back to Nicholas, his aura shifted—becoming as steady and composed as a seasoned war veteran.

  "So, what can I do for you, Mr..."

  "Nicholas."

  Nicholas introduced himself while handing over his business card. Rodrick accepted it out of habit, only to toss it indifferently onto the sofa.

  “You look like a gentleman who is… Ahem … quite preoccupied. In that case, I won’t beat around the bush.”

  Nicholas drew a set of prepared documents from his inner pocket. They contained Antonio’s personal details and profile—both the information available to the public and the insider knowledge Nicholas had gathered while working on his cases.

  “I want to know everything about this man,” Nicholas stated firmly. “His daily routine, his schedule, his close associates, his business partners, the properties he owns, and any other details beyond what’s on these papers—as much as you can find.”

  Rodrick took the documents and read them intently. The moment he saw what was written, the emotion on his face shifted to puzzlement mixed with a hint of apprehension.

  “If it’s information on this guy you're after, what you’ve already got here should be more than enough,” He shifted his gaze and looked directly at Nicholas.

  “Why don't you tell me? What exactly are you looking for?"

  With his years of experience, Rodrick could sense the ulterior motive hidden beneath Nicholas’s request.

  Nicholas remained silent for a moment, as if carefully rearranging the words in his head. Though he'd only just met Rodrick, from observing the man's emotions, he could tell immediately that the person before him was a professional—someone who had clearly survived his fair share of battlefields.

  In the end, Nicholas decided to take a gamble on this private investigator.

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  “I need to know about his security measures,” Nicholas said. “If possible, I want to find a route or a way to get to him without being seen.”

  Perhaps it would be more helpful to this job to simply be blunt with him.

  “In that case, let me ask you one thing…”

  Rodrick looked into Nicholas's eyes, his voice dropping into a deadly serious tone.

  “Is this business? ...Or is it personal?”

  Nicholas realized that his answer would likely be the deciding factor in whether this private investigator would take the job or show him the door.

  "It’s...Personal."

  Nicholas said, his eyes burning with a resolve that spoke of life or death. Rodrick saw that determination clearly.

  Rodrick glanced at the paper in his hand once more. The information before him had deeper implications than he had anticipated when Nicholas had first stepped through his office door.

  “Le Purgatoire is just a local gang. I’ve handled jobs like this before; tracking them and slipping past their notice isn't the hard part,” Rodrick said, his voice low. “The problem is Antonio. I don’t know much about him personally, but I do know his father, ‘Don Marcelo.’ He’s not a man anyone in their right mind would mess with. He's ruthless, cold-blooded, and cunning to the extreme. There’s a reason he’s sat at the top of this empire’s underworld for so many years.”

  He paused, the smoke from his cigarette curling between them.

  “Behind him is the Marcelo family—a name that carries immense weight, even in the capital. If he finds out someone is digging into his son, he won’t take kindly to the news. Are you absolutely certain you want me to take this on?”

  The man in the cowboy hat asked. Nicholas noticed that the emotions he displayed still contained hesitation. It seemed he needed to say something to close this deal.

  “I am certain,” Nicholas stated firmly. “Even if you don't take this job, I’ll end up investigating this on my own anyway.”

  Silence enveloped both men. After a moment, Rodrick sighed before stating his conditions.

  “This is a one-time job,” Rodrick stated bluntly. “Once it’s finished, you and I have no further connection. As far as the world is concerned, we’ve never met.”

  Having said that, he held up five fingers.

  "500 silver coins. Half paid upfront, the other half after completion."

  Five hundred coins wasn't a small amount, but compared to the risk involved in this work, it wasn't an unreasonable sum either. Without hesitation, Nicholas nodded, accepting the terms.

  "Here's 250 silver coins."

  Nicholas immediately paid the deposit as agreed. He felt a wave of relief that the deal had gone through smoothly, yet something still weighed on his mind.

  "If I need the information as quickly as possible, how long will it take?" Nicholas asked.

  Time was essential, and every passing minute was a luxury he couldn't afford. Rodrick paused for a moment, contemplating the scale of the task, before giving his answer.

  "I'll contact you within two to three weeks."

  Though It was a tight window, it was still a timeframe he could accept.

  By mutual agreement, the deal was never put in writing. Having a paper trail for a job this dangerous was far from a good idea—even if it went against every professional principle Nicholas held as a lawyer.

  “Then I’ll be counting on you,”

  Nicholas spoke as he rose to his feet and adjusted his fedora. He offered a slight nod as a parting gesture. It was late, and from his experience, traversing this city after dark was far from safe. It was time for him to head home.

  However, he suddenly froze, as if struck by a sudden thought.

  “Is there something else I can help you with, Mr. Nicholas?” Rodrick asked, noticing his hesitation.

  Nicholas let out a thin smile before replying,

  “…Do you happen to have a spare gun?”

  ….

  Nicholas looked at the revolver in his hand. In this world, while military-grade weaponry like automatic machine guns had yet to be invented, handguns and rifles were not entirely uncommon.

  As for his proficiency—although he had never handled a revolver before, his prior military service before being sent to this world gave him a solid foundation in marksmanship.

  What surprised him most was that Rodrick had been able to obtain a gun for him—and not just any gun, but a revolver capable of firing up to five consecutive shots. It could be considered the most advanced firearm of this era, compared to regular guns which were mostly still flintlocks. To top it off, Rodrick had sold it to him at a remarkably low price.

  If he had to guess, Nicholas suspected that Rodrick might have a military background. Perhaps he was a veteran who had served in a specialized unit somewhere.

  Nicholas didn't know whether this revolver would help him survive the mysterious things lurking in the shadows, but at the very least, it gave him some peace of mind. Against ordinary men—like the members of the Le Purgatoire —this weapon would undoubtedly prove its worth.

  Nicholas placed the gun carefully on the table. After a full night’s rest, his mind was finally clear enough to reflect on everything. The final entries in 'Nicholas's' diary were clues he couldn't overlook. He picked up the notebook and flipped to the last two pages.

  "Heretics... the moon... the Parlay family's fate...?"

  Heretics... This word likely pointed to the organization behind the very ritual that had dragged him into this world. As for ‘the Moon,' it remained a complete mystery—perhaps a symbol that indicating something.

  If he could only gain access to information regarding Extraordinary and these mysterious organizations, perhaps he might be able to find answers about this matter.

  However, it was the final phrase that weighed most heavily on his heart.

  “Parlay family's fate... What could that possibly mean?”

  Was the mystery of the Parlay family not merely a story Antonio had fabricated to deceive 'Nicholas,'? Could it really be a hidden truth stretching all the way back to the Fifth Era?

  “Or was it merely the delusional ramblings of ‘Nicholas’—a man whose mind had been driven to the brink of madness by sheer terror?”

  These clues only reinforced the reasons Nicholas needed to join the Order of Spirit Mediums. Right now, he lacked both knowledge about Extraordinary and a reliable organization to depend on.

  Everything hinged on those two things: the trial of rebirth and becoming an Extraordinary.

  The hesitation that had once weighed him down was now gone, vanished completely. At last, he made up his mind

  "I will become a Spirit Medium."

  15.10.550

  Nicholas Parlay

  Judicial representative