Without A Trace

"You don't want to kill the girl?" asked the waiter again, staring intently at Sophia. "Wouldn't she be a burden if you keep her for too long? I think if she was killed and her body was sent to her parents, we could traumatize them and prolonge their suffering."

Sophia sighed at the question. "I think so too. But your Master gave me a very logical reason. He said, not knowing what happens is worse than death. As long as Alaric does not know what his daughter's fate is, he would suffer all his life. Every day, every night, every hour ... is torment.

If we lose someone we love because they died, we will definitely grieve, and slowly, the sorrow would disappear with time and we will learn to let go. But if we don't know whether the person we are missing is alive or dead ... we won't be able to grieve properly. This is what your master wants to achieve."

"Hmm ... I understand now. Master is indeed wise." The waiter sipped her wine and smiled slightly. "I could never follow his thoughts."

"Ahahaha .. of course. That's why you became his assistant," Sophia commented while laughing. "Ahh .. I miss him."

"Miss can't see him just yet. Alaric's people are still watching your every movement."

"Ah, of course I know," Sophia answered. She was about to ask her assistant to pour more wine when suddenly the tavern door opened and two guests entered. They took the seats at the table in the corner. Sophia lifted her chin and signaled her assistant to work. "We have guests. You serve them first. Let's drink again later."

The waiter nodded respectfully and rose from her seat. "Of course, Miss."

She quickly approached the newly arrived guests and took their orders. These new guests were a couple. They each ordered a can of beer, sparkling wine, and snacks.

The waiter took all their orders and entered the bar to prepared them. Five minutes later, she was out with a tray of sparkling wine, a glass of Amstel beer, a bowl of beans, and a plate of bitterballen.

Sophia watched her assistant work serving guests with a satisfied smile on her face. She had opened a tavern for two years at the edge of this canal. It was not too crowded because they did not try hard to find guests and sell lots of drinks.

She only needed this tavern as a cover for her new identity. As a shop owner, she would not be too suspicious if people came and went to see her.

Sophia could also use her tavern to justify her source of income. Initially, Sophia didn't like this tavern, but now, it seemed she was getting used to it.

***

Two weeks passed with no meaningful results. Vega was missing without a trace.

In his entire life, Elios never thought there would come a time when wealth and power would be meaningless. What good was all his wealth for if he could not even save his own daughter?

Everyone in the extended Schneider-Medici family felt broken and grieved. Their residences were quiet and filled with sadness. This had never happened in the history of the family before, after World War 2, which resulted in many people losing their loved ones.

Aleksis had been crying for days until she could no longer shed a single tear. Elios was always loyal beside her. But her husband's condition was no better than her. The man was devastated and could not say anything.

Sophia was right to say that uncertainty gave greater suffering than death, and this was what Elios felt now.

He knew he had killed so many people, both directly and indirectly, and he understood how much sadness was experienced by those who were left behind by his victims.

He had changed a lot over the past six years. He had turned over a new leaf. His anger at a handful of people who were fond of war and destroying nature had subsided as he was reunited with his family.

He understood that humans, in general, did not like war and wanted to live peacefully on sustainable earth. The ones responsible for committing all the crimes that resulted in war, and Luna being a victim of, were not humans in general, but only a handful of greedy rulers.

He had slowly changed his ideals and also his life goals, even RMI. Their automation programs no longer aimed to replace humans with machines, but rather improve the quality of human life and care for the earth better.

Now, when his life began to take turns for the better, events like this suddenly come to haunt him and destroy everything.

Elios was willing to give all he had, provided Vega would be returned. But, unfortunately, even though they had put all their efforts in, no one had managed to find the girl.

***