Just after a few blocks, they returned to Chuck, who was eagerly waiting for Nox. Chuck leaned against his stall, arms crossed, as he spotted him.
He jumped up, his arms wide in the air—some people eating next to him uncomfortably shifted, turning their backs toward Chuck to escape his scent.
"There is my customer of the week—no, month! Quick, quick, have you got it?"
Nox smirked, patting his coat pocket.
"Come on, Chuck, have I ever let you down?"
"That's better. Gonna be a huge portion of dumplings," Chet called out, spotting Nox and rushing over to hug him. "It's gonna be the biggest portion a fox has ever received here!"
Nebular chimed in dryly.
"I suggest you take a shower after this encounter."
Nox rolled his eyes, trying to set himself free from Chuck's hug.
"Oh, come on, Neb. A little grime adds character. Haven't you learned something today?"
Chuck chuckled, shaking his head.
"Grime or not, you're about to eat like a king. Now sit tight while I whip up the best dumplings you've ever had."
He slid over a small sack of credits.
"The same amount as ever, plus twenty. Today I feel generous."
Nox raised an eyebrow, weighing the sack in his paw.
"Well, well, Chuck, feeling charitable today? Should I be worried?"
Chuck smirked, flipping a mass of slimy dumplings onto a plate.
They slowly toppled off the frying pan one by one, each time landing with a sound that was... eerily uncomforting.
Squish. Squash. Plop.
"Here you go, the best of the best. Now eat up before I change my mind. Don't want you to get used to any charity."
Chuck leaned on the counter, watching Nox eat with a satisfied smirk.
"See? That's the taste of real street food. None of that fancy high-rise nonsense."
Nebular flickered.
"And a possible health risk, but who's keeping track?"
Nox grinned between bites.
"Worth it."
Nebular let out a dry chuckle.
"So what you're saying is, you measure your clientele by how well they feed you?"
Nox grinned, tossing the napkin aside.
"I'd call it a solid business model. If they pay well and cook great food, that's a win-win."
He stretched, adjusting his coat, the empty bowl—licked clean to the last drop—sitting in front of him.
"Anyway, I should get moving. Got a few things to take care of before the night sets in. Chuck, it was a pleasure!"
"Oh no, my pleasure."Chuck cupped his hand to his mouth, whispering to Nox.
"Thanks to you I can spare myself the health violation expenses!"
Winking at Nox twice, he took the plate and turned around, shifting back to his business.
"Oh, wonderful," Nebular sighed. "See yourself as responsible for all the people that catch food poisoning here!"
Nox chuckled as he pushed open the glass door, stepping outside.
"I gotta admit, your ways are uncommon but smart."
It was currently rush hour on the streets of the Crossway sector. Everywhere, people were bustling around.
Nebular vibrated in Nox's pocket.
"Well, considering you actually got the job done without getting caught, I'll admit—it was a clean operation."
Nox smirked, adjusting his hat.
"See? I can be professional when I want to be."
"Don't let it get to your head," Nebular quipped. "But hey, if all your jobs go this smoothly, I might start enjoying this whole 'crime-adjacent assistant' gig."
Sighing, Nox searched for a less busy street.
"Glad to have your approval. I could go for a coffee now. Just a shame there are so many people around—it's gonna take forever to get through the line."
He stuffed his hands into his coat pockets, his breath curling in the cold night air as he strolled down one of his usual shortcuts.
"You wouldn't coincidentally have a route for a coffee vending machine around here?"
Nebular started vibrating in his phone.
"Of course I have a route, Robin Hood. Next corner left and squeeze through a loose plank in the fence."
He passed a narrow alleyway, following Nebular's instructions, to a dimly lit sign above a closed shop. It was quiet—just the way he liked it. And right in front of the closed shop, there it was: a coffee vending machine.
"Robin Hood, huh? I could get used to that name, Neb. You know I do help people in need."
He tapped a few buttons on the interface, rubbing his hands together.
"After a successful job, there's nothing better than a hot coffee on your paws."
The city's noise faded behind him as the coffee machine started hissing, spitting out what looked like a half-decent brew.
"Mmmh. I deserved this."
He waited for the machine to finish its slow, rattling work.
That's when he felt it.
A presence.
No—two.
Before he could fully react, something heavy slammed into him.
A massive forearm crushed against his throat, pinning him to the cold brick wall behind him.
A sharp glint of metal flickered just beneath his chin—a knife, held too close for comfort.
Its sharp blade grazed his fur, cutting snippets off that slowly descended toward the floor.
Nebular rapidly started processing.
"Two figures around twenty centimeters taller than you. Species: gray wolf. Middle weight class. Possibly armed with knives. Chances of successfully freeing yourself are there, but rather slim. I suggest listening to their proposal for more information."
A deep, guttural voice rumbled in his ear.
"Nox, Nox, Nox… I've been searching for you, you know. It's about time you came to visit us again, right?"
Nebular vibrated.
"Processing data. Checking security cams or other electronic devices around the area."
A rough laugh followed, low and dangerous.
The voice belonged to a wolf—one of The Hounds. His partner, another hulking figure, loomed just behind, cracking his knuckles and scanning the area to secure no interference.
Nox gulped, slowly raising his paws in defense, his eyes rapidly moving around the area.
"Hey hey hey, slow there, buddy. Wouldn't want to hurt such a handsome face, would you? Besides, I've still got some time left, am I right?"
The knife pressed harder, just enough to make sure Nox knew—this was a warning.
His debt wasn't forgotten.
The credits in his pocket? They weren't his.
The wolf inched closer to his ear so Nox could hear—and feel—his warm breath, sending an atrocious shiver down his spine.
"I know. But I don't care. We just want you dead. Take your creds and tell the boss you dipped."
Nox twitched. His paws clenched together but were forced to stay still. A drop of sweat descended down his temple before Nebular started processing again.
"No useful electronic dev
ices around your area, Nox," Nebular added. "You're on your own here... unless..."