Jaken, Tabaguchi, and me strolled down the bustling sidewalk, our footsteps tapping in sync with the city's hum in the background. "We need to deal with Mørk today," I murmured, as I began to look around for incoming car by the crossroad waiting for the traffic light to signal green light.

Jaken raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "What's the plan then bro?"

Instead of answering, I pulled out my flip phone and dialed Mr. Erik, the taxi driver who had given me his number a month ago. The phone rang, each second feeling like an eternity, until finally, his voice crackled through the line.

"Hello, this is Mr. Erik. Who's calling?"

"It's me, Dio." I said, glancing at Jaken and Tabaguchi.

"Ah, I didn't recognize the number. How can I help you, Dio?"

"Are you free for the whole day?" I asked politely.

"Of course," he replied without hesitation. "Where should I pick you up?"

I scanned our surroundings, quickly giving out my location. " I'm currently by the corner of Løvetannveien and Blomstergata."

"Alright, Dio. Got it. I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Perfect, I'll be waiting" I said, before hanging up the phone. I then dialed another number, Mr. Johan picked up after a couple of rings.

"Mr. Johan, it's Dio," I said urgently.

"Hey Dio, How's my favorite associate doing today. What's up?" he replied, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

"I need a big favor from you Mr. Johan, I need you to help me dig up some dirt on a scummy realtor named Lars Mørk. Anything—business, personal, whatever you can find."

Mr. Johan's tone grew serious. "Lars Mørk, huh? That name does ring a few bells. Alright, I'll see what I can dig up. This might take a bit of time."

"Well, the thing is, I don't have much time since I'm about to head to his house right now. Can you pull some strings to get me the info in thirty minutes?"

Mr. Johan sighed, his voice tired. "Alright, Dio. I have a favor I can call in from some Russian associates, but please, next time give me a heads-up a day or two before asking for something like this."

Jaken's eyes narrowed with determination. "While Johan works on that, what's our approach?"

"We're playing good cop, bad cop," I said, turning to Jaken and Tabaguchi. "Jaken, you're the good cop. Be reasonable, try to persuade him. Tabaguchi, you're the bad cop. Lean on him, make him squirm."

Tabaguchi cracked his knuckles, a smirk playing on his lips. "I can do that."

As we finalized our roles, a familiar taxi pulled up. Mr. Erik leaned out the window, a broad smile on his face. "Where to?"

"13 Falsk Gate, Oslo," I replied as we climbed into the car.

Settling into the backseat, I felt a surge of determination. The city streets blurred past us, our plan forming solidly in my mind.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

As the car smoothly glided through the streets, I glanced at Mr. Erik in the rearview mirror. "How've you been, Mr. Erik?"

He sighed, a hint of weariness in his voice. "Job's been slow. Lots of competition these days, but I'm managing."

I leaned forward, my interest piqued. "Have you ever considered working exclusively for someone?"

Mr. Erik's eyes flickered with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, working for me. Full-time, as my private driver. I'm willing to pay you $45,000 before taxes for the first six months."

The car came to an abrupt halt, Mr. Erik's eyes wide with disbelief. "Do you really mean this?" he stuttered.

I smiled, nodding. "Of course. I'm not just doing this out of kindness. You know this city better than anyone since you've been driving for so long. I have a feeling we're going to get along."

Jaken chimed in from the back seat, grinning. "Old man, welcome to the team."

Mr. Erik turned around, his eyes glistening with gratitude. He extended his hand, and I shook it firmly. "Thank you, young man, for giving an old man this opportunity."

I shook it firmly, a smile playing on my lips. "Don't mention it. Looking forward to seeing you from now on."

The vibe in the car shifted, a noticeable sense of camaraderie is filling the car as Mr. Erik started driving again. We were no longer just passengers and a driver; we were a team.

As we got closer to our destination, the streets transformed. The clean, modern lines of downtown gave way to narrow, cobblestone paths lined with historic buildings. Vibrant murals adorned the walls, adding a splash of color to the aged stone facades. Street vendors dotted the sidewalks, their stalls overflowing with fresh produce, handmade crafts, and aromatic street food.

I pulled down the window, letting the cool breeze sweep into the car. The air was a mix of scents: the sharp tang of roasted coffee from a nearby café, the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers from a street vendor's cart, and the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from a bakery. Each breath was a sensory journey, grounding me in the reality of our mission and the vibrant life of the city around us.

The car came to a gradual stop, and Mr. Erik turned to us, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes. "This is it," he said.

We stepped out onto the cobblestone sidewalk, the cool air immediately wrapping around us. The historic buildings loomed overhead, their weathered facades telling tales of the past. I approached Mr. Erik's window as he rolled it down, his expression curious.

"Park down the corner and keep the engine running," I instructed, slipping a thick bundle of 5000 kroner into his hand.

His eyes widened in surprise, the corners of his mouth twitching into a grateful smile. "Will do," he replied, clutching the cash with a firm grip.

We watched as he maneuvered the car down the street, finding a discreet spot. The scent of freshly baked bread and the distant hum of street vendors created a vibrant backdrop to the atmosphere. With a final nod to each other, we turned toward our destination, ready to put our plan into action.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out to check an email from Mr. Johan. Skimming through it, my eyebrows shot up in disbelief. Lars Mørk was quite a unfaithful man he had an affair, and his wife would definitely not gonna be happy about this, she was not just anyone—she was the daughter of the CEO of BellaLux, a major conglomerate in the makeup industry.

"Interesting," I muttered, a smile creeping onto my face. "I can use this. I'll have to thank Mr. Johan later for this."

Tabaguchi peered over my shoulder at the email. "Looks like Mr. Johan got the job done."

Jaken glanced at us, his expression a mix of curiosity and anticipation. "So what do we do? Just barge in or what?"

I paused, contemplating our next move. "Hmm... let me do what I do best." I approached the grand door and pressed the doorbell, feeling the weight of our plan being set in motion.

Dio Stat's Info:

Lvl: 14

Skill Count: 2 (Key selling point analyze) (Analyze)

Strength:35

Agility:24

Intelligence:23

Endurance:21

Charm:23

Dio influence, power & riches:

Money - 5million kroner.

Associate - 7

Asset - 0

Digital Asset - 250 BTC

Goons - 10

Car - 1

Guard - 0

Employers - 25

Company - 1