The Conveyor

Early in the morning, Lucas woke up to the sunlight hitting his face. He glanced at the digital clock on the study table; it was already 8:00.

'Maybe it was just all a dream.' Lucas reminisced about his last night.

[I can assure you it was not a dream.]

'I know. I was just saying it as... It doesn't matter anymore.' Lucas crawled out of the bed.

Coming down to the kitchen, his wife and two children were already at the table eating breakfast and ready to go out.

"Lucas, I have packed all your things. Please don't be late for the flight this time." Lucas's wife said, "And don't forget to book the return ticket in advance."

"I got it." Lucas joined them at the table.

Lucas has recently celebrated his 45th birthday. His children were of the same age, 15 and twins.

He had a flight to Keystone State at 1:00. Being a structural civil engineer his job was to assess the local environment where the proposed building was going to be built. He was also responsible for identifying environmental risk factors. It was a normal survey trip for him.

"You got the spare keys right?" He asked his wife as she led his son and daughter to the car.

"Yeah! I got it," she answered.

"Kids don't make trouble for mom," Lucas said to his children. They entered the car without answering anything. They were a little bit disappointed not getting to come with him.

Lucas closed the door. He cleaned up the kitchen and took a bath.

'You are exceptionally quiet. What's the matter?'

[Ding! Generating character profile.]

[Character Name: Bob Saginowski

History: In the past, he killed a person for his cousin's sake. Now, he is working in the same cousin's hotel. Searching for redemption for his past mistake, he tries to live a normal life. Recently, his life took a strange turn...

Address: 31 Shrike Road, Farina, Keystone (Marv's Bar)

Task: Solve his problem and get him to join you.

Reward: Chance to draw a character card]

'Keystone. Is this because I am traveling there?' He read the entire history of Bob. His newly found love, her ex-boyfriend harassing her, and the local gang Pranas using the bar as a drop point for illegal money.

'How am I supposed to make him join me? Give him a call too."

[No, you will go there to talk to him. You solve his problem and get him to join you. Simple...]

'You expect me to go against a gang. Really?'

Lucas didn't receive any reply from the system.

"Can't you solve his problem as you did before?" Lucas asked.

A screen appeared in front of his eyes with two lines of text.

[Infamy: 1

Fear-factor: 1]

[You see this data. If you can raise this data to high numbers, I can do much more than you can imagine.]

Lucas didn't even ask about the data. He could easily understand the meaning behind the simple words.

'Ok. I got it.' Lucas simply agreed to the task.

...

At 5:13 p.m Lucas checked into the Keystone hotel. The company who invited him to the survey booked it for him.

Lucas settled into room 103 on the first floor and unpacked his things. He took out his laptop and a document to check on the details of the survey once again.

[It is time to go out.]

'It's 6:00...' Lucas glanced at his watch.

[Yes. You are not thinking of attempting to talk to the character in daylight, right?]

'No. Why would I think about that?' Lucas tried to smile, 'So, what should I wear?'

[Don't worry. I will handle your clothes and appearance. Go in front of the mirror.]

Lucas walked into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. His clothes started changing.

A white shirt, tie, waistcoat, coat, and finally a long coat appeared on his body. "Didn't you find anything original?"

[Well, if you want to look like a clown, I don't have any problem. Oh put your hands forward, I have a surprise for you.]

'Ok. It's ok I guess." Lucas put forward his hand.

He was holding a plain black cane in his hand. "I don't need this. It doesn't fit me. I will take the clothes but this cane is no.. no..."

[It is not just a cane. Try to pull out the top part.]

Lucas did as the system told him. A thin and narrow double-edged blade shined in the light. "It's cool. But who takes a blade in a gunfight?"

[Look at the tip of the cane.]

It was just a plain tip, but a hole opened up right in front of his eyes. "Now, it's useable."

...

After donning normal clothes he left the hotel. He called a taxi and gave the driver the address of 31 Shrike Road.

He got out of the taxi a few blocks far from Marv's Bar. It took him half an hour to get to Marv's bar.

He pushed open the bar. Packed to the brim, the bar did not have a seat at the moment.

Lucas proceeded straight to the serving area; Bob was busy making drinks and serving customers.

He stood behind the bar. Bob finally gets his attention on Lucas.

"The Old Fashioned," Lucas asked. 'Fuck... Why is my voice like this?'

[Don't worry. Only Bob can hear it.]

When the deep breathy voice penetrated Bob's ear, he immediately focused his complete attention on the man standing in front of him. Amidst the noise of the bar, the deep voice was loud and clear.

Bob started to prepare the drink keeping an eye on the man.

The slightly tilted black hat covered most of his upper face. Bob could only see the rough jawline of the man covered in the black and white beard.

After paying for the drink, Lucas took the glass and joined the crowd. Bod tried to follow him but lost sight of him immediately. Bob focused on other customers afterward.

Lucas waited till midnight for the bar to get empty. He noticed the mobs dropping money from time to time. And the friction between Bob and the guy named Eric, the ex-boyfriend of the girl named Nadia. Nadia was newly found love of Bob.

The last person to leave the bar was Eric. He left after a verbal fight with Bob.

After Eric left, Bob noticed the man in black walking toward him.

"Mr. Bob, we finally have some alone time."

Bob didn't utter a single word. Already being a person with very few words, he didn't recognize the person in front of him. He just became more cautious.

"I want to talk about a small cooperation between us."

Bob instead asked a question, "Are you related to Pranas too?" Pranas had been using the bar as a drop station; he assumed Lucas to be someone from the same gang.

"No. I am here for cooperation, as I said before."

Bob has always faced the Pranas without much fear. Bob said calmly, "What type of cooperation?"

"Mr. Bob, I am looking for a 'Conveyor'. A communication terminal between me and my other associates."

Bob snickered, "You are like those guys after all. Please leave the bar."

"You should listen to my side of the bargain as well before coming to a decision." Lucas revealed a smile, "Firstly, I will help you solve the Eric matters. Secondly, you won't be seeing Paranas anymore."

'What the hell? I thought I was in charge of this matter.' Lucas complained when the system took over his voice again.

[You are taking too much time to get to the main point.]

Bob heard the man. He remained silent hearing the two offers offered to him. As things progress, his life might be getting more complicated and challenging every day. And Nadia was the ray of light in his life. He wanted to protect her from Eric at all costs.

But Bob also considered whether or not to take a stranger seriously. What are his true intentions?

"Maybe you will get your chance of redemption as well."

Bob froze in his thought. Money, power, and fame were not Bob's priority, but the redemption of his past deeds and a new life with Nadia was the wish he desired most.

Lucas read the hesitation in Bob's face. He took out a hand diary and a pen from his. After writing down a number, he tore the paper and folded it two times.

"I will solve your first problem before sunlight. It will be my payment for hearing my offer." Lucas put the paper in front of Bob and pushed it forward on the wooden counter.

"You have 72 hours from this minute. I will wait to hear from you, Mr. Bob."

Lucas left the bar leaving bewildered Bob behind the bar switching his glances between Lucas and the paper.

'You are getting out of hand. Why do you have to barge in?' Lucas said to the system, 'and what was that solving the first matter thing? And how can you still control my body.'

[Not your body, just voice.]

[Your target is nearby, follow him.]

Lucas blinked unable to produce sound. He spotted Eric on the road walking towards the end of the street.