Chapter 3

"It's been so long since I had a day off huh?" Ryan smiled as he watched his nephew run around the house while his detective friend nodded at him as he kissed his wife hi.

"Yeah. It's been a while, Ryan. Or shall I say Captain now?" The detective friend replied as he caught his son who had almost run into him. Ryan chuckled in contempt as he watched them.

"Just call me Ryan, Cyro. I don't mind and hey there." Cyro chuckled at Ryan's answer as he held his son to his wife. "

Retired FBI detective Lieutenant Cyro Gaze, a man who used to work as the lieutenant in the FBI for five years starting with the international investigations team for four years before being placed in the investigation and liaison team for one year before retiring. He used to be Ryan's boss during Ryan's second year in the investigation team and liaison team in the FBI but because of family commitments and the over worrying of his wife and the birth of his son, he decided to retire early and spend more time with his family. Ryan sometimes invites Ace to visit Cyro but the latter was too busy in his job in his guild during that time but always find time after his job to visit Cyro and both Ryan and Ace had a close relationship with Cyro after those years of meet-ups even until now.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm glad that you're still with them." Ryan grinned as he still remembered that time when he was offered to join the FBI after his police work in NYPD that was one of the hardest serial killer case he had solved in his five years stint in the NYPD. Ryan still remembered how the case go, the killer hiding from police eyes until he found the meaning of the calling card that the killer had placed after the killings, how cold the atmosphere felt when he knew the meaning of the calling card.

"That's the least I could do to say thank you for them for convincing me to stay in the team." Cyro chuckled at that and nodded in agreement.

"Well, at least you like this job while being in the guild. After all....." Ryan drowned out the rest of Cyro's sentence as his phone rang. He picked up his phone and saw an unknown number and accepted the call.

"Ace Arcturus here. I really need your help." Ryan immediately curses because he knew his childhood friends voice during their years together and it hadn't changed. He cursed again as he had forgotten to add his friends phone number to his list of contacts.

"Ace?" Ryan asked and he heard a reply from Ace.

"Hey. Long time to see, Ryan." A smile formed unconsciously at the sound of his friend as Ryan heard Ace's voice but fell quickly as he knew Ace needed his help.

"Hey, you told me you need my help. What's wrong?" Ace sighed as he began talking about his predicament.

"Well, you see, Hermes came to see me while I visited the royal, Navi Neyra, and he told me that we have to find and retrieve Nathreya's sceptre but well, you know where it is and my predicament." Ryan cursed as he remembered where the sceptre was and the problem at hand to retrieve it.

"Ace, I'm tasked with protecting the sceptre. You can't expect me to help you to retrieve it. I'll be kicked out of my guild." Ace sighed, frustrated as he heard the news from Ryan.

"Look, it's either that or everyone dies. I can't throw people's life away, ok?" Ryan nodded and sighed.

"Fine. But make sure no one can see me acting out of post." Ryan heard Ace chuckling from the phone and sighed.

"Ry, don't worry. I have a plan that makes sure that you play your part well and not cause suspicions." Ryan grinned at the thought of playing with the guild he is assigned to observe and liaison with as a member of the investigation and liaison team of the FBI.

"Then, count me in." Ryan heard Ace whispering to someone in the background and heard a person reply.

"Okay. Meet me at Central Park tomorrow at 1 in the afternoon. I'll discuss the plan with you then." Ryan agreed and ended the call, praying in his heart that whatever that Ace is planning will work. Cyro saw Ryan's expression and pat his shoulder softly.

"Everything okay? Did I hear Ace on the phone?" Ryan nodded and Cyro sighed.

"Talk to me. What's wrong?" Ryan told everything to Cyro and Cyro cursed.

"That's not good. The gods had never asked anyone to do their work since that war. If Hermes ask Ace for help, the situation might be so drastic that immediate action needs to be taken by the chosen one." Ryan nodded and sighed.

"I hope that everything will be okay even for Ace. I fear he might collapse under pressure." Cyro gently pulled Ryan into a hug.

"Everything will be alright. Now, I have to tuck my son to sleep so I'll see you tomorrow." Ryan nodded and left, leaving Cyro worried over him and Ace for their mission and safety.