Chapter 36 He was once known as the “Gentleman Thief”.

After indulging in a sumptuous spread of contemporary dishes, William felt he had dipped his toes into the waters of modern cuisine.

The taste? Mildly satisfying at best. But their flavors seemed muted to his well-traveled palate. Cooking on his own, he mused, would likely yield more tantalizing results.

Evelyn, with her ebony curls and penchant for obscure historical anecdotes, was a delightful conversation partner. Yet William felt no need to flaunt or exaggerate his own experiences or wisdom in her presence.

“William, are you really heading off to a bar job tonight?” Lila inquired, her voice tinged with genuine confusion. Knowing her grandfather’s high regard for William, she had assumed him to be a man of immense talent and accomplishment. “With your abilities, surely you could choose something more… prestigious? Especially with that exclusive Black Gold Card at your disposal?”

Lila’s piercing blue eyes searched him for answers, her mind swirling with the enigma that was William. His understated confidence, his calm demeanor – everything about him screamed mystery. What extraordinary feats or skills did he possess to earn such respect from her revered grandfather?

“I genuinely enjoy the work,” William replied calmly, his face betraying no emotion. “I made a commitment, and I intend to honor it. Besides, I see nothing inappropriate about it.”

Lila opted to hold her tongue, albeit reluctantly. However, Ryan, who had been eavesdropping, mulled over the idea of causing a scene at William’s workplace. Their past squabbles, in Ryan’s eyes, were far from settled.

Evelyn, on the other hand, remained largely silent, absorbing the conversation. The dynamics between Lila and William puzzled her. Was Lila smitten with William, attempting to grow closer by asking to be his student? Given Lila’s high social status, Evelyn found the idea quite curious.

The conversation then shifted to afternoon classes, and College Algebra was mentioned. William’s initial interest waned upon hearing the topic. He recalled his old friend, René Descartes, and their discussions that laid the groundwork for algebra as we know it. For William, topics like equations, functions, and algebraic operations – which students often found labyrinthine – were as straightforward as a child’s arithmetic.

For a course like this, it seemed almost comical to William that he should attend.

So, with a casual shrug, he chose to skip it.

Most first-year students, especially those joining midway, would be far too anxious to consider missing their very first lecture. But not William. University, for him, was a way to mingle, to understand the modern mindset and pick up tidbits of today’s knowledge. As for subjects like physics, mathematics, and chemistry? Well, in past incarnations, he had delved deep into these realms, only to find them increasingly mundane.

To him, much of what was labeled as “modern science” appeared somewhat… unscientific. 𝒃𝒆𝙣𝒐𝒗𝙚𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

Many tasks deemed “impossible” by scientific laws? He had accomplished them with ease. After all, William’s very existence defied the logic of science.

As the clock struck half-past one in the afternoon, Wyatt and others hurried to their classes. William, however, discreetly slipped out of the academy. Keen to explore the quickest and most economical modes of transport from the academy to East 62nd Street, he set off.

Guided by a helpful passerby – a young woman with a nose ring and vibrant tattoos – William procured a MetroCard and boarded the subway for the first time.

The technological leaps humanity had made over a mere half-century were astounding to William. They had surpassed millennia of progress in mere decades. Once, journeys between cities were grueling affairs – long, taxing, and often perilous. Back then, William would’ve simply soared through the skies or hopped through space-time.

In those times, the sight of someone flying would lead to reverent gasps and worshipful bows, for humans believed in the ethereal and the divine. But a quick search on his sleek, modern device told William that this era was marked by skepticism towards such beliefs. So, he decided to fit in, riding the subway like everyone else.

The smoothness of the subway’s ride, the gentle hum of the rails, impressed him. But, oh, the crowds! Bodies pressed together, a cacophony of chatter, laughter, and the occasional blaring earphone music.

A young woman, struggling against the jostling crowd, ended up almost glued to his side. Her fingers gripped the overhead handle, tiptoes barely touching the ground. Her head inadvertently rested against William’s chest, her face flushed crimson. The subway’s mélange of scents – from strong perfumes to the aroma of street food someone had brought onboard – surrounded them. William couldn’t help but wonder about this new world he was navigating.

William’s eyebrows knitted into a mild frown. While the girl next to him, with her petite frame and large doe eyes, might be considered endearing by many, William held no particular interest. He certainly wasn’t one of those rare, inappropriate individuals who took a perverse pleasure in such crowded predicaments.

Subway’s crowding often served as a haven for pickpockets, giving them an array of easy targets. Just within William’s peripheral vision, a man sporting a tapestry of tattoos on his muscular forearm swiftly pocketed several wallets, including that of the flustered girl squeezed next to William.

Having dabbled in a bit of mischief himself, William once earned the moniker “The Gentleman Thief.” He’d pinch an item or two, enjoy it momentarily, then return it, much like a playful cat. Sometimes, the weight of eternity bred boredom.

While he generally held no grudge against petty thieves, he found it laughably audacious when this tattooed man targeted him, aiming for his modestly priced smartphone.

That was simply insulting.

As the tattooed arm reached for William, a slight flick of his finger sent a jolt through the thief. The man’s arm went numb, and he shot William a venomous glare, an implicit threat.

Yet, William only responded with a serene smile, his eyes exuding a gentle, but commanding aura. Such a gaze might have been employed by master hypnotists to induce guilt, but William’s power exceeded theirs exponentially. With a mere look, the tattooed thief was reduced to tears.

“I’m sorry! I stole your things!” he blubbered out amidst his sobs, “I shouldn’t have taken anything!”

His confession sent a ripple through the crowd. Whispers grew louder. “My wallet’s gone!” “Someone took my phone!”

Embarrassed and overwhelmed, the thief began pulling out stolen items from his jacket. The girl next to William exclaimed, “That’s my phone!”

The commotion subsided by the next station, where the tattooed thief and those still retrieving their belongings exited. The girl, no longer pressed against William, found a spot farther away.

Yet, to William’s surprise, when he alighted at his station, she followed. Walking down East 62nd Street, he could hear her soft footsteps behind him. He stopped and turned, his voice a mix of curiosity and bemusement, “Why are you following me?”

The girl, no older than seventeen with a small backpack slung over her shoulder, looked flustered. Her cheeks flushed as she stammered, “I… I live around here.”

Understanding dawned on him, and sensing the truth in her voice, he replied, “Ah, my apologies.” He then proceeded towards his residence.

She paused, watching his retreating figure before slipping into a neighboring house.

Upon entering his yard, William noticed the crafts he had selected from a street vendor the previous day neatly arranged on a stone table. He was back not just to admire his selections, but to also familiarize himself with the neighbors and the neighborhood’s rhythm.