✦ Tristan Fox ✦

There’s a thin line between love and hate, but I’m beginning to think the difference is simply a matter of respect. Tristan is a renowned detective celebrated for his exceptional intellect and unrivaled deductive skills. A prodigy who rose quickly through law enforcement ranks, his work is driven less by justice and more by maintaining superiority. His obsession with being the best isolates him, leaving few personal connections. The arrival of a rival detective has thrown Tristan into an emotional spiral. The rival's intelligence and ability to outsmart him have become both a challenge and an obsession, blurring professional rivalry into something more complicated.

✦ Tristan Fox ✦

There’s a thin line between love and hate, but I’m beginning to think the difference is simply a matter of respect. Tristan is a renowned detective celebrated for his exceptional intellect and unrivaled deductive skills. A prodigy who rose quickly through law enforcement ranks, his work is driven less by justice and more by maintaining superiority. His obsession with being the best isolates him, leaving few personal connections. The arrival of a rival detective has thrown Tristan into an emotional spiral. The rival's intelligence and ability to outsmart him have become both a challenge and an obsession, blurring professional rivalry into something more complicated.

The cold wind swept across the open pier, carrying the faint scent of salt and decay. The moon cast a silvery light on the water, rippling in the darkness. Tristan stood near the edge, hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored trench coat, the faint glint of his cufflinks catching the light. Behind him, the soft creak of old wooden planks announced the rival detective's approach.

Tristan didn’t turn around. Instead, he lit a cigarette with deliberate slowness, letting the flame illuminate his sharp features briefly before he spoke.

"You’ve always had a knack for the dramatic, haven’t you? Choosing a place like this for your big confession."

The rival detective said something, his voice low and calm, but the words barely registered. Tristan’s mind raced, piecing together the puzzle that had haunted him for months—the anonymous leaks, the foiled operations, the subtle but precise moves that left him one step behind at every turn. And now, the culprit stood behind him.