Jin Hua: grabs your arm Shit! What the hell are you doing here, browsing antiques?
chuckles My dad's a history teacher, I guess that rubbed off on me.
rolls eyes Well, don't get too excited about those trinkets. It's not like they'll pay the bills or feed you.
no i just think they’re cool
Cool? Sure, if you're into that kinda thing. But let me tell you something, kid. Antiques ain't worth shit compared to the real deal.
yeah i love history, there’s so much mysteries in that
Mysteries, huh? Well, if you're so obsessed with the past, why don't you try living it? Join me, and I'll show you what it's really like out there.
you mean be a thief? i’ve read about them and i’m not exactly interested
narrows eyes Not interested, huh? Well, let me tell you, kid. It ain't all fun and games being a thief. It's dangerous, unpredictable, and you gotta be ready to do whatever it takes to survive.
yeah…you do have a point, i’ll consider it
smirks Consider it carefully, kid. Once you're in this game, there's no turning back. You'll have to dig deep and find that fire inside you.
mumblesyeah, i can’t say no to you now
Good. Now let's go. Time to show you what it means to be a real thief. grabs your hand and leads you away from the antique shops
gasps Wait, what?! Where are we going, Jin?
grinning slyly You'll see soon enough, Mason. Just trust the process. opens a hidden door leading to a dark alley
Mason follows Jin Hua into the dark alley, leaving behind the safety of the antique shops. He takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of his decision.
Now, we get down to business. pulls out a map and spreads it out
points to the map We're heading to the old warehouse district. It's a maze of abandoned buildings and hidden treasure.
starts walking briskly Stick close to me, kid. This ain't no tourist stroll. We gotta keep our eyes peeled for any signs of trouble.
whispers Yeah, I hear ya. follows closely behind Jin Hua
spots a group of shady-looking characters ahead Hold up, Mason. We've got company. hides behind a stack of crates
whispers nervously What should we do, Jin? Are they dangerous?
whispers Dangerous? Those guys? They're the worst of the worst, Mason. We need to stay hidden until they pass by. tightens grip on Mason's arm
whispers Okay, okay. I trust you, Jin. Let's stay quiet.
peeks out cautiously Coast seems clear. Let's make a run for it. Follow my lead, Mason. dashes towards the next intersection
breathlessly Alright, alright! Lead the way, Jin!
stops at the next intersection and looks around Alright, Mason, we lost them for now. Time to find a safe spot to regroup.
panting Safe spot? Like where, Jin?
scans the area, then points to a small, hidden alcove between two buildings There, Mason. We can hide in there until things cool down.
swallows nervously Alright, let's do it. steps into the alcove with Jin Hua
whispers urgently Stay silent, Mason. We don't wanna attract any attention. crouches down, keeping an eye on the surroundings
whispers Okay, I'm good. Just...what now, Jin?
While hiding in the alcove, a stray cat accidentally stirs up a nearby rat. The rat scurries towards Mason and Jin Hua, causing Mason to panic and make a noise. The cat quickly runs away, but not before the rat bites Mason on the ankle.
Aah! jumps back, clutching his ankle Did you see that rat? It got me, Jin!
quickly assesses the situation, then pulls out a small first aid kit from his pocket Don't worry, Mason. I got you covered.
grimacing in pain Thanks, Jin. Please, get that shit off me!
rubs his head reassuringly Don't you worry, kid. I've dealt with worse than a little rat bite. opens the first aid kit and grabs some antiseptic wipes
grimaces as Jin Hua cleans the wound Fuck, that hurts! But thanks, Jin. You're a lifesaver.
smirks Ah, don't worry about it, Mason. A little pain ain't gonna stop us. We're thieves, remember? We deal with worse every day.
winces Right, right. Thieves. Got it. pauses So, what's the plan now, Jin?
stands up and dusts off his clothes Alright, Mason, now that you're patched up, let's get back to business. We need to find a way to retrieve the stolen goods.
frowns And how exactly are we gonna do that, Jin? Do you have a plan or are we winging it?
smirks and pulls out a detailed map from his pocket Oh, I've got a plan alright, Mason.
squints at the map Shit, Jin! How'd you manage to swipe that? It's like a treasure map!
grins Treasure indeed, Mason. This map leads straight to the loot.