The Sorcerer's Game

1. Unwanted case

“Why am I asked to babysit that old man?” Azriel grumbled, annoying the man beside him. This was the tenth time he was complaining, and Keith had had enough of it.

“Azriel, will you stop complaining? You are disturbing me.” He chided him, without looking up from his document. “I am already under fire for not solving my previous case, and my head is a mess. I cannot listen to your complaints along with the Chief’s.”

“See, that is what I want to do. Solve some real cases, not look after an old archeologist, who is well enough to take care of himself.”

Keith sighed and dropped his file on the table. “Azriel, that man is quite famous and has prestige in the world. It is our responsibility to ensure his safety when he is here.” Although Keith tried to reason it out, he was secretly happy at Azriel's misfortune. To him, it was a blessing that it was not he who had been assigned with the task.

“But I don’t want to take up this job. Pull me into your team. Let me assist you to find the serial killer.” Azriel begged, leaning forward on the desk, staring at Keith in hope.

“No, I can’t. I already have a team working with me, and if I pull you in now, I will have to report to Chief about it.” Keith lied, his expression not wavering a bit. He could easily help his friend avoid the task of following a renowned archeologist during his excavation. However, that was the last thing he had in mind.

‘I cannot allow him to surpass me. I need to get the promotion.’ Keith thought to himself, staring at Azriel, who was still fretting at his new task at hand. The annual promotion was just two months away, and the Chief Superintendent had added both, Azriel and Keith’s names to the list, although it was only one among them who would be granted the promotion.

Keith smiled, his eye filled with evilness seeing the man who had no idea about his plan. ‘Pulling him into my team will only enhance his possibilities in the competition. He should become the bodyguard to pave way for me.’ Keith marveled at the perfect plan of his, his smile vanishing the moment Azriel turned to him.

“I’ll talk to Chief once again. Man, I can’t do this.” Without waiting for his friend to respond, Azriel walked away, cursing his luck, only to find his colleagues laughing at him in mockery. He glared at them, killing the old archeologist in his mind for putting him in such a situation. Azriel took a deep breath, standing in front of his Chief’s office before knocking on the door. “May I come in Chief?” He peeked inside and saw the man he respected and admired busy at work.

“Come in.” His strong, distinctive voice ordered him, and Azriel walked in, commending the man sitting with pride, screaming of power. His mere stance alone was enough to demand respect, and Azriel vowed in his mind to be someone like him. Being a Chief Superintendent was not a child’s play, especially to a sincere man like Walter Brooks. Even at the age of forty, he remained fit and fine, his peers envying him for his skills and looks. Though the man had a rugged look, that did not stop him from having female worshippers. All the female staff at the Arka Province Police Station adored him.

Walter waited for Azriel to speak, his eyes not once moving away from the computer screen. However, when he did not hear any word from the young man, his eyes snapped to him, raising his eyebrow, prompting him silently to state the purpose of his visit.

Azriel blinked at the sudden attention, and he cleared his throat in embarrassment. “Chief, I have come here with a request.”

“I know.” Walter stopped him from speaking further, grasping what the young man intended to say. “You want me to transfer you to another case. Am I right?”

Azriel nodded, his mind and tongue not cooperating with him for once.

“Request rejected. Anything else.” Walter did not even bat an eyelid and returned to his work, his words stunning Azriel.

“But Chief, why does the old man…” Azriel corrected himself when Walter glowered at him at the obvious show of disrespect. “I mean Mr. Glenn. Why does Mr. Glenn need protection? He is just visiting our country. Is it necessary to have him surrounded with guards?”

“Yes, it is,” Walter replied, removing his framed spectacles and sighing lightly. “It is. Mr. Glenn is visiting our country with a purpose that could cost him his life if things go wrong. He needs security, and the Commissioner has assigned me the task. I am trusting you to keep him safe until his stay.”

Azriel was not convinced. He did not want to take the task, and he had made his mind. Walter read through his thoughts, and he beaconed Azriel to take the chair. “Let me tell you something which nobody else in the department knows.”

Azriel blinked in confusion, his Chief’s words piquing his curiosity. He sat down and waited for the man to continue. “The project that Mr. Glenn is working on seems to be quite dangerous, and he has received death threats, asking him to stop venturing into it.” His revelation stunned the young man, and he did not know how to react.

“But…”

“And our country cannot afford to risk his safety and anger our neighbors, who are entrusting him in our hands. We can only do as we are told and ensure his safety until he leaves.”

“Death threats?” Azriel frowned, wondering who could possibly threaten a meek archeologist. What could they gain out of it?

“Yes. It is just for a week. Bear with it, and let me assure you, Mr. Glenn is quite amicable. He will not be a bother to you.”

Although his words did sound convincing, Azriel was still reluctant to go ahead and take the task. He still wanted to solve some actual cases and catch criminals rather than be a bodyguard to someone, even though he was a world-renowned archeologist.

Walter realized that he had not managed to persuade the young Inspector. “Inspector Ryker,” He called out to the man, and Azriel immediately stood up hearing his commanding voice. “I have assigned the task of protecting Mr. Glenn to you, and it will not change. You are in charge of it. Now, it is up to you whether you do it willingly or unwillingly.”