Norbert dangling the manacles in front of his face. “Any point in having these on?” Norbert asked.

“Makes the others less jumpy,” Geoff replied to Norbert.

Shrugging his shoulders, he snapped both of the manacles and rubbed his wrists with his hands as he looked at the red rings covering his flesh, coaxing the purple energy inside of him to move around and fix his wrists.

“Ah, much better; now, what is all of this shit?” Norbert waved his hand at the pictures on the table.

“We have been told of your recent trip to Italy, breaking in, murder and child abduction,” Geoff replied, tapping the lone figure standing against the wall.

Norbert shakes his head. “What do you want from me? I’m already working for you over here. What else do you want?”

Norbert heard Geoff's bones groan before him as he moved forward, taking the files out and handing them over to Norbert. Looking down, Norbert saw what it said aloud: “Movement of Grimm throughout Morenas?”

“That’s exactly what this is about. You will agree to the terms to allow the movement of Grimm troupes throughout Morenas uninhibited. There is no need for assistance in the movement.” The leader of a Solution told Norbert, tapping his finger where Norbert saw the word “signature” and a blank line next to it.

“I’m sorry, but you must have taken the wrong person. I have no clue what this Masanu or these Grimm are, and quite frankly, I have never seen you before.”

Geoff raised a single eyebrow. “I'm really going to play that game, Norbert. Just sign on the line and be done with this charade.”

Norbert looked about, leaning in as close as the table would allow. Pausing, Norbert beckoned with his finger. Geoff stared at him, staring Norbert down, only to move himself closer so Norbert could whisper in his ear.

“We both know I never have the power to authorise something like this.”

“Are you sure about that?” Geoff asked, taking a phone out of his pocket, placing it on the table, and leaning backwards.

He is seeing the phone, recognising it as his own.

BZZZZ BZZZZZZ

Norbert’s hand hovering above, seeing the name Sarah (Jack’s GF) flash on the screen and tearing his eyes away from the screen, Norbert looked to Geoff—a grin on the vampire's face, waving Norbert ahead to take the phone.

Carefully picking it up, Norbert took the call and laced it to his ear.

“Hello Norbert, it's Commander Sally.” Her voice rang over the phone.

“Hi Sarah, How’s it going? You wouldn’t believe the situation I’ve found myself in.”

“Sign the paper.”

Norbert was quiet as the words banged around in his head. “But, you don’t even know what’s on it.”

“I do, its about movement of troops, now sign it.”

“Why don’t you sign it? You’re the Commander.”

Hearing Sally sigh on the other side of the line, Norbert said, “It was meant to be told after the tournament. Your first work was heading to Grimm and forming a treaty.”

Norbert whistled out loud, Obsius joined in as well, and the fox just yawned, jumping onto his lap as it curled up into a ball. “But I know nothing about treaties, government, or anything. I’m just a kid studying IT?”

Stolen story; please report.

“Well, now you’re the official ambassador for Morenas about Grimm. Welcome to your new position. Your first role is signing that paper.”

Norbert took the piece of paper and slid it towards himself, leaning over as he quickly skimmed through the terms. “What do you want in return?” Norbert asked.

“Just sign the paper, Norbert.”

“Well, I’m going to get something out of this deal, at least. Goodbye, Sally, and hopefully, you’re not a fake.” Norbert clicks the end call on his phone and places it inside his pocket.

“So, you want me to sign this?” Norbert asked, tapping his finger on the piece of paper.

“That’s it. Put a bit of your magic in to confirm it's been signed. A magic fingerprint, if you will.” Geoff told him, eyes flickering between Norbert and the piece of paper.

Norbert traced his signature onto the paper. “And what happens if I don’t?”

“We can turn your life upside down here, Norbert, so make it easy by signing the paper.”

“Is that a threat?”

“If that encourages you, then yes.”

Norbert gulped as the words rang in his head: “Not really. I'm still not going to sign this.”

“Not going to impact you. Aren’t you going to be staying here?”

“So, Count von Count told you.”

“Well, you both are part of a Solution.”

Norbert leans backwards in his chair, placing his feet on the edge of the table. Obsius flutters to his shoes, standing at the point. “Am I still part of it even if I don’t cross?”

“Well, of course, once a part, you’re never going to leave. I will still go to objectives and make some deliveries when needed. Most will be over there, so more than you have been given.”

Norbert just stared down at Geoff. “And what happens if I rip it up right now and leave this facility.”

Norbert watched as Geoff leaned forward, watching as he started to see the air flicker around the vampire in front of him. Placing his hand on the table, a dagger made of blood formed in his hand.

Swallowing at the power started to become visible. “I’ll scratch that off the idea list.” Geoff trailed back in his power as the words came out, no longer pushing it out. The dagger disappeared from the vampire’s hand.

“But for me to sign this, I will need some … compensation,” Norbert said, patting the paper.

“Never took you for a crook.”

Norbert raises an eyebrow. “So you would say using a goddess's power to sway the events at a casino isn’t being a crook?”

Geoff waved his hand in front of his face, and Norbert watched as the vampire's nails retracted back into his skin. “But an understanding was made, or so I have heard, so no, still not a crook.”

Norbert tapped his fingers, remembering the location he needed to deliver a letter. “I need access to the Swallowed Tower.”

Geoff scowled at Norbert as the words came out, “No can do, too dangerous for an outsider.”

“Well, I’m going to need something else. If you know so much about me…” Norbert waved in front of him.

Geoff tapping his fingers on his table, “You won’t be needed on missions over here. A free man no longer needs to work a day in your life, paid for. Able to live and have a family, allowing yourself to grow old, and sitting on the front porch from that hill in your in fifty years' time in your home town. As your kids and grandkids come, you can say to yourself, ‘I made the right decision’”

Norbert tilted his head back and forth, squinting his eyes as he continued to stare, the idea that Geoff planted in his mind tickling many corners. But a part inside him protested about being forced to be stuck on earth, unable to return to Masanu.

“How about I sign this for a favour in the future, from yourself and whatever rank you hold within the Grimm empire?” Norbert asked; picking up a pen as he scribbled down his extra condition before signing it. He placed his magic into the ink, grunting slightly from the pain of forcing his energy out of his body.

A purple line trailed through it, sparking over his signature, dancing through the page, scorching it in purple as Norbert finally saw the crimson ink react as well, finally forming a dance between the two competing forces. Norbert watched as the red died down, a latticework of purple covering the entire page. Norbert drifting his hand over it, feeling the energy within slightly bubbling within it, an identifier that Norbert had signed it off, confirmed the documents.

Watching the extra bit, he added, seeing the crimson lines being forced by his purple to add his little bit to the contract.

“And there we go, all signed off, with one favour I can cash in from you.” Norbert smiled at the vampire.

Seeing Geoff stare Norbert down before taking the paper from the desk, “You can leave whenever you want.”

Norbert, still sitting as the door closed behind him, turned to Obsius, who had turned around to look at him from his shoe. The fox yawned as wide as it could, hearing her teeth clatter as it tapped its jaw. Its ears turned, climbing up Norbert’s chest, resting on his right shoulder.

Norbert turned around and opened the door. As he stepped through, a red strobe light on the ceiling whirred to life. An alarm rang out from around the complex. Norbert shook his head as he held onto Obsius, clutching the small bird to his chest. He put as much energy into his body as he tore through the complex, looking for the exit.