The gold sitting quite comfortably within the briefcase, simply shone out in the natural lighting of the room. Liesel stuck by her much earlier words, how can something beautiful feel and look so evil? She had only glanced at the gold once, and that was definitely enough. The embossed emblem on it was enough for her to wince and look away quickly. It didn't seem to have much more of an affect on the man opposite. He simply glanced down at it, assessing yet again. He seemed to ponder over the sight of it, as if it simply should not be here before glancing up at them.

Erik for the most part had sat stationary, watching the man. He had become as comfortable as could be on the poorly cushioned chair he now sat on and was minutely aware to Liesel glancing around the vast room. And it was vast. There wasn't really much furniture within it. Large windows which let in streams of light, lit up the cream coloured walls with gold facings and patterns and wooden varnished flooring. The banker was simply backlit by the sun, which was struggling to be seen through grey clouds.

"Possession of this gold is illegal." His low French accented voice resounded in the large room. Despite of the serious topic at hand, he didn't sound wholly serious on the matter. In fact he sounded borderline bored on the matter. "Do you want me to call the police?" He questioned while flicking his eyes from Erik, who honestly just looked at him, to Liesel who frowned deeply.

"Let's not play this game." Erik responded easily shifting in languages and responding to the man in French while leaning back against the chair. He fixed the older man with an unblinking gaze, which he seemed to hold for a moment before sighing.

"So where did you get it from?" It was a simple question, and an obvious one to ask.

Erik glanced at Liesel, she frowned and pressed her lips into a thin line. Her earlier happiness had dissipated as soon as they stepped into the room. "That isn't of particular interest to you. Just know that I was recommended to come to you and this bank."

"Understood. You know our terms, sir?" The man gestured his entwined hands in Erik's direction. Seeing as how he as yet had been the one to do the talking, he just presumed Erik was the one handling this business transaction. Which to be fair, was totally fine by Liesel. She was rather sure if she voiced anything the manager would probably just shoot her down with a look and snide words. His tone overall could be coming off condescending and really, Liesel did not appreciate being patronised.

"Yes. And you should know mine." Erik said while leaning forwards and grasping a frame from the desk before them. Picking the silver gilded item up, he turned it around and looked at the smiling face of a child in the monochrome picture behind the glass. He turned the item to Liesel, her eyes narrowed slowly. The child was so happy and innocent, ignorant to the true happenings of the world. In part, she couldn't help it; she felt pity for the child. Tilting her head she watched as Erik placed the frame back on the desk. "This gold is all that is left of our people. It was their property. Taken out of their teeth. This is blood money. And you can help me find the bastards responsible for it." Erik said seriously without taking his eyes off of the man opposite. Upon hearing his words, his expression had slackened quite a bit. His dark eyes drifted from one to the other as the actual gravity of what was being spoken sunk in. In a sudden flash of speed, his arm shot out only to freeze. His attempt at pressing the alarm button installed in his desk had failed, and it ended in his arm shooting backwards and him hitting himself on the forehead.

This action just resulted in a quiet laugh to come from Liesel. She couldn't help it. It was rather comical to see him hitting himself through a force which did not come from himself. What was even funnier was the dumbfounded, confused look which was suddenly plastered on his face as he glanced about the room. Liesel's laughter was out of place in the room, with such a meeting happening. But Erik couldn't help but steal a quick glance her way. She was trying to hide her smile, and bottle up the sudden laughter. Noticing him looking her way she sent him an apologetic look. She realised they were here for business, and her finding this comical was so far from businesslike.

He shook his head slowly over her moment. He was just going to pin it down to her having odd amusements, not that he would be surprised really considering...coming back to the moment at hand, Erik tutted and wagged a finger at the man. He could handle Liesel and her silly moments, but he couldn't handle this man and his idiocy. "Do not touch the alarm." Erik stood up while fixing his jacket and moving around the desk. Reaching the other side he leaned back and patted the man on the shoulder to get his attention on him, and not on Liesel.

The man's fear stricken face seemed to be pleading out to her for her help. Erik merely glanced back to see her raise a confused eyebrow and tilt her head to the side. It would be pointless to try and get help from her. Not that she would anyway. "I need Schmidt. Klaus Schmidt. Where is he?" He tapped the man on the shoulder again, him continuing to glance from him to Liesel was starting to get annoying.

"Our clients leave no addresses. We do not..." The man started while leaning back in his chair in an attempt to get space from Erik. Not that it worked because he leaned forwards with a searching gaze, which clearly turned to one of knowing when he heard this reply.

"Not a bank?" Erik was opting to call him out on his so blatant lie. He tilted his head slowly with a thoughtful noise. He sensed something about the man that could be used to advantage. The man simply tensed in his seat, letting out a strained noise. "Metal fillings, huh? Not gold. Worried someone might steal them?" He asked as the man writhed in the chair. Erik merely held his hand in front of him as he blankly watched the pained expressions flitting across the man's face. His eyes widened to an inhuman size as he tried to turn his head away, only to snap back and strain against the pulling sensation from within his mouth.

"Argentina! Schmidt, Argentina! Villa Gesell! I beg you!" The man all but wheezed out in a strained voice.

"Thank you." Erik said simply while moving away from the desk, after successfully pulling the metal filling free and turning it in his fingers. Walking around the piece of furniture he merely gave a look to Liesel, she scrunched her nose up in what seemed to be discomfort as she pushed herself forwards in her chair before standing.

Picking up the gold and the briefcase, Erik sent a faint smile down at the man. "I would love to kill you. So remember, if you warn him about us, we will find you." He spoke from over his shoulder as he led the way out of the room. He didn't even glance back as he opened the door for Liesel, she wasted no time leaving and he soon followed after her.

"May I say...you give a new meaning to that saying, like pulling teeth, is that not how it goes?" Liesel asked once they retrieved their hidden luggage and exited the building as if nothing untoward had happened. "Never go into dentistry."

He shook his head and smirked over her suggestion. "Never once crossed my mind."

"Argentina?"

"Argentina."

Liesel scratched her head in thought. "Do you think there are more?"

"In my short time in information gathering, I heard accounts of soldiers, even higher ups seeking refuge over there. Do not fret, Liesel. We're not after them, so I doubt we'll even cross paths with them. We're after one person, and one person only." Erik replied knowing full well what her question was referring to. In all honesty he too would rather avoid crossing paths with refuging Nazi soldiers, but if it happened it happened, he was rather flippant on the matter because he had a rather simple way of sorting said matter out. Liesel however...it took quite a bit for her to fight, let alone kill. And really, he was fine with that, the less fighting she did the better. He remembered too well the hesitant almost guilty look she had sometimes after she had fought. It was a necessary task which she did and got no joy from.

"Do you think he'll warn Schmidt?"

"If he is a smart man, no."

"Not everyone is on your level of intelligence, Erik." Liesel couldn't help but state. Honestly, he was the smartest person she knew...not that she knew many people.

"Come on, does the excuse of not having addresses; despite being a bank, seem like something a smart person would say? It has nothing to do with being on the same level, it just comes to common sense."

"He was trying to cover his tracks..."

"Still a pathetic excuse."

"Be fair, if I had you as an enemy with intent to play dentist, I think I'd make up any excuse." Liesel said as she skipped a step and started walking in front of him, only backwards. She seemed surprisingly sure of her footing. "Like...maybe fake a heart attack? But then...pretending the world is ending seems more fun, no? It is growing so dark! The sky is so black! What is happening? I do not understand! It is Judgement Day! Cue hiding somewhere and hope you'd buy my lie..." Liesel trailed off with narrowed eyes, a smile and a rather cheeky look about her. She seemed proud of her little dramatic acting, all in all.

"Your lie would work if I didn't have a pair of eyes."

"Or you were very gullible."

"And that too."

"Can't help but try," Liesel sighed and waved a hand at him only to whine and wave her hand to remove the one which was ruffling her hair up.

"The day you lie to me, you best think of a better excuse." Erik said seriously while she stopped frowning and looked at him with large green eyes.

"I do not think I am able to lie to you. You'd see right through it anyway..."

"So you would try?" He smiled though trying to make it clear she wouldn't, she also made it clear she would give it a shot.

Liesel shook her head and grabbed a hold of the hand which still hovered close to her hair. "No! No, no...the thought of even trying unsettles me."

"As much as that pleases me to hear, I have to insist in us hurrying up."

"New destination!" Liesel exclaimed happily. She hadn't really seen enough of Switzerland to be sad to leave it, unlike Paris. She was expecting the stay in Argentina a little longer considering they were now going to properly start their search for him. And though that scared her slightly, she was not wholly sure she was prepared for that confrontation, but she was excited to be in new surroundings.

Such conflicting feelings clearly found their way to her face as her expressions shifted from one to another. She walked normally again, and not backwards, while biting her lip and frowning deeply. Her whole disposition radiated conflict, nervousness, and uncertainty. She snapped out of her reverie though when she felt something constricting on her hand. Looking down she blanched and sent a series of apologies in Erik's direction when she realised she hadn't actually ever let go of his hand.

Him tightening his hold on her was more to get her to stop dwelling on things. Seeing her look so troubled did not sit well with him. Be fair there was something strangely comforting about the action, and that comforting feeling got barrelled out the way by her incessant apologies. Frowning he rolled his eyes and just let her babble away until she ran out of things to say. Sometimes not answering made her finish quicker, and this time was no different. With a sigh he uncurled his fingers and let her hand free, only to have his arm clutched onto instead. He sent her a puzzled look, only to get a smile sent his way instead. When did she get so awkward and confusing?

"So...how long does it actually take to get to Argentina?"

"Eager to start searching?"

"What? No! I mean yes...I mean..."

"I know what you meant," Erik said, easily calming her down. She stopped looking so flustered and tense and relaxed again, even taking to pouting lightly and leaning against the arm she still held onto. Though a fan of travelling here, there and everywhere, Liesel did in fact really hate being in cramped situations. More often than not Erik presumed her dislike for cluttered, small spaces and large bodies of water stemmed from something before he knew her. Not that he ever asked. When it sort of came down to it, neither asked about the other's past. Truth be told mentioning school and talking about Magda was the first snippet Erik had let slip.

"I'll just say it's a longer trip than it took to get here." Truthfully, he didn't totally know so he wasn't going to make up some estimate.

With a sigh Liesel patted his arm, while her other hand readjusted the grip on her bag. "Well, can't say that pleases me. But at least I'll finally be able to catch up on some sleep. Same goes for you! I don't want us to get over there and you suffer doubly from travelling with very little rest in between." Liesel said sternly while sending a pointed look his way. Erik merely looked at her, his rather blank look just received a smile from her. He wasn't totally one for being told what to do, but in some way he could deal with Liesel's demands, they were so simple, and they usually meant well. Inclining his head his arm received being oddly held onto tightly, and an accomplished sound to come from her for actually getting him to agree without any backchat.

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Edited: 7/June/2019

Reedited: 13/August/2021