亚洲综合中美

“Lady Medusa,” they watched Igna take a suit ahead into the changing room, “-I’m so sorry, I didn’t know it was you.”

“Don’t bow,” a casual crunch told of her demeanor, “-master’s not the type to get angry.”

“Thank the gods,” the posture eased, “-I should have known the suits were ordered for someone special, not a special day.”

“I hope he likes it,” she said, “-if you’ll excuse me, there are a few things I ought to plan,” she pushed onto the outdoors, there, passersby turned, scanned the store and peeped, enviously narrowed their eyes, turned to their own, and headed on their way.

‘A clean looking suit,’ he thought, watching the reflection, ‘-I look weird,’ he leaned, ‘-there’s no sign of life in my eyes, my face’s pale white, worth the trip to the beach, I now look a little alive,’ the back straightened, at the same time the curtains pulled.

“Master, should I have a makeup artist arrive or hairdresser?”

.....

“Quell the animosity,” he waved at her sarcasm, “-I look good,” he fitted the tied and tugged the jacket, “-what of payment?” the attitude and persona altered beyond recognition.

“You clean up well,” said Charlie, his faded aggression looked behind Igna to his assistant, the lady kept a smile and nodded.

“Don’t force the compliment,” he shrugged, “-payment,” he leered Medusa.

“Not flipping the bill, I’m but a mere messenger,” said in jest.

“Whatever,” he gave his card, the latter tapped and the transaction went through, “-good work on the outfit, my trust wasn’t broken. I’ll have one of my associates bring a hefty tip later down the week.”

The assistant signaled no but a cut-throat sign, “-n-no,” said the tailor with nods, “-your presence alone is worth it?”

“Trying to compliment?” the terrifying new image of Igna glared at him from a higher plain, the silence felt akin to a rope being tied around the neck, “-good,” the pressure broke, “-I like a man of business. Don’t worry, the tip won’t be a bomb nor will it be a gun. Consider it a contract for employment, I wish to hire thy company to exclusively make uniforms for Ravens.”

“A contract,” he watched in awe, “-thank you,” the face gleamed, “-I don’t know what to say save thank you, lord Igna.”

“Worry not,” he smiled, “-good work is rewarded, never forget so.”

Trouble waned heavily on the mind, the trip neared its end, the stubborn Medusa averted the questioning, little over a few minutes later, the duo drove into Raven’s casino, the first acquired during the conquest on Count Oathtall. The held a raven, to which he exited the car in amusement, “-did the place change when we were gone?”

“Not really, more on the lines of improved. Let’s go,” a spring in her movement wasn’t very much a good sign.

‘Her body language couldn’t be any warmer, is the problem that bad she’s reflexively avoiding the issue altogether?’ They walked inside, a deluge of overwhelming pleasure and lust blasted, ‘-this place definitely is a cursed garden,’ host and hostesses were close with their client, drinks were poured, money made and money lost, she took directly for the in-house office.

“Medusa, tell me, what’s the problem, I need to know, now.”

“Don’t threaten her, my lord,” said a friendly familiar voice.

He side-glanced, “Asmodeus,” an involuntary smile broke the frown, “-long time no see,” they embraced, “-how are you?”

“I’m good,” he said, “-master, there isn’t any problem.”

“Pardon?”

“The only reason we get you here is via a white-lie, you must have known, surely?”

“éclair sold me out.”

“No, he didn’t, master,” he laughed, “-we bought him, well, we bought his silence on the surprise invitation I ordered. Before we go on much longer, let’s leave.”

“Since I was brought, suppose I’ll spend the day,” midway down, Starix ambushed the trio with a wink, by the time Igna stood under the casino, his entourage had grown tenfold, some familiar and others, strangers.

“Right people, the walk is over scram. Goes double for you, and you,” the prince pointed Medusa and Starix.

“I’m the strategist, I ought to spend a few moments with the master,” refuted Starix.

“And I brought the master here,” hissed Medusa, “-he’ll spend time with me.”

“Neither,” interjected Asmodeus, “-the master will stay the remainder with me. If you’ll excuse us,” a car pulled, the door opened, and the duo left.

“Asmodeus,” they sat, “-what is it you wanted?”

“To bring you to speed with what Raven’s accomplished. Starting with the mafia, Raven’s are one of the top familia in the whole of Odgawoan, we’ve made a pact with Luon, Yonak, Saku, and Vermillion, they owe us big for rescuing their scrawny asses from a battle against the mighty Cimier. Those fools trampled onto our territory demanding protection money, the invitation was quickly resent with an extra dose of death. Needless to say, the message carried more than pleasantries, we declared war and won, claiming the city of dreams to be ours. Chief Jula is more pleased, her pockets are lined and she’s able to live a happy life. Next is the casinos and branding,” the trip took a viewing point onto the whole of the area. The north, the invasion of the monsters, healed and rebuilt anew – security into the mountains heightened. The viewing point was more of a lover’s respace to anything of the sorts, “-awkward,” commented Igna.

“No,” winked Asmodeus, “-where ever the buds of flower flourish, I’ll make sure it turns hardco-”

“Stop, I don’t want to hear about thy fantasies. The view,” he stood with arms crossed, “-what of it?”

“The De Costle strip’s expanded, more high-rises and emphasis on media, tis the ideal place for people with the dream to seek out their success stories. Raven’s acquired more casinos and hotels over the years, especially the last five years, we hit our stride – I don’t see us stopping to expand. Starix’s ruthless in hostile takeovers forces major companies into begging for their lives. We back her actions fully – the monopoly of the gambling and drug trade wasn’t accomplished in a single day. Mammon and my life changed for the better...”

“Reluctance in the voice,” narrowed Igna, “-there is a problem,” he turned on himself and stared vaguely into Fuda mountain’s direction, ‘-Medusa as my pickup, I should have known. His pick of subjects point to Kul,’ he shuffled forward, “-where’s Kul?”

“You knew,” he nervously grinned, “-master, Kul was captured a few weeks ago. We haven’t heard from her ever since... I didn’t want to bring the issues since you had grown to be King of Hidros.”

“Asmodeus...”

“Master, don’t misunderstand, we’ve done everything. Mammon’s on the lookout as we speak, plenty of our men have taken to the street in search of answers. We’ve asked Odgar for help, nothing so far...”

“Idiots,” he facepalmed, “-king or not, you should have informed me. Finding a missing person after 72 hours is close to naught. Well, it doesn’t matter, does it,” he exhaled, “-she was captured during a trade of some sort, no way Starix was blindsided. Tell me everything,” they sat under the shade of a lonesome tree.

‘Quite the story, Kul went missing after delivering a fresh batch of products to a new client. It had been a year at most in sending fake packages to figure flaws in the plans. Manufacturing’s moved here, and we’re unblemished, Kul couldn’t have gone missing. Either she was killed or someone betrayed her trust.’

“Master?”

“Follow me,” they stood, “-we’re going to find her today.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t look at me weird, Kul’s here, there’s no way she left the country. Don’t you think the network would have picked on her movements already – to disappear from the crowd, one needs but to hide in plain sight, the principle of the grey man,” therein, the investigation took to her last known sight, the red-light district. The expectation of an unruly part of the city turned into embarrassment, the streets were clean, the clients respectful, and the workers happy and healthy. The former being used very subjectively, their positions were still hard – a majority, kidnapped men and women from other continents, trafficking, or otherwise, the poor who weren’t able to pay their loans. Bleeding in a sea of sharks meant being devoured, therein, vacant looks reflected off the newer, ‘-merchandise,’ their reality hadn’t settled, working to pay their debts via any method.

“Here we are,” said Asmodeus coming onto an apartment building, below, the to and fro felt a little more anxious, *thud, thud,* the door opened mightily, “-who are you?”

“Jeo, it’s me,” he stuck his foot into the ajar-opening, “-Asmodeus. Better open else I’ll have your head.”

“Ok, ok,” the locks clicked, “-sorry I’m late on my payment,” it opened to a single-room apartment with a bed on which laid a sobbing figure, “-don’t worry about him, he’s the newest addition to my repertoire. I made coffee.”

“Cut the bullshit, Jeo, you know damn well why I’m here.

“Asmo, if it’s about the payment, then I don’t have it.”

“Not about the money,” he yelled, “-I’ve come about Kul. Where the fuck is she?”

“Don’t swear, idiot, the walls have thin walls.’

“Oh, sure,” stood arms akimbo, “-don’t make excuses, you prick. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I need to know what happened to Kul.”

“Get off your high horse,” he sipped, “-I’m in this bullshit place because of you.”

“Asmodeus,” said Igna.

“Who’s the new guy,” inquired Jeo.

“Doesn’t matter,” he shuffled forward, “-who are you and what do you do here?”

“Jeo, and I work for Asmodeus. My jobs to recruiting kids like him,” he pointed on the bed, “-and have them returned to their country if possible.”

“Really?” Igna narrowed to Asmodeus.

“Yes,” he said, “-Raven’s hate human trafficking more than anything. They keep on stealing people and I have my hands full. Vetting every transaction in this city is a pain. There are lines which never must be crossed, Jeo’s the mediator, scouter of some sort.”

“Why’s the kid crying?”

“He was beaten to shit by the last client. I was healing his wound before the prince barged. I told you, I know nothing about Kul. She sniffed the scent of trafficking and went after those bastards.”

“Still don’t know who they are,” facepalmed Asmodeus, “-kid,” he moved to the bed, “-are you ok?”

“T-thank you,” the tears flowed.

“They did a number on you,” commented Igna, “-drink this,” a potion flung on the bed, “-Jeo, tell me everything that happened before she went missing.”

“I don’t know, I was scouting, an informant of mine said a new shipment arrived. Most were sold and taken away before I could do anything, when I reach the brothel, Kul was there wailing at the barkeeper. I told her about the shipment, her mood swung and she shortly stormed onto the street. Never seen her since, don’t know if she’s alive or not. That kid’s the only boy I saved; this shit’s disgusting. The more stories I hear, the less grows my humanity, I don’t even blink at their stories anymore. Asmo, the assignments cost my humanity, that’s why I needed the money, to help this kid return home.”

“Where are you from?”

“He won’t talk,” shrugged Jeo, “-they tied his tongue with a curse. The moment he spills the truth, he dies. The traffickers are keen.”

“Is that so?” he grabbed his chin, pulled to have an eye-to-eye, *Dispel,* the sound of breaking glass shook their sense of comfort.

“PIECE OF SHIT,” cried across the street, “-YOU DARE SLEEP WITH MY WIFE?” Two mentally perturbed men went head-to-head, a crowd of curious watchers gathered, in the middle was a pretty little lady with a face of an angel.

“Damn it.”

“Asmodeus?”

“She’s a member of my harem.”

“Guys,” gulped Jeo, “-the boy’s turning crazy...”