Paradise Trap
It was a confusing situation, but we had no intention of slinking back to the branch empty-handed. We stuck to the plan and kept surveilling Felix.
"Oppa, don't push yourself too hard!"
"Yeah. I'll text you when we're heading back."
After sending the branch manager and Mira back, Fred and I switched to a car prepared by another teller. We planned to wait in a spot with a clear view of Apex Engineering's parking lot until the president clocked out, then tail him.
"What the hell is going on...? Alicia said he only had one affair partner."
"Beats me. Mira wouldn't have gotten it wrong, though."
Fred let out a sigh, his trademark catfish whiskers fluttering like flags in the breeze.
"Just a hunch, but I doubt all the female employees are hooking up with the boss. She said they were all thin arrows, one-way traffic."
All Mira's ability had revealed was that the president eyed the women at Apex Engineering with lustful gazes. Whether they saw him that way was a whole different story. The fact that no red-tinted arrows extended from them toward Felix made it clear they weren't attracted to him.
"True... No way a bunch of young employees all fall for that sleazy old creep, no matter how loaded he is."
"Probably just him harboring dirty thoughts about his staff unilaterally."
"So the affair partner's not one of the office ladies, then."
"Can't say that for sure."
As I spoke, Fred raised his eyebrows in theatrical surprise.
"Relationships built purely on money, no emotions involved—those exist too."
"Jian, you're sounding awfully cynical..."
"Call me a realist."
Unfortunately, it was pretty common back on Earth. Somehow, our mission to recover 1.5 billion gulden had snowballed into hunting down the president's lover. Was this even banker work? Hell, who else but a private investigator gets paid to do this crap?
I'd figured bringing Mira along would wrap it up easy, but who'd have thought we'd hit this snag.
"Anyway, tailing the boss seems like our only play."
"Is this even okay? Feels like we're tiptoeing right up to the line of illegal."
"No backing out now with cold feet, sunbae. And this isn't illegal—it's in the gray zone."
"I-is it?"
"We can't just sit idle while they stiff us on the loan and play dumb. Tweaking their ducks isn't gonna magic the 1.5 billion back."
Fred was softer than his tough looks suggested, so I'd have to take the lead. We couldn't let trash like Felix Tonito make off with money our valued clients had trusted to the bank.
"Sunbae, there—the president's car."
Right on cue, Felix emerged from the back door with his young driver.
"Fuel up."
"Here."
I shoved a cheap donut into Fred's mouth as he gripped the wheel.
"Feels like we're shooting a buddy cop flick."
"Your face fits the genre."
"That's a compliment, right?"
Vroom! The company car accelerated. Next time, I'd gift him the third flick in the Bad Guys series.
Two weeks had passed since our first visit to Apex Engineering's office. Fred, the other tellers from West Podoks Branch, and I had taken turns tailing the president daily.
His routine was simpler than expected: chauffeur-driven car shuttling between his monthly rental apartment, the office, and the gym. A model of simplicity.
"Surprisingly, no dive bars or anything."
"Yeah. Lives clean despite the looks."
Unexpectedly, Felix showed no signs of hitting entertainment spots. Not like he was dodging surveillance or collections. According to info from the branch manager's liquor supplier buddy, Felix had quit the nightlife years ago.
Still, amid this bare-bones routine, he was regularly meeting his affair partner. Proof: periodic trips to motels and luxury hotels in the chauffeur-driven car.
"No way a guy his age vacations solo three times a week."
"Obviously."
We'd compiled photos of gym members, Apex staff, even old bar girls he'd frequented, and watched for overlaps at his stays. But not a single woman on the list crossed paths with him more than once. All duds. No female shadows near Felix at all.
We even Job Authority-scanned photos of identified women. No dice.
"Maybe Felix is a necromancer dating a ghost."
"Possible. But his college major wasn't that."
"Right, business."
"Just checked online—necromancy can't bind ghosts anyway."
"Hmm..."
Hunting Felix's lover was hitting a dead end. Two weeks left till the 1.5 billion gulden loan matured. Apex might fold sooner. With the original loan officer long gone, we'd all shoulder the blame at West Podoks.
"No time left. If we don't find a lead in two weeks..."
Something had to be overlooked. No doubt.
"One more time—let's call her in."
I asked the branch manager to arrange a meet with Felix's ex-wife, Alicia Navoli.
We met Alicia, Felix's ex, at a quiet café and laid out our findings: his ongoing affair, presumed from before the divorce, and his leering at office ladies.
"I see. He's still living like that... I was a fool to hope even a little."
"Sorry we couldn't bring better news."
"It's fine. Never thought it'd be easy. I clung to the idea he might change, but empty hopes."
Her strong features filled with unspeakable sorrow. No need to guess her feelings—the last hope crushed. I swallowed my reluctance and pressed on with prepared questions.
"Forgive the intrusion, but when did you first suspect your ex had a lover?"
"After hearing witnesses saw his car leaving a motel. Confirmed it myself after that."
"Ever glimpse the other woman? Even a back view?"
"Never."
"Hmm..."
My short groan made Alicia bow her head apologetically.
"I was the fool thinking he'd come back someday."
She tamped down emotion to continue. "Should've known when he stopped child support. Ditched fatherly duty long ago."
"...?!"
...No child support?
"Pardon, but you said he didn't pay child support?"
"Yes."
"No contact between him and your daughter?"
"They hate each other. Seven years now."
This didn't add up. The branch manager said Felix took souvenirs yearly for his daughter. But seven years no contact? The bath sets weren't for her.
Meaning he kept them for himself—or someone else.
No way.
"A few more questions?"
"Of course."
"Ever see a Hudaraya Pink Salt Bath Set from our bank's promo at home?"
"First I've heard. Why a bath set suddenly...?"
"Hard to believe, but it's key to cracking this."
The branch manager and Alicia stared quizzically, but I pushed firmly.
"After divorce, did he ever send Dimensional Credit Vault promo items as gifts?"
"A man skipping child support wouldn't bother."
As expected. No deadbeat dad grabs trinkets. Reasonable suspicion confirmed.
Felix took Hudaraya Pink Salt Bath Sets yearly, lying they were for his daughter—who he ignored.
Implying—
"Be right back."
I bolted up; the branch manager smiled. "Something clicked?"
"Suspicion stage still. But could you call IT for me?"
"Who?"
I pitied him and IT hearing that guy's snarky hysterics, but answered: "Need Team Leader Oatanocha's help."
That's what fellow trainees are for. Help each other out.
2 a.m. Oatanocha, minor tentacles in rollers and permed, looked pissed at being dragged out.
"Explain why a higher lifeform like me aids your criminal acts, single-evolution human."
Why call people like goddamn Pokémon, you squid? Looking like a Gen 6 Dark-type Inking Pokémon.
"Incentive offered. Help once."
"Incompetent primitives..."
Grumbling, he donned the black hood I handed him and climbed the stairs to the scrappy building housing Apex Engineering.
"Job Authority activated."
Life Hack
Oatanocha touched his banker badge to a tentacle; nearby surveillance cams sparked and died.
His Job Authority, Life Hack—gaining control over electronics in range. Heard he handled five IT guys' workload solo.
"Primitive lock."
Sizzle!
Handy for breaking in—if he weren't ally and law-ignoring. Lucky break.
"This way."
Life Hack unlocked the electronic door; we beelined for the president's office.
Flashlights on, rummaging his private locker. Success: the target.
"Found it..."
Opened Hudaraya Pink Salt Bath Set. And it was from her locker, not his.
"Yes, Branch Manager."
I called Del Monte immediately.
"As expected. Yes. Contacting Collonin Bank's external affairs as discussed would be best."
Counterattack launched. Time to trap the prey.
One week later. Late December. Vacation season.
Felix Tonito arrived yesterday in Adumbad, oasis megacity in 8th-dimension desert nation Larabia, with his lover.
Flying first-class, they'd romanced the night away at a 7-star hotel. His lover, managing his slush funds via main bank Collonin, had "won" a couples' overseas trip promo.
Auto-draw for FX customers—who'd guess first prize? Plenty embezzled for self-fund, but free is free. Deadline year-end, so no hesitation.
But Adumbad: rich, modern, ruled by strict religious law. No public PDA or face punishment. They vented in-room, hit the lobby.
Cloudless skies. Afternoon safari, night desert camp with nomads ahead. Oasis paradise packed with fun; week of indulgence before Great Huuriten return.
But.
"Luck's on your side—for someone who can't repay."
Bliss crashed in five minutes flat.
Dimensional Credit Vault bankers awaited in the lobby: human teller from the office, wind-up manager who'd split a desk in two.
Somehow tracked here. First, escape this.
"Must be bored. Bankers jetting abroad weekdays."
"Strictly business trip."
"...Business?"
"Debt recovery counts. Oh, wanna thank them? First-class tix and stay—on them."
The human pointed: rough-faced men glaring, square-flower badges on lapels. Collonin Bank logo.
Felix realized: no lucky win.
"Jian, evidence secured."
Behind him, vinyl bag in hand, the catfish-headed banker exited the elevator.
"That..."
"Housekeeping okayed; from your room. Sorry, Fred-sunbae."
They knew the contents: last night's used items, theirs.
"Call cops with this, you're nabbed. Court? Hmm..."
Kim Jian's nametag gleamed on the smug human.
"Guilty under extramarital adultery ban for unmarried intercourse?"
As he finished, the "driver" beside Felix paled, backing away.
"Long gone in Great Huuriten law. That's why Larabia."
"N-no... I didn't do that with a guy—"
The banker yanked off the driver's hat instead. Cascading long hair. Fake beard peeled: stunning beauty revealed.
"Still clueless? We knew everything."
Felix retreated, blocked by massive marble pillar.
"Driver's a woman in drag. Outsiders punished too. All of it."
Seeing no reply, Kim Jian pressed.
"Forgot the one shadowing you nonstop?"
Felix grabbed her hand to flee, but words halted him.
"Run, evidence to cops."
Kim Jian's finger hovered over the call icon, threatening.
"Stoned by strangers. Or repay now. Pick one."
Vicious life-or-death threat.
"...We'll pay."
Felix and his lover knelt on the cold marble floor.