8:35 PM, Midtown Manhattan, New York

In stark contrast to the vibrant, bustling energy of Manhattan, the dark alleys were cloaked in tension. A rapid chase unfolded amid the shadows.

“Quick, capture that rat!”

“The boss said we need those photos back, or we’re all done for.”

“He turned the corner. Quick, pincer him from the side.”

As a group of uniformed people constantly communicated through their tiny earbuds device, the person being chased was panting heavily.

‘Damn, just what kind of job did I accept?’ Edgar Pearce, a freelance private investigator, known to capture photos of adultery, found himself to be embroiled in a chaotic mess.

Some might begin to wonder.

How did he end up in this mess?

Well, it all began two days ago, at an illegal rundown office in Brooklyn.

“So, Mister Samuel, you want to hire me to snap some pictures of your buddy and whether or not he’s banging your wife?” Edgar Pearce asked with a hint of amusement.

At 22, Edgar had a perpetually disheveled appearance, with tousled brown hair often falling into his sharp, calculating eyes. He wore a dull necklace around his neck, and his worn-out jacket and faded jeans gave him a rugged, street-smart look that suited his gritty profession.

“Yes, that is correct.” Opposite of him was a man dressed in a suit, his expression seemed disoriented somewhat. Clearly, the thought of his wife cheating behind him with his buddy was a large hit to his mentality.

Of course, Edgar was used to this type of situation already.

He was infamous in the industry for always taking the clearest picture of them all, especially how their wife or husband were enjoying the embrace of another person.

“Let me check,” Edgar put on his broken glasses, trying to act professional and pointing at the map.

“The target is situated in Midtown Manhattan, and we all know how high the security is in that kind of place. Plus, they are most likely going to a fancy hotel, so the price is going to be a bit costly.” He added, rubbing his fingers in between.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

THUMP!

The moment Edgar finished talking, Samuel placed a large stack of cash on top of the table.

“Here’s 20 thousand dollars in cash as a deposit. If you complete the job, then I’ll give you another 25 thousand.” Samuel said solemnly.

Edgar’s face lit up instantly and he swiftly snagged the large stack of cash. “Mister Samuel, you can rest assured. My motto does not have the dictionary of failure, so please return and await my good news.”

For an illegal rundown office, Edgar naturally loved cash the most.

Undetectable and untraceable!

What Edgar hated the most was having his income taxed by the government.

Not once had he received any benefits from the government, so why should he allow himself to be taxed by them?

Additionally, he had no identities whatsoever.

Other than the dull necklace around his neck, he had zero possessions when he was born and thrown into an orphanage center.

Being bullied for looking different than most orphans, Edgar decided to run away when he was just 5 and has been living a rather complicated life.

Whoever paid him money was the boss. And whoever messed with him, Edgar would eagerly search for their dirt and expose them to relevant parties.

That continued for the next 17 years of his life, and unknowingly, he became a great unlicensed private investigator. Even coming to this rundown office required extensive guides and enough wealth to search for him.

Having a wealthy customer like Samuel wasn’t the first, but Edgar never knew the so-called affair was wholly different than what he thought.

Once he accepted the job and got to work, Edgar began tracking down Samuel’s buddy, Jack, otherwise known as the Ripper Jack. It was a knock-off from the infamous Jack the Ripper, and even Edgar found him pitiful to copy others’ aliases.

Having tracked him down meticulously through the usage of technology, Edgar finally found Samuel’s wife entering a hotel with Ripper Jack.

Yet after disguising as a fellow hotel employee and following them to the basement, Edgar managed to snap horrifying pictures.

Instead of the two banging in a dirty basement, Edgar saw the two injecting some sort of syringes into captured hostages who were tied up and blindfolded.

Upon injection, these hostages’ bodies began to spasm, and Jack along with the woman merely watched the scene with a cold and expressionless demeanor.

The horrific sight shocked him to the core, having witnessed the hostages start to disintegrate into a pile of slimy mud.

It was right at that moment, that he stumbled across an object after being distracted— a complete amateur mistake, having alerted them of his presence.

And naturally, with his swift reaction, he chose to escape without ever looking back.

Thus, bringing everyone to the present scene where Edgar is currently running for his life.

‘These people are the real parasites.’ Edgar frantically fled, turning numerous corners to avoid being pincered by them.

What he knew was that if he were to be captured here, he would most likely end up like those deceased hostages.

These types of people meant business, and sparing would never cross their minds.

“This is not worth the 20 thousand,” Edgar gnashed his teeth, as he ran to a distant light, hoping to use the crowd to his support.

Alas, before he could make it through, cars started to appear and tough bodybuilders came out from it, blocking him from entering the crowded space.

“Damn these people!” Edgar clenched his fist, turned his head to the side, and spotted the hexagonal gate.

‘To hell with it!’ Knowing how cliche it was to climb over those to escape, Edgar still chose to do so.

As his hands reached for the open space to get a grip, the enemy didn’t bother to chase. Instead, they retrieved a silencer pistol and aimed for Edgar.

Pew!

A mini sound echoed from the silencer, and Edgar’s back was shot.

Glancing down at his chest, Edgar saw his heart had been shot right as he finished climbing over the gate.

Blood began pouring out, and his eyes turned hazy.

He plopped to the ground, unable to muster any stamina or energy to run anymore.

‘22 years I lived for, and this is how I die?’ His thoughts became hazy and his consciousness started to fade away.

Soon, the blood drenched his dull necklace.

As the dull necklace was dyed crimson red, underneath the ground where Edgar lay, a formation-like circle shone brightly, blinding the enemies who were trying to check upon Edgar.

The enemies had to use their arms to cover their eyesight to avoid being permanently blind.

By the time the shimmering light faded, the enemies were stunned by the scene.

Edgar, who was supposedly lying on the ground... had vanished.