When I saw how his expression tightened, I almost laughed again, but fortunately, I managed to hold myself back at the last moment. The situation was far too serious for laughter... though a short laugh escaped me anyway.
After struggling to regain my composure, I said:
"I don’t know exactly."
A look of clear confusion appeared on his face.
This time, I answered seriously:
"Something bad is going to happen. It’ll lead to the end of the Street Sons, but I don’t know the details."
"Are you being serious, or are you joking?"
"I’m serious. Why would you think I’m joking?"
"You know what... forget it. You don’t know any details about this, do you?"
"Then why do you believe it’ll happen?"
He leaned back on the couch again, resting his elbow on the armrest and his head on his hand.
"I’ll keep your warning in mind."
It was obvious he didn’t take me seriously. I can’t really blame him. I don’t have any proof. Even I don’t know how or when it’ll happen. Would he believe me if I told him I’m Jevan, but from the future? I doubt it. He’d probably think I’m mocking him.
I left the room and walked through the wall until I reached the spot where Jevan and the others were playing cards. I sat on the ground beside them, watching quietly.
There was something comforting about seeing them . For a moment, I felt something close to nostalgia, but I didn’t allow it to linger. I’m not Jevan, after all...
At the same time, inside Bureau of Public Investigation
In a quiet office filled with the scent of coffee and cigarettes, Inspector Edward Graves sat behind his large desk, reading through a stack of documents with full focus. On the table before him sat a half filled cup of coffee.
He reached out to grab the cup, but the door suddenly burst open with a powerful kick, making the desk shake and the cup tip over, spilling coffee all over the papers.
Inspector Griffin walked in through the doorway, his voice loud and brimming with energy:
"Hey, Edward! Want to go out for dinner?"
Edward didn’t move. He just stared at the soaked documents, then looked up at him with a sharp glare.
Griffin walked closer, pretending to be innocent as he glanced at the table.
"Aren’t those the papers from your latest case?"
Edward took a deep breath and said calmly:
"You’re paying me back for this, idiot."
"And what does that have to do with me? You’re the one who spilled the coffee on your papers."
"How many times have I told you to knock before entering?"
"Alright, alright, don’t worry. I’ll make it up to you."
"And how exactly do you plan to do that, for heaven’s sake?"
"I’ll buy you dinner."
Edward looked at him, then picked up one of the wet papers and sighed.
"Two plates of marinated grilled meat from that new fancy restaurant."
Griffin’s eyes widened.
"Are you trying to bankrupt me? Have some mercy on your old friend!"
Edward replied sarcastically as he set the paper aside:
"You should’ve knocked on the door, after all."
Griffin checked his pockets.
"Alright, wait here a bit. I’ll be right back."
He left Edward’s office and headed toward his own on the other side of the corridor. When he arrived, he found Cornelius Wright, his trainee, standing in front of the massive file shelves, organizing them carefully.
Griffin snuck up behind him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said in an overly friendly tone:
"Cornelius, my dear friend, could you lend me some money?"
Cornelius turned toward him, sighed, and said:
"You still owe me two silver coins, remember?"
"Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back. I promise."
Cornelius stepped back, pulled a file from the shelf, and said:
"Sorry, but I don’t trust you."
Griffin placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"Cornelius! You’ve always been my favorite trainee!"
Cornelius replied without looking up from the file:
"I’m your only trainee."
"Which makes you my favorite, doesn’t it?"
"Thanks for the compliment if we can even call it that but I still refuse."
Griffin leaned closer, resting against the table in front of him.
"I could put in a good word for you in the monthly report to the administration."
"That would be illegal."
"Only if someone finds out."
Cornelius sighed as he placed the file on the table.
"How on earth did you even become an inspector?"
"You’re insulting your superior now. That’s against Bureau regulations."
"I didn’t insult you. I just asked a logical question."
"Come on, do it for your favorite inspector."
"You’re not even in my top ten favorite inspectors."
"That hurts, you know?"
"I’m just being honest."
"If I’m not first, then who is? Don’t tell me you put Edward there."
"Inspector Edward? Of course not, but he’s a great inspector. I’d probably put him in second place."
"And who’s in first, then?"
"Inspector Martha, obviously."
"Martha? Are you sure about that?"
"What do you mean? She’s perfect. Precise, organized, strict with Bureau rules, excellent at everything she does... and on top of that, she’s stunning."
Griffin smirked slyly.
"Sounds like you’ve got a crush on her?"
Cornelius’s cheeks turned red.
"Me? No, of course not! I mean, I just admire her professionalism and dedication to work, that’s all." Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
"Alright then, what if I told you I could arrange a private meeting between the two of you?"
"Yes. A simple meeting maybe a short conversation with Martha in exchange for one small favor."
"And what’s that favor?"
"A small loan. Five silver coins, no more."
"Are you trying to rob me? Are you even an inspector, or just a scam artist?"
"That’s a huge insult to me and to my identity as a Bureau inspector! But I’m a forgiving man, so I’ll let it slide. After all, I’m offering you the deal of a lifetime: a private meeting with Martha for just five coins. Isn’t that pure generosity?"
Cornelius hesitated, but eventually pulled his wallet from his coat pocket, took out a note worth five silver coins, and handed it to Griffin reluctantly.
Griffin’s eyes lit up the moment he saw it. He grabbed it quickly.
"A successful deal, my dear friend."
He then left the office and headed toward Inspector Martha’s section. When he arrived, Martha was just leaving her office, holding a few papers in her hands. He stepped in front of her with a smile.
"But I haven’t even said anything yet!"
"You only come to me when you want something."
"That’s... kind of true, but this time I’m here to offer you a profitable deal."
She eyed him suspiciously.
"What exactly do you want?"
"I want you to meet my trainee. He’s one of your biggest admirers."
"In return, I’ll arrange a dinner for you and Edward at the new fancy restaurant."
The moment Martha heard that, she replied immediately:
"When should I meet your trainee?"
"We can go right now."