Chapter 11: The Mission

  "Main Mission: Investigate the cause of Nicholas Parlay's death

  Time Limit: 30 days"

  "Secondary Mission: Sever the karmic bond between you and Antonio Marcelo

  Time Limit: 30 days"

  * Note: Should the missions fail, the penalty shall be enforced. *

  The message displayed through the gray mirror forced Nicholas to completely re-evaluate his priorities.

  He guessed that once the thirty-day deadline passed, it would mean both missions had failed, and penalties would be enforced upon him. There was no guarantee he would be lucky enough to survive again as he had before. Therefore, he had to find a way to wring out the truth regarding the events of October 5th and settle everything with Antonio as quickly as possible.

  But how? He was merely an ordinary lawyer, while Antonio was the son of the most influential mafia gang in the city, with connections to numerous nobles and government agencies. To confront him directly in search of the truth would be nothing short of a death wish.

  If he wanted to accomplish these missions, perhaps only a miracle could save him...

  'Speaking of miracles...'

  Perhaps there might be a way. From a realistic standpoint, for an ordinary person to stand against someone with such overwhelming power would be nothing but a pipe dream...

  … But what if he were no longer ordinary?

  "‘The Judge Authority’... and ‘Spirit Medium.’"

  Two paths now lay before him. First was the power of Judicial Representative that he had witnessed before. Although Nicholas couldn't yet wield it properly, he was at least somewhat confident. With all information from the case, he had thoroughly unraveled the truth behind Antonio's crimes that inextricably linked the man to the ‘original Nicholas,’ as well as to David and his family.

  This deep understanding might allow him to manifest the authority of Judicial Representative against Antonio, just as he had done with David in his monstrous form.

  Furthermore, the side mission description displayed specified severing the karmic bond between him and Antonio. This was clearly hinting to Nicholas that this was a mission requiring the power of a Judicial Representative.

  The second path involved his discovery of an existence that transcended common logic—the 'Extraordinaries.' They could perform miracles that far surpass the limitations of ordinary people.

  If he learned more about Spirit Mediums or became one himself, perhaps these missions might not be beyond the capabilities of an Extraordinary.

  ...After all, failure would mean risking death regardless. Wouldn't it be better to take the risk and undergo the 'Trial of Rebirth' to become an Extraordinary and forge a path toward survival?

  Moreover... if Nicholas remembered correctly, Mr. Edwin had said that becoming a Spirit Medium would allow him to communicate with spirits. His power as Judicial Representative relied heavily on gathering crucial information and knowledge about his targets. Being able to converse with spirits could be the very factor that would multiply the effectiveness of his power as Judicial Representative even further.

  With this realization, Nicholas's mind began to settle. With these two factors combined, perhaps there was a glimmer of possibility after all.

  But before that... Nicholas needed to find a way to get close to Antonio. Of course, he couldn't simply approach the man openly. The members of Le Purgatoire knew Nicholas as Antonio's lawyer. If anything happened to Antonio while he was with Nicholas, Nicholas would undoubtedly become the prime suspect.

  Therefore, the only way to successfully complete both missions was to find a way to confront Antonio secretly, without being seen by anyone.

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  'For that, I need to know Antonio's routine.'

  Nicholas thought to himself while his hand searched for something on the desk.

  To infiltrate Antonio's inner circle and find the perfect window to strike, the first thing he required was intelligence—his daily habits, his common eccentricities, and the locations he frequented most. However, this necessity inevitably led to a new problem.

  'I can't investigate this myself.'

  He was a man who stood in the light—his identity was well-known throughout every rank of the gang. If he were to act suspiciously or begin shadowing Antonio, it would do nothing but "stir the grass to startle the snake." He didn't even know if the gang's people were currently watching him.

  ...Nicholas needed someone he could trust to investigate this for him.

  Which led to another problem... forget about someone trustworthy—he barely knew anyone at all.

  Nicholas sighed while picking up the contact book he had found on the desk and began flipping through pages.

  "Ruling out the idea of asking clients for help... which only leaves me with..."

  Nicholas looked at the names listed, which didn't help him much. It seemed he would have to rely primarily on information from the diary. After consideration, he was left with only three potential options.

  "The Broker, Mary, and Hugh."

  Based on the information he'd learned through the diary, these were the three people who had the most influence on Nicholas's life.

  The 'Broker' was the most enigmatic of them all. Nicholas didn't even know his name. He had attempted to search for a contact number in his address but found no trace of the broker whatsoever.

  It was as if the Broker's existence had been completely erased. Furthermore, since the moment Nicholas had been sent to this world, this individual had never once reached out to him again.

  Mary was his next choice. his brief phone conversations with her, combined with the entries in the diary, suggested she was someone he could potentially trust. However, Mary was his secretary. If a mistake were made, the gang could easily trace the thread back to him. Moreover, it was Mary who had introduced the ‘original Nicholas’ to the Broker, whose background was unclear. This connection made it impossible for him to place his complete trust in her.

  That left only Hugh. He was a baker who encountered countless people every day, and it was he who introduced Nicholas to Mary in the first place. Perhaps he might know someone who could help Nicholas with this matter.

  "Looks like I might need to do some shopping today."

  …..

  8th Street, 7:30 PM.

  The bell above the bakery door chimed, drawing Hugh's attention toward the entrance.

  "Welcome!"

  Hugh spoke out of habit as a man in a gray coat and fedora walked through the door.

  “Oh, it’s you, Nicholas. You’re just in time; I was about to close the shop,” Hugh greeted him warmly the moment he recognized his friend. In response, Nicholas tipped the brim of his fedora slightly.

  “There isn’t much bread left today, but I still have a few croissants. Interested, my friend?”

  “I'll take a set, then.”

  “Alright. In that case, I’ll throw in the rest of the bread for free.”

  Nicholas smiled slightly. the man before him was as generous as ever. Unfortunately, he hadn't come here today just for the bread.

  “I have a favor to ask. Got a moment?"

  Hugh raised an eyebrow in curiosity before smiling and gesturing for Nicholas to follow him to the back of the shop.

  Nicholas gave Hugh a brief overview of what he needed, claiming the task was related to an ongoing case—one that was inherently risky and potentially dangerous.

  “...That’s why I’m looking for someone capable of handling this. If possible, I need a professional—someone who can keep secret.”

  Hugh thought silently for a moment before finally speaking.

  "I might know someone who can help you."

  He turned to grab a notepad and wrote something down before handing it to Nicholas.

  "His name is Rodrick. He’s a private investigator who just moved to the city last month. His place is near the slums. He’s stopped by for bread a few times, and I heard he helped Aunt Molly find her missing cat when no one else could. So, maybe he can help you with this."

  Nicholas took the paper from Hugh's hand, though he harbored doubts about whether this was truly a sound plan. Investigating a high-ranking mafia member and tracking down a lost cat were tasks as different as night and day. Yet, despite his skepticism, he didn't think he had many other options.

  Looking on the bright side, the fact that this private investigator had only been in the city for a month could play to his advantage. Since Rodrick was still a fresh face in town, very few people would recognize him, making him the perfect candidate for a covert investigation.

  "Thank you so much, Hugh."

  Nicholas offered his sincere thanks, which made Hugh scratch his nose in embarrassment.

  “What’s gotten into you?” Hugh muttered, trying to brush it off. “I swear, those etiquette lessons have driven you mad. This is hardly something worth making a fuss over.”

  With that, Hugh handed over the package of croissants and the remaining bread he had prepared. Nicholas left a single coin on the counter before taking his leave.

  ......

  12th Street, 8:15 PM.

  Nicholas stood before a dilapidated townhouse, a cramped structure occupying barely a few square meters. Above the open doorway hung a crudely made sign that simply read: ‘Private Investigator Office.’

  After double-checking the house number against the address Hugh had scribbled down, Nicholas was certain he had found the right place. So, he decided to step inside.

  The interior was like a narrow alley with residential rooms on both sides. The cramped path led toward a room at the far end of the building. It was an old door with frosted glass at the top. Nicholas guessed that only someone inside could see out.

  Lettered across the center of the door was the name: Private Investigator Office, ‘Rodrick Rickman.’

  Seeing this, Nicholas knocked a few times but received no response from within. He tried again, this time putting more force into his knuckles.

  Thump! Thump! Thump!

  Then a lazy-sounding voice came from the other side.

  “Who is it?”

  "Apologies for disturbing you at this late hour” Nicholas replied. “I heard this is a private detective office. I have a job I'd like to hire you for. Would you be available to discuss the details right now?"

  Silence hung in the air for a brief moment before the voice from within responded.

  “The door’s unlocked. Come on in.”

  Upon receiving permission, Nicholas pushed the door open. The scent of alcohol and cigarettes hit his nose. Inside was an old room patched with wood in several places, and it looked like it hadn't been cleaned in quite a while. Empty liquor bottles and cigarette butts were strewn everywhere. Near the window stood a desk and a sofa, where the figure of a middle-aged man lay sprawled out.

  Nicholas observed the man before him. He wore a black jacket and brown leather pants. A large cowboy hat covered his face as he lay there comfortably.

  The stranger slowly reached up to remove his hat, revealing blue eyes and a face covered with a beard beneath the hat.

  The moment their eyes met, Nicholas’s instincts screamed a warning. There was a profound mystery hidden within the man's gaze. If he had to put it into words, Rodrick’s eyes gleamed with the unmistakable sharpness of a ‘Hunter.’

  ...It seemed the man before him was far from the ordinary private investigator he had initially thought.

  15.10.550

  Nicholas Parlay

  Judicial representative