Gideon read what was on the page he had pulled out of the envelope and his gaze became more severe the more he read it.
[Dear Mr. Gideon,
I am writing to inform you that your identity is known to a select few people and that it will stay that way in the future so long as certain conditions are met.
We require your expertise and services greatly so it would be troublesome to turn you in but it would be required if you are uncooperative.
We would much rather keep this as a business relationship where both sides can benefit but we are well aware of your capabilities and need to protect ourselves too.
To further put an additional layer of security on our lives, if we happen to meet an untimely demise your identity will be made known to all and you will not be able to hide no longer.
It would be in your best interests to aid us and keep a good relationship with us in the future to prevent such things from happening.
What we need primarily is your inventing skills and not your other services so we will not be asking you to kill for us.
We just need what you can build what we need and you will be paid for your services.
In a couple of days, a box will be delivered to your store along with an envelope inside which will contain the payment and what will be required of the first job we want to be done by you.
We hope that you will remain cooperative for the sake of peace between us.
From your mysterious new partners.
P.S. If you try to double-cross us and try anything funny then we will know so you should think carefully before doing such things.]
Gideon gritted his teeth in anger and crumpled up the letter in his hands. "Damn.. how did I get caught? I have always been so careful."
He started to feel angry and anxious about someone having his secret identity known.
If they decided on a slight whim then his life could be over.
From how they made several warnings, it was like they had been watching over him and knew him quite well.
It was like they could predict that he would try something and they were warning him.
He did not know how they would know he would do such things or know as he did them but he could not be sure that he would be able to get away with it.
If his opponents knew about him and were careful enough then he would never get an opportunity to get to them.
He could not strike his opponents unless he was certain of his ability to get to them.
If he could do that then he had to know for sure if they had put into effect other methods to be used as a precautionary measure just in case he did succeed.
He could not risk his identity becoming known whether he failed or succeeded so he felt quite stuck in his current situation.
His mood calmed after some time as he slowly started to accept his new reality. "Well.. at least they are not working me like a slave to go around killing for them."
Gideon was already feeling the effects of his old age and knew how it would turn out if he was forced to become an assassin for anyone.
Once someone had ahold of him, they would use him up until there was no longer anything left before finally discarding him and that was if he was able to survive whatever unreasonable requests they gave him.
With his current age, the likelihood of him being able to keep up such a life would be very low.
It was kind of relieving that he would not be pushed into such a dire situation so he remained patient as he waited for the next phase of contact between him and his new customer or customers.
Gideon waited nervously for the next couple of days before a package arrived which was delivered by some kids in rags.
It had become clear that the kids had been bought off to deliver the package and there was likely someone else who had arranged for similar things to happen in between so that it would arrive without ever having to meet face to face.
He could bribe or question the child but he would only run into yet another person who could just be another pawn who knew nothing. 'So this is how they want to play... fine then. I will play.'
He opened the box and inside of it were all kinds of small toys and dolls. "Is this it?"
He thought that there would be something more complicated inside so he was quite surprised.
Gideon reached for the letter inside so that he could check over the next instructions.