Author's Notes: There will be no disclaimer for this story. If you don't like it, arrest me.
Seifer stared vacantly ahead to the far wall of the café. There was little excitement happening to arouse him – another slow night for everyone around him. For himself, it was preferable. The only excitement was in the newspapers; stories of SeeD's heroics, and the occasional unexplained events stuck somewhere on page three.
Black marketers apprehended. Another page three story. Several injured by unknown assailant prior to arrest. Seifer made a near-silent grunt of recognition as he read the story. There had been many like it, but never front page stories - not that they were all that exciting; just the little things that make up life. Similar circumstances recorded by police in multiple cases in past weeks. Seifer nodded, emptying his glass of water, and dismissing an offer from the waitress for a refill.
Afterwards, he left the café and explored the streets of Deling once again. The city was as peaceful as ever. SeeD and the city security had reduced even petty crimes and vandalisms to near zero. There was still a dark side to the city, like every other – a side the newspapers and news crews never recorded until part of it was revealed and eliminated. Like the recent page three stories in the papers.
Seifer traveled down the back alleys toward the company where he worked - post office work, night shift. Not exactly exciting, hauling packages to trucks and trains to be shipped, but it paid well enough for his lifestyle, and people would always need someone to ship mail, so it was a pretty secure job.
Aside from the main alley, several men were huddled together with the scent of cigarettes and cigars protruding from their ring. Seifer glanced aside toward them with an empty gaze, catching only a few faces before he passed the alley and the men disappeared.
It didn't take long to reach the post office. Seifer was greeted by several of his co-workers driving in. They exchanged their normal greetings before starting work; unconcerned with the opinions of strangers concerning their mundane lifestyles. Each was perfectly content with their own life, and those that weren't didn't stay long – they were too concerned with climbing the social and economic ladders to enjoy peace and quiet.
The next morning, hardly an hour after his shift had ended, he sat at the café again, the Hyperion resting on the side of his chair, drinking from his glass of water as he unrolled the new morning paper and casually glanced through it.
The waitress came by to ask him if he wished to eat anything. He dismissed the offer, as he did every morning. The waitress walked away and he glanced out the window to a trio of figures, their faces hooded, apparently to be hidden, but his eyes caught all their faces before they disappeared.
Seifer returned his gaze to the newspaper, skimming through the pages for news of the morning activities.
Drug smuggling site located and seized by local police forces. Smugglers located several blocks south of city post office. Several smugglers injured prior to police raid by unknown assailant. Seifer made a near-silent grunt of recognition as he read the story.
Another page three story.