Chapter 220 - Mystery Man

All well that ended well. This trip, too. I could be back into my routine of buying things for cheap and selling them for tons of money. My reputation attracted many new clients, and my store became too small for all the things on display in it. Expansion and renovation were in order, and together with JJ, we already began to plan it.

It's been a completely ordinary day of autumn, when Panda, who ran the counter today, called me out of my office. The world-changing events of demonic invasion and everything that happened after didn't change her one bit—she was as gloomy as ever when she spoke to me.

"Don't want to distract you, but there's a man who insists on talking with you. I thought he was another reporter, but he says he's after an item in your storage. A piece of jade disk, he said, but I checked the registry—we don't have anything with that description. I told him just so, but he kept insisting that it was there. And… there's something creepy about him."

I frowned, pulling myself out of the search for building companies I was at. "Was there? Alright, let me talk with him."

"So do you have it or not?" Panda asked with more tiredness than curiosity in her voice.

"I have, but it's not for sale, which is why it wasn't in the registry. And I'd like to know how he knew I had it."

The man Panda mentioned waited for us at the counter. He looked perfectly ordinary at the first glance: casual, but conservative clothes, middle age, average face, average build. His most prominent features were a receding hairline and flat eyes.

It was just a sixth sense, but he seemed off somehow, even when he spotted me and smiled politely in greeting. The movement of his face only stressed how dead in comparison the man's eyes were. I didn't smile back, but the man took no visible offence.

Through my well, I could see that he was an ordinary person, but even with a surface glance, I found that there was something strange about his soul. He seemed to have an abnormally few emotions I could spot, and what I glimpsed of his thoughts, as much as I could understand it, didn't feel right.

"Was there something you wanted, mister?" I asked, still studying the man in and out.

Panda returned to her place at the counter and watched us with narrowed eyes. I knew if worst came to worst, she'd jump at my defence—physically, that is. JJ wasn't around at the moment, though he was bound to return soon. Not that I needed his help to deal with a single human… creepy or not.

"Yes. You are Diana, am I right? I know you have an item I want to buy. It looks like a flat piece of a circular jade tablet and is covered in carvings. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

"First time hear about something like this," I lied without batting an eye. "Why do you even think it's here?"

The man frowned, as if confused, but his eyes stayed flat. "I know. It's here. I will pay any sum."

"That sounds really nice. I would've sold it, if I had it." I spread my arms helplessly. "Sorry you had a false information. May I ask who gave it to you..?" I left a pause, hoping he'd install his name, and looked at him again.

The guy didn't look like someone filthy rich. His clothes were of ordinary quality, and he lacked any expensive accessories or other signs of wealth. It didn't mean that he lied, but it was another suspicious thing to add to the pot.

Instead, the mystery man just gave me another flat stare. "If you don't have it, then I have nothing to do here. Goodbye."

"Goodbye to you, too," I muttered at the man's back. When he walked out of the shop, I turned to Panda. "Creepy is a soft word. He acted like a villain from a bad movie."

Panda hummed in agreement. "This entire thing screams trouble. Any sum, though. I have to admit, I was tempted. Weren't you?"

I shook my head. "This item is a gift from Ghost. He told I can do what I want with it, but it doesn't feel right to sell it."

"Could've Ghost told this man that you have the tablet? Not to say bad things about him, but he's… too trusting, if you ask me."

I pinched my lips into a line. "Why do you think so? I think he is more perceptive than you give him credit. If he doesn't feel antipathy towards people, it doesn't mean he trusts just anyone. He's not stupid, he's just forgetful."

"Sorry," Panda rolled her shoulder awkwardly. "I didn't mean to badmouth him. It's just, well, it feels like he likes everyone because he doesn't dislike anyone."

"That's true," I nodded in acceptance of an apology. "Either way, I will ask him about the tablet. Maybe this guy came to pester him, too. But what I think, is that it the easiest way for someone to find it would've been divination magic. Nowadays, it's not that hard to find a practising witch who'd agree to sell you a spell."

"True. But most of them are, how do you call them, mutts? Weak ones?"

"I don't call them mutts. But most witches… yes, they do. It's not like more powerful witches don't sell magic, they just ask for more payment. But this guy offered any sum, so I doubt he's lacking in that department." Even if he didn't wear that wealth on him.

Panda sighed. "This entire thing spells trouble for me. I think I should ask you for a rise, Diana, because of a safety hazard."

"Safety hazard?" I put my hand to heart in exaggerated offence. "Come on, Panda! Don't be such a…"

"Survivalist."

I snorted. "Well, whatever. If anyone deserves a safety hazard raise, it's me and JJ… I suppose, since I can't give a raise to myself, I will give it to him."