Chapter 26: A Quest For An Informant – Part 2.

“Uhm, not to be an annoyance but it’s already past 30 minutes, who are we actually waiting for?” Eugene asked as he became impatient.

“The agent is actually taking his time. Don’t be that impatient, okay? Everyone around you might look ordinary to you but secretly, many are agents as well. Maybe spies, contractors, undercovers or etc. We don’t know the condition or situation of the agent, so bear with him a bit.” Sir Eric explains.

“I don’t quite get your statement. Do you mean everyone here, even this cafe we are in, people are undergoing a secret mission or the other?” Eugene asks out of curiosity.

“Of course. Anyways, he’s here.” Sir Eric responds while he took a sip out of his cup.

“Huh?” Eugene was confused once more before someone who was sitting amongst the crowd in the cafe stood up and came forward. He passed across Eugene’s table while dropping a written note before exiting the cafe. The person was cladded in black leather jacket and pants with a rainbow cap on.

Sir Eric took the note and opened it, which the note read, “follow my trace, “c34””. Just as he read it out to Eugene, sir Eric signaled him to follow behind. They both stood up and got out of the building. Sir Eric looked around to know if the agent was waiting but to his expectation, he wasn’t.

Seeing this, sir Eric adjusted his fedora hat and his tie with a smile. He broadly breathes in and whispered to Eugene saying, “follow my lead.” He then leads Eugene across the road and went through an alleyway and on one of the walls were painted, in graffiti art, “34”.

As sir Eric saw the art he loudly spoke to Eugene, “hey Yong sir, do you see this 34 graffiti art, here? I will grade it a c, a c34! What about you?”

Just as Eugene was about to reply on his ridiculous and suspicious behaviour, another voice sounded out, saying, “great eye you have sir. Do come in.” And that wall suddenly opened by breaking in between and adjusting to the opposite sides and stopped as it made enough space for a single person to enter at a time.

Sir Eric, without any hesitation, walked in and so did Eugene followed after. Eugene was met with stairs that led down and the agent that recently dropped his note on their table in the cafe. The area was actually dark and was only illuminated by the wall’s opening, which wasn’t for long as the walls got shut shortly after by the agent and Eugene could hear some crowd noises and according to his observations, it would come directly from below.

Without any word said, the agent immediately started walking down the stairs that was leading down and sir Eric signaled Eugene to follow him. After some moments, a light could be seen at the end of the stairs and the noise that Eugene was hearing became louder. After a while, the trio walked towards the entrance and to Eugene’s surprise, he saw a whole new city underground.

To any normal human’s understanding, it seemed impossible but to him, he could see it, an underground city. The streets where bustling and loud, just like any other. Shops were open, so are offices and high buildings. Eugene now understood why it took them almost an hour to reach their destination.

Still, there were silence between the trio as the agent continues to lead them till they got to a building that looked like a convenience store. They went in and in expectation to see normal convenient products, he saw stacked documents with different labels in its stead.

Eugene couldn’t find anytime in his hands to check any of them out but followed the agent’s lead. The duo were led into another room which had doors lined to the right. They went into the 18th door amongst them and in there was a small office.

Someone was already seated in his office chair and was expecting them. The person stood and exchanged handshakes with Eugene and sir Eric. The agent offered the both their seats, he then left the office for the trio.

“Its been a long time, am I wrong, Mr. Hector?” sir Eric broke the silence as he was having his seat. Hector chuckled before responding,

“To be more honest, it isn’t that long though. I knew we will meet once again but this soon? That was out of my expectation and I cam see a new face this time around. Are there any introductions to be made?”

“Of course there is. Here is my young master. Young master, Hector, the informant.” Sir Eric introduced the both while the duo exchanged a head nod with each other.

“I take back my words. Isn’t this madam’s son? Wow, how time flies by. Anyways, let’s head straight to business. What brings you here today?” Hector asked.

Eugene brings out the red file about the gang ranking list of Randie state and places it on the desk before speaking up, “nothing much, just for you to look into this gathered information. I need detailed information on this 12 gangs, especially, the top two.”

Listening to his request, Hector picks the file and silently went through it before dropping the file back on the desk and looks at Eugene with the “really?” facial expression. Just as he was about to respond to Eugene’s request, which was obvious that he wasn’t going to do it, sir Eric dropped some bundles of cash on the desk.

The act got Hector’s attention, which led him to go silent and he decided to reconsider his choice of words. After a minute of pondering through his mind, Hector tries to speak his mind but was cut short before he even starts as sir Eric said once again, “payment in advance. You will get the rest after the job, the same amount as the advance pay.”

Hector thought deeply about it before taking the file and cash with a smile and responded, saying, “I will carry out the job but it will take me sometime, as we are talking about the Albion group, milestones corporation and all other sorts of groups, let’s not forget about the government being involved with them too.”

“Take your time but I now want to know something else, tell me about this city.” Eugene asks in curiosity.

His request got Hector to laugh out loud before composing himself and let out a sigh before answering back, “ the hidden city? It’s a fun question and I’ll love to answer you verbally right now but let’s go grab something to eat elsewhere. Am craving for some pasta this morning, what about you?”

“Fill me up with your best, how about that?” Eugene answered as he gets up to have Hector lead the way.