Back to Business

The cool night air brushed against my face as I walked through the dimly lit streets. The city was alive with its usual noise—cars passing, distant chatter, the occasional honk of an impatient driver.

But my mind was somewhere else.

Abigail's silence didn't bother me. She had her choices. Whether she brought proof or divorce papers, it didn't change my decision. I was done.

But before leaving for my next goal, I figured I should tie up loose ends.

I turned down a familiar alley and walked toward a small, inconspicuous building.

My office.

The sign read "Private Investigator – Samuel G." It wasn't flashy, but it got the job done.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The scent of old coffee and paperwork filled the air. The dim lighting cast long shadows over the cluttered desk, stacked files, and half-finished reports.

I smirked, rolling my shoulders. "Might as well solve a few more cases before I leave."

After all, I wasn't just some wandering fighter.

I was still Samuel Gebb, the man who uncovered secrets for a living.

I walked over to my desk, tossing my jacket over the chair before sitting down. The dim desk lamp flickered slightly, casting a warm glow over the mess of case files stacked in front of me.

I leaned back, rubbing my temples. "Alright… let's see what's left before I disappear for a while."

My eyes scanned the cases I had been working on before leaving for the Demon World.

- Missing Person: A CEO's son vanished without a trace.

- Corporate Espionage: A rival company stealing classified data.

- A Cheating Spouse: Some poor bastard wanted proof before filing for divorce.

I smirked at that last one. "Cheaters really are everywhere, huh?"

Flipping through the files, my fingers stopped on one in particular.

A sealed envelope, slightly thicker than the others.

I recognized it immediately. A confidential case—one I had been working on for a long time.

My eyes narrowed. "Right… this one."

I exhaled and reached for my coffee mug—only to realize it had been sitting untouched for weeks.

I made a face. "Tch. Cold."

Tossing the mug aside, I cracked my knuckles. "Let's finish this."

I tapped my fingers against the desk, scanning the two case files in front of me.

Case 1: Missing Person – A CEO's son vanished without a trace.

Case 2: Cheating Spouse – A husband suspects his wife is unfaithful.

The second one? Not my priority.

The first one? Definitely.

But then again…

I glanced at the notes. The missing person was last seen in an area close to where the cheating wife frequently met someone.

I smirked. "Two birds, one stone, huh?"

Might as well solve both while I'm at it.

I grabbed my black jacket, slid my gun into the holster beneath it—just in case—and tucked away a few tracking devices into my pocket.

As I stepped out of the office, the cool night air greeted me.

"Let's get this over with."

With one last glance at the darkened cityscape, I disappeared into the night—ready to hunt for answers.

Case 1: The Missing CEO's Son

The city's streets were quiet at night, the only sounds being the hum of distant traffic and the occasional echo of footsteps. I had arrived at my destination—a high-rise building tucked away in the more elite district of the city. The glimmering glass doors reflected the dim lights of the street, but there was a sense of emptiness about it.

I approached the front desk, where a middle-aged woman with glasses glanced up at me.

"Can I help you?" she asked, eyeing me up and down.

I flashed her a polite smile. "I'm here about the missing person case. I'm Samuel Gebb, Private Investigator."

Her gaze flickered with recognition. She had probably heard of me before. The reputation of a private investigator who got the job done—even when it involved secrets people wanted to stay buried.

"Ah, yes," she said, standing up. "The CEO's son, Gregory Volkov. Terrible thing. You might want to speak to his father first. He's in his office."

I nodded. "Thanks."

She directed me to the elevator, and within moments, I was heading up to the top floor. As the elevator whirred upwards, I went over the case in my head.

Gregory Volkov.

A young man, the only son of the CEO of Volkov Industries, a company that made waves in both the tech and real estate sectors. He had vanished two weeks ago. No ransom demands, no suspicious activity on his phone or bank accounts. Just gone. Vanished.

I stepped off the elevator, walking through the polished marble floor of the corporate lobby. The security guard at the door recognized me immediately.

"Mr. Gebb, welcome," he said, stepping aside. "Mr. Volkov is expecting you."

I nodded in acknowledgment, walking past him into the CEO's office.

Inside the Office – The CEO's Desperation

The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The office was large and imposing, with dark wood furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows giving a perfect view of the city below.

Behind the massive desk sat Mikhail Volkov, the CEO. The man was in his early fifties, well-groomed, with sharp features and a face that looked like it had seen too many years of corporate warfare.

But it was his eyes that caught my attention—bloodshot, weary, as though he hadn't slept in days.

He looked up as I entered. "Mr. Gebb." His voice was hoarse, as if the weight of the situation had drained all his energy.

I walked toward the desk, offering a hand. "Mr. Volkov. I'm here to help find your son."

He stared at me for a moment before shaking my hand, his grip tight but his eyes still clouded with guilt and worry.

"I don't know what happened, Mr. Gebb," Mikhail said, sitting back heavily in his chair. "Gregory… he's always been a good kid. He's never been involved in anything illegal, no enemies—nothing. It's like he disappeared into thin air."

I nodded, taking a seat across from him. "Can you tell me about his last known activities? Anything unusual?"

Mikhail's face darkened. "He had been… distant the past few weeks. But nothing serious. Just some arguments with his mother, and he'd been working late on a new project. But he never came home that night."

I took a mental note of that. "What about his friends? Was he seeing anyone unusual? A new girlfriend, maybe?"

Mikhail hesitated, looking away for a moment. "There is one thing… but I don't know if it's relevant."

I leaned forward. "Tell me."

He seemed reluctant but eventually spoke, his voice dropping low. "He was spending time with a woman named Irena—a business associate of mine. She works in the real estate division. I don't think they were anything serious, but they had been meeting frequently in the last month. I didn't want to ask too many questions, but… she's the last person he was seen with."

I raised an eyebrow. "And where can I find her?"

Mikhail looked uncomfortable. "She's… elusive. She's not someone you can simply get a hold of. But I do know she's been involved in some shady deals."

I straightened up. "Shady deals?"

Mikhail sighed, clearly frustrated. "I've been busy with work, but I've heard rumors about her connections—people in the underground. I never took it seriously, but with everything going on, I think it might be worth looking into."

I leaned back in my chair, mentally piecing things together. "Alright. Do you have any photos of Gregory and Irena? I need to see who I'm looking for."

Mikhail nodded and pulled out a photo from his desk drawer. It was a picture of Gregory and a woman I didn't recognize—Irena. She was attractive, dressed in business attire, but there was something about her that didn't sit right.

I studied the photo closely. "I'll need access to his phone records and any messages or emails he might have exchanged with her. If you can get that, I'll take it from there."

Mikhail looked hesitant but eventually nodded. "I'll get them to you as soon as possible."

I stood up, offering him a final glance. "One more thing. You mentioned he worked late on a project. What project?"

Mikhail paused. "He was involved in a new real estate development—a very private one. A project I didn't approve of. He was working with a group of investors behind my back."

I raised an eyebrow. "And where's that project located?"

Mikhail's face darkened. "It's a private development, but the location is out of town. Some old industrial complex that's being turned into something bigger. You should speak to his partner on that project—Kira. She's the only one who could give you more details."

I nodded, my mind already racing through the next steps.

"Alright, Mr. Volkov. I'll get to work on this immediately. But don't get your hopes up. Sometimes, things aren't what they seem."

Mikhail's face hardened. "Just find my son, Mr. Gebb. I don't care what it takes."

I walked out of the office, taking the photo of Irena with me.

There was no time to waste.

Gregory Volkov was missing, and I was going to find him—starting with the woman who might have the answers.