Chapter 328 - 324: Split Personality

"Hey, Makk," Ryder called out as he walked closer to Makk.

"Ah, Ryder? You're here. I've been thinking about meeting you for quite some time," Makk said to Ryder.

"Why?" Ryder asked innocently.

"Just what happened when I met you last time. I remember everything up to that moment, but I don't remember what happened after that. I only hear people saying that I was behaving like a child. That probably started after I met you. Did you do something?" Makk asked Ryder.

"You were behaving like a child? Not at all. You were perfectly fine. We talked, and I left to meet Esmi before I left the place. You seemed to be perfectly fine up to that moment. I'm not sure about what you're saying," Ryder said as he shook his head. 

" If it's true, it seems like you have some neurological disorder or some Split Personality type thing that made you behave like a kid. I did hear that when a person has a split personality, his one personality doesn't remember what happens when the other personality is controlling that body. From what you said, that seems to be the case," he continued.

"I-i have a split personality?" Makk asked in confusion.

" That seems to be the most plausible explanation. You should really meet up with a doctor later on. He can do some tests and tell you in more detail," Ryder said as he sighed.

" Oh right, Is Esmi here?" he inquired without giving Makk any chance to ask anything else regarding the topic.

"No, Boss is at home today. There's some renovation work going on there, so she won't be here," Makk said, shaking his head.

'Oh, so that's why she wasn't here at the time of the blast. It's good,' Ryder thought.

"Did you need something?" Makk asked Ryder.

" Ah, nothing. I was just here to spend some time. I need a place to pass some time. You can do what you were doing. I'll just sit and relax," Ryder said as he waved his hand and walked up to a table.

He sat on a chair at an empty table and started looking around casually.

It was only eight in the night at the time. The Blasts were going to happen at ten. He still had two hours. He believed that the terrorists wouldn't come before nine in most cases; still, he sat alert.

"Come on, Mr. Unknown. Be fast. Don't make me wait for long," Ryder muttered as he tapped his fingers on the table.

Two beer bottles were placed on the table of Ryder.

"Here. You don't seem good sitting empty. Have some drink since you're already here," Makk said as he sat in front of Ryder.

"It's fine. I won't be drinking before ten," Ryder said as he waved his hand lightly. He wasn't going to get drunk at this time since he was on a critical mission. He didn't want to be drunk and miss out on the opportunity. He needed to be in his proper condition to recognize and catch the terrorist.

Makk didn't force Ryder to drink. He drank the entire bottle himself.

After some short conversation, he stood up and left, leaving Ryder on the table alone.

Soon, it was nine. Ryder messaged all the guards once again to remind them that time was near and to check if everyone was alert or not.

****

It was 9:20 pm when Ryder finally noticed something suspicious. A man had entered the club. He had the same bag that Ryder had seen with the terrorists in the CCTV footage.

"There you are," Ryder muttered as he stared at the man subtly. He watched the man go to the bartender and order a beer bottle. 

The Man took the bottle and walked to the end. He sat on an empty table. He placed the bag under the table and opened the bottle as he started drinking it.

Ryder could see a phone in the man's hand. He wondered if that was a trigger or something which prevented him from going up to the man straight away. 

He kept observing the man, and only when the man put the phone in his pocket did he relax. He stood up and walked towards the man.

"You mind if I sit here?" Ryder asked the man with an innocent smile.

"Sorry, but you should sit elsewhere. I like drinking alone," the man replied in a grim tone.

"Fine. I just thought you seemed like an interested person. I won't disturb you if you don't want,* Ryder let out as he smiled wryly.

He was about to turn back before he noticed that his shoelaces were untied.

"Ah, how did my laces open? These guys are so annoying. I am this close to getting laceless shoes," Ryder said to the man as he laughed while he bent down and started trying his shoes. 

The man kept his eyes on Ryder.

Ryder finished tying his laces, but before standing up, he looked at the man.

"Ah, there's a bee behind you!" Ryder called out with a shocked look on his face.

The man hurriedly looked back in fear, not knowing that in that small timeframe, Ryder had managed to touch his bag. Ryder placed the bag in his inventory before standing up.

"There's nothing," The man said as he looked at Ryder in anger.

"I swear it was there. It flew up when I shouted," Ryder replied as he shook his head.

The man had still not noticed that the bag was missing. He subtly looked down and realized that the bad wasn't there.

"Ah, My bag!" the man called out as he stood up in shock. 

"Bag? Ah, Do you mean the black back?" Ryder inquired in surprise.

"Yes! What did you do to my bag!" the man let out as he caught Ryder's collars with both his hands.

Ryder smiled like a child.

"Thank you," He said as he moved his hand and pulled out the phone from the man's pocket while both his hands were busy with the collars.

"Ah, My phone!" The man called out, but he saw his phone disappear in Ryder's hand.

"Now, there's nothing I need to be careful about. Let me tell you everything now. Your bag, I took it. It's where it is supposed to be. As for you holding my collar, I sure do hope that it counts as you attacking me," Ryder muttered as he packed his fist and punched the man, making him fall down on the ground.

Makk ran up to Ryder as he noticed a man lying on the ground. He wanted to make sure that Ryder wasn't in trouble.