Lucifer of The Silent Killer

Chapter 11 : A Sign of War

“In Norse belief, Tiwaz is a sign that someone has chosen war and has no intention of returning. That means, if you want to find Valkyrie, you must follow that symbol. It is possible that she will send the next symbol as another clue,” Jonas explained calmly.

“What kind of nonsense is that?” Heinrich shook his head briefly, then crumpled the paper into a wrinkled roll.

“I am not asking you to believe it. I come from this land and I have studied Viking culture. To outsiders, it may sound like nonsense. That is fine.” Jonas walked away, heading toward the car, which was unlocked.

Heinrich stood still for a moment before following him inside, still holding the rolled paper. The morning air was biting enough to make him hurry. He needed to change. Heinrich took his bag from the trunk, then pulled out a thick shirt and a jacket.

After getting dressed, Heinrich got in and sat behind the wheel. The bearded man fell silent, thinking. A few seconds later, he unfolded the paper again and studied the symbol more carefully.

Heinrich was used to working with codes. But not Nordic symbols like the ones haunting him this time. Frankly, he did not understand the meaning of a straight line with an arrow pointing upward.

“Can you also guess what symbol Valkyrie will send next?”

“Do you think I am a fortune teller?” Jonas turned with a strange smile. “I am just a route guide who happened to meet you in a bar. This is my job after I quit being a logistics driver. Reading symbols is only a small part of my skill. You are looking for Valkyrie and she wants to be found through struggle. Whatever kind of game that is,” Jonas said, half murmuring.

Heinrich did not respond. He turned the key to start the engine. The car refused to start, even after several attempts.

“Is something wrong?” Jonas asked, watching seriously.

“I do not know. It will not start,” Heinrich replied without looking at him.

“Try checking the engine,” Jonas suggested.

Heinrich glanced at him. He had no choice but to unfasten his seat belt and step out of the vehicle.

Jonas did not stay still either. He got out to take a look. The tall man stood beside Heinrich, observing the engine. “Last night was too cold. Condensation could have entered the fuel system. That kind of thing is not unusual on the Northern Route,” he said.

“Is that so?” Heinrich glanced briefly, then returned his focus to the engine.

“Yes. Like I said earlier. I used to work as a logistics driver. I am used to passing through this route.”

Heinrich did not respond, though he listened.

“Besides that, the way you drive also has a strong effect. You seem emotionally unstable.”

“Shut your mouth,” Heinrich snapped softly, but with emphasis. “I do not need any comments.”

“But it has to be admitted and it is obvious. You came near the border, chased by shooters, and fled ___”

“I never asked you to come along,” Heinrich cut in.

“You told me to get into your car, Mr. Bearded.”

Heinrich immediately grabbed the collar of Jonas’s jacket, gripping it tightly, his gaze cold. “I should have let you die from gunfire back at the bar.”

Jonas smiled lightly. “And you did not, because you felt you needed me. Right?”

Jonas’s words were not sharp, but they made Heinrich fall silent at once. He stared hard at the younger man, then shoved him away roughly.

This was the reason Heinrich did not want to admit. The truth was, he needed Jonas because the man was reliable, even though his trust in him was slowly fading.

“There is no problem,” Heinrich said as he slammed the hood shut. He stood leaning against the closed driver’s door after taking a cigarette from the dashboard compartment.

Jonas, however, seemed to have another idea. He opened the hood again and took something from his jacket pocket, a cable with two clamps at the ends.

Heinrich, who was smoking, immediately turned his head. He stared at Jonas with a strange, probing look.

“I usually do this to draw a current. It rarely fails, though it does not always work,” Jonas explained without being asked.

Heinrich did not respond. He took another drag on his cigarette until Jonas spoke up, not too loudly.

“Try starting it now.”

Heinrich glanced at him, then got in, clamping the cigarette at the corner of his lips. He turned the key, and miraculously, the engine came back to life.

“Damn it,” Heinrich muttered inwardly. He had to admit Jonas’s cleverness and experience in dealing with the Northern Route.

“We can continue the journey,” Jonas said after getting in and sitting in the passenger seat. “A few kilometers from here there is a village. You can buy traditional medicine there. Your wounds will heal in a short time,” he added, not caring that Heinrich did not respond.

Heinrich remained silent, staring straight ahead. His thoughts were still on the cleanup of last night’s firefight. The bodies, fallen trees, and not a single bullet casing left behind. Everything had been done with extreme precision.

“How often do vehicles pass through this route?” Heinrich asked.

“Very rarely,” Jonas answered. “Normal drivers know the risks they would face.”

“Then what about the tire tracks up ahead?”

Jonas shifted his gaze forward. Something that had escaped his notice was clearly visible to Heinrich.

Yes, several meters ahead of them, there were tire tracks that looked fairly new. That meant another vehicle had come through, stopped, and then reversed, with movements that were extremely precise.