Alaric rushed out of the archives room, his steps quick and tense. For a moment, he paused to gather his thoughts. He knew he couldn't just leave this thing unattended. Without wasting time, he headed straight to his small office at Craftpartner... A place where he could work in peace, without the feeling of being watched.

Once he arrived, he didn't immediately start examining anything. Instead, the first thing he did was pull out his phone and take pictures of the document from various angles to ensure every detail was captured clearly.

The front page, the signatures, even the barely legible page numbers and the official stamp. He knew this was important. If the document were ever taken away or destroyed, at least he would still have a copy. That way, no one could deny that he had once held this piece of evidence.

Feeling satisfied, Alaric carefully placed the document into a folder and locked it away in a drawer. His hands trembled slightly, as if he had just stashed away something priceless. Only then did he finally allow himself to sit back and relax in his chair.

But then, his stomach growled. He suddenly realized he hadn't eaten anything since morning. Maybe, he thought, it wouldn't hurt to pick up some bread to share with his team at the office.

There weren't many of them, but small gestures like this helped make the workplace feel warmer, more like a family. Besides, today had gone smoother than he expected, and that was worth celebrating in a little way.

He stepped outside again, heading to a small bakery whose sweet aroma always lingered in the air whenever he passed by. The moment he pushed open the wooden door, a bell chimed gently above his head, and a warm scent enveloped him. A mix of sugar, butter, and freshly baked dough.

The shop's interior was simple but comforting: shelves filled with neatly arranged bread, a glass display showcasing colorful pastries, and the soft hum of the oven still working in the back kitchen.

Behind the counter stood a middle-aged woman in a chef's apron, busy arranging fresh bread that had just come out of the oven. Her hands moved swiftly, and her face wore a friendly expression. When she noticed Alaric standing at the counter, she gave him a small nod and a warm smile.

"Auntie, is it possible for me to buy a large quantity of your bread?" Alaric asked politely before making any purchase.

As he waited for her reply, his eyes couldn't help but scan the shelves full of tempting loaves. There was strawberry bread filled with glossy pink jam, chocolate bread topped with melting choco chips, cheesy bread with a crispy golden crust, and fragrant banana bread that smelled divine. All of them looked irresistible, calling out to be taken home.

But among them, one stood out. The one that had always been Alaric's personal favorite: taro bread with a soft purple cream inside. There was something about the taste of taro that always calmed his senses, taking him back to childhood memories of his mother bringing him similar bread after school.

The woman finally approached, wiping her hands on her apron but never losing the warm smile on her face. She stepped closer behind the glass display filled with steaming hot bread.

"A large order, huh?" she repeated with a chuckle.

"I didn't make too many today because I need to leave early. It's my son's birthday," she added, glancing at the rows of bread behind her, quickly estimating. "There are only about thirty pieces left."

Alaric nodded slowly, a faint smile curving on his lips. "That's fine, thirty will do. I'll take them all so you can head home early and celebrate with your son. But I have one small request—please set aside the taro bread. That one's just for me."

The woman's eyes lit up, as if receiving a small unexpected gift at the end of a long day. Her smile widened, deepening the lines of age on her face. "Thank you… it's rare to meet a customer like you."

Alaric nodded in response. "You're welcome, Auntie. I hope your son is blessed and lives a long, happy life." He said it with sincerity, his eyes reflecting genuine intent, even though he had never met the boy he was wishing it for.

The woman paused, then quickly got to work packing the bread. Her hands moved efficiently, placing each piece into paper bags, arranging them carefully so they wouldn't get squashed in transit.

The smell grew even richer in the air. Every now and then, she stopped to place the taro bread in a separate bag, just as Alaric had asked, before continuing her task, one she clearly performed every day with care.

Once everything was ready, she handed over the large bundle with both hands. Alaric took it and reached into his coat pocket to pull out some money. He placed the exact amount on the counter.

But just before the woman could reach for it, Alaric quietly slipped an extra bill among the stack.

When she picked up the money, her eyes immediately caught the higher total. She looked up, surprised. "That's not necessary, dear," she said quickly, gently refusing. "You already bought out my entire stock. That's more than enough."

Alaric responded calmly, "That's for your son, Auntie. Please accept it." His tone left little room for argument, though it remained as courteous as ever.

The woman fell silent. Slowly, her smile returned, this time accompanied by glassy eyes. She bowed repeatedly, clearly moved and at a loss for words. "Thank you… thank you so much," she whispered, her voice nearly trembling with emotion.

Alaric took the bundle and stepped back toward the door. Just before exiting, he turned to look at the woman still standing behind the counter, her warm smile unwavering.

"I'll be going now, Auntie," he said simply.

And with that, Alaric disappeared into the street, leaving behind a small bakery and a woman who stood quietly inside, still touched by the kindness of a stranger.

With the large bundle of bread in his hands, Alaric walked on. A quiet hum escaped his lips, a murmur of gratitude, not only because his business with XBHshs had gone well earlier that day, but also because he'd been able to bring a bit of ease to a modest woman just trying to get home in time for her son.

"Thank goodness," he whispered to himself.

He tilted his head slightly upward, taking in the evening sky slowly turning a rosy hue. His heart was full of good things, his mind already drifting back to work, to his team at Craftpartner who would no doubt be delighted with the bread he was bringing back.

He even imagined their bright smiles as they received the unexpected treat. A simple gift from a boss who didn't usually show appreciation in such ways.

But in that warm cloud of contentment, he let his guard down.

Suddenly, his foot caught on something hard on the sidewalk.

Scrape.

His body lurched forward uncontrollably. In an instant, all he could see was the blinding glare of headlights rushing toward him. A loud honk pierced the air, ringing sharply in his ears.

Realizing what was happening, his breath caught in his throat.

He had been so close... terrifyingly close to tumbling into the busy street. But at the last possible second, instinct kicked in. His waist shifted, his balance snapped back, and he pulled himself upright with a jerk. He barely had time to think. His body just moved on its own, bringing him safely back onto the sidewalk.

His heart pounded so hard it felt like it was echoing through his entire chest, shouting out how thin the line between life and death had just been.

Some passersby turned to look. A few drivers slowed down, casting irritated glances at the well-dressed man who had just narrowly avoided stepping into traffic while clearly lost in thought.

But to Alaric, those sounds faded into the background. The world seemed to go quiet, leaving only the echo of his own heartbeat.

He lowered his gaze, trying to steady himself. Then his eyes instinctively dropped to his hands, the hands that just moments ago had been carrying a bundle of bread.

But they were empty.

The breath he had just taken caught again in his throat. His mind went blank. All the warmth and good thoughts that had filled his heart just moments ago vanished completely.

"Where's the bread?" he whispered softly, the words barely audible in his shock.

He stared at his hands for a long time, unmoving. Standing there on the edge of the sidewalk, his eyes blank, all he could feel was the crushing weight of disbelief.

The bread he had bought with care, with good intentions, with a heart full of gratitude—was gone.

Alaric was confused, but his mind couldn't move on and leave the previous second.

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