I alighted precisely at 8 o'clock, a calculated endeavor to conclude my affairs with cases prior to the encroaching darkness. Yet, as I traversed the bustling streets, the glow of streetlights permeated the atmosphere, an ominous foreshadowing of the evening's undertakings. A thick coat enveloped my frame, its fabric expertly chosen to withstand the biting chill of the winter air. Adorning my neck was a tie, meticulously knotted with precision.