Dalmasca. A shining beacon of political intrigue and technological progression. A domain where ambitions dwell and new ideas revolutionized, yet riddled with crime and unlawfulness. Clearly any city with such an extensive populace are ought to be subverted by humanity's sins, and none can obtain immunity from it all. Despite the flaws however, there's always a force standing firm against it. People whose careers or lines of business encircle around purging any infractions of law. Making sure that the innocent are far from domestic unrest and also put those who transgress behind bars. It's far from an effortless endeavor. Being involved with the fight for peace and justice won't excuse one's self from any consequences. There are lives lost in exchange for a better tomorrow, and some sacrificing their positions for the sake of others' safety.
Eldric & Salvin Information Services, formerly known as N. Eldric investigations before recruiting Zachariah Salvin as an official business partner, started as a run-of-the-mill private investigative firm with scarcely any clients reaching in for their needed services. There was, however, one particular case that they've assigned themselves into which paved way for major changes to occur and also granted Nicholaus Eldric the notoriety he was mostly known for. A missing girl whose father was a boss of a known crime mob and whose mother was desperately pleading to locate her whereabouts before she could stumble into a crossfire of an organized war between two opposing criminal parties. Francesca Lars was the name of the girl, and although the case wasn't as easy as it was on paper, considering the lack of leads and authentic evidences, Nic used his initiatives and versatility to slowly dig up the pieces of the puzzle. Witness provided by the girl's grandmother drastically placed the duo back in the game, even though at first the old lady's words seemed something to cause doubts due to her exaggerated tone of voice and an eyesight weakened to near uselessness.
Eventually things turned out to be out of Nic and Zac's expectations. The people who were held responsible towards the
systematic turbulence of the two criminal parties were none other than the girl's parents. Two bosses of seemingly infamous crime groups. Their divorce was a main driving force for their unlawful acts, and their daughter appeared to be some kind of trophy for whoever wins the war. Unfortunate that none of those would ever carry on as anyone involved were locked behind bars. The mother, being a political figure, was immediately impeached from such scandal that her reputations were stripped away from her. It turned out that the whole purpose of the daughter being missing was for her to devise a plan to stop the fight between her mother and father. Luckily, she was caught by Nic before her plans were even commenced. After all of it was over, the girl was brought to her grandmother's custody.
Locals overstated it as the
'case of the century'. Various detectives and private investigate groups were also involved on finding the girl, yet no one came close to solving it all than Nic who later gained tremendous recognition for his spectacular work. That alone paved way for succeeding cases from new clients, which then perpetuated his standings and the firm's reputation. Until he was regarded as the best private investigator had things start to plummet down on a steep slope. Greed and self-interest took over and Zac Salvin quit as opposed to Nic's new way of getting things done as well as their constant arguments between Nic's changed ethics and acquired fame, thus having the firm's name reverted back to N. Eldric Investigations.
months thereafterIt all transpired a week after his daughter's 6th birthday. Nic and his wife Rosela, who worked for the government as an institute researcher, were both invited for dinner sponsored by one of her colleagues who later became Nic's client due to an undisclosed case discussed to him regarding financial robbery. Two suspected culprits were given as a lead, and Nic was tasked to intercept any further attempts of them breaching the client's financial investments. The entire operation, however, went to a peculiar route, reminiscing the good old days back when fame wasn't something attached to Nic's prestige. Much to Nic's surprise, and not towards the fact that the case deemed nearly unchallenging, his old partner, Zac Salvin was the apprehended culprit. Of course Zac wasn't the actual person responsible. Two people were warranted for the case and despite how Nic nearly believed Zac was behind it, even with his antagonizing look when they re-acquainted, Nic was certain that he wasn't the one.
Merely did Nic know that Zac's presence was a warning sign for the following events to take place. After confessing that Zac was affiliated with another investigative agency and he's working on a case to suppress two hired assassins and their illicit undertakings, things went rather conspicuous and Nic started to think that he was being lured to a trap with an embedded time bomb. Then, as Zac explained his entire agenda, Nic gradually tracked down what's behind the case he was assigned with, and soon found out that he just placed his family in grave danger against someone who masqueraded as his wife's colleague.
Nic's arrival was late as it seemed. His house painted a scene straight out from a horror film, with furniture drenched in blood and stained clothes worn by lifeless bodies. In complete fright of what occurred, and in consternation towards the culprits showing up in the horrific episode, Nic could only kneel in absolute blankness with his mind aimlessly wandering towards the unknown. The assassins were identified as the parents of the girl named Francesca Lars, supposed mob bosses whom Nic apprehended in the past, now exacting revenge. His wife and daughter were dead, the assassins escaped and Nic deliberately lost his momentum, despite best efforts of standing up against those who took his life away from him. Eventually, Zac Salvin caught the assassins but the damage was already done, and not even his condolences could bring Nic back to his knees. Vengeance was what's left of him. For nearly months of coping with the tragedy, none could measure a stronger emotion than anger and hate. Nic's firm was no longer in business as he soon wandered from one bar to another to get tremendously intoxicated, and in the process, planning his attempts to put the people behind his family's murder towards their demise.
SOLDIERFor what Nic didn't know was that his wife worked as a real scientist rather than a stereotypical lab coat-wearing researcher. Associated with the SOLDIER program, her death was indeed a tragic occurrence when it was heard by her actual colleagues. Losing one brilliant mind was crucial towards their enterprise and an impediment for the goal that's being achieved. But Nic was seen as a shining hope for things to go back in motion. A recruiter was then dispatched to his whereabouts and soon confronted the former P.I. about a future he could still claim. A future where his services can be reached by the whole world. The truth was imparted, especially about his wife's affiliations. Nic could only give doubts and the jarring 'go fuck yourselves' response. Nonetheless, a week was given for his sincere response and as Nic thought about it, the more he was reluctant to put his trust towards someone he barely knew.
There were voices rustling in his sleep, and a message he caught from his dreams about refusing a future that his deceased wife could've wanted not only for her and their daughter, but for Nic's betterment.
Would it be worth to continue a life led astray by vengeance? Killing a bunch of criminals to attain...what? nothing? satisfying one's burning desire for grievance? when the people you're doing it for are no longer part of this world! Still greatly disinclined to accept what was offered, Nic had no choice. His dreams kept on getting worse with each passing day. He contacted the recruiter and gave his most
sincere response.